Like the Party, Not the Candidate, and vice versa

[killer_carlson]

I'm wondering what the thoughts of people on the Board are.

Here is my situation. There is a party that I would like to support, and although I do not agree with all of their platform, it is the party that I think has the most in common with my view of certain issues. However, the candidate for said party in my constituency is a great big nerd. I think the party should have punted him many moons ago for being such a loser. I hold very little respect for the man.

On the other hand, a party which has very little in common with my particular position is running an absolute stellar candidate in my riding. I said before that I would rather cut off a limb than waste a vote on the party, however am in a position where I think this candidate is someone that would make an excellant member of our government.

In an election this close, what do you do? Vote for the party that best reflects my needs/opinions, even if it means putting in a less than stellar MP, or vote for the party that reflects precious little of what I would like to see happen in Ottawa, for the sole reason that the person might, might, be able to make a difference (but probably not).

Note: it probably doesn't matter who I vote for because the encumbant will win handily.

Also, neither party described above are the Liberals - who I feel need to be sent the same message that was sent to the crooks in Mulroney's scandal plagued crew at the end of his reign. I would like to see the Liberals decimated and re-built from the ground up. A political enema if you will.

One final note is that I read the site daily at work but will not post while at work. I'll see your responses but won't be responding myself per se.

[Displaced Flames fan]

I've been in that situation.

You vote for the candidate, not the party.

[Agamemnon]

Originally Posted by killer_carlson

I'm wondering what the thoughts of people on the Board are.

Here is my situation. There is a party that I would like to support, and although I do not agree with all of their platform, it is the party that I think has the most in common with my view of certain issues. However, the candidate for said party in my constituency is a great big nerd. I think the party should have punted him many moons ago for being such a loser. I hold very little respect for the man.

On the other hand, a party which has very little in common with my particular position is running an absolute stellar candidate in my riding. I said before that I would rather cut off a limb than waste a vote on the party, however am in a position where I think this candidate is someone that would make an excellant member of our government.

In an election this close, what do you do? Vote for the party that best reflects my needs/opinions, even if it means putting in a less than stellar MP, or vote for the party that reflects precious little of what I would like to see happen in Ottawa, for the sole reason that the person might, might, be able to make a difference (but probably not).

Note: it probably doesn't matter who I vote for because the encumbant will win handily.

Also, neither party described above are the Liberals - who I feel need to be sent the same message that was sent to the crooks in Mulroney's scandal plagued crew at the end of his reign. I would like to see the Liberals decimated and re-built from the ground up. A political enema if you will.

One final note is that I read the site daily at work but will not post while at work. I'll see your responses but won't be responding myself per se.

Do you live in Calgary West?

That's a great question, and really opens up an issue for many people. I myself voted for Manning the last time he ran because I thought he was a great leader, though I really, really didn't like the rest of the Reform Party all that much (I always thought it got hijacked by guys that weren't from the same cut as Manning).

I think that if your vote really 'doesn't matter' in that the incumbent will win regardless, then you may as well support the candidate that you respect, rather than the party. Best of both worlds; your party wins the riding, and the candidate you support gets your vote.

But you could go either way on it.

This is why I support the list system. You could vote for the Party you support AND the candidate you support, and they don't have to be the same

[Shawnski]

If the vote is not for the Liberals, then you are on the right track KC. I think your "Note" says it all. If the player that you like doesn't have a chance, why support their party?

PS, we really could use your support in the FZC tournament. As of right now, this huge internet ****ing contest is tied! Checkout the thread pinned on the main board for details if necessary.

[peter12]

If you are in Canada, which I am 99% sure you are, vote with the party.

100m from Parliament Hill, MPs are nobodies. I think Pierre Trudeau said that.

[Eddie Bronze]

Here's an even bigger dilemma. Who do you vote for when you think all the parties suck and the candidates are even worse than the parties? Then what do you do, spoil the ballot...again?

[peter12]

Originally Posted by Eddie Bronze

Here's an even bigger dilemma. Who do you vote for when you think all the parties suck and the candidates are even worse than the parties? Then what do you do, spoil the ballot...again?

Vote Green my friend.

[RougeUnderoos]

Go with the party. I can't even remember the candidate's name that I'm going to vote for but I do have a sign on the lawn for the party that he's in.

Sidenote: Green Party logo and British Petroleum logo -- separated at birth?

http://www.greenparty.ca/index.html
http://www.bp.com/home.do?categoryId=1

[peter12]

I have a Green sign on my lawn and my neighbours thought it was an ad for a detergent.

[Clarkey]

I think you are in Edmonchuck but this is definately an issue for some in Calgary West. I think many feel that Rob Anders is a useless tit but they vote for him because of the party he represents. I will probably do this because I don't like the alternative candidates enough to really sway me, however if there was say a green party candidate that was really good I might switch.

