Switch Sides?

[Lurker]

Many of us have already made up their mind on who to vote for in the US presidential election. But what would get you to vote for the other side?

What sort of events or scandals would convince you to switch your vote. Anything? Nothing?

Lurker

 

[Tony]

I already know I'm not voting for Bush, so in that aspect I have already "switched sides". My only decision is who to vote for, a decision I have yet to make.

I would say the reason I switched "sides" would be my dislike for Bush's authoritarian tendencies and views.

 

[LFTKBS]

If Kerry said "hey, I eat babies in dark rituals to bring forth a new era ruled by the ancient demon Ngarghj" then I wouldn't vote for him.

But I can't think of a circumstance in which I would vote for Bush.

 

[Lurker]

If Kerry said "hey, I eat babies in dark rituals to bring forth a new era ruled by the ancient demon Ngarghj" then I wouldn't vote for him.

But I can't think of a circumstance in which I would vote for Bush.

Hey, if Kerry had that much imagination I might!

What if Kerry were caught embezzling from his campaign fund?

What if North Korea allowed inspectors in and dismantled its nuclear program saying that Bush had forced their hand.

Lurker

 

[Cleon]

Given that there's zero chance of me voting for Bush or Kerry, where would I "switch sides" to?

My options are:

<ul>
[*]Nader (most likely)
[*]Another 3rd party candidate, like Brown or somebody
[*]Say "#$%^ it" and go to work
[/list]

 

[RandFan]

Good question Lurker,

I like Edwards. If he got back into the race I would consider voting for him but I would have to weigh that against my concern for changing leaders at this time. Bush's foreign policy is in line with my views though some of his domestic policy I disagree with. I viscerally don't like Kerry. This is not a good reason to not vote for him and I will have to honestly try and be objective.

 

[KelvinG]

This might be a topic for a whole new thread, but does anyone think that a third party candidate can pose a serious threat to the two big parties?
It appears that there are a lot of voters who vote for the lesser of the two evils as opposed to a candidate they actually believe in.

It seems there are a lot of swing voters in the US who can go either way come election time. Isn't it a shame that I bet most of them feel they must vote either Democrat or Republican or they will be throwing their vote away.

 

[Tony]

Isn't it a shame that I bet most of them feel they must vote either Democrat or Republican or they will be throwing their vote away.

Yes, it is a shame for many reasons.. Talk to shaneK, he can tell you all about the challenges facing third party candidates and how the dems and reps have rigged the system in their favor.

 

[c0rbin]

Isn't it a shame...

It is, but to h3ll with them. Neither gets my vote. I feel that voting for either will be wasting my vote as well.

 

[NightG1]

If Kerry had a major moral/ethical breakdown then I would either vote for Nader or I wouldn't vote for President.

 

[Grammatron]

Many of us have already made up their mind on who to vote for in the US presidential election. But what would get you to vote for the other side?

What sort of events or scandals would convince you to switch your vote. Anything? Nothing?

Lurker

It doesn't matter who I vote for since California will elect a Democratic candidate so I'm planning to write in Mickey Mouse.

 

[Lurker]

Randfan:

I also preferred Edwards and voted for him in the primary. Edwards would have had a hard time in the general election as he has little political experience and may be a bit too young. I see him becoming a powerhouse in the Democratic party over the next 8 years though. He has charisma, speaks well and also is from the south.

In a way, he is the second coming of Clinton.

Kerry is OK in my books, but I can't say I am fired up about him. Sure, he'll get my vote. I think some of his plans are preferable to Bush's.

All that being said, I would have an extremely difficult time voting for Bush. If Kerry were revealed as some sort of felon I guess I would. Or if certain of Bush's overseas policies suddenly proved wise (think of finding a bunker with nuclear missles aimed at the US in Iraq). But again, it would have to be something pretty big.

The notion of Bush appointing anyone to the Supreme Court just scares me. I don't want another Scalia! shudder

Lurker

 

[Evolver]

[B I viscerally don't like Kerry.[/B]

What's not to like? Before running for President, we here in Massachusetts only heard about him at re-election time. It's been like having no Senator at all.


On a more serious note, this will be the first time in decades that I will vote for a Republicrat. Although I'm sure Kerry will win MA, I feel strongly enough that Bush's policies are harmful to the country that I must enter a meaningful vote against him.

What could turn my vote from Kerry? Hmmmm... maybe if he anounced that Cheney was HIS running mate, too?

 

[Nie Trink Wasser]

if Kerry came out and said this :

"I want to be up front about the disinformation campaigns throughout the media and universities about New World Order style takeover by the Bush family, because in truth the people expounding these theories in universities, colleges, etc are the ones activily working to build a one world government and I think that's a really dumb way to go"

I'd think about voting for him.

 

[RandFan]

I also preferred Edwards and voted for him in the primary. Edwards would have had a hard time in the general election as he has little political experience and may be a bit too young. I see him becoming a powerhouse in the Democratic party over the next 8 years though. He has charisma, speaks well and also is from the south.

Should Bush win a second term I will honestly be enthusiastically looking to vote for Edwards should he run and depending on the Republican contender.

 

[rockoon]

Isn't it a shame that I bet most of them feel they must vote either Democrat or Republican or they will be throwing their vote away.

Some of us feel that regardless of who we vote for we are throwing our vote away.

I for one live in a state which will send its 7 (8?) electorates to vote democrat unless Bush wins by a landslide. Obviously I don't live in Florida. The only time in the past 50 years that my state went Republican was when the republicans not only didnt need our 7 electorates, but won by hundreds of electorates.

So regardless of if I choose to vote democrat or republican, my vote has an extremely low probability (much much lower than the average american) of having any effect at all on the outcome of the election.

 

[rockoon]

What's not to like? Before running for President, we here in Massachusetts only heard about him at re-election time. It's been like having no Senator at all.

The last time you guys in Massachusettes put up a serious condender for president.. he was humiliated at the polls losing by a remarkably huge landslide.

In all seriousness I dont see much of a difference between Kerry and Dukakis.

 

[Theodore Kurita]

The last time you guys in Massachusettes put up a serious condender for president.. he was humiliated at the polls losing by a remarkably huge landslide.

In all seriousness I dont see much of a difference between Kerry and Dukakis.

For some odd reasons, I see more parallels between Kerry and John F. Kennedy more that anybody else.

I because Bush has done many authoritarian and corrupt things in his administration, I would vote for Kerry.

It would take a he** of a lot, (i.e. Kerry going clinically insane) to prevent me from voting for him.

However, if that were the case, I would vote for a Green party candidate.

 

[hammegk]

In all seriousness I dont see much of a difference between Kerry and Dukakis.

Kerry is taller?

 

[shuize]

As I posted in a different thread, I would put all other political differences aside and vote for a Democrat if I thought there was the slightest chance in hell that they would be satisfied with just a small tax increase to pay down the debt and not use it as a green light to spend even more.