Yes, this die-hard vote-Dem-only gal is voting for a Green in 2006

[LynneSin]

But just for this one election.

Michael Berg, father of Nick Berg the contractor who was murdered in Iraq, is running for DE's lone house seat. The incumbant is Mike Castle, one of the more moderate republicans in the house but let's face it - he supported Delay/Hassert leadership so he has to go. And Democrats have barely fielded a candidte the past couple of elections because Castle is pretty popular in the state that is overwhelmly blue. So I'm not even sure if the democrats will field a candidate and even if they do it won't be any threat against Castle.

Which is why I'm excited about Michael Berg. First, he has name recognition. Everyone knows the story about his son was made hostage and beheaded in Iraq. Michael has now become a very vocal part of the anti-war movement because of this. Just this past year he had moved from his home in SE Pennsylvania to Delaware and was recently approached to run for office.

However, this support doesn't make me a Green. I'm a democrat all the way, but I really think here is a great opportunity for us to win a seat even if it's occupied by a Green (it's all good) and I'm planning on going to my local Delaware Dem parties to help push our party to support this guy.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060417/ap_on_el_ho/berg_congress

Peace Activist Seeks Delaware House Seat
By RANDALL CHASE, Associated Press Writer
Mon Apr 17, 7:13 PM ET



WILMINGTON, Del. - Unlike other candidates who have challenged Delaware's popular Republican congressman in recent elections, Michael Berg shouldn't have a problem with name recognition.

Since he spoke out two years ago about the death of his son, Nick, a 26-year-old contractor who was beheaded in Iraq, Berg has been interviewed, marched in anti-war protests and given speeches around the globe.

He's also been arrested about a half-dozen times for civil disobedience, most recently at the Pentagon while trying to get an audience with Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld.

"This midterm election is really a referendum on the war, it's a referendum on the Bush policies," said Berg, who believes the most urgent task facing the nation is to end U.S. military involvement in Iraq.

[seriousstan]

1. I believe it is against the rules to promote a non-Dem candidate here.

[LynneSin]

2. Well, since there is no democratic candidate running for the position

so be it.

I'm supporting every other democrat running for office in Delaware - so sue me!

[danalytical]

3. Good

good for you. I would do the same.

[IndianaGreen]

5. There is no Democratic candidate running against Lugar in Indiana either!

So unless you are advocating voting for the GOP, the anti-GOP voter has to vote for a third party.

[LynneSin]

8. Well, I should correct myself, there could possibly be a dem candidate

and if he/she is like the last 4 dem candidates that ran against Castle we'll be lucky if we get 20% of the vote.

Personally, I think the Greens were smart recruiting him for the house seat because they know that Tom Carper, our democratic DLC senator up for re-election, is still quite popular in the state and they probably would have a hard time getting support from cross-over dems. But by running him for the house seat they'll get great democratic cross-over votes even if a democrat tosses their hat into the ring and also runs for the house seat.

However, I will probably start attending my local deldem meetings and getting some suport that way. Berg was a democrat when he moved to delaware, we should have recruited him first

[Gidney N Cloyd]

13. That's shameful.

SOMEone should be running. If not on general principles of democracy then just to make the repubs spend some money & attention. I will never understand uncontested (and virtually uncontested) races

[ecdab]

4. Good for Michael Berg

and good for you. Since there is no Democrat running, I hope you get your local Democratic Party to give Mr. Berg a helping hand.

[Warpy]

6. I'm spending my Senatorial vote on a Green, so you're not alone

My senator has just stabbed me in the back too many times, rolling over for incredibly anticonsumer, antilabor, procorporate legislation. The rollover on both Roberts and Alito was the last straw. He is not going to protect my rights or my interests.

He's also considered a shoo-in for reelection. My vote will be a protest vote, a reminder that progressives can and will rebel against increasing party conservatism.

I just can't vote for the man.

