As many of you know, I have decided to sit out this election. No need to go into the details now but c17wife has written a post or two trying to convince me that this election is too important and that I should vote.
Well, she found a perhaps unlikely ally in her quest to convince me to vote this year.
I have a very, very good friend who still lives in Chicago. He is also Black, a staunch liberal Democrat and an ardent Obama supporter. Of course, he knows I am a conservative Republican (and that I do not like or agree with Barack Obama) and we have argued incessantly about politics ever since I “converted” to conservatism almost twenty years ago now. And obviously, we talked about this year’s presidential election.
The funny thing is, when I told him that I was not planning to vote (at least for President) this year, he was shocked and outraged. He argued that it was my duty to vote. But what really made me smile was when he said:
“Our votes may cancel each other out but you have to vote!”
I confess, that did make me smile. He knows that, if I voted, I would be voting exactly the opposite of him and yet he still insists that I must vote.
And for some odd reason, it did make me think of c17wife.
Well, c17wife, whatever else and whatever I ultimately decide to do, know that you have a Black liberal Democrat from Chicago as an ally. I hope neither one of you is too upset about that.
And if I may interject
Jack_Savage Wednesday, October 22nd at 10:13AM EDT (link)Your friend is correct. The way I look at it, my vote is perishable - if I don’t use it, I will never get the chance again.
Too many people have given too much for me not to vote. I urge you, as your friend did, to do the same.
I would also add...
NightTwister Wednesday, October 22nd at 10:37AM EDT (link)…for those that do not vote, they need to keep quiet about what happens the next four years.
Not a single complaint.
Get Connected in Colorado.
Sounds like Baalam's ass has spoken to you
civil_truth Wednesday, October 22nd at 10:55AM EDT (link)Time to listen (c.f. Numbers 22:28-30, start at the beginning of the chapter for context).
And Jack is quite right: millions have shed their blood for us to have the franchise, not just here in the U.S., but also in many other lands. Including our troops giving up their lives on foreign shores
If we allow tyranny to come to our shores through neglect of our franchise, not only will their sacrifice be nullified, millions or perhaps billions in the world who are depending on America to stand up for its freedom and their freedom will perish.
Sorry, but you need to at least take a glimpse at the larger picture - there are many in the world, especially the newly liberated lands in Eastern Europe, who rely on America’s power and example to enable them to realize their dreams for freedom.
And there’s vitually no hope for “small government” to be restored in our land if the Obama/Democrats prevail this election. It will be a totally new ballgame, where our side won’t be allow to play anymore.
And Rightly So!
ZootSuit, as a Dem I ask that you vote
Reaper0Bot0 (formerly Han_Pritcher) Wednesday, October 22nd at 11:09AM EDT (link)It’s simply too important. Should you omit certain races from your vote, well, that’s your choice. Even then, I’d still say you should participate. This right is too essential to leave be.
I’m not kidding when I say that I’d rather that people I disagree with vote than not. This government belongs to all of us, and frankly I think that those who do not vote lose much of the right to complain. I did not vote in 2000, something I’ve regretted ever since. It did not feel quite right criticizing President Bush (which I very much wished to do) not having taken part.
I have voted since then, and I will not stop.
I’m a lying troll.
If you don't fill out your ballot, someone might do it for you.
Uma Richie Wednesday, October 22nd at 11:21AM EDT (link)When I don’t like any of the candidates for a particular race, even down to the smallest local job, I write in the name of someone I admire and believe would be a good public servant. Opting not to vote or not voting in every race (in paper ballot areas) is inviting a partisan poll worker to cast your ballot for you.
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“We hold our heads high, despite the price we have paid, because freedom is priceless.” -Lech Walesa
Amen Jack and NT. Zoot, your buddy
c17wife Wednesday, October 22nd at 11:52AM EDT (link)and I are allies with one common thought. Our vote is a precious, hard fought right. You as a black man and I as a woman would not have been afforded that right in a different time. For an educated man such as yourself to not exercise that right is crazy to me. YMMV.
Duty is ours, outcomes belong to God.~Mike Pence
I tell Dem voters this all the time
Oz Wednesday, October 22nd at 11:59AM EDT (link)although with all the ACORN stuff, I do remind them to only vote once per election.
It might take about 8 votes to cancel out his vote though
E Pluribus Unum Wednesday, October 22nd at 2:05PM EDT (link)Since this is Chicago and he’s a Democrat, you have to factor in all the dead voters, Disney characters, Dallas Cowboy players, and so on……
Oh and for the record, just add your friend to the
MULTITUDE
of c17wife allies…..
Carthago delenda est
Do your conservative t-shirt shopping at EPU Gear. Save the conservative muse, save the world.
EPU
Daniel Glenn Wednesday, October 22nd at 2:20PM EDT (link)As a Cowboy’s fan, you should be happy that they get to vote multiple times, even if Tony Romo can’t fill out the ballot because of his pinkie and “Pac Man” Jones isn’t eligible because of his somewhat rowdy behavior.
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“In an insane society, reality is outside of the mainstream.”
“If people are not free to trade with each other, all other freedom is meaningless.”
Don’t blame me. I voted for McCain.