I Am Not Voting in 2008

It really does not matter whether you vote or not. You still can have an opinion / bias and a desire to influence others. Especially since you live in DC, you didn't have to decide not to vote! That part just seems an unnecessary effort to convince yourself that you are being a fair critic!

My reasonable posts were deleted. Hence I must take leave of this forum.

Good luck!

MAYBE ITS YOUR CIVIC DUTY NOT TO VOTE

Should Uninformed Voters Be Casting Their Vote on Nov. 4?

"We registered over 100,000 people. ... It is so imperative that this generation's voice is heard. And they are being heard."

But are these get-out-the-vote drives entirely a good thing? "20/20" asked some newly registered young people some basic questions about our government.

Some people were knowledgeable. "There are two senators from each state, making a total of 100," one young voter said. Another knew that "the Bill of Rights is the first 10 amendments to the Constitution."

But many of the young voters didn't seem very informed. Some didn't know how many states are in the U.S. or how many senators there are. Few could explain Roe v. Wade, the landmark Supreme Court ruling upholding abortion rights.

"Roe v. Wade is segregation maybe?" one new voter guessed.

Another asked: "Was Roe v. Wade where we declared bankruptcy?" And still another wondered, "That was about a black person and a white person?"

Brownstein said, "There's a lot of uninformed voters out there."

So should those uninformed voters just stay home?

WATCH

20/20 - Politically Incorrect Guide To Politics - Pt. 1 of 6

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Phs6CwnutoY

מנא ,מנא, תקל, ופרסין

Are we in China? or is Barack Obama already our American president??

"Blogger Zhou ‘Zola’ Shugang, known in China as the ‘nailhouse blogger’, was placed under house arrest last week by Chinese authorities seeking to prevent him travelling to Beijing. Zola has frequently drawn attention to issues hushed up by the Chinese authorities."

http://www.indexoncensorship.org/?p=544

If the comparison is between money spent on the election campaign: the half BILLION dollars or more at the disposal of Senator Obama's team to spend for him, (where even the calories in every peanut he eats is carefully measured by experts to give him the best possible advice on his diet etc etc) was earned by Senator Obama himself as Senator, right?

Could you, maybe, try your hand at more sophisticated satire next time? Could you move it up cerebrally, altogether?

LM for you on college students and the "professoriat" in another post.

JB believe me you are gonna come out of your abstinence much stronger and clearer. We need a non-partisan analyst on this forum. I'm sick of reading sycophant posts.

Poor little Jacques, his favorites, i.e. the womanizing Giuliani and the Queen Clinton, did not win the nominations and he is so depressed now he cannot vote.

Bill Maher has been declared a Suppressive Person by Scientology. Time to support him in the name of freedom of speech. No other religion he made fun of has declared war on him. So much for Scientology. Anyone remember the problem expressed by some on Claire Hoffman's thread when the Constitutional Court of Germany declared Scientology as unconstitutional?

http://au.youtube.com/watch?v=_HEVGscKkHw

I too wish Obama's grandmother well. I don't blame him for taking a few days off his campaign to rush with his wife and kids to his gravely ill Grandma in Hawaii. Some things transcend politics.

Here is wishing Senator Obama's grandmother well. May she live long and get to rejoice in her grandson's success to be elected the first black president in US history. Since she has been like a mother to Senator Obama, all the more reason why she deserves to be around to be proud of her grandson/son-at-heart's achievement.

May God bless and keep her. May Senator Obama be comforted in his pain and fear of loss.

For the pro-life anon poster

http://americaschoicenow.com/

For queasy JB

Obama the 'Light-Worker'

"In San Francisco you can buy votive candles that featured Obama dressed in Monks robes with a halo, giving a benediction while holding a cross (see a picture of it here.) It would be funny if it weren't for the actual Obama worship that hammers our senses.

The left's unique ability to ignore reality and be guided by utopian impossibilities has reached new levels of absurdity. Adding to aromatherapy, Feng Shui and the healing power of crystals, we now have Obamaism, the belief that an inexperienced and dishonest socialist politician can somehow "change" America and the world for the good. The delusion has infected the press, already full of leftist ideologues and eager to sign on. Along with stage-managing Democrats in Congress, they conspire to put the very worst possible man in the White House at a perilous time.

