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To: thoughtomator
The GOP has taken our patience and abused it, and relied on our faith and support to allow them the freedom to move left.

It's time to create some pressure on the right. We should be smart and learn what works - the squeaky wheel gets the grease. Those whose support is not a given get all the benefits.

It's time to exercise power in this proven way: Let the others fight among each other; and let us be the difference in which one will win, so that the winner will do our bidding.

I agree with this, but I disagree with:

If by exercising the choice to sit out (or at the minimum preserving the ability to make a credible threat to do so).

"Sitting out" does not do the job.  Too many pundits and analysts will claim that people sit out because the party is not liberal enough (a "bigger tent" is needed).  I believe the proper action is to consistently vote for the candidate who best represents you, even if that is a third party candidate who cannot win.  The vote for the third party candidate who better represents you demonstrates that the major party should consider the opinions of that candidate in the future.  It is also important to vote for the Republican* candidate who does represent you well.  Don't punish all Republicans for the failings of others.

This is a long term strategy.  As proof, consider that the move of the Democratic party towards socialism was most likely precipitated by voters for communist and socialist parties receiving sufficient votes to affect elections.

* I assume it to be impossible that a Democrat candidate will represent me.

527 posted on 10/20/2005 10:57:52 PM PDT by etlib (No creature without tentacles has ever developed true intelligence)
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To: etlib
I'm with you on that. Third party voting is preferable to not voting and one should vote for the GOP candidates who do adhere to some respectable principles. (I also agree with the assumption that it is impossible for a Democrat to represent me as well.) I've pulled quite a few third-party levers for federal offices, though for local and state offices I tend to hard-line GOP.
533 posted on 10/20/2005 11:03:51 PM PDT by thoughtomator ("Stare decisis" means every bad decision a court ever made is perpetually binding)
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