Have you ever hated both Presidential Candidates to the point where you just refuse to vote????

[Stardreamer]

Clinton pretty much represents everything I hate in a career politician. I think the incident with her email server pretty much outlines it for me. No I'm not talking about all the hype the Republicans are screaming about but the actual facts of what was done and the reasons for it both implied and stated. She set that up for her personal convenience, she became part of the loose attitude towards information security that permeates the State Department instead of fixing it, and I can't realistically not believe that one of the reasons for doing so was to shield her official communications from FOIA and record keeping requirements. I would never have considered voting for her if the Republicans had fielded a candidate that was even half assed qualified.

As negative as her attitudes and actions as a professional politico is though there is one thing I cannot deny. She is at least qualified to do the job even if I might not agree with all her positions. Trump however is completely and utterly unqualified. Every word he speaks on foreign policy shows he is utterly clueless and his economic suggestions (I can't call them plans) are disasters. I could maybe deal with that if he showed signs of surrounding himself with experts to help but his ego appears to prevent him from doing so. The real nail in the coffin for me is his stated intent to order our military people to commit war crimes. As ex-military, I absolutely categorically refuse to vote for him unless he utterly revokes that position.

I refuse to not vote. So I am left with an ego driven, dangerously unqualified fool or a strongly disapproved of but at least qualified politician. I could make a stand on conscience and vote for Gary Johnson. I likely will if it is obvious that Trump will lose anyway. But if there is any real chance of Trump winning, I will likely vote in the best interests of the country and take the lessor evil of Clinton.

 

[Rolyo85]

Clinton pretty much represents everything I hate in a career politician. I think the incident with her email server pretty much outlines it for me. No I'm not talking about all the hype the Republicans are screaming about but the actual facts of what was done and the reasons for it both implied and stated. She set that up for her personal convenience, she became part of the loose attitude towards information security that permeates the State Department instead of fixing it, and I can't realistically not believe that one of the reasons for doing so was to shield her official communications from FOIA and record keeping requirements. I would never have considered voting for her if the Republicans had fielded a candidate that was even half assed qualified.

As negative as her attitudes and actions as a professional politico is though there is one thing I cannot deny. She is at least qualified to do the job even if I might not agree with all her positions. Trump however is completely and utterly unqualified. Every word he speaks on foreign policy shows he is utterly clueless and his economic suggestions (I can't call them plans) are disasters. I could maybe deal with that if he showed signs of surrounding himself with experts to help but his ego appears to prevent him from doing so. The real nail in the coffin for me is his stated intent to order our military people to commit war crimes. As ex-military, I absolutely categorically refuse to vote for him unless he utterly revokes that position.

I refuse to not vote. So I am left with an ego driven, dangerously unqualified fool or a strongly disapproved of but at least qualified politician. I could make a stand on conscience and vote for Gary Johnson. I likely will if it is obvious that Trump will lose anyway. But if there is any real chance of Trump winning, I will likely vote in the best interests of the country and take the lessor evil of Clinton.

Remember that one time when the FBI said that her emails were NOT classified at the time?

 

[CoolBlue71]

I'm 32, so I've voted in the 2004, 2008, and 2012 election.

Never before have I so despised both candidates that I refuse to vote. The system is broke, the Republicans have selected a man who I feel is mentally unstable. That is just a gut feeling, but I would never want a man with such a short fuse to have our nuclear launch codes.

And fuck Hillary. I feel like she is a character in Game of Thrones, married to a very powerful man who fucks whores behind her back. Bill's own whoring almost leads to his downfall, but he's a master spinner and manages to escape this scandal with his reputation intact. Yet despite the scandal she stays with Bill, to advance her own interests, to advance her own political game. I hate the way she has played the game, as I feel like she would have divorced Bill if he had been a loser and resigned the presidency. But no, Bill won the game, so she stuck with his bullshit because he was a winner in our version of Game of Thrones, thus that made her all the more valuable.

Granted I think she is qualified and able to rule our kingdom, but I despise a political dynasty, as that is why we broke away from England in the first place, we did not want a house ruling our kingdom for generations, decades, centuries on end.