There are so many ridiculous and muddled ideologies that infect the American left that it is hard to keep track. Obamaism has risen to the top of their delusion hierarchy. The hagiographies written about him are beyond ridiculous. A piece in SF Gate astounded me, even though I expect to find inane diatribes there. Written with the insulting snark and pointless nuance that passes for journalism these days, it reveals a new progressive left paradigm that should frighten us all. Mark Morford, a SFGate Columnist wrote the following paragraph on Friday, June 6, 2008 in an article entitled, "Is Obama an enlightened being?"

"Many spiritually advanced people I know (not coweringly religious, mind you, but deeply spiritual) identify Obama as a Lightworker, that rare kind of attuned being who has the ability to lead us not merely to new foreign policies or health care plans or whatnot, but who can actually help usher in a new way of being on the planet, of relating and connecting and engaging with this bizarre earthly experiment. These kinds of people actually help us evolve. They are philosophers and peacemakers of a very high order, and they speak not just to reason or emotion, but to the soul."

Morford penned in a bit of skepticism, merely to pretend some logical thought went into his silly article. It is clear he is well afflicted with the Obamaism disease. Morford thinks Obama has "a sort of powerful luminosity, a unique high-vibration integrity," as fawning a description as I can think of, and devoid of any connection to reality."

In his last interview with Sally Quinn, JB said that he looked on Senator Obama as a Machiavellian politician. He retracted that statement later by saying, he admired all the more for THAT reason.

So what is it? A Machiavellian politician or The One?

The world has already come to terms with a Machiavellian, consensus building politician. It is as good as real politics gets. So no need for The One.

Anyone who concludes Prof Berlinerblau was NOT supporting Senator Obama are kind of naive to the extreme.

Go back and read ALL his essays.

IMHO Prof JB was kind of disappointed with the extreme of the Obama campaign using "religion on telephone" as a marketing strategy to recruit voters and expressed dissent about that, in addition to the extended version of Bush's faith initiatives in the Obama campaign. He went back on the latter however, accepting it as brilliant tactic or whatever.

I for one look forward to reading neutral, analytical essays by JB. He must rise about petty partisan politicking. Abstaining from voting this time round is an act of penance, and is a good start to a new beginning! Senator Obama is not going to lose because of JB's missing vote. JB has already done his bit over the months to support Obama and won him millions of votes already.

Poor little Jacques, his favorites, i.e. womanizing Giuliani and Queen Clinton, did not win the nominations and he is so depressed now he cannot vote.

Well, here's the thing. One reason students disdain the "professoriat" is that it doesn't exist. Don't really know if it ever did. However, most of you columns have been so middle-to-low brow that the thought of your having read much let alone written puzzles.

Throughout, you've steadfastly supported Obama, whom you call "one of us." It's just that sort of clannishness that drives young college students crazy. They've just come from high school, you see, and cliquishness, combined with an ill-deserved sense of superiority turns them off. A lot.

They'll listen, you know. But you have to listen too. Awhile ago, before your time and mine, American "leftists" were carringy around the little book of Chairman Mao, the gangster Mao, I mean. Students from communist countries literally couldn't fathom what they generously called the naivete of the left, what I consider it's never-ending adolscent rebellion.

It doesn't have to be that way, you know. But, then, all honesty, begins with the self. Your tweedy colleague with the elbow patches, the one you stood so solidly behind, while now claiming objectivity, has, I think, some honesty with himself. He ain't about to see if he can walk on water.

Har. A bit subtle, perhaps, but still ... har.

