While in sympathy for Carmen (you should feel free to vote for whomever you want) and angry at Rob for making Winslow the “slow witted” for the past several strips, but a vote for a third party candidate is a vote for Trump. And we really need to get our democratic republic back from this mob inspired, lawless GOP gang. We need to have the country safer.
Anything other than voting for BIden – including not voting – is a vote for Trump. Doesn’t matter if you don’t like it or think it’s not fair. Deal with it.
The slide of the United States into illiberalism may well have begun on June 1, 2020. Remember the date. It may well signal the beginning of the end of the American experiment.
The president of the United States stood in the Rose Garden of the White House on Monday, railed against weak governors and mayors who were not doing enough, in his mind, to control the unrest and the rioters in their cities, and threatened to deploy the U.S. military against American citizens. It was a stunning moment. But, in particular, it was notable for three important reasons.
First, Donald Trump expressed only the barest of condolences at the murder of George Floyd, but he also said nothing about the fundamental and underlying reasons for the unrest: systemic racism and inequality, a historic absence of respect, and a denial of justice.
✁
Second, Trump was clear he views those engaged in the unrest and criminal acts in these riots as terrorists, an enemy. He said so, ostensibly as justification to deploy the U.S. military to apply federal force—his “personal” force—against the riots. ✁
While there may be some very accomplished criminals on both sides of the riots, the truth is that they are minuscule in numbers.
The vast majority of the people protesting in the streets are justifiably furious at the murder of George Floyd, but they’re even angrier over pervasive injustice, mass incarceration, frequent false arrests, and an institutionalized devaluation of black lives and property.
✁
Finally, the governors have sufficient law enforcement capacity—and, if necessary, the combat power of the National Guard—to handle their respective crises.
If not, they can ask for federal assistance.
There is no precedent in modern U.S. history for a president to wield federal troops in a state or municipality over the objections of the respective governor.
At least they cut short the “Do I stay or do i go” thing. If you need to do homework on Trump’s job performance, you’re waking from a coma. Only Fox’s video editing skills make him seem human.
realalexander has cut-and-pasted a comment above about how a vote for JoJo will not help Trump get re-elected.
It got me thinking, though.
A problem with the Electoral College is that, in fact, it does destroy the “math” (incorrectly called, more correctly “arithmetic”) of elections and voting.
It is in the Electoral College that third parties always get lost, without exception to date, and with no expectations of any difference this fall.
If elections are allowed at all.
But case in point, to realalexandar and others about how real votes are thrown away by obsolete mechanisms (like Connecticut’s primary this week) (like Republicans suppress-the-vote tactics) (but I digress).
As a rule, since the third party almost never gets a single Electoral College vote, that means, every vote for a third party candidate got thrown away. Period. End of discussion.
But the Electoral College does something else, and of late, rather regularly: In (roughly) 55:45 splits, Democrats over Republicans, the Electoral College is still able to provide a “route” for Republicans over Democrats, and does so often enough that one can argue, MOST of our votes get thrown away.
Not that I’m discouraging anyone from voting, and voting their conscience. But there are two take-always:
One: We need to get rid of the Electoral College. Especially now that the Supreme Court has ruled against so-called “faithless electors” (delegates to the Electoral College who do not vote as pledged), meaning that the Electoral College is no longer a deliberative body, but a rubber stamp gerrymander often guaranteeing minority rule.
Two: This year, if your conscience says, Not Trump, you know what you must do.
Libertarianism doesn’t work during a pandemic. Maybe they and the Greens need to sit this one out so that we can replace the angry orange with competence and centrism.
I voted libertarian in my first election, and Reagan got in. At first, that didn’t bother me, since I had a childish grudge against Carter. It became disturbing, though, that RR would say things that were just plain insane, and nobody reacted as if anything was amiss. The lesson I learned was to take my vote more seriously than, say, a choice for a vanity plate.
For those that keep score on political parties: Republicans and Libertarians are considered “Right wing” and Democrats and Green are considered “Left wing.”
People generally vote their social ideals and generally follow a “Wing.”
A voter won’t vote against their ideals just to oppose a candidate, as they will be voting against their own interest.
A Conservative voter won’t vote Left wing, because they are opposed to Left wing policies no matter who the candidate is. On the same token a Progressive voter won’t vote Right wing.
According to Democrats and Republican Hardliners there are only two choices. Any vote other than for their candidate is a vote for their opponent. At worst a third party vote can weaken the party on “Their Wing” not strengthen the other side. At best a third party can BEAT the Major candidate on their wing, which scares the daylights out of BOTH the Democrats and Republicans.
That concludes our Political Science class for today.
This is one of the ways that the Tangerine Stain won in 2016. With him trying to cheat anyway he can, only a landslide will pry him out of the White House.
Darsan54 Premium Member over 3 years ago
While in sympathy for Carmen (you should feel free to vote for whomever you want) and angry at Rob for making Winslow the “slow witted” for the past several strips, but a vote for a third party candidate is a vote for Trump. And we really need to get our democratic republic back from this mob inspired, lawless GOP gang. We need to have the country safer.
braindead Premium Member over 3 years ago
A vote for anyone but Biden/Harris is a vote for Trump.
If you want to add to the death count, that’s a good way to do it.
.