[LynneSin]

7. See, now I wouldn't do that one at all

Especially if my senator was a democrat, which Tom Carper is (and he's a DLC democrat to boot).

I know that even if there was a democratic candidate against my representative, that said candidate wouldn't get more than 25-30% of the vote and perhaps with the anti-war/anti-bush sentiment going on that someone with name recognition like Michael Berg might be able to win that seat.

But why would I fuck up a chance at getting a majority leadership somewhere by hurting my chances for a democratic incumbant in the general election? I'm not that dense. Tom Carper may piss me off and I won't vote for him in the primaries. But I know that Tom Carper will support the democratic leadership that would allow someone like Patrick Leahy to run the judicial committee and put a stop to these diehard neo-con judges getting through committee and onto the bench. I know that Ted Kennedy would be in charge of the Education department and do something about turning around our sagging education being hinder by the NCLB program. I know that we'll have strong democrats running some of our committees that can help make a difference for these last 2 years with the asshole in the white house. Just the fact that we could possibly stop poor judicial nominations is good enough for me to vote for Tom Carper. Remember, when we had the majority back in 2001-2 NONE of those hard-core fundie judges got out of committee - NONE OF THEM. You want to fuck that up?

My voting for a green isn't a protest against a bad democrat but an opportunity to unseat a republican. Please don't lump your abilities to derail elections with my willingest to support a candidate in an election where the only other option is a republican. We're hardly on the same page and I don't want your message spoiling mine

[Warpy]

9. What part of "shoo in" didn't you GET?

This race won't be close, not at all.

Besides, there really is little difference between this guy and his GOP opposition. I wish I could delude myself that a majority of DLC Democrats will make a difference, but it won't.

The party has got to know that people out here in workaday land are not happy with conservative control.

If we don't tell them, they'll never get it.

You may want to rubberstamp neoGOP conservatism if it's got a "D" after its name.

I don't. I want my country back. I want my party back. And I resent your attitude that I can't possibly have a point if I am not in lockstep supporting bad politicians. Bad ones have to go. If we can't get them out, we need to tell them that we don't approve of what they're doing.

My one vote for a Green will send that message.

[LynneSin]

10. No it won't - don't delude yourself over that one

seriously! We've been harping that message for years and nothing has changed

I'm not trying to send a message to the democrats, it just happens to be that a person who I admire is running for office on the green ticket.

And with the electorial system setup the way it is - I don't believe anything will be a shoo-in except Kenneth Blackwell's Ohio election for governor. But then again he has stock in Diebold

And edit note:

You want to scare your democratic candidate - run someone against him/her. Believe me, if they have a threat in the primaries, that'll teach them a lesson way much more than what voting green in the primaries ever will. I've heard that same old song and dance for 6 years now and I've quit buying the message about "Voting Green will be the protest vote and send a powerful message". It hasn't yet and still won't. Get someone running in the primaries and fight for them - that'll be something they'll remember

[Oversea Visitor]

14. Smart

What happen to the republician party can happen to the DEM
If the rep dont listen to the people kick them out
Then they sure listen to you

The hate again dem liberal and so on are just trying to create hate to keep republician American loyal to a bunch of crooks.
Same kind of hate for repuke can blind you

Blind hate dont use brain
When you use brain you see more clearly

[Oversea Visitor]

11. One less for repuke

Who cares
Its is either One less repuke or one more repuke either way zero for dem :(

If one less repuke mean green go for it
since otherwise one more repuke

TAKE ALL SEAT chanllenge them everywhere

[Jai4WKC08]

15. A Green is bound to caucus with the Dems

So for the purpose of House or Senate leadership, committee chairs, legislative agenda, etc, a Green is as good as a Dem.

Now, I'm not advocating voting Green except when the is absolutely, positively, ZERO% chance of a Dem winning. Like in the OP, when there's not even one running.

But one less Repub DOES matter, even if there's no gain for the Dems.

[gasperc]

12. all I can say is, we need more cow bell

!!!!!!!!!!!!!