American Politics Thread: The Hunt for Blue November

[RogerWilco]

Originally Posted by DownInFlames

Of course they shouldn’t. It was a vote for Trump.

I think he is trying to say that he voted against trump by voting for Biden and not that he voted for Biden because he likes Biden. That is why Biden would see it as a vote for Biden.

At least im hoping that is what he is saying. Otherwise I agree with everyone else points.

[mikephoen]

Originally Posted by HockeyIlliterate

I received my absentee ballot for Texas yesterday and I filled it out and mailed it back today.

I didn’t vote for Biden, but I did vote against Trump.

Although I’m sure that Biden and the DNC will see it as a vote for him and their platform and policies. But they shouldn’t.

Wait, maybe rogerwilco is correct. I'll reserve judgment until it's clarified.

[calgarybornnraised]

Originally Posted by HockeyIlliterate

I received my absentee ballot for Texas yesterday and I filled it out and mailed it back today.

I didn’t vote for Biden, but I did vote against Trump.

Although I’m sure that Biden and the DNC will see it as a vote for him and their platform and policies. But they shouldn’t.

Nm

[DownInFlames]

Originally Posted by RogerWilco

I think he is trying to say that he voted against trump by voting for Biden and not that he voted for Biden because he likes Biden. That is why Biden would see it as a vote for Biden.

At least im hoping that is what he is saying. Otherwise I agree with everyone else points.

I hope you’re right. He wasn’t clear.

[HockeyIlliterate]

Originally Posted by RogerWilco

I think he is trying to say that he voted against trump by voting for Biden and not that he voted for Biden because he likes Biden. That is why Biden would see it as a vote for Biden.

At least im hoping that is what he is saying. Otherwise I agree with everyone else points.

Exactly.

[HockeyIlliterate]

Originally Posted by jayswin

Voted against Trump but not for Biden? Spoiled ballot, third party? No offensive, but why that decision at a critical time like this? Your country could fall in the next decade based on what's happening now. Do you understand the importance?

I didn’t say anything about voting for a third party, did I?

[HockeyIlliterate]

Originally Posted by New Era

A real heroic stance you just took. Please don't ever complain about the state of the country and the direction its headed. In our system a third party is the same as a spoiled vote.

A real jump-to-conclusion comment you made there. I didn’t say anything about voting for a third party candidate, did I?

Although, I completely disagree with your statement that “a third party is the same as a spoiled vote,” but I’m not interested in debating the matter with you.

[FlamesAddiction]

If it makes you feel any better, I am ready to hold my nose and vote for the Conservatives here when the next election happens.

Sometimes holding leaders accountable is the best thing you can do, especially when the party you support in theory is destroying itself. Gotta think long term.

[Lanny_McDonald]

Originally Posted by RogerWilco

I think he is trying to say that he voted against trump by voting for Biden and not that he voted for Biden because he likes Biden. That is why Biden would see it as a vote for Biden.

At least im hoping that is what he is saying. Otherwise I agree with everyone else points.

I hope so as well. It certainly seemed like he was suggesting he was voting for a third party.

Originally Posted by GGG

Only if Texas is the tipping point state which it most certainly wont be. People in states that won’t determine the outcome should be encouraged to vote against the system.

This isn't Canada. We really don't have an alternative. We are a two party system.

[HockeyIlliterate]

Originally Posted by DownInFlames

I hope you’re right. He wasn’t clear.

I’m not sure how to make any more clearer:

I don’t like Biden. For many reasons.

But I cannot stand Trump (and, for that matter, most all Republicans in office at the moment) and want him (and them) out of office.

In this election, I voted against Trump and went with the only realistic option available to meet my objectives.

The only way I explain it to people is that I’m not voting for Biden, I’m simply voting against Trump.

And that is what I did.

[Lanny_McDonald]

So what you did was cast a vote for Biden so Trump would not gain a vote. You voted for the alternative of Trump.

[Cali Panthers Fan]

Originally Posted by HockeyIlliterate

I’m not sure how to make any more clearer:

I don’t like Biden. For many reasons.

But I cannot stand Trump (and, for that matter, most all Republicans in office at the moment) and want him (and them) out of office.

In this election, I voted against Trump and went with the only realistic option available to meet my objectives.

The only way I explain it to people is that I’m not voting for Biden, I’m simply voting against Trump.

And that is what I did.

Fine.

But hopefully Biden gives you a reason to appreciate why you voted for him. I dislike the whole voting against something rather than voting for something, but sometimes it needs to be done. I hope, and I think everyone else does as well, that Biden can be a good caretaker president. Not a gamechanger, but a guy that will bring some normalcy and decency in the political discourse. Focus on policies again. That would be a breath of fresh air.

[GGG]

Originally Posted by New Era

I hope so as well. It certainly seemed like he was suggesting he was voting for a third party.

This isn't Canada. We really don't have an alternative. We are a two party system.

You don’t need a viable alternative to voice displeasure with your options.

And more important even if he did vote for a third party all of the presidential votes in Texas have zero value so why would you #### on him for however he voted.

[dino7c]

A vote for Biden is a vote for democracy

[DownInFlames]

Originally Posted by HockeyIlliterate

I’m not sure how to make any more clearer:

I don’t like Biden. For many reasons.

But I cannot stand Trump (and, for that matter, most all Republicans in office at the moment) and want him (and them) out of office.

In this election, I voted against Trump and went with the only realistic option available to meet my objectives.

The only way I explain it to people is that I’m not voting for Biden, I’m simply voting against Trump.

