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megawill
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 Posted: 11/08/05 - 12:57 Post subject: Are you a political idealist or realist?
I had an interesting conversation with a friend concerning a county party dinner he went to listen to the party's candidates for governor in 2006.
There are 5 announced candidates - 2 of which are splitting the support of the state party machine.
Three more lesser known candidates...one being a state representative who is mounting a 'grass roots' campaign, not accepting corporate or pac contributions. This candidate falls very closely in line with were both my friend and I are at politically....but....how far can a grass roots campaingn go, in these days of mega politics?
So given that the primaries are still months away would you follow you're political heart in this campaign and support the grass roots under-dog or support the candidate that has the best perceived shot to knock off the opponent, a very well funded congressman who is leaving washington to try and grab the governorship?
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megawill
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Cappy
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Posted: 11/08/05 - 13:10 Post subject: Re: Are you a political idealist or realist?
I think I would probably support the candidate who best fits my ideals. Even if s/he is the underdog. The fact that the party machine didn't support them as much would be an added bonus
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jrjo
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Posted: 11/08/05 - 13:15 Post subject: Re: Are you a political idealist or realist?
| Cappy wrote: | | I think I would probably support the candidate who best fits my ideals. Even if s/he is the underdog. The fact that the party machine didn't support them as much would be an added bonus |
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megawill
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Posted: 11/08/05 - 13:17 Post subject: Re: Are you a political idealist or realist?
| Cappy wrote: | | I think I would probably support the candidate who best fits my ideals. Even if s/he is the underdog. The fact that the party machine didn't support them as much would be an added bonus |
but what if in your heart of hearts, you knew that as much as you felt you were supporting the 'best' candidate, that should they beat all odds and become the party's nominee that they would most likely stand a snowball's chance against the eventual candidate from the opposing party who is/was diametrically opposed to your views???
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megawill
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Cappy
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Posted: 11/08/05 - 13:24 Post subject: Re: Are you a political idealist or realist?
| megawill wrote: | | Cappy wrote: | | I think I would probably support the candidate who best fits my ideals. Even if s/he is the underdog. The fact that the party machine didn't support them as much would be an added bonus |
but what if in your heart of hearts, you knew that as much as you felt you were supporting the 'best' candidate, that should they beat all odds and become the party's nominee that they would most likely stand a snowball's chance against the eventual candidate from the opposing party who is/was diametrically opposed to your views???
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megawill |
If said candidate did get the nomination, and had no shot, they would still get my support. I have voted that way for years.
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megawill
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Posted: 11/08/05 - 13:31 Post subject: Re: Are you a political idealist or realist?
| Quote: |
If said candidate did get the nomination, and had no shot, they would still get my support. I have voted that way for years. |
I agree with your statement but that isn't quite what I was asking.
My question is more along the lines of why not support the candidate that you agree with say at the 75% level that has a 50/50 shot of winning the general election vs someone who you agree with 90% level who has a 30% shot at winning the general?
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megawill
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Cappy
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Posted: 11/08/05 - 13:38 Post subject: Re: Are you a political idealist or realist?
| megawill wrote: | | Cappy wrote: |
If said candidate did get the nomination, and had no shot, they would still get my support. I have voted that way for years. |
I agree with your statement but that isn't quite what I was asking.
My question is more along the lines of why not support the candidate that you agree with say at the 75% level that has a 50/50 shot of winning the general election vs someone who you agree with 90% level who has a 30% shot at winning the general?
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megawill |
I understand what you are saying, what I am saying is that I don't vote for the candidate that will likely will, I vote for the one I want to win, even if I am the only person who supports them.
I will use a sports analogy. I root for the Philadelphia Eagles, no matter who they are playing, no matter how bad they are, no matter what the score is.
Bottom line, I don't jump on bandwagons
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megawill
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Posted: 11/08/05 - 13:44 Post subject: Re: Are you a political idealist or realist?
why? wouldn't the 75% solution be better in the long run than having the opponent win who you may only agree with 10% of the time?
(not attacking, just really trying to understand your line of reasoning...not sure where I fall on this spectrum yet, in my younger years I tended to always vote for the candidate (including fringe candidates) that fell in line with where I was at politically at the time...now I'm leaning more towards the candidate that can 'beat the opponent' ....)
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megawill
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Cappy
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Posted: 11/08/05 - 13:53 Post subject:
I will use the Senate race last year as an example. I didn't like the incumbent, Specter, nor his challenger Hoeffel. I voted for a third party candidate who fell more in line with my thinking. I knew there was no way in hell he would win, but I cast my vote for him anyway. I figured it would send a message.
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prohemp
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Posted: 11/08/05 - 13:56 Post subject: Re: Are you a political idealist or realist?
| megawill wrote: | | Quote: |
If said candidate did get the nomination, and had no shot, they would still get my support. I have voted that way for years. |
I agree with your statement but that isn't quite what I was asking.
My question is more along the lines of why not support the candidate that you agree with say at the 75% level that has a 50/50 shot of winning the general election vs someone who you agree with 90% level who has a 30% shot at winning the general?
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megawill |
I would vote for the person i agree with 75% with the 50% chance of winning because then in the next round for all the marbles, 75% of my values are able to oppose the candidate who may represent 0% of my values.
Greg, i think your analogy may not support your theory - you're saying that you are cheering for the eagles regardless of who the have playing for them. that's kinda like voting the party regardless of who is running??
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prohemp
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Posted: 11/08/05 - 13:59 Post subject:
| Cappy wrote: | | I will use the Senate race last year as an example. I didn't like the incumbent, Specter, nor his challenger Hoeffel. I voted for a third party candidate who fell more in line with my thinking. I knew there was no way in hell he would win, but I cast my vote for him anyway. I figured it would send a message. |
What if hoeffel won and hoefel stands for everything you don't believe in? wouldn't spector who may share some of your beliefs be better than allowing hoeffel who shares none??
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Cappy
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Posted: 11/08/05 - 14:03 Post subject:
| prohemp wrote: | | Cappy wrote: | | I will use the Senate race last year as an example. I didn't like the incumbent, Specter, nor his challenger Hoeffel. I voted for a third party candidate who fell more in line with my thinking. I knew there was no way in hell he would win, but I cast my vote for him anyway. I figured it would send a message. |
What if hoeffel won and hoefel stands for everything you don't believe in? wouldn't spector who may share some of your beliefs be better than allowing hoeffel who shares none?? |
Well, if Hoeffel did win, knowing that I didn't vote for him would be enough for me.
The same goes for Specter, even though he won
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wanttorun100
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Posted: 11/08/05 - 14:10 Post subject: Re: Are you a political idealist or realist?
In your case I say follow your heart.
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megawill
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Posted: 11/08/05 - 14:12 Post subject: Re: Are you a political idealist or realist?
| wanttorun100 wrote: | | In your case I say follow your heart. |
and i would graciously advise you to do the same 
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megawill
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prohemp
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Posted: 11/08/05 - 14:16 Post subject:
this is an extreme example -
but say candidate A wanted to abolish religion, candidate B wanted to keep religion but implement a plan to restrict worhip to one day a month while Candidate C wanted to keep government's hands off of religion. Your belief system is in line with candidate C.
Chances of winning - Candidates A and B are in a tight race that could go either way - candidate C does not stand a chance but votes for cand C will probably take votes away from candidate B.
Voting candidate C may clear your conscience but at the end of the day, Candidate A wins and now religion is illegal and you can't worship openly.
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