It really ****ed me off that Rob Anders didn't show up for the candidate debate at the U of C the other day. That was a real arrogant move. I'm suprised that the Conservatives haven't culled him from the roster but I think he's too much of a wildcard and they feel that if they punt him he will stir up too much you know what.

[Bertuzzied]

Originally Posted by Eddie Bronze

Here's an even bigger dilemma. Who do you vote for when you think all the parties suck and the candidates are even worse than the parties? Then what do you do, spoil the ballot...again?

You vote for anybody but Mr. Usless Rob Anders. You want to see your tax dollars go to waste... Exhibit A.

[Bertuzzied]

Originally Posted by Clarkey

It really ****ed me off that Rob Anders didn't show up for the candidate debate at the U of C the other day. That was a real arrogant move. I'm suprised that the Conservatives haven't culled him from the roster but I think he's too much of a wildcard and they feel that if they punt him he will stir up too much you know what.

If the conservatives punted all of their former Reform party members(including Harper) they would have a majority government. I'm pretty sure the Liberals are going to win again.

[Eddie Bronze]

Originally Posted by peter12

Vote Green my friend.

That some funny **** right there.

I'm not sure if Anders is the guy in my riding, but I sure as hell ain't voting for a guy who no one seems to be able to find. Jennifer is a Lib but at least she's in town. And yes, I've seen the doll. What a mess this whole thing is.

[JiriHrdina]

Here's my problem with the "Vote Green" strategy.

They had a wonderful opportunity this election to become more of a real party. They had funding. They had media attention. They were in the national debate...oh wait they weren't....why was that again?

However, that last point aside, they really were set up to take a big step forward. To become not a party that people vote for as a protest, but because they actually think the party can do some good.

Instead the Green Party has in my view run a horrible campaign. Their platform came out too late (they should have been out well ahead of everyone else in my opinion). Their party is wrought with in-fighting.

You want to be treated like a real party - start acting like one.

[Thunderball]

Originally Posted by Clarkey

I think you are in Edmonchuck but this is definately an issue for some in Calgary West. I think many feel that Rob Anders is a useless tit but they vote for him because of the party he represents. I will probably do this because I don't like the alternative candidates enough to really sway me, however if there was say a green party candidate that was really good I might switch.

It really ****ed me off that Rob Anders didn't show up for the candidate debate at the U of C the other day. That was a real arrogant move. I'm suprised that the Conservatives haven't culled him from the roster but I think he's too much of a wildcard and they feel that if they punt him he will stir up too much you know what.

Apparently, Conservative candidates never attend the U of C debate, because it is considered to only be a forum where the SU and the left wing parties just attack them mercilessly. I don't know this for a fact, this is just what I heard.

I don't like Rob Anders, but not showing up might be better press than the smear the SU and the Lib/NDP/Green/Communist (!) tag-team assault.

[RougeUnderoos]

This Anders thing is pretty funny. Far as I can tell the last update on his website was on December 15th. I guess the strategy is "lock Robbie up in the attic until the election is over". I'm sure it will work and he'll be easily re-elected and then he can get back to saving the world from communism.

What an embarassment.

[Mango]

The "Rob Anders scandal" is making its rounds on the news. Global had a feature story on it Wednesday night. His reason for not attending the U of C forum was because he was helping fellow candidates in BC. The constituency's office in BC then said that Rob Anders was not there. I'm not sure what happened in the mean time, but Mr. Anders eventually showed up in BC. He's supposed to be returning to Calgary shortly and continue with his "low key" (reporter's words) campaigning. They interviewed a woman working in his headquarters, but she simply said "He's out of town. I'm only a volunteer".

The question is - what was Mr. Anders really doing?

[Incinerator]

Originally Posted by Thunderball

Apparently, Conservative candidates never attend the U of C debate, because it is considered to only be a forum where the SU and the left wing parties just attack them mercilessly. I don't know this for a fact, this is just what I heard.

I don't like Rob Anders, but not showing up might be better press than the smear the SU and the Lib/NDP/Green/Communist (!) tag-team assault.

No kidding, 90% of the UofC students I know are card carrying commies, especially the SU and the PoliSci nerds! If I was the CPC candidate I wouldn't touch UofC's debate with a 10-foot pole either.

[Freeway]

Originally Posted by RougeUnderoos

This Anders thing is pretty funny. Far as I can tell the last update on his website was on December 15th. I guess the strategy is "lock Robbie up in the attic until the election is over". I'm sure it will work and he'll be easily re-elected and then he can get back to saving the world from communism.

What an embarassment.

That was pretty much the consensus amongst much of my friends on campus. Anders can't f*** up a campaign if he's not around to do it.

And Anders basically got dog-piled during the 2004 debate on campus, so that MAY have contributed to the no-show. Or not.

[FlamesAllTheWay]

Lucky for Anders I always put the party before the person when I vote. If the candidate is a clown chances are they wont have any real power in parliament besides voting anyways... at least I would hope so.