Should I vote for the douchebag?

I got back from the park a little bit ago.  I was at our city's 4th of July festival registering voters.  One of our Democratic candidates for State Assembly was there and, you know, if he had been the first Democrat I ever met I would have walked away hating Democrats.

First, he complained that there were too many 4th of July celebrations in the county.  He said he thought they should just have one celebration in the county seed because it is too hard for the candidates to get to all the people.  Funny, I didn't realize the 4th of July celebrations were about the candidates.

Then he went out to pass out his literature.  He was gone about 15 minutes and came stomping back like a two-year-old.  He proclaimed that he wasn't going to walk around anymore because it was a "waste of time" because "half these people aren't even registered anyway."  Mind you, we had clipboards with voter registration forms at the booth.

But you know what really bugged me?  He got on a soap box about healthcare and then actually said that if a patient does not follow the doctor's orders exactly they should be allowed to kick them off the healthcare plan and refuse to treat them anymore.  The fu..?

Can I have another candidate, please?  I really know nothing about the Republican, but I think I need to do some research.  This guy was being condescending to everyone, trying to get everyone to have fundraisers for him, and in general being kind of a prick.

In general I am not a down ticket voter.  I vote for the candidate, not the party.  This election season, though, the Republicans have been so awful I find it hard to vote for any of them.  But I don't think I can vote for this guy.

The guy really didn't even sound like a Democrat.  When he first started talking he used all the right buzz words, but after a couple of sentances he sounded more like a nazi than anything.

•  Tip jar

  by ThatPoshGirl on Fri Jul 04, 2008 at 04:30:47 PM PDT

  •  Vote for a 3rd party candidate..

    in your local election if you can...Vote for Obama in the national election  :-)

    by Apocalypse Please on Fri Jul 04, 2008 at 04:34:30 PM PDT

  •  Sorry.

    Sounds like a real asshat.  

    Who the heck complains about too many July 4th celebrations?

    by Lava20 on Fri Jul 04, 2008 at 04:37:59 PM PDT

    •  We'll never know

      since the diarist won't say

      by bunny99 on Fri Jul 04, 2008 at 04:40:07 PM PDT

  •  I didn't know Bob Novak for running for office,

    and as a Democrat, too!

    .. why the very noive!
    Nyuk, nyuk, nyuk ..

    by shpilk on Fri Jul 04, 2008 at 05:49:22 PM PDT

•  Name of this candidate please

  by IhateBush on Fri Jul 04, 2008 at 04:34:28 PM PDT

  •  I'm not going to say

    by ThatPoshGirl on Fri Jul 04, 2008 at 04:35:57 PM PDT

    •  You should.

      Perhaps we could a real Dem for you.  At the least a great Progressive third party.

      by Lava20 on Fri Jul 04, 2008 at 04:37:21 PM PDT

    •  Is he being opposed in the primary?

      The Democratic primary here in NY is not until September, if he is being opposed, get behind the other guy.

      by bobscofield on Fri Jul 04, 2008 at 04:45:20 PM PDT

      •  Not as far as I know

        And I'm moving at the end of the year or I'd oppose him myself.  How hard can assembly really be?

        by ThatPoshGirl on Fri Jul 04, 2008 at 04:46:53 PM PDT

    •  Why not? n/t

      by MaskedKat on Fri Jul 04, 2008 at 04:46:50 PM PDT

      •  I don't know, it just feels wrong.

        by ThatPoshGirl on Fri Jul 04, 2008 at 04:48:24 PM PDT

        •  I think I can kind of understand

          you don't want to trash him in case it turns out the Republican is even worse, maybe?

          Sending a link to this diary (anonymously) to his campaign might not be a bad idea.

          by MaskedKat on Fri Jul 04, 2008 at 04:51:52 PM PDT

        •  Okay, well, nothing personal, but this isn't

          high school, this is a political blog. If you want to complain about a political candidate who is displaying agregious behavior that is, IMO, damaging to his constituents, you should be willing to name the candidate so that he can be stopped, primaried or otherwise voted out. If you're not willing, then you should put it in a gossip forum.

          Just sayin'

          It's your choice.

          by second gen on Fri Jul 04, 2008 at 04:54:48 PM PDT

          •  This blog is worthless...

