There is a sickness in this country

[Pharmakon]

There is a sickness in this country. We are given, almost by royal decree, two unthinkable choices for leaders. We all know there are better leaders, even ones that represent our beliefs. But the lie of, "you are throwing your vote away" is perpetuated by the media and then by our own neighbors until it is so deafening that it becomes true to us.

This country has been hijacked by slight of hand. This knee-jerk lack of hope is unAmerican and cowardly and is nothing more than a zeitgeist perpetuated by those who want to keep the reins away from the will of the people and steer the country to it's own ends.

Every time you "bah" the mantra of hopelessness you infect your neighbor with it. It is sub-American to feel alienated from control of your country. Especially when it is fear of the boogeyman(read Obama) that puts you there.

There is more than one man and one election at stake here. It's about opening up our political system. We are becoming a bipartisan dictatorship.

A fallacy even when fashionable is still a fallacy.

Grow a sack and take your country back.

[AZXD]

I must agree, and the sickness spread far enough and deep enough that the one person who might have had a chance .....QUIT!

Ron Paul's message lives, but he IMO committed voluntary suicide when he quit his campaign.

I've asked WHY he quit, but no one can give me a valid reason, including the Ron Paul campaign.

FWIW, I'm still a little ticked off at him.

[NDB_MN]

Originally Posted by AZXD

I must agree, and the sickness spread far enough and deep enough that the one person who might have had a chance .....QUIT!

Ron Paul's message lives, but he IMO committed voluntary suicide when he quit his campaign.

I've asked WHY he quit, but no one can give me a valid reason, including the Ron Paul campaign.

FWIW, I'm still a little ticked off at him.

This is exactly it.

How are we to believe in any of the 3rd party candidates when they don't even believe in themselves enough to commit?

These 'better leaders' need to stand up and show us all that they CAN, in fact, LEAD.

I also disagree with the hyperbole that we have two "unthinkable" leaders as options. The problem is that we have two "somewhat plausible" leaders as options. Both with glaring flaws, both with die-hard fans, both scrambling so hard for the swing vote that their message is muddled and unclear. When was the last time we were actually given a choice between two solid candidates?

92? Maybe. Probably have to go back to JFK vs. Nixon and we know how both of them ended out...

[AZXD]

Originally Posted by NDB_MN

This is exactly it.

How are we to believe in any of the 3rd party candidates when they don't even believe in themselves enough to commit?

These 'better leaders' need to stand up and show us all that they CAN, in fact, LEAD.

I also disagree with the hyperbole that we have two "unthinkable" leaders as options. The problem is that we have two "somewhat plausible" leaders as options. Both with glaring flaws, both with die-hard fans, both scrambling so hard for the swing vote that their message is muddled and unclear. When was the last time we were actually given a choice between two solid candidates?

92? Maybe. Probably have to go back to JFK vs. Nixon and we know how both of them ended out...

I agree, and would still be following the man (RP) and the message if he had believed he could win.

[Bree]

Originally Posted by Pharmakon

There is a sickness in this country. We are given, almost by royal decree, two unthinkable choices for leaders. We all know there are better leaders, even ones that represent our beliefs. But the lie of, "you are throwing your vote away" is perpetuated by the media and then by our own neighbors until it is so deafening that it becomes true to us.

This country has been hijacked by slight of hand. This knee-jerk lack of hope is unAmerican and cowardly and is nothing more than a zeitgeist perpetuated by those who want to keep the reins away from the will of the people and steer the country to it's own ends.

Every time you "bah" the mantra of hopelessness you infect your neighbor with it. It is sub-American to feel alienated from control of your country. Especially when it is fear of the boogeyman(read Obama) that puts you there.

There is more than one man and one election at stake here. It's about opening up our political system. We are becoming a bipartisan dictatorship.

A fallacy even when fashionable is still a fallacy.

Grow a sack and take your country back.

How much of your money did you donate to third party candidates to make them viable candidates compared to the Republican and Democratic candidates?

The American people make their choices by putting up $$$. Unfortunately for the lesser party candidates, the people have spoken and it wasn't what you all wanted to hear.

So the bottom line remains... you have two candidates who CAN win and several who CANNOT win. Make your choice on election day. But if the issue is reforming the system... then DONATE $$$... not talk. Only money walks the walk in this country.

[AZXD]

Originally Posted by Bree

How much of your money did you donate to third party candidates to make them viable candidates compared to the Republican and Democratic candidates?

The American people make their choices by putting up $$$. Unfortunately for the lesser party candidates, the people have spoken and it wasn't what you all wanted to hear.

So the bottom line remains... you have two candidates who CAN win and several who CANNOT win. Make your choice on election day. But if the issue is reforming the system... then DONATE $$$... not talk. Only money walks the walk in this country.

Exactly!!! and Exactly why I'm still ticked-off at him .... I sent him money. I agree with his message .... He apparently does not agree with his message as much as some of his supporters do, or he would have stuck it out.

He quit while his base was still growing .... What does that say ??

[Ishpeck]

Ron Paul suspended his campaign, he didn't quit. The local campaigners are still working on denying McCain the necessary delegates to get the Republican nomination so they can go to convention.

If it goes to convention, there's hope for the Republican party.

[NDB_MN]

You say tomato, I say tomahto.

Suspension of his campaign was basically abdication and forfeit of everything he'd worked for. I was never a big Ron Paul fan simply because I figured this would eventually happen with him. Too bad I was right.

[AZXD]

Originally Posted by Ishpeck

Ron Paul suspended his campaign, he didn't quit. The local campaigners are still working on denying McCain the necessary delegates to get the Republican nomination so they can go to convention.

If it goes to convention, there's hope for the Republican party.

Originally Posted by NDB_MN

You say tomato, I say tomahto.

Suspension of his campaign was basically abdication and forfeit of everything he'd worked for. I was never a big Ron Paul fan simply because I figured this would eventually happen with him. Too bad I was right.

I've gotta agree with NDB.
If a suspension did not equate to tossing everything that had been worked for away ... Thnigs might be different.

Really!
A good message, a growing support base, and he quit/suspended/stopped/whatever word you wish to use his campaign .... A wasted effort IMO

The horse stopped running on the back straight and never even attempted to enter the final turn ..... Yea, it's a wierd race when you can place bets on the long shot after the race begins .... It's just a shame that as the other horses enter the final straight-away ... Some people are willing to toss their vote, er bet, down on a horse that left the track and is hanging out in the pasture.

As for hope within the Republican party .... I'm looking at the seats in the House and Senate, and planning for the next election .... Statistically this race has two horses, and if your horse doesn't win ... You should be thinking about the scuffles and horse play that will occur in the field.

[Ishpeck]

McCain doesn't have enough delegates right now to get the nomination.... so.... if you can make the Republican party go to convention, it's GAME ON all over again.