My suggestion is this: Trust your own judgment. When the general election arrives, handle your vote however you will. There is no need, even if you have it in your head that you believe you have such need, to run your thoughts by anyone. I share your distrust of both Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton. (Only, how I would articulate my distrust of them is not exactly the same as what you said of yours. But, in a way, we are on the same page. And their disapprovals are high.) So, if you do vote, whoever gets your vote should feel damn lucky to have received it. And that's because no candidate for office is entitled to anyone's vote.

 

[Stardreamer]

Remember that one time when the FBI said that her emails were NOT classified at the time?

Not really but from what I've seen of State's attitudes towards information security it is not surprising to find out that they were. One would think that the Secretary of State would want to do something about practices and attitudes that allowed that material to be in the unclassified systems at all. Instead she made it worse by routing her mail outside the system.

 

[palemale]

Not really but from what I've seen of State's attitudes towards information security it is not surprising to find out that they were. One would think that the Secretary of State would want to do something about practices and attitudes that allowed that material to be in the unclassified systems at all. Instead she made it worse by routing her mail outside the system.

I agree about the email. I'm voting for Hillary, but I do not agree with those who say it wasn't a big deal. The Clinton's are too secretive and paranoid. While the Clintons have real enemies in the Republicans, it doesn't matter. The essence of democracy is an informed public that knows what elected officials are doing. If anyone cannot accept that basic fact, they should not run for office. Nevertheless, we are stuck with her and the idea of a Trump presidency is so frightening, I will vote for Hillary and encourage others to do so as well. Not that it matters, almost my entire family and friends are in New York and New Jersey, which will vote overwhelmingly for Hillary.

 

[frankfrank]

I truly believe that if Trump and Pence get their hooks into the Supreme Court that LGBT people in America will be in serious trouble. You can be sure that the community is on Trump's list of groups to blame for all the world's problem - he simply hasn't gotten to it yet.

I believe that somebody researched his list of possible replacements, and every one of them is antigay.

Trump's Thursday acceptance speech says that he will protect the LGBT community from danger and violence that comes from abroad. LOOPHOLE...he's free not to care what is done entirely within this country. People such as his running mate Pence are an existential threat to us.

He is NOT going to nuance his Supreme Court choices to make sure they will vote affirmatively on pro-gay issues and protection, while toeing the Republican line on so many other things. Of course the Republicans in the Senate will REQUIRE him to name right wingers, perhaps Dominionists, to the Court. Protection of those icky gay people will be the first and most sure casualty of all this.

It is nice to see there are SOME "Americans" who actually realize the importance of the Supreme Court, and how the wrong people on that bench can allow this country to turn into an absolute theocratic dictatorship. We are only five to eight decisions away from that, and they are issues which most often TEND to be decided 5-4 (when the court is full).

Replace Scalia with an über-Scalia, and later replace Ginsberg with another one, and the idea of The Land Of the Free is DEAD.

 

[Kabluey]

That is foolish. There are more than two running. Back someone you believe in.

You may as well vote for cotton candy if you insist on pointless wasted exercises.

 

[rareboy]

Logic is wasted on the fringe candidate supporters.

As long as they vote...that is the main thing.

 

[Alnitak]

Logic is wasted on the fringe candidate supporters.

As long as they vote...that is the main thing.

In this case it is better that they not vote, because they are hurting the only candidate whom can win whom shares the most views.

 

[rareboy]

I guess I was thinking that there's not a lot of difference between not voting or voting for one of the fringe candidates. At least in the latter case, they are still participating in democracy whereas if they just stay home and pout....there is no record of their idiotic choice.

When they get a chance to see how their stupid voting may help give them a right wing moron who destroys the US politically and economically...they can thank themselves....like all those Ralph Nader supporters who gave the world GW Bush Co.

 

[nycguydowntown]

to answer your question--I feel your pain I really do. I'm voting Hillary for the Supreme court---it's been very conservative for 30 plus years---and it's time to make it a liberal court

 

[Alnitak]

I guess I was thinking that there's not a lot of difference between not voting or voting for one of the fringe candidates.

