Posted on 10/30/2006 10:34:02 PM PST by goldstategop
Some people get mad at me when I tell them not to vote.
But I believe there is a right time to abstain from casting a ballot – particularly if the only choice is a Democrat or Republican who are indistinguishable on the major issues of the day.
A good example of a race where a protest vote for a third party candidate or a non-vote would be the right thing to do on Election Day is the New Jersey Senate race between incumbent Robert Menendez, the Democrat, and Republican challenger Thomas Kean Jr.
(Column continues below)
Pollsters say the race is too close to call. And I don't really care how it comes out.
Some Republicans will hate me for this. They will point out that control of the U.S. Senate could be at stake in this campaign.
I say, if Republicans need Thomas Kean Jr. to control the Senate, then they really won't have control anyway. Because Kean is a RINO – a Republican in name only, a Republican who is embarrassed about being a Republican, a second-generation country clubber who, if elected, will turn out to be a bigger embarrassment to the GOP than a straight-out loss of the Senate.
No, I would never urge a vote for Menendez. He's part of the corrupt Democratic Party political machine in my birth state. As far as I can tell, there isn't a single issue on which he's right.
But, honestly, Kean is no better. Not at all.
And here's the real trouble with electing a sniveling weasel like Kean. What you get is a back-stabbing RINO who will spend most of his time distancing himself from his Republican colleagues, showing that he is "different," that he is "bi-partisan," a conciliator – and someone with no principles whatsoever other than his own personal empowerment.
We've had Republicans in the Senate like this before. Think Lincoln Chafee.
Even though polls in New Jersey show voters there more concerned about local issues than national issues, Kean is spending most of his time right now running away from President Bush – not on the border, not on profligate spending in Washington, not on the political correctness run amok in the White Hose, but on the war in Iraq, the war against jihadist terrorism, the war that will destroy America and Western civilization if we don't achieve victory. It wasn't Democrat Menendez who called for Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld's resignation. It was Kean.
Last week, when he heard that Rush Limbaugh had taken on Michael J. Fox for shamelessly politicizing a disease, Kean issued a statement denouncing the talk-show host. He hadn't actually heard Rush's articulate admonishment of Fox and those using him in this campaign. But what Kean read in "press reports" was enough to get him to attack Limbaugh.
"There's no reason for this in our politics, and I don't subscribe to it," he said.
To what does Tom Kean Jr. subscribe? It's a good question. The answer is not much that's good for New Jersey or good for the nation.
If your idea of a good time is electing a spoiled brat rich kid to the U.S. Senate, then, by all means, vote for Tom Kean. Have a ball.
But if your goal in political involvement is to restore freedom in America, to restore moral sanity to our system of governance, to restore constitutional principles to Washington, to restore a reverence for the sanctity of life, to restore respect for America at home and abroad, then I'm afraid to tell you that you have no choice on Election Day in New Jersey. Better luck next time.
Actually, let me backtrack from that statement. You do have a choice. And casting a protest vote or not voting at all in this virtually uncontested Senate race is a very good choice. It's the only choice for those who want to see real competition in elections, who want to see better alternatives in the future.
Vote no on Kean. And feel good about your choice.
But how do you really feel? ;>)
goldstategop wrote: "Do NOT vote for the RINO Tom Kean in New Jersey."
This battle should have been waged far more vigorously in the primary. Now is not the time to threaten a Republican majority with a protest vote.
Oh my. I often agree with Farah, but he's way off track here. Seriously, go ahead and register a protest vote in an extremely close election. That way, you can go to sleep at night feeling much better with yourself, UNTIL you wake up the next morning and realize the Dems are in charge.
I couldn't agree with Farah more on this one.
Electing a complete scumbag like Kean would not only burden the GOP with another Chafee, it would embolden other surrender-monkey Republicans to seek office the same spineless way. No friggin' thanks. At least the Democrat will stab you in the front.
"Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." -Manuel II Paleologus
Four words: Senate MAJORITY LEADER Reid....
"Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." -Manuel II Paleologus
"I wouldn't and I'll say this plainly: every Republican who runs away from the President WILL lose."
--
"Every" is a big word, my guess is that some Republicans who disassociate themeselves from Pres. Bush will win election. You have to run the board, I only have to be correct in a single case. As a gambler, I like my position better than yours.
If a single Republican who distances himself from the Pres. wins election, you lose.
Feel free to get back to me on Nov. 8.
As usual Farah got it wrong.
Thomas Kean Jr. is a 6th generation country clubber, not a 2nd generation country clubber.
Lancey Howard wrote: "I couldn't agree with Farah more on this one."
Hmmmm. Let's give your position some thought. What would the US Senate look like with Dems instead of the RINOs. Why, I think it would look like a Democrat-controlled Senate. That means no hope whatsoever for any conservative law or judge. Wow. That also means we might have to wait another 30 years for the next group of liberal SCOTUS nominees to die off. That would be quite a victory for our side, wouldn't it.
"Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." -Manuel II Paleologus
If you value America, if you love our troops, if you want to crush Islamofascism, pull the lever for Kean. If you won't do it for yourself, then do it for our boys patrolling Baghdad.
You are so right! A Menendez vote would put the likes of Kerry in charge. Check out his latest: http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1728951/posts
"Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." -Manuel II Paleologus
Do you really, really, want the RATS to control the Senate?? If so, you're hopelessly wrong.
We're in 100% agreement on this topic. Tom Kean, Jr. is a pathetic RINO, immature, and a HCI-style gungrabber. The simple fact-of-the-matter is he is now the Republican candidate for Senator and folks from New Jersey need to show him their support for the benefit of the big picture. Should he win next week, send him e-mails and letters telling him that he is being carefully watched on each of his votes. Hold his feet to the fire to do the right thing for our beloved country. The place to submit protest votes is IN THE PRIMARY and nowhere else.
~ Blue Jays ~
"Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." -Manuel II Paleologus
Wusses like Chaffee and Kean at least still carry the "R". Not voting for said wusses is a noble notion but ups the chances of the "D" super-wuss morons getting to call the agenda. Not voting for such "R" wusses in times of clear majority is great. Not voting for such "R" wusses in times of nip & tuck is being stuck on stupid and suicidal.
Vote like a Pirate!!
A liberal Republican is preferable to a liberal RAT any day.
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