hi i read your article, i'm a little puzzled. do you consider yourself to be an american? if so i would think you might feel the obligation to actually participate in the selection of our leaders. there is no need for you to actually say who you vote for that is a personal matter, but thnking logically i can't help but wonder if you having had the opprotunity to actually see and talk to the candidates would be ... maybe more likely to make an informed choice. which if i read your article is your wish to bring to the electorate true unbiased information to make choice on and actually vote. i would think you have a favororite whether you actually vote for them or not will not change this simple fact... if true.. its time for all americans to actually investigate the truth the best they can with the most resources they can.. and then actually act upon what they feel to be right peacefully and respectfully but with great determination .. to do otherwise would seem to be unamerican.. of coarse we don''t want our news people telling us what to think but like wise we hope mabe they are capeable of thinking for themselves if not masybe they don't have what it takes to actually report facts instead of fiction that i see all to often paraded as fact with no underlying proof except the people in power said so so it must be so. you do on some level evaluate and prioritize what we actually see. i will take the time to publicly thank your profession for actually going back to asking questions and when the polititian says something along the lines of " the sky is blue" when asked what exactly do they plan to do about the oversight problem with the out of control finacial sector. you and you colleges are now actually looking at them and asking the question over again or actually calling them on thier arrogance by saying ..so you have no intention of actually answering the question or are you really saying you have no thoughts on this issue, thats what you want to tellyour constiuents?. that is your answer you want to see on the news tonight. . thank you very much.. it is noticed and appreciated by many i would think, real answers are what the american people desrve to hear. if the answer is i don't know that is an answer but it better come with a short time period where they actually look us up and answer the question for the record. if our leaders are not brite enough to answer a simple question they are' brite enough to actually have thier job and should be charged with defrauding the taxpayers for falsly picking up a paycheck and . if they are doing it cold bloodedly on purpose to hide wrongdoing they ought to go to the real prison.i actually have hope for you people now but these are just opinion for what they are worth...

Students for Life of America, 4750 schools registered:

In the spring of 2004, a student from McNeese State University asked me, "What can I do to work with other students around the country, in solidarity, to help end abortion?"

I hear things like that all the time from the students I speak to. "What can I do? I have ideas, but I don’t know what to do with them. Can I really make a difference? I'm just one person."

When this student asked me, a spark went off in my head.

I replied, "What if we got students to not only act in solidarity with others, but also with the children that are dying every day?" As soon as I said it, I knew God had set something in motion inside of me.

At the time, I was one person working from the basement of my home with a computer, a website, and a small e-mail list that I had been collecting for a few months. I wasn't really sure what could be accomplished with that, but I offered it to God and started sending out emails.

Now, something that started its first year as just a few thousand students from 300 campuses has grown into a nation-wide outpouring of love and action. The Pro-life Day of Silent Solidarity is on its fourth year, and we have tens of thousands of people from all over the world from thousands of campuses that are participating.

Hearts are being changed, babies are being saved, and women are being spared the trauma of post-abortive pain. People are coming together in unity to promote a culture of life. Personhood is being restored on campuses across the nation.

I really cannot take any credit for the success of this movement. It is only God who grants us the power to do this. I was one person who listened to God and, through Him, acted on the vision He gave me.

If you have an idea, a vision or dream, don’t be afraid to stand up and let your voice be heard. Don’t doubt what you can accomplish with Christ. Don’t think that because you are just one person you can’t make a difference.

“I have a dream”--a statement powerfully spoken by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., and yet so much more than just words. He did not cower in the face of adversity. He spoke those words with passion and conviction. He challenged the world to stand up for the rights and equality of all men.

I, too, have a dream. I, too, will not cower in the face of adversity. I believe that, through Christ, we can restore personhood to the most innocent of our brothers and sisters: the children in the womb.

Today, 4000 of my generation will be silenced.

Today 4000 of my brothers and sisters lives will be ended simply because of their age.

Today, I will stand up and share my dream, my idea, and my vision with the world.

Will you stand with me?

For Christ I stand,

Bryan Kemper
Founder – Pro-life Day of Silent Solidarity

http://www.silentday.org/vision.php

Is my vote for President and Vice President meaningful in the Electoral College system?

Yes, within your state, your vote has a great deal of significance.

Under the Electoral College system, we do not elect the President and Vice President through a direct nation-wide vote. We select electors, who pledge their electoral vote to a specific candidate.
http://www.archives.gov/federal-register/electoral-college/faq.html#popularelectoral

I have no idea who these electors are. I guess they are people who know better than me. Your vote matters, it just doesn't matter as much as their vote. They have information you don't have. It always works out, one way or the other.

"Although I'm not sure how one can have a man-crush on Hillary Clinton as she is female."

Diana, how old are you?