            ... Without a name.

            by ArcXIX on Fri Jul 04, 2008 at 05:58:08 PM PDT

        •  let the democratic voters know what you do

          don't let what happened to us, (<--my comment below) happen to you!</p>

          by sc kitty on Fri Jul 04, 2008 at 04:57:42 PM PDT

          •  We have a democratic club meeting on Thursday

            and he is suppose to be there.  I will feel him out a little more.  If he still seems douchebaggy on second viewing I will take more action.  I will also probably challenge on some stuff if he says anymore stupid shit like he said today.

            by ThatPoshGirl on Fri Jul 04, 2008 at 05:01:56 PM PDT

            •  You can be charitable

              Maybe he was having a shitty day. Fight with wife and the car won't start and his kid comes out as a Republican and his cousin stars in COPS episode and then he drops his cellphone in public toilet. It happens. I'd be hard to get along with.

              by liberalis on Fri Jul 04, 2008 at 05:21:16 PM PDT

            •  Isn't it about 108 or so out there?

              I could understand having a bad day in that.  But this guy needs a little advice on behaving in public.  Not to mention some education about healthcare issues!

              I'd have called him as ass right then and there; you have so much more self restraint than I do!

              by Rogneid on Fri Jul 04, 2008 at 06:56:46 PM PDT

          •  Kitty, I love

            "Limpy" Graham. Made me snort juice out my nose!

            A propos of almost nothing except the fact you're in SC... a guy I took a Poli Sci course with in college (USC) is now a state representative... a Rethug. Rick Quinn.

            Wow. The guy was stupid. Dumb as a box of rocks. Sweet and kind of cute in that Opie Taylor way, but really really dumb.

            by MaskedKat on Fri Jul 04, 2008 at 05:27:53 PM PDT

    •  Huh?

      You're more than a little miffed at him and you're passing up a chance to open up a can of National WhoopAss?

      You could make this guy as famous as Oniontown.

      by john07801 on Fri Jul 04, 2008 at 04:48:59 PM PDT

    •  why the fuck not?

      by Dirk Thrust on Fri Jul 04, 2008 at 05:33:49 PM PDT

  •  What a Chickenshit Diarist!

    Won't even name names.....

    Pass the pie please!

    by Vigil Lante on Fri Jul 04, 2008 at 05:03:57 PM PDT

    •  quite possibly cuz it's a pile of bollocks!

      by Dirk Thrust on Fri Jul 04, 2008 at 05:34:39 PM PDT

•  a repub in democratic clothing, maybe?

  we just had one win in the democratic primaries --

  Bob Conley, a Ron Paul repub up against Senator Limpy Graham

  UGH!!!!!

  by sc kitty on Fri Jul 04, 2008 at 04:39:22 PM PDT

•  Personally, while I like to for the Democrat, I'm

  not exclusively a party voter. If I research, and the Democrat is a total douchebag, and the Republican, or a third party candidate is a good candidate (not usual, but it happens) I will go for the other. I would never reward that sort of candidate with my vote.  

  If I differed on an issue or two, that would be one thing, but this guy sounds like a total, double package douche. Nozzle and all.

  I would also be sure to write him and let him know exactly why. That you met him at the 4th of July festivities, and well, pretty much what you wrote here, with more respectful language, (so he'll take you seriously, if that's possible with a narcissist) and who you voted for (or plan to vote for) and why. And that you usually vote down ticket. I would also let him know about 50 state strategies and voter registration and that you were actually there to regiter voters and if he hadn't been whining about it, you might have been able to talk to him about more GOTV activities he could get involved in (if he wasn't too busy)

  by second gen on Fri Jul 04, 2008 at 04:42:52 PM PDT

•  You said:

  "One of our Democratic candidates for State Assembly..."

  Are there more than one, as in, is there a primary?

  Our (primary-unchallenged) state candidates don't usually venture out of their districts on the Fourth.

  If there is a primary, you know what you must do. If not, you can help make sure that there is a primary next time (if this asshat wins).

