My son wrote in Ron Paul

[Aisling]

My son is about to receive his Masters in Political Science, and he has just voted for Ron Paul. He just called and said "Long Live the Constitution!"

I thought it would be a wasted vote, but he said they keep statistics, and by writing in Ron Paul, they'll see that a registered Republican was unhappy with the Republican candidate, which may affect future candidates.

He also said that an Obama win will strengthen the Repub party...having a Dem congress and president will force the Repubs to rethink their party.

Any opinions?

 

[Uncle Remus]

My son is about to receive his Masters in Political Science, and he has just voted for Ron Paul. He just called and said "Long Live the Constitution!"

I thought it would be a wasted vote, but he said they keep statistics, and by writing in Ron Paul, they'll see that a registered Republican was unhappy with the Republican candidate, which may affect future candidates.

He also said that an Obama win will strengthen the Repub party...having a Dem congress and president will force the Repubs to rethink their party.
Any opinions?

I'd say your kid paid attention not only in class, but he's been payin' attention all along.

And congratulations to your son.

 

[budbeerlady]

I think you will see alot of this. When all the numbers come out and the parties see XXXXXX votes for other people it will hopefully smack them upside the noggin for next time.

 

[Chicago526]

I think you're right. Such a large Dem majority should force the Reps to take a long hard look at themselves, and hopefully will make changes for the better. I liked McCain in 2000, what he had to do to get Rep support was insane. I didn't recognize the McCain of '08.

 

[genius118899]

I agree with the rethinking of the Republican party. My NROTC unit had a political science professor come talk to us back in the spring, after we knew McCain was the nominee and when Obama and Clinton were still duking it out. He said that the American people hate for one party to be completely in control. If Obama wins today, then in 2010, record numbers of Republicans will be elected into Congress. Also, politics in the US have gone through several eras. Since LBJ, there have only been 2 Democratic presidents- Carter and Clinton. The question is, whether Obama will be another Carter, and just turn the country back over to the Republicans in 2012 for the next couple years.

 

[Kathi OD]

Congratulations to your son (and to you for raising someone who votes their conscious, even when it bucks the trend)! My son has been saying he is going to do the same for months. I'll have to ask him tonight if he actually went through with it.

 

[Chuck S]

Well in premise I agree that an Obama win will give the Republican Party pause, and hopefully they will see that the far right agenda is turning more traditonal Republicans off.

However, I don't understand this part:

I thought it would be a wasted vote, but he said they keep statistics, and by writing in Ron Paul, they'll see that a registered Republican was unhappy with the Republican candidate, which may affect future candidates.

How would they know if the vote cast for Ron Paul was by a registered Republican or a middle of the road Democrat that believes in being fiscally conservative and socially liberal? Aren't ballots private, how would they know just who cast the ballot for Ron Paul?

For a short time. Ron Paul was my Representaive (we had a re-districting mess here in TX.) I was prepared to not like him, as I really liked our other Representative, Ciro Rodriguez. Our current Representative is Henry Cuellar, he's OK, I guess, I'm not overly impressed by him, though.

But I really, really liked Ron Paul, and may have voted for him over Obama if he'd gotten the nomination. I was a Hillary supporter and delegate at our county convention.

 

[wilderness01]

I'd say your kid paid attention not only in class, but he's been payin' attention all along.

And congratulations to your son.

I agree.

 

[akhenaten]

However, I don't understand this part:

How would they know if the vote cast for Ron Paul was by a registered Republican or a middle of the road Democrat that believes in being fiscally conservative and socially liberal? Aren't ballots private, how would they know just who cast the ballot for Ron Paul?

good question...
private ballots as far as I know.....

 

[TomLovesBecky]

My son is about to receive his Masters in Political Science, and he has just voted for Ron Paul. He just called and said "Long Live the Constitution!"

I thought it would be a wasted vote, but he said they keep statistics, and by writing in Ron Paul, they'll see that a registered Republican was unhappy with the Republican candidate, which may affect future candidates.

He also said that an Obama win will strengthen the Repub party...having a Dem congress and president will force the Repubs to rethink their party.

Any opinions?

