I've heard a lot of crap on this blog with people crucifying "Nader Voters" and "Dean Write-ins". Not content to lay blame on 2000, some have resorted to childish threats and taunts for 2004. It's got no purpose except to piss off the very people the democratic party needs to win over this time around.
I've heard just about just about everything on this blog from "traitor to the Democratic party" to "you owe it to the soldiers and the unemployed to vote for Dem Nominee" to accusations of being selfish, ignorant, and whiney. I've heard "a vote for Nader is a vote for Bush". I've heard "If we lose it's all your fault" and I just have to ask,
Where does it end? If you're going to blame Nader Voters you might as well blame the 10% of dems who voted for Bush in 2000. You might as well blame the voters in Florida who voted for the communist party candidate.
While we're at it, why not blame those pesky republicans who vote for Bush because they think he's "a nice guy" and "he's doing his best". Or those who think he's a "great leader" in spite of so much evidence to the contrary.
How is a small handful of Nader voters or Dean write-ins anymore culpable to a Kerry loss than people who vote for Bush?
Let's face it folks. If Bush wins and Kerry loses, who is really to blame besides Bush and Kerry? It's their task to convince voters that they are the best choice for the job. If one fails (as one must) then it's their failure not the failure of the voters. And that's what democracy is all about: people having the freedom to believe and vote differently than YOU.
You can choose to accept that and respect others like grown-ups or you can be as hateful as the republicans your so despise. It's your choice.
When I get into that booth I am going to vote for the person I think is best suited to the job. It might not be Kerry. It definately won't be Bush. I might even write-in. But I am not a traitor to the democratic party (Hell I'm not even a democrat. I am if anything an Independant), I am not selfish or ignorant and while I could probably be considered a bit pissed off I am not whiney.