Presidential Election
By cjgrooms
@cjgrooms (4456)
United States
July 12, 2008 8:17pm CST
Have you ever heard of Robert Barr? I had not until i saw him on a news program the other night, imagine my surprise when i relized that he was running for president,I surley have heard nothing about him on main stream news. He was a republican but changed to the Liberterian party because the Republican party has gotten so far off track(unfortunatley this is true). I did research on him today and i agree with a lot of his views (especially his views on taxes and goverment spending) and am seriously thinking about voteing for him although i know he dosen't stand a chance of winning at least i can show both parties (Republican and Democrates) how disgusted i am with them! Will i be wasting my vote? I think that the fear of your vote being "wasted" is why the same old, same old (the only thing that changes is their faces)keeps getting elected, and as long as the same keeps getting in office NOTHING is going to change! What do you think? Will it be worth sending a message by voting for someone with different ideas, even though they won't win and even though both parties are probably to dense to get the message anyway?
1 person likes this
8 responses
@bobmnu (8157)
• United States
13 Jul 08
I am considering voting for him unless it looks like my state will become a swing state and then I would vote against Senator Obama and vote for Senator McCain. I have voted Liberterian in the past and would do so again. I do not see it as a wasted vote. IF he gets 10 - 15% of the vote the party starts to have an impact on the national policy debates and maybe we can get some congress men and Senators believing in the Liberterian party.
2 people like this
@cjgrooms (4456)
• United States
13 Jul 08
I agree with most of what you said,but (didn't you know there was going to be one?LOL)i don't want the congress and senate that is in office to change anything (i don't believe they can)about the way they think. I want NEW people put in office that actually has the foresight to help stop problems before they get out of control! The ones in office is NOT, NOT, NOT going to do that and it dosen't much matter who the president is.
@penny64 (1106)
• Australia
13 Jul 08
From an outside perspective, if I didn't care who won out of the Republicans and Democrats, I would definitely vote for someone with opinions that I admire. However, if there really is NO chance of him winning, and you have a preference for one of the major parties over the other, you are probably better voting for the major party you prefer. I do think that even the biggest parties notice a swing towards a smaller party. We've had some surprises sometimes here in Australia.
1 person likes this
@penny64 (1106)
• Australia
14 Jul 08
I can imagine, but you just never know how many people feel the same as you. We had an election last year, and I actually live in the former Prime Minister's electorate. It has been considered the all time safest seat in Australia, yet last election there was such a huge swing that he lost the seat to the other major party. Anything can happen if enough people really care.
@ParaTed2k (22940)
• Sheboygan, Wisconsin
13 Jul 08
Althought the Libertarian Party isn't conservative in social issues, Bob Barr is very conservative. If he is the candidate that most closely matches your views, then I say vote for him.
There are only two real "wasted" votes. The one not cast and the vote cast in ignorance.
The Republicans and Democrats have been very successful at convincing voters that they somehow have a right to your vote. If you have traditionally voted (say) Republican then a vote for anyone but a Republican is somehow a "vote for the other guy". The thing is, they don't seem to be bothered by people who vote Republican out of a vote against "the other guy."
If more people who want to vote 3rd party would actually do it, then we would either have a viable 3rd party, or at least the big 2 would have to quit taking our votes for granted.
1 person likes this
@cjgrooms (4456)
• United States
13 Jul 08
They surley do take it for granted. And why shouldn't they? Heaven knows that no matter what either party does that there are die-hard Democratics and Republicans that are not going to even consider voting for another party! Me, myself althought i a regestered as a Republican 25years ago (and i'm telling you it was not popular where i live back then) i usually vote for who ever makes the most sense.
@Angelwhispers (8978)
• United States
13 Jul 08
I have not heard of him Cj, but I will take a look at his platform. I was so hoping Ron Paul would stay in the race, he had amazing thoughts and ideas about change.
I do not believe that it is ever a wasted vote, and like you I think that if we voted our conscience that it would send a clear peicture to our leaders that we have had enough.
1 person likes this
@cjgrooms (4456)
• United States
13 Jul 08
Do look him up. I was schocked at how much sense he makes (not like a politician at all) I saw him on Glenn Beck and that was the first time i had heard or seen anything about another party having a canidate running. Now if that dosen't show who the press wants in office you just aren't looking!
@jillhill (37354)
• United States
14 Jul 08
I don't know who I will vote for but we definately need a fresh breath of air in our political front. I think also that it's become too much about parties...and not enough about working together to get the job done and attent to the issues that are important!
1 person likes this
@lloydanthony111 (4698)
• United States
22 Jul 08
I am very familiar with Bob Barr. He was one of the many people who pushed for ex-President Bill Clinton's impeachment.
I really disliked him at that time, but I'm starting to listen to him and he really makes many good points.
Unfortunately, he has very little chance of becoming the next President of the United States.
But if you believe in him, you should support him. It would send a message to both Democrats and Republicans that business as usual is unacceptable.
Lloyd
@fluffnflowers (1594)
• United States
13 Jul 08
Yup. 
I posted on Bob Barr a couple of weeks ago and his nomination as the Libertarian party candidate. Apparently, the Libertarian is predicted to swing about 10% of votes in this election -- which is pretty significant when you consider how long the US has been a two-party system.
If you agree with his views, I say vote for him. The more oomph the Libertarian party has behind them in this election, even if he doesn't win, the more likely they are to gain more and more ground and become a strong force in the political world. You could help start changing the way elections are done and bring your values to forefront! What's better than a peaceful revolution? 
I posted on Bob Barr a couple of weeks ago and his nomination as the Libertarian party candidate. Apparently, the Libertarian is predicted to swing about 10% of votes in this election -- which is pretty significant when you consider how long the US has been a two-party system.
If you agree with his views, I say vote for him. The more oomph the Libertarian party has behind them in this election, even if he doesn't win, the more likely they are to gain more and more ground and become a strong force in the political world. You could help start changing the way elections are done and bring your values to forefront! What's better than a peaceful revolution? 