[RockyMtnMan]

The RNC is getting frantic with their donation solicitations and I even got a call last night! I told the guy I'm withholding my vote until Bush panders to me. I also told him if the tent gets to big I won't be in it.

Nothing will dissapoint me more than Bush losing the election, but if he loses it will be because he failed to "energize" his base.

The Dims are energized because they hate the president not because they love their candidate. What a sad state our two party system has achieved.

[Dominic Harr]

I told the guy I'm withholding my vote until Bush panders to me.

I've never understood the thinking of the 'party faithful'.

The only real power is in being an independent. Then both sides have to compete for your vote.

The problem is, to too many people, this is all just a 'team sport'. To many people, the only thing that really matters is that their chosen team "wins" at all costs, regardless of actual outcome.

I'm an independent voter, and neither of the big 2 parties has done anything to 'win' my vote. So I'll likely write someone local in that I think would do a great job.

Is that "throwing away my vote"? Hmmm . . . is Bush likely to win or lose by my one vote? No. So in reality, my single vote will not "count", anyway.

So I will vote independently, for an individual, as an individual.

You know, the American way.

[Swanks]

I told the guy I'm withholding my vote until Bush panders to me..What a sad state our two party system has achieved

Excellent comeback. I too am out-of-gas on the 'vote for us, send us funding so we can ignore you and be Rino's for 4 years.

On your second comment; I really like Bortz' idea: hit singles and doubles, over time getting 10-12 House of Reps OTHER party in Congress. Now theres an idea. Have a block that has to be dealt with, instead of the "two party" cartel we have today.

[Ima Lurker]

What a sad state our two party system has achieved.

Boy, that is the truth!

[contessa machiaveli]

same here. i receive a call every week from the RNC and a mail solicitation which i promptly throw away. i do tell the callers i can't in good conscience contribute (my dissatisfaction with the immigration and uncontrolled spending).
they're NOT going to wake up, and yes this is going to be a tough election. gore did win the popular vote in 2000. we were energized and bush became president, it's the exact opposite this year.
let's hope nader decides to run....we're going to lose. i won't stay home, the only reason being that the prez is serious about the war on terror and i can't imagine what the dems would do.

[F16Fighter]

"Nothing will dissapoint me more than Bush losing the election, but if he loses it will be because he failed to 'energize' his base."

The only thing worse than failing to "energize" his base is alienating his base.

Clearly, Dubya and his handlers have in their arrogance either underestimated OR discounted the negative impact caused within the true conservative base of proposing blatantly irresponsible fiscal spending and illegal alien/Amnesty policies.

Shouldn't the onus of discontent fall upon HIM?

Why should this onus fall upon those who have the courage to raise the Red Flag, and of whom are merely adhering to the major tenets of traditional GOP Party platform and it's principles?