Replies

"I would expect some people to say that, and I would expect other people to tell them to pound sand. It will always be thus. I figure the optimum strategy is to howl like a banshee about all the things I don't like, right up until election day. And then vote for Bush anyway. But I wouldn't want him to know I'm going to do that. If he doesn't worry that I might stay home, he has no reason to listen to my howling."

A succinct explanation of what I am trying to do [for this election only, your mileage may vary]

"I would expect some people to say that, and I would expect other people to tell them to pound sand. It will always be thus. I figure the optimum strategy is to howl like a banshee about all the things I don't like, right up until election day. And then vote for Bush anyway. But I wouldn't want him to know I'm going to do that. If he doesn't worry that I might stay home, he has no reason to listen to my howling."

A succinct explanation of what I am trying to do [for this election only, your mileage may vary]

I couldn't have said it better myself -- thanks!

Quite frankly it doesnt serve any purpose to threaten a vote or non-vote. Better to simply REGISTER YOUR VIEW. By definition, if they KNOW YOU CARE ABOUT THE ISSUE, THEY WILL TRY TO RESPOND.

Here's what I did: Last month I sent back a letter to the RNC, no check, but a letter. I mentioned Spending and immigration enforcement as my two reasons for not being able to support them. I made no threats, I just told them I could nt send money at the time.

Thanks to Bush's new religious fervor for "spending limitation" as evidenced by their proposal to REINSTITUTE PAY-GO FOR ALL SPENDING PROPOSALS (yahoo), and thanks to the word from Hastert that amnesty/amnesty-lite etal are all DOA in the House, I softened up a bit, and made the same points to the "republican survey" but sent a donation too.

Get the signally done RIGHT, and the RNC will notice "oh, we took a hit from doing X Y Z, but going back in conservative direction helped us a bit ... lets do more"

You do the same with letters to Senators and Congressional Reps. Just tell 'em what you want to see done.
There is no need for the "voter tantrum" ("do this or else"). remember, they could care less about a single vote. What really gets their back hairs on end is knowing that for every letter they get, there's 20 other steamed constituents who wont bother writing. Get 100 letters, and things get interested. Get 1000 letters and they are reaching for the pepto bismol.

So keep screaming to the elected leaders. (Hint: screaming on FR does *not* count!) But frankly, letting them (republican leaders) know you are a loyal republican is IMHO far more effective and powerful than making any kind of electoral threats to anyone.