Politics, Party, Morality, History...

[WillyT]

It's not that I won't vote for him in 2012... given the crop of current Republicans, I probably will. It's just that I don't care so much anymore.

The GOTV Cunundrum.

I'm pretty sure I'll probably vote for him over whoever the Republican Candidate is...

If I have nothing better to do.

:shrug:

BTW - I ABSOLUTELY HATE BEING TOLD I HAVE NOWHERE ELSE TO GO.

Nothing better to do... of course I do... go to a movie.

:shrug:

[opihimoimoi]

1. If the Leader is faltering...come, we go help....

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

2. I'm with these guys when it comes to that question.

"I never submitted the whole system of my opinions to the creed of any party of men whatever, in religion, in philosophy, in politics, or in anything else, where I was capable of thinking for myself. Such an addiction is the last degradation of a free and moral agent. If I could not go to heaven but with a party, I would not go there at all." Thomas Jefferson to Francis Hopkinson, 1789.

"Were parties here divided merely by a greediness for office,...to take a part with either would be unworthy of a reasonable or moral man." Thomas Jefferson to William Branch Giles, 1795.

“Always vote for principle, though you may vote alone, you may cherish the sweetest reflection that your vote is never lost." John Quincy Adams

[H2O Man]

3. 2012

I think that there are two important factors: first, I do not think President Obama would have an easy time being re-elected, if the republicans had a strong candidate; second, there does not appear to be any potential republican candidate that will make a strong challenge.

Some of our friends here point to polls that indicate President Obama is relatively popular, and enjoys the potential support of nearly half those asked if they will vote for him in 2012. I do not question the significance of such polls, especially in the context of Obama's running against a weak republican candidate.

However, things can change -- and quickly. The economy and war in Libya could hurt the President. And if a stronger candidate gets into the republican primaries, the election in November will not be a popularity contest. It will be decided on electorate votes, meaning if a challenger takes traditional republican states, and gets victories in some of the up-for-grabs regions of the country, it could be ugly.

It bothers me that this President, and his administration, take the democratic left for granted.