Here's a candid look at Hillary in Orlando a few days ago. What do you see?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I6j_UD-B9wk

It is true that the most effective professors keep their political views to themselves but this doesn't mean that they don't have political views or that having them in any way affects what their students are taught (if they make the effort to leave out their own bias in the classroom). Thus, a journalist can write an unbiased and academic column and still choose a candidate to vote for. Having an opinion is not the problem, it is letting one's attachment to this opinion prevent one from seeing an issue or candidate clearly. In fact, having opinions isn't particularly under one's control. As you yourself said, you developed attachments to several candidates. (Although I'm not sure how one can have a man-crush on Hillary Clinton as she is female.) I find it hard to believe that you aren't leaning towards one candidate or another, regardless of whether or not you actually plan to show up on November 4th. Voting is by secret ballot. None of your readers will know or be affected by your vote unless you want them to. Abstaining from voting makes absolutely no sense to me.

Berlinerblau says

"I live in the District of Columbia."

Oh is right..

Please be sure you are able to protect your wife and children.

Liveliest D.C. Neighborhoods Also Jumping With Robberies, Shootings, and Rapes

Across the city, an average of 11 robberies take place each day, the analysis shows. But on Friday and Saturday nights, the city can register as many as five an hour.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/10/12/AR2006101201813.html

https://capitalgunowners.org/

What a ridiculous idea!
That you cannot remain ethical and professional and competent in whatever it is you do if you vote? Much less if you tell the world how you vote?

There is one area where your credibility will suffer: voting and democracy!

You would serve society better if you fail to sit in any of the narrow boxes people create out there. You have allowed your fear of being labeled to define you. Of course, that is your choice.

"considering that I was in Junior High then, I'm not sure which event you're referring to"

Hi Athena- American hostages in Iran were freed and came home because Reagan was getting ready to kick some Iranian @ss and the Iranians knew it.

I'd like to show you what Biden was talking about when he said- "the world will test Barack Obama" and "Watch, we're gonna have an international crisis, a generated crisis, to test the mettle of this guy."

Jimmy Carter was perhaps America's weakest President. Like Obama- he told the world he'd like to talk and make friends and wanted to end war not fight with anyone. American hostages were taken in Iran. Carter's talks failed and when he finally attempted a rescue- it failed too. It was a very painful time for all Americans.

Take a listen to President Carter revealing to the WORLD the results of Operation Eagle Claw:

President Jimmy Carter - Statement on Iran Rescue Mission

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Km3dx7wppA&NR=1

Along with the rest of America- I'd like to know what Biden meant by saying "And he's gonna need help. And the kind of help he's gonna need is, he's gonna need you - not financially to help him - we're gonna need you to use your influence, your influence within the community, to stand with him. Because it's not gonna be apparent initially, it's not gonna be apparent that we're right."

The Obama spiners will be seen all over the media doing the cleanup. Be sure to read Biden's full statement as they are trying to twist his meaning into harmless chatter for the adoring Obama fans.

To the Anonymous who is laying on the guilt trip:

Voting is a right, not a duty. The platitudes about "failing" one's country and living up to one's "responsbility" are forms of manipulation. Patriotism is about third on my list of important values, to be found after God and the individual person standing before me. I'm sure the Germans who turned Jews into the elected Nazi government felt very patriotic. At least they felt it was their "duty."

Well, considering that I was in Junior High then, I'm not sure which event you're referring to. The bombing of the US barracks in Lebanon, or Reagan getting shot by Hinckley? Truthfully, I was paying more attention to schoolwork than I was to world events.

My point is that there are ALWAYS crises in the world to deal with, no matter who is President. It's how they deal with them that matter. George Bush had management experience when he was elected. He currently has 7+ years of experience under his belt, and he's still managing to screw up the economy even more than it already was.

So, is Obama ready to be President on January 20? Absolutely. He shows a grasp of the issues at stake, and has surrounded himself with very smart people who can explain things to him that he doesn't know about already. And not just Dems, either! Two of the people that he's worked closely with in Congress are Dick Lugar and Chuck Hagel - both Senators which loads of military and foreign policy experience.

Think of it this way: on September 11th, the President was being flown around the country on Air Force One, and the VP had to take control of the reins of government. If, Gods forbid, something similar happens, who do you want to take the reins of government in a crisis - Joe Biden or Sarah Palin? Choose wisely.

For pity's sake-

Jacques Berlinerblau is simply following a popular trend in this year's election:

"For president, no endorsement this time. Perhaps the most subversive thing we can say about this presidential election is this: We believe the U.S. has two strong candidates facing off on Nov. 4. Sens. John McCain and Barack Obama are good and honorable men. This is the time in the election when partisans try to get us to think otherwise. Caveat emptor."

http://www.twincities.com/opinion/ci_10754152

And by the way- this election will have a REAL October surprise in less than a week.