There is a difference. Voting third party decreases the likelihood that the most likely to win candidate with similar views loses. Not voting increases that likelihood.

At least in the latter case, they are still participating in democracy whereas if they just stay home and pout....there is no record of their idiotic choice.

Not in a helpful way they aren't. In fact it can be anti-democratic. Voting third party, if that party shares the most view with the most likely to win, is giving power to the choice most likely to win that the fewest people like.

When they get a chance to see how their stupid voting may help give them a right wing moron who destroys the US politically and economically...they can thank themselves....like all those Ralph Nader supporters who gave the world GW Bush Co.

That's not how people think or act.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heuristic

 

[eastofeden]

I think it depends on whether the third party will hurt your candidate...or the other one?

In this case with Johnson ahead...those are votes taken from Trump as Stein votes are votes that were potentially Bernie's or now Hillary's...to lose. It looks like more voters want to protest Trump than want to protest Hillary which makes sense because one is clearly 1000x more competent and the other..not at all competent to even hold the office.

At least if you vote for Hillary..you can plug your nose with the knowledge that even if you personally dislike her..there is actually no one from either side of the aisle more qualified during this cycle....

It is also notable that as much as we hear how so many people hate her...she has come it at #1 for 20 of 24 years as the most admired woman in the world....so even if you buy all the dastardly evil power hungry Hillary narrative which is mostly false...there are definitely ALOT of people worldwide who respect her...immensely...seems to me like it might be the silent majority....

She has broken Gallup records as the most admired WOMAN OR MAN since the survey began.....not an easy feat..eh?

http://www.gallup.com/poll/187922/clinton-admired-woman-record-20th-time.aspx

Hell..even Donald is a TRUE FAN of the woman

(sorry...but I want to post this as much as possible 'til November LOL)

 

[Alnitak]

^^^

She was also universally liked by the left until she ran for president and the hate machine started spewing shit. It could just as easily happen to any Democrat. As soon as you seek higher office there is no shortage of competitors to tear you down, and the parrots will absolutely repeat whatever is fed to them.

 

[eastofeden]

^^^

She was also universally liked by the left until she ran for president and the hate machine started spewing shit. It could just as easily happen to any Democrat. As soon as you seek higher office there is no shortage of competitors to tear you down, and the parrots will absolutely repeat whatever is fed to them.

All of it QUOTED FOR TRUTH!...but especially the part in bold...because that is something each of us individually can undo....

 

[Rubber Rat]

Answer: No.

 

[72-Jay]

Yep:
2012:
I would have voted with the republican, but with them picking Romney, I certainly couldn't vote for him. There was no way in hell I'd ever go for the democrat's candidate, That left me with no other choice but to vote for a 3rd party guy

1992:
I also voted 3rd party - Ross Perot.

-----
This year... too early to say who I'll go for.

 

[Rolyo85]

Yep: 2012: I would have voted with the republican, but with them picking Romney, I certainly couldn't vote for him. There was no way in hell I'd ever go for the democrat's candidate, That left me with no other choice but to vote for a 3rd party guy 1992: I also voted 3rd party - Ross Perot. ----- This year... too early to say who I'll go for.

I'm sorry that you hate yourself

 

[Rickrock]

I agree with Rubber Rat, no, I have always voted in the presidential election. I have missed a few off-presidential elections, but sometimes local issues are worth voting on as well as state and congressional representatives.

 

[Kabluey]

^^^

She was also universally liked by the left until she ran for president and the hate machine started spewing shit. It could just as easily happen to any Democrat. As soon as you seek higher office there is no shortage of competitors to tear you down, and the parrots will absolutely repeat whatever is fed to them.

It doesn't help when there's a TV network dedicated to partisan promotion of political propaganda (Fox).

And a conservative radio network (iHeartRadio) whose hosts will say anything to attack liberal candidates (while ignoring the fact the hosts are employed by a subsidiary of a company controlled by a former Republican presidential candidate).

Unfortunately many people are eager to listen to rumour in shouty voices without questioning who is paying for it.