  In the meantime, unless the repub is really better, and the majority of the Assembly isn't threatened, you can do your will. But if there's a lot at stake, you might consider voting for the enema bag and trying to educate him as time goes on.

  by RonV on Fri Jul 04, 2008 at 04:45:51 PM PDT

•  Three things to do first.

  Research, research and research.

  by dov12348 on Fri Jul 04, 2008 at 04:55:22 PM PDT

•  what level of "douchebag" is this candidate?

  check here

  (i don't know how to put up photos...sorry)

  by sc kitty on Fri Jul 04, 2008 at 05:00:47 PM PDT

  •  LOL

    I think he's a three trying to climb to a two.

    by ThatPoshGirl on Fri Jul 04, 2008 at 05:03:17 PM PDT

    •  glad i got you to laugh!

      tinfoil territory here:  i think if the repubs are having a hard time this year, one way to get elected is to pretend they are democrats.  

      by sc kitty on Fri Jul 04, 2008 at 05:06:48 PM PDT

    •  So, that would be like,

      a yellow on the Homeland Douchebaggery level?

      by MaskedKat on Fri Jul 04, 2008 at 05:29:54 PM PDT

•  Sounds like this an instance where you should

  vote "none of the above" by skipping that particular race.

  I must confess that I have voted once or twice for a competent republican in down-ticket races (in my misspent youth), but I mostly find that even if the Democrat is worthless, the republican is below zero on the scale. Lacking any non-loony third-party choices, I just won't vote for anyone in that slot. Fortunately this situation seldom arises for me.

  by bleeding blue on Fri Jul 04, 2008 at 05:19:17 PM PDT

•  Steve Dalton?

  Dem candidate for 38th district in NV. Could be him.

  by NegSpin on Fri Jul 04, 2008 at 05:23:23 PM PDT

•  You Sound Better Qualified Than Him

  I think you should consider running in the next election -- maybe you'll experience the joy (and sweet revenge) of unseating him in the primary.

  Good luck in the voting booth.

  by Limelite on Fri Jul 04, 2008 at 05:24:26 PM PDT

•  The way you describe the candidate

  he could be bad news for all Democrats down the line.  
  It sounds like someone you might not want to work for, maybe work against somehow.  

  by myrealname on Fri Jul 04, 2008 at 05:27:03 PM PDT

•  write in Mickey Mouse

  by shpilk on Fri Jul 04, 2008 at 05:47:27 PM PDT

•  Do you mean "straight-ticket voter"?

  Rather than "down-ticket voter."

  Sorry, I wouldn't bother, but it genuinely confused me for a bit ...

  Shirley Schmidt: A Democrat.

  by Jyrinx on Fri Jul 04, 2008 at 06:19:28 PM PDT

  •  Straight-ticket is politically incorrect

    At least in San Francisco ...

    As for the Fourth of July, how many babies will be sick next week from germs picked up from baby-kissing politicians?

    by MakeChessNotWar on Fri Jul 04, 2008 at 06:31:08 PM PDT

    •  :-) Well, fine ...

      But the term down-ticket means something else entirely.

      Shirley Schmidt: A Democrat.

      by Jyrinx on Fri Jul 04, 2008 at 06:32:28 PM PDT

•  feeling "less than fresh"

  is a perfectly good reason not to vote for a candidate.  

  If Mr. Lord (and Lady) Douchebag is a nazi windbag who does not represent your values or your position on issues, he does not deserve your vote and you should not sully your vote by giving it to him.  (I'll omit the comedic "men died face-down in the mud in the 'Nam so you can vote"-speech).  

  How many national offices are held by Socialist Party, Green Party or Libertarian Party.  Few, if any.  

  How many are held at the local level?  More than zero.  

  by Aristodemus on Fri Jul 04, 2008 at 06:21:11 PM PDT

•  sometimes at the local level

  A Republican can be more in tune with you on the local/state issues you care about than a Democrat.

  by GeeBee on Fri Jul 04, 2008 at 06:56:44 PM PDT

•  this sounds like a Nevada Democrat

  The dems in Nevada would be republican in any other state

  The Rebublican in Nevada are to the Right of the JOhn Birch society

  Both are owned by ranching, mining and gambling intrests.

  by bglv on Fri Jul 04, 2008 at 07:37:40 PM PDT