Bret Stephens captures my sentiments pretty well, with the caveat that I could guiltlessly indulge my own principles because I live in a solid blue state.

https://www.nytimes.com/2020/0...rren-trump-2020.html

If you didn’t read to the end, the idea isn’t ‘maybe Trump would be a better choice’, rather it’s ‘maybe none of the above is the better choice’.

In my case it would be a write in or a symbolic third party vote.

I’m not aware that none of the above is allowed to serve as President, under the Constitution.

The problem isn’t your conscience in a blue state. The problem is, people might start thinking that way in places that actually matter.

Question...does someone in a nursing facility for having half dementia get to vote? Brother in law is long time R. Ugh.

We’re definitely going to have my dad vote, and he is in memory care.

quote:

The problem isn’t your conscience in a blue state. The problem is, people might start thinking that way in places that actually matter.

+1

Also, although the electoral college is still the deciding factor (for now), knowing the numbers in the popular vote is important, and I think that will only increase in the next election. So I get it that you (Jon) are not advocating voting for Trump (obviously) but the "hold your nose and vote" might be very important (if the Dem candidate is one you don't like) in the event that Trump loses and wants to question the validity of the election results. Which I think we all know will absolutely happen and will absolutely be a nightmare. That's why the Dem candidate needs all of our votes, regardless of where you're voting.

So I don't agree with that article, and I think the author is underestimating the damage Trump is doing.

(plus you probably remember my WaPo results....)

quote:

Originally posted by Cindysphinx:
We’re definitely going to have my dad vote, and he is in memory care.

If he is competent and understands what he is doing and the consequences, that is fine If not you are taking his proxy which is illegal. I am surprised to hear an attorney say this.

The Des Moines Register disagrees with Jon.

quote:

“The outstanding caliber of Democratic candidates makes it difficult to choose just one,” the board wrote. But ultimately, it declared, Warren is “the best leader for these times.”

https://www.politico.com/news/...r-endorsement-104643

Our friends on the right have been willing (and some of them scarily happily willing) to see the GOP change from "free peoples, free markets" to a xenophobic battering ram knocking down the pillars of global stability while digging into the foundations of our own liberal constitutional order. All of this in order to control the Supreme Court.

I'll return the favor. I will hold my nose and vote for Bernie Sanders all for the same thing. To PREVENT the GOP from seizing that public asset for a generation.

This article bugs me. He glosses over Trump's obvious shortcomings, but hammers Warren for being untruthful, as he gives Sanders credit for his "honesty." His primary argument seems to be that Trump hasn't done anything "really bad," but he primarily means economically. He gives lip service to the damage Trump "might" have done to our governmental systems, but only discusses NATO, Russian sanctions, and immigration. My favorite is the little caveat he gives himself, "Has he significantly supressed the press?" Um, what would constitute significant in his mind? And are ineffective attempts to suppress the press A-OK?

And, of course, the reason why he "let" the house impeach him is because he had no power to stop it. You can bet he tried, through intimidation, obstruction and deceit. Yet he doesn't acknowledge that the same limitations (needing to pass legislation through the house and the senate) would also be in play for any Democratic POTUS, including Warren and Sanders.

The Dems have rightly been chastised for their "sky is falling" rhetoric against Trump. The same can be said for this.

This sentence sums up his narcissistic view: "Yet for the overwhelming majority of Americans, life is pretty much the same under Trump as it was under Obama." Oh, OK. Yes, it's true that the overwhelming majority of Americans aren't minorities, in poverty, or unemployed. Booyah. I guess we're done here. Life is good, no harm done, nothing to see, move along.

Harrumph.

quote:

Originally posted by QuirtEvans:
The Des Moines Register disagrees with Jon.

She’s the candidate for educated people who don’t think too deeply. So the mainstream press is basically her base.

+1 to what Nina wrote.

quote:

Originally posted by jon-nyc:

quote:

Originally posted by QuirtEvans:
The Des Moines Register disagrees with Jon.

She’s the candidate for educated people who don’t think too deeply. So the mainstream press is basically her base.

I'm not crazy about this article either.

"At least he hasn't started WW3 yet" seems like a the bar is set too low.

quote:

"At least he hasn't started WW3 yet" seems like a the bar is set too low.