My husband and I will both be writing in Ron Paul today. We are going together after he gets off work, so we can take the kids and take turns wrangling them if necessary, lol. We want to explain the process to them. Two of them will be voting in the next Presidential election (they are 17 and almost 15, next week) so it's important to us to go over it with them!


I think your son made the right choice, for sure! Obviously lol.

 

[lovemygoofy]

good question...
private ballots as far as I know.....

Because in most areas, to register to vote, one has to declare a party affiliation. When the results turn out for that preceint, it can give the party an idea if they are still being supported or not. If a normally red area votes blue or vice versa it gives the party an idea that people are not happy.

 

[Master Mason]

Because in most areas, to register to vote, one has to declare a party affiliation. When the results turn out for that preceint, it can give the party an idea if they are still being supported or not. If a normally red area votes blue or vice versa it gives the party an idea that people are not happy.

That still won't tell them that it was a republican that wrote in Ron Paul. That information can not be tracked. They can extrapolate and guess, but not everyone votes party lines so there is always some back and forth.

 

[lovemygoofy]

That still won't tell them that it was a republican that wrote in Ron Paul. That information can not be tracked. They can extrapolate and guess, but not everyone votes party lines so there is always some back and forth.

Absoultely I agree but I'm saying it gives some general ideas and guidance to the parties. If a 95% republican county votes and 44% vote for someone other than the republican, that says that something is up either in the republican headquarters there in the county or a large dissatisfaction among the repbulican base.

 

[Jockaroo]

I agree with the rethinking of the Republican party. My NROTC unit had a political science professor come talk to us back in the spring, after we knew McCain was the nominee and when Obama and Clinton were still duking it out. He said that the American people hate for one party to be completely in control. If Obama wins today, then in 2010, record numbers of Republicans will be elected into Congress. Also, politics in the US have gone through several eras. Since LBJ, there have only been 2 Democratic presidents- Carter and Clinton. The question is, whether Obama will be another Carter, and just turn the country back over to the Republicans in 2012 for the next couple years.

Genius, I think you are a genius with this response. Hubby and I have been talking. We think the exact same thing. Things are pretty messed up right now and they won't be fixed overnight, regardless who is in power (both Executive and Legislative branches). Personally, I think which ever Presidential candidate gets this is destined to be a one-termer and the power will fall to the side not in control--i.e. another Carter. (For the record I'm an independent and refuse to tell who I support on a message board. I do find the political process fascinating, however.)

 

[cabanafrau]

I believe the only instance in which you must declare a party preference to vote is in the case of the primaries in which votes are cast ostensibly to select a party's nominee. Aside from that scenario, linking a ballots selections to a voter is not supposed to be allowed. I would never say it doesn't happen, but it isn't supposed to work that way at all.

I pity the pollster who tries to extrapolate anything out of my ballot. They may need to go lie down a while.

 

[H.E. Pennypacker]

He also said that an Obama win will strengthen the Repub party...having a Dem congress and president will force the Repubs to rethink their party.

That's a really interesting thought. As a long-time Republican who's unhappy with the direction the party has taken, I truly hope he's right.

And congrats to your son on the Master's!

 

[4greatboys]

Both of my voting age sons are Ron Paul fans. I do know one is going to write his name in. I'm not sure about the other.

 

[Master Mason]

I believe the only instance in which you must declare a party preference to vote is in the case of the primaries in which votes are cast ostensibly to select a party's nominee. Aside from that scenario, linking a ballots selections to a voter is not supposed to be allowed. I would never say it doesn't happen, but it isn't supposed to work that way at all.

I pity the pollster who tries to extrapolate anything out of my ballot. They may need to go lie down a while.

Mine would be pretty easy, I voted a straight throw the bums out line. If you were in office right now, you didn't get my vote.

 

[EMom]

As for figuring out party affiliation, when I write in "Hillary Clinton," I imagine they'll accurately peg me as one disgruntled Democrat.

 

[frndshpcptn]

I wrote in my choice as well.

I was very happy afterwards...I really struggled trying to choose one of the two main candidates and was pleased when I just decided to vote how I really wanted vs. how the two parties dictated...