And that is what I did.

You could have said you cast a vote for Biden even though you don’t support him. I thought you voted third party which is basically a vote for the status quo. I apologize for making an accusation based on a false assumption.

[Lanny_McDonald]

Originally Posted by GGG

You don’t need a viable alternative to voice displeasure with your options.

Yeah, you do. Otherwise you're just talking to yourself. Making stupid votes has consequences, or did you not pay attention to 2016 and then the last four years?

And more important even if he did vote for a third party all of the presidential votes in Texas have zero value so why would you #### on him for however he voted.

Because I live in this ####ing country and am watching it disintegrate around me because people don't understand how its politics work and they make dumb decisions. And yes, Texas has potential to be a big difference maker. You don't think that turning a big deep red state like Texas purple, or possibly blue, is a huge statement? Just like Arizona turning purple is a big thing and a huge statement. Every state that goes from red to purple or blue is a statement against Trumpism and a rejection of his leadership. Every single state matters. Every. Single. State.

Again, you don't understand American politics because you don't understand Americans. You look at it through the lens of a Canadian and try to project your Canadian perspective on the American system, which are incongruent. The people are very different, the ideologies are very different, and the political systems are very different.

[Flashpoint]

The original and edited posts were unclear, and if you live in the States it drives you nuts to see people failing to vote against Trump cause... reasons?

The choice is literally 2 people. Anyone NOT voting for Biden would like 4 more years of what we have right now. Which would be pretty f-ing stupid.

So if you don’t want to get dog piled on, be clear about what you’re saying.

[ernie]

At this point in the 2016 election cycle a walk around our neighborhood showed everything second or third house with a Trump signs. This year that same walk around the neighborhood shows, and I’m not kidding, 5 Trump signs. 5.

Now I’m not saying this area is going to vote Biden. It won’t. It’s heavily republican. But they are not motivated voters and they aren’t advertising their choice to friends and family this time around. The last few weeks made a tangible impact on the Trump brand. And every day of erratic behavior just convinced someone on the fence to not give him a vote.

It’s a campaign that continues to cater to the base rather than those they need to win votes from. Strangest campaign I can remember.

Biden needs to have a solid town hall next week to solidify that he Is an empathetic leader that truly wants to the best for the country. I still very much wonder if Trump will be able to hold his desired rally. Can you imagine a good Biden town hall and cancelled Trump rally? That would even start to eat into the Trump base.

[GGG]

Originally Posted by New Era

Yeah, you do. Otherwise you're just talking to yourself. Making stupid votes has consequences, or did you not pay attention to 2016 and then the last four years?



Because I live in this ####ing country and am watching it disintegrate around me because people don't understand how its politics work and they make dumb decisions. And yes, Texas has potential to be a big difference maker. You don't think that turning a big deep red state like Texas purple, or possibly blue, is a huge statement? Just like Arizona turning purple is a big thing and a huge statement. Every state that goes from red to purple or blue is a statement against Trumpism and a rejection of his leadership. Every single state matters. Every. Single. State.

Again, you don't understand American politics because you don't understand Americans. You look at it through the lens of a Canadian and try to project your Canadian perspective on the American system, which are incongruent. The people are very different, the ideologies are very different, and the political systems are very different.

No I am being pragmatic. Making stupid votes in the Texas presidential race did not have consequences 4 years ago. It did in Pennsylvania, Michigan, Wisconsin and other close states.

Votes in this election in the presidential ballot do not matter in most states. They just don’t. This is not projecting a Canadian perspective, it’s projecting an emotionless math prospective. You are jaded in emotion wanting a crushing victory. You want to embarrass trump, you want to punish him. Those are reasonable reactions but they don’t have a practical effect.

Let’s say Texas flips by a % as opposed to losing by a %. Nothing changed. Prior to that point it was already a historic loss. Winning bigger in the national popular vote doesn’t matter because of how well vote targeting works.

You are living in the past in a world where vote patterns and targeted spending did not exist and Norms were followed like laws. A world that is been eroding since Raegan and May actually have never existed. In that world things like mandates mattered. Now it’s the ability to pass legislation and that’s it. The math is the math. Win the house Seats, win the senate seats, win the governorship and the state houses. That will create opportunities for change.

[Sidney Crosby's Hat]

Originally Posted by GGG

No I am being pragmatic. Making stupid votes in the Texas presidential race did not have consequences 4 years ago. It did in Pennsylvania, Michigan, Wisconsin and other close states.

Votes in this election in the presidential ballot do not matter in most states. They just don’t. This is not projecting a Canadian perspective, it’s projecting an emotionless math prospective. You are jaded in emotion wanting a crushing victory. You want to embarrass trump, you want to punish him. Those are reasonable reactions but they don’t have a practical effect.

Let’s say Texas flips by a % as opposed to losing by a %. Nothing changed. Prior to that point it was already a historic loss. Winning bigger in the national popular vote doesn’t matter because of how well vote targeting works.

You are living in the past in a world where vote patterns and targeted spending did not exist and Norms were followed like laws. A world that is been eroding since Raegan and May actually have never existed. In that world things like mandates mattered. Now it’s the ability to pass legislation and that’s it. The math is the math. Win the house Seats, win the senate seats, win the governorship and the state houses. That will create opportunities for change.

In an election like this, they do have an effect. An election where Texas goes blue is over on November 3. Done. An election which is relatively close, where Trump can pull a coup in Wisconsin and Pennsylvania and gain their electoral votes despite losing the popular vote could drag on for months.