Isn't it a beautiful day?

Jacques; If you fail to vote in this election or in any election you are exercising your right to be wrong. So I am going to exercise my right to ignore all of your future posts.

Voting is a patriotic duty and one of each citizens most important responsibilities. You will have failed your country if you do not vote.

Athena-

Do you know what happened at the beginning of Reagan's presidency?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iIFDU8-a-Z8

There will be tests no matter who gets elected. Remember that the WTC was bombed the first time shortly after Clinton took office, and 9/11 happened within a few months of Bush taking office. For my money, North Korea and Iran come to mind. Lil' Kim may or may not be alive or disabled because of his stroke, and none of his sons have the political backing to take over the way that he did from Big Kim. In Iran, Ahma-nutjob will most likely do something to cause trouble because that's what he does best. But he's not the real power in Iran. That would be Ayatollah Khamenei. And then there's Putin rearing his head over Alaska and other places, and the Chinese pretty much owning everyone. They're all going to want to see how the new American President reacts - no matter who he may be.

Poor little Jacques, his favorites, i.e. womanizing Giuliani and Queen Clinton, did not win the nominations and he so depressed now he cannot vote.

I have come to a similar conclusion for myself (not voting this time around). The whole process is now about taking sides, attacking those who disagree with you, a descent into name-calling. It is a personally degrading, not elevating, process to participate in.

I also get looks of disbelief and the silly jibe about "duty" but it always comes from someone who is worshipping the system. There is a lack of historical perspective here. I'm not that old but I have been around long enough to realize that any "changes" one party makes while in power only last until the until the day the next party is sworn in. Then - poof, they're gone. I guess I would prefer to see Obama win but I don't have any delusions that things will be any different eight years from now.

I'm glad you're not voting, please sit out all future contests.

So what if you live in DC. Voting makes you more than just a participant in the greatest democratic experience in history, it gives you the right to complain when things do not go the way you would like them to. If you do not vote and your taxes are raised, don't complain. If we get into a war you think we should not get into, don't complain. If Wall Street takes your pension and devoures it, don't complain. If your children are drafted in the future, don't complain.

So you can write all you want but not a bit of it should have any hint of complaining or criticizing what happens in DC or this country. No journalist is neutral about all things. Like a doctor who needs to hold his stomach as he reaches into a chest cavity to repair a heart, a journalist must hold their stomach to maintain a neutral stance when writing. Its a talent not everyone can muster. Not voting will do nothing to enhance your writing ability but every vote not cast reduces the legitimacy and representation of our government. In short, not voting is stupid, undemocratic, lazy and unAmerican and there is NO excuse for it.

Why have I read Joe Biden's cryptic comments on Obama being "tested with an international crisis at the start of his presidency" on the internet first and only? Why has the media completely ignored this?? And why did Biden beg the Obama supporters to help Obama by supporting him in his unpopular decision in handling this crisis and then tell them to "Gird your loins". Why is the media protecting Obama by not asking Biden to clarify his words? What is going on? I mean why is nobody paying attention to the part when he says "You may not like the way we respond, but bear with us." WHAT IS THAT SUPPOSED TO MEAN? Are they gonna lay back and get our butts kicked? Or will they do something totally drastic? Tell us, Joe...the American People have questions and we have a right to know. Donkey.
This is getting frightening in the way the media backs one side and attempt to destroy the other side. Now they are trying to say that Joe Biden was saying "Obama is inexperienced- but don't worry I am going to be there to help him." Listen to the audio. Biden didn't say that at all. Spin Spin Spin Liar Liar Liar. The American media coverage of the 2008 election is going to be studied for years and years. The bias is so offending even longtime democrats who still have a sense of truth and honour are disgusted. Their crucifixion of Palin is appalling -but the time and effort to not only discredit Joe the plumber but to dismantle every aspect of his life is a new low in media madness. And what was Joe Plumber's offense? He inspired Obama to say "when you spread the wealth around it's good for everybody". This is getting really scary. I have a feeling something BAD BAD BAD is going to happen in and to Americans- something that will make 911 look like a walk in the park..

