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Russell won't even say he'll VOTE for Burns in the special election, won't even say he'll support him over Critz.

Come to think of it, you've also refused to support Burns over Critz in the special election.

Campaigns don't run on spite, little guy. Grow up.

Crichton, there's really no need to get snarky.

Up until now, I've found your comments to be just fine. You certainly have every right to express your viewpoint, and I will be the first to defend you in that regard.

As I've said upthread and I'll post here to you, Bill Russell will not endorse Burns in the special election nor should he, and there's a sound reason for it, as follows...

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Initially it was an understandable strategy on the part of Burns and Gleason partisans to insist Russell endorse Burns, but on just a cursory examination their argument falls apart.

If the Primary Election were held a week before the Special Election and Russell defeated Burns in the Primary, he would have a sound political motivation to endorse Burns in the Special. It would unite the Russell and Burns camp in the effort to defeat Critz. In turn, the Burns camp could announce it's intention to come out for Russell in the November Election.

But when both the Special Election and the Primary Election occur on the same day, such a scenario becomes impossible. For Bill Russell, such an action would be tatamount to political suicide. It's the equivalent of offering your concession speech before the polls open.

To give an example; what if Russell spoke these words publicly tomorrow;"I endorse Tim Burns in the Special Election and will vote for him and encourage my supporters to do the same".

Now what would happen? Burns partisans would start repeating it, the media would report it, and Gleason would congratulate Russell for uniting the GOP. And then, inevitably the headlines would scream; "Russell Endorses Burns","Russell Says Vote For Burns", "Has Russell Thrown In The Towel?". The media and pro-Burns partisans would have a field day. The two elections would be blurred in to one. Russell supporters would become disallusioned by the drumbeat of the headlines. Burns would have co-opted the Primary and would be free to move left and run against Critz as a "moderate" Republican (the new but better Arlen Specter!).

Bottom line, Russell has been magnanimous and quite gracious in wishing Burns luck in the Special Election and I would expect nothing more and nothing less from any man of Col. Russell's integrity and character, the Burns partisans should be more than satisfied with that.

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Now Crichton, that's where I come down on this issue of endorsing Burns.

On the subject of how I will vote, quite frankly I'm at a loss to understand why you think I have any obligation to tell you. I have told you I never vote for Democrats, it is also a fact I have voted in every election, local, state, and national since I turned 21 in 1967. I don't intend to stop now. Will I vote for Burns in the special election? What do you think, there are only two choices, and I don't do write-ins.

As for the primary, I will certainly vote for Russell, and I will continue to work hard for him. I'll probably put my Russell for Congress yardsign out this weekend.

As for Burns, I have attempted to be restrained in my criticism of him, even though I find him to be flawed in a number of ways. I attempt to follow Ronald Reagan's 13th Commandment in that regard. I'm not perfect at it, but it's a reasonable maxim to be guided by.

If, however, others are throwing baseless accusations at Col. Russell and endeavoring to impugn his character or motives, I have little patience for such behavior.

One thing I have liked about your posts, is that you have not hesitated to commend Col. Russell for his honorable life of service in uniform, and you have stated your commitment to support him should he win the primary.

I believe you to be a fair and reasonable person, so I see no reason not to continue our discussion, as long as we're dealing with the two men, Burns and Russell, in terms of their position on issues, their specific proposals or the depth of their knowledge and adherence to conservative principles.

But this matter of the endorsement is finished, as far as I'm concerned. It will not happen, regardless of how long others continue to beat that dead horse.