"YOU started the convo by accusing anyone voting one party down the ballot as being too lazy to do research. And as I said, I read political article/books every day and see the Republican Party growing worse and worse which tells me I’m unlikely to ever vote for any R for the rest of my [sic]."
"YOU started the convo by accusing anyone voting one party down the ballot as being too lazy to do research. And as I said, I read political article/books every day and see the Republican Party growing worse and worse which tells me I’m unlikely to ever vote for any R for the rest of my [sic]."
If you did the research and still vote straight ticket, then you are an exception to the rule. A predominant number of people, from either major party, believe that pulling the lever (or filling in a bubble on a ballot) for all candidates from one's tribe is the sound way to vote. It is these people who I would refer to as low-info - or no info - voters. I have no problem with you, or anyone else, who, after educating themselves of their various options, still thinks it is in their best interest to vote D or R all the way up and down the ballot.
As for the supposed leadership of the New GOP, especially in the House, it does show an incredible lack of desire to push back against the Apricot Arthropod: just like MyKevin, Scalise, Stefanic, Jordan, Comer... spend all of their time and energy defending the indefensible while ignoring their constituencies. When it comes to MTG and her dick pics, I've previously said that she should be sitting in a holding cell in the DC jail for violating laws in 46 states and DC regarding the use of revenge porn - and since she did not have approvals from either person in the pic that's exactly what her goal was, to seek revenge on anyone named Biden on behalf of the Tangerine Tyrant.
"As to R “newbies”, they either cede their power to whatever the experienced Rs demand or they have no seat at any table." At the national level, and to some extent the state level, you are correct that the newbies need to kowtow to the senior members (both in time serving in Congress and age) if they want to propose any legislation and get it to move. But I know a good number of Rs who have run and been elected at the local level who are in vocal opposition to the MAGAdroids and all of their tendencies to force their minority beliefs on the rest of us. These are the politicians who, in a few years, likely will be aiming for either state or national positions. They stand no chance to make a difference if they don't get some support from the home front.
FWIW, I have very strong feelings towards keeping our democracy alive and kicking, and that, in a nutshell, is why I think it is necessary to support non-MAGA Repubs in their quest to restore the New GOP to a sustainable, viable party.
BTW, as I look back over the last twenty years at least, I can count on one hand the number of Repubs I have voted for, and none were running at the national level. There are still some decent Republicans and they need the help of everyone if they are to take back their Party from the alt-right extremists.
I also believe that a third party needs to be established, but not in '24. Any third party candidate for POTUS will most likely draw a few Ds and Rs, but will ultimately hand the WH to the MAGAdroids. And most definitely, no one from the No Labels group should be allowed on any ballot until they show us who their biggest donors are - most of which seems to be Republican dark money.
This, too, will be my final response. In a democracy, or a Constitutional Republic, a difference of opinion is both expected and welcome. The right to have your say by how you vote is one of the highest freedoms we enjoy - unless you live in a ruby red state trying to disenfranchise your voice illegitimately.
I do not begrudge you your stance on straight party voting. You seem to have done your proverbial homework (even though it is not for me to say in a one to one dialog like this), and have come by your opinions honestly. I am not being condescending, I admire anyone willing to put in the time to have an informed opinion.
In the long run, you are not my target audience when I refer to those who vote blindly for their preferred tribe. IDK if you read the WaPo but there is a sub-demographic of commenters there that just repeat the major talking points of a story, putting what they consider key phrases in all caps, bold or both, sign off - almost always in all caps here - "REMEMBER VOTE ONLY BLUE IN 24" and then sit back to count the likes.
Anyway, I sincerely wish you luck on keeping Ohio at the very least purple and surviving JD Vance. BTW, my family originally hailed from NE Ohio; mostly Cleveland and Youngstown.
