Three proposals (and search improvement) ** VANITY **

Proposal 1: For improved searching, use the new Google-based site Soople. I'm not in any way involved with them, but they have the ability to put in keywords and search by domain (you can do it in Google, but they just make it easier.) It's at www.soople.com. Far too often I've heard people complain that the search functions of FR are limited or weak. Well, this isn't. Someone posted an article and I was able to go to Soople and get the exact article, all three postings of it. It makes life MUCH easier.

Proposal 2: Become familiar with the third party candidates out there. Nader (I), Perotuka (C), Cobb (G) and Badnarik (L). If you can't convince your friends who are liberal to moderate to vote Bush, because they just don't like him, or because they saw F9/11 and believe the tripe, then point them into the direction of the most appropriate one or two of the third party candidates. Why? Because, if you can't win over the swing voter, then at least get them not to be a 'D' voter. The more votes that can be taken away from the Democraps, the better. Become familiar with them. Reference them, if you have to. I am personally involved with a third party that is building, and we're not running a candidate for President this year. But, as far as I'm concerned, Kerry would be a big mistake for the country. I personally won't be voting for Bush this year for my own reasons, and anyone who wants to take the time to look up my history will see why, but I will be encouraging anyone I think that would be able to be swayed, to do so.

Proposal 3: Any petition to get a third party on the ballot, if they are conservative, sign it. You don't necessarily have to vote third party, but getting them on the ballot accomplishes one very important thing. At least in North Carolina, and Florida, if a party gets on the ballot, they are entitled to two seats on any county's Board of Elections that they have an actual site in. So, if a party such as the Constitution Party or the Patriot Party has an office in 10 counties, and they get on the ballot, then there will be a 4-2 or 6-2 or even 8-2 balance of conservatives to liberals (2 D's, 2 R's, 2 C's, 2 P's and 2 L's.) This goes a LONG way the following election to eliminate voter fraud.

Please don't slam me for advocating 3rd parties. I'm not asking anyone to change their vote to a third party, just to support getting them on the ballots for a change in the access. The Patriot Party is basically growing in the mold of what the Republican Party USED to stand for. Limited government, constitutional principles and an elimination of waste, fraud and abuse in the Government. Why they've gone off to the left, I'll never know, but if they ever came back to sanity, there might not be a need for the APP, CP, or even the LP. So, while I have my reasons not to vote for Bush, I'll still advocate against Kerry.

Ok, I can see a third party in a local election, but at the end of the day there are only two parties in the presidential race. Nader isn't serious about votes but runs every time just to get his opinion out there which is fine by me. However, didn't we learn a lesson with Perot who siphoned off Bush votes giving us 8 years (and possibly more, ugh) of the Clinton duo?

Here's a what-if: What if somehow you knew the presidential votes were down to the last few and it was neck and neck. You are in the voting booth and your vote is paramount to who wins. Would you vote a third party knowing it would make no difference or would you cast your vote to Kerry or Bush?

Considering I'm in North Carolina, which is going solidly Bush country, I can't see that my vote would make that much of a difference one way or another, but my vote might make a difference for one of the thirds for having the party on the ballot the following election or having to spend upwards of $500,000 to get their party back on the ballot again.

If it was close as could be, and Hitlary was on the ticket, and Bush had taken back some of the stuff he's done, I might consider him. But, I don't think so. There's too much squishy liberalism in Compassionate Conservatism. Now, there's too much communism in the Democrat party, but that's another topic altogether.

Paul

IMO, after 2000, every vote for our guy counts not only for election via EC, but for the popular vote and a *mandate*.

If we win the EC and lose the popular vote again, we will have 4 more years of obstructionism. We also need to keep in mind that a POTUS is only as strong as his House and Senate majorities, so voting 3rd party in Federal legislative races is just taking away from our side's legislators.

As to down ticket races: again, IMO, I think people vote specific issues and specific personalities in state and municipal elections. However, help from the Feds always seems to be easier if you are part of the party currently in power.

I didn't always think this way and I am unsure if that was due to my own youth and idealism or if the times have really changed. Even now, I sort of cringe to realize I advocate a straight party ticket. However, the opposition has the media (including entertainment), the courts, and academe. Wherever they gain a foothold in any elective position, they immediately embark on implementing the entire leftist agenda, with help from their 5th column.

Since 3rd parties have no real chance outside of small local offices at this point in time, I think it is safest to stick w/the least objectional party of the 2 majors.

Do you wonder if third party votes gave your state Edwards?

Well, actually, no. I don't wonder if the new VP candidate was put in by third party folks. Again, I'm not advocating FReepers vote third party. Most of you are too entrenched in the Republican Party to not vote that way. Those that are not, probably will vote third party anyway.

I'm somewhat suprised that Breck Girl was picked for a VP nod. He was slimy and got in only by sliming his opponent as much as he could. Kerry can't afford to have Edwards use the same tactic.

So, overall, can you see that at least getting them on the ballot for the purpose of effecting the BOE's in many counties nationwide would be helpful though?

Paul

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