#TraitorTrump
nosirrom over 3 years ago
How about Kanye West and Michelle Tidball?
danielmkimmel over 3 years ago
Anything other than voting for BIden – including not voting – is a vote for Trump. Doesn’t matter if you don’t like it or think it’s not fair. Deal with it.
Silly Season over 3 years ago
The slide of the United States into illiberalism may well have begun on June 1, 2020. Remember the date. It may well signal the beginning of the end of the American experiment.
The president of the United States stood in the Rose Garden of the White House on Monday, railed against weak governors and mayors who were not doing enough, in his mind, to control the unrest and the rioters in their cities, and threatened to deploy the U.S. military against American citizens. It was a stunning moment. But, in particular, it was notable for three important reasons.
First, Donald Trump expressed only the barest of condolences at the murder of George Floyd, but he also said nothing about the fundamental and underlying reasons for the unrest: systemic racism and inequality, a historic absence of respect, and a denial of justice.
✁
Second, Trump was clear he views those engaged in the unrest and criminal acts in these riots as terrorists, an enemy. He said so, ostensibly as justification to deploy the U.S. military to apply federal force—his “personal” force—against the riots. ✁
While there may be some very accomplished criminals on both sides of the riots, the truth is that they are minuscule in numbers.
The vast majority of the people protesting in the streets are justifiably furious at the murder of George Floyd, but they’re even angrier over pervasive injustice, mass incarceration, frequent false arrests, and an institutionalized devaluation of black lives and property.
✁
Finally, the governors have sufficient law enforcement capacity—and, if necessary, the combat power of the National Guard—to handle their respective crises.
If not, they can ask for federal assistance.
There is no precedent in modern U.S. history for a president to wield federal troops in a state or municipality over the objections of the respective governor.
~
https://foreignpolicy.com/2020/06/03/trump-military-george-floyd-protests/
Silly Season over 3 years ago
David S. Bernstein @dbernstein
Back-to-back in my Trumpland message-setters feed this morning: Biden-Harris is the choice of Wall Street, and of radical socialists and anarchists.
8:10 AM · Aug 12, 2020
https://twitter.com/dbernstein/status/1293535345053638657
RobinHood over 3 years ago
Im voting Lebowski and Sobchak in November.
This Aggression Will Not Stand Man
William Robbins Premium Member over 3 years ago
At least they cut short the “Do I stay or do i go” thing. If you need to do homework on Trump’s job performance, you’re waking from a coma. Only Fox’s video editing skills make him seem human.
Cheapskate0 over 3 years ago
Giving the devil his due:
realalexander has cut-and-pasted a comment above about how a vote for JoJo will not help Trump get re-elected.
It got me thinking, though.
A problem with the Electoral College is that, in fact, it does destroy the “math” (incorrectly called, more correctly “arithmetic”) of elections and voting.
It is in the Electoral College that third parties always get lost, without exception to date, and with no expectations of any difference this fall.
If elections are allowed at all.
But case in point, to realalexandar and others about how real votes are thrown away by obsolete mechanisms (like Connecticut’s primary this week) (like Republicans suppress-the-vote tactics) (but I digress).
As a rule, since the third party almost never gets a single Electoral College vote, that means, every vote for a third party candidate got thrown away. Period. End of discussion.
But the Electoral College does something else, and of late, rather regularly: In (roughly) 55:45 splits, Democrats over Republicans, the Electoral College is still able to provide a “route” for Republicans over Democrats, and does so often enough that one can argue, MOST of our votes get thrown away.
Not that I’m discouraging anyone from voting, and voting their conscience. But there are two take-always:
One: We need to get rid of the Electoral College. Especially now that the Supreme Court has ruled against so-called “faithless electors” (delegates to the Electoral College who do not vote as pledged), meaning that the Electoral College is no longer a deliberative body, but a rubber stamp gerrymander often guaranteeing minority rule.
Two: This year, if your conscience says, Not Trump, you know what you must do.
WestNYC Premium Member over 3 years ago
Libertarianism doesn’t work during a pandemic. Maybe they and the Greens need to sit this one out so that we can replace the angry orange with competence and centrism.
Kip W over 3 years ago
I voted libertarian in my first election, and Reagan got in. At first, that didn’t bother me, since I had a childish grudge against Carter. It became disturbing, though, that RR would say things that were just plain insane, and nobody reacted as if anything was amiss. The lesson I learned was to take my vote more seriously than, say, a choice for a vanity plate.
TLH1310 Premium Member over 3 years ago
For those that keep score on political parties: Republicans and Libertarians are considered “Right wing” and Democrats and Green are considered “Left wing.”
People generally vote their social ideals and generally follow a “Wing.”
A voter won’t vote against their ideals just to oppose a candidate, as they will be voting against their own interest.
A Conservative voter won’t vote Left wing, because they are opposed to Left wing policies no matter who the candidate is. On the same token a Progressive voter won’t vote Right wing.
According to Democrats and Republican Hardliners there are only two choices. Any vote other than for their candidate is a vote for their opponent. At worst a third party vote can weaken the party on “Their Wing” not strengthen the other side. At best a third party can BEAT the Major candidate on their wing, which scares the daylights out of BOTH the Democrats and Republicans.
That concludes our Political Science class for today.
tarbolaez Premium Member over 3 years ago
This is one of the ways that the Tangerine Stain won in 2016. With him trying to cheat anyway he can, only a landslide will pry him out of the White House.