In normal times, I would agree with you that voting based on the candidates platform is the way to go. However in the current climate, voting for even a moderate R, if he/she wins,will mean another vote for a Republican Majority Leader, who will be forced to pander to the extreme right wing like MyKevin, even if he/she is not an extremist. Sure you might get Dinos like Manchin, but at least you won't get a cowardly Mitch waiting for the Ds to get rid of Trump for him
Max,
"YOU started the convo by accusing anyone voting one party down the ballot as being too lazy to do research. And as I said, I read political article/books every day and see the Republican Party growing worse and worse which tells me I’m unlikely to ever vote for any R for the rest of my [sic]."
If you did the research and still vote straight ticket, then you are an exception to the rule. A predominant number of people, from either major party, believe that pulling the lever (or filling in a bubble on a ballot) for all candidates from one's tribe is the sound way to vote. It is these people who I would refer to as low-info - or no info - voters. I have no problem with you, or anyone else, who, after educating themselves of their various options, still thinks it is in their best interest to vote D or R all the way up and down the ballot.
As for the supposed leadership of the New GOP, especially in the House, it does show an incredible lack of desire to push back against the Apricot Arthropod: just like MyKevin, Scalise, Stefanic, Jordan, Comer... spend all of their time and energy defending the indefensible while ignoring their constituencies. When it comes to MTG and her dick pics, I've previously said that she should be sitting in a holding cell in the DC jail for violating laws in 46 states and DC regarding the use of revenge porn - and since she did not have approvals from either person in the pic that's exactly what her goal was, to seek revenge on anyone named Biden on behalf of the Tangerine Tyrant.
"As to R “newbies”, they either cede their power to whatever the experienced Rs demand or they have no seat at any table." At the national level, and to some extent the state level, you are correct that the newbies need to kowtow to the senior members (both in time serving in Congress and age) if they want to propose any legislation and get it to move. But I know a good number of Rs who have run and been elected at the local level who are in vocal opposition to the MAGAdroids and all of their tendencies to force their minority beliefs on the rest of us. These are the politicians who, in a few years, likely will be aiming for either state or national positions. They stand no chance to make a difference if they don't get some support from the home front.
FWIW, I have very strong feelings towards keeping our democracy alive and kicking, and that, in a nutshell, is why I think it is necessary to support non-MAGA Repubs in their quest to restore the New GOP to a sustainable, viable party.
BTW, as I look back over the last twenty years at least, I can count on one hand the number of Repubs I have voted for, and none were running at the national level. There are still some decent Republicans and they need the help of everyone if they are to take back their Party from the alt-right extremists.
I also believe that a third party needs to be established, but not in '24. Any third party candidate for POTUS will most likely draw a few Ds and Rs, but will ultimately hand the WH to the MAGAdroids. And most definitely, no one from the No Labels group should be allowed on any ballot until they show us who their biggest donors are - most of which seems to be Republican dark money.
fnord
This, too, will be my final response. In a democracy, or a Constitutional Republic, a difference of opinion is both expected and welcome. The right to have your say by how you vote is one of the highest freedoms we enjoy - unless you live in a ruby red state trying to disenfranchise your voice illegitimately.
I do not begrudge you your stance on straight party voting. You seem to have done your proverbial homework (even though it is not for me to say in a one to one dialog like this), and have come by your opinions honestly. I am not being condescending, I admire anyone willing to put in the time to have an informed opinion.
In the long run, you are not my target audience when I refer to those who vote blindly for their preferred tribe. IDK if you read the WaPo but there is a sub-demographic of commenters there that just repeat the major talking points of a story, putting what they consider key phrases in all caps, bold or both, sign off - almost always in all caps here - "REMEMBER VOTE ONLY BLUE IN 24" and then sit back to count the likes.
Anyway, I sincerely wish you luck on keeping Ohio at the very least purple and surviving JD Vance. BTW, my family originally hailed from NE Ohio; mostly Cleveland and Youngstown.
fnord
In normal times, I would agree with you that voting based on the candidates platform is the way to go. However in the current climate, voting for even a moderate R, if he/she wins,will mean another vote for a Republican Majority Leader, who will be forced to pander to the extreme right wing like MyKevin, even if he/she is not an extremist. Sure you might get Dinos like Manchin, but at least you won't get a cowardly Mitch waiting for the Ds to get rid of Trump for him