JUST WHEN YOU THINK AMERICAN INTEGRITY IS DEAD- SOMEONE TELLS THE TRUTH!

Would the Last Honest Reporter Please Turn On the Lights?

An open letter to the local daily paper — almost every local daily paper in America: I remember reading All the President's Men and thinking: That's journalism. You do what it takes to get the truth and you lay it before the public, because the public has a right to know. This housing crisis didn't come out of nowhere. It was not a vague emanation of the evil Bush administration. It was a direct result of the political decision, back in the late 1990s, to loosen the rules of lending so that home loans would be more accessible to poor people. Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac were authorized to approve risky loans.

http://www.ldsmag.com/ideas/081017light.html

The Reality Challenged and Obfuscating Jihadist never fails in her distracting ways as she again demonstrates her inability to come to grips with her supremely dangerous, warmongering, anti-female "religion" as dictated by the Worst Book Ever Written.

Once again an election ballot for her and all Muslims:

(use black pencil to fill in the circles indicating your selections)

1. Do you believe in "pretty, wingie thingies", the paranormal foundation of Islam???? o yes, o no

2. Was Islam's founder a womanizing, warmongering, illiterate, greed-lust filled Arab as noted by history??? o yes, o no

3. Should Ayaan Hirsi Ali and Sir Salman Rushdie's books be made available to all Muslims without fear from Islamic radicals??? o yes , o no

4. Are Muslim women treated like fodder for Muslim men as dictated by the Worst Book Ever Written aka the koran??? o yes, o no

I haven't been on the WaPo blog in a while amd coming back here reminds me how done I am with it. Same old things from the regular posters.

Doe, done, done with the WaPo, thank God!

The Obama administration will duely note that Prof B had written partisan essays here to garner votes for him all along, even if JB decided to not to vote at the last minute, to regain some kind of credibility as an academic.

I do admire the courage on JB's part to sit out the election though, in an attempt to prepare to become less partisan in his FUTURE essays.

Even this essay is an indirect endorsement of Senator Obama while trying to appear a non-partisan academic.

The only time I noticed intellectual vigor in the essays of Prof Berlinerblau is when he took on anti-theists (New Atheists). Being an atheist himself, it made better sense for him to take on the extremist elements in his own ranks, just as it would make more sense (and be more effective) for Muslims themselves to tackle their own violence prone Jihadists. Outsiders must confront them too, but the effect is much greater if critical insiders take them on. In the case of a-ntitheists, Prof Berlinerblau does a good job. Anti-theists get understandably get mad with him, and he is able to tackle that too.

The duty of taking on destructive extremists from the inside holds good for all religions.

As to JB's claim in this essay that he *didn't* function like a blatant party hack for Senator Obama in his previous essays on this forum........go back and read ALL his essays AND ALL the responses to them, once again, and see if you'd rather agree with me, that his claim is.....FALSE!

Reading Sally Quinn's Ode to Obama and Islam-

I realize the bond between muslims and the far left is a marriage of convenience- they both hate America and Israel, Christians and Jews..

At least it is a principled non-vote. I personally think you should still at least write in someone you like (perhaps yourself). I am voting for Bob Barr, partially as a protest against the main parties. I live in an uncontested state though.

"And he's gonna need help" for this "international crisis that's coming in his first six months as President of the USA.

OK Joe I'll mark your words but remember:

Obama has all kind of mentors and friends he can call on in need--

Pastor Jeremiah Wright

Louis Farrakhan

Michael Pfleger

Bill Ayers

Bernardine Dorhn

Tony Rezko

I'd be worried if I didn't know Obama has spent his entire adult life cultivating solid friendships..

Joe Biden says "Mark My Words International Crisis if Obama Wins"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=keEsJVrlw6I

May these words of Joe Biden add guilt to your complacency. Obama will destroy our military and lower our standard of living to third world.

Biden's thought on his running mate-

"Mark my words. It will not be six months before the world tests Barack Obama like they did John Kennedy. The world is looking. We're about to elect a brilliant 47-year-old senator president of the United States of America. Remember I said it standing here if you don't remember anything else I said. Watch, we're gonna have an international crisis, a generated crisis, to test the mettle of this guy."

"And he's gonna need help. And the kind of help he's gonna need is, he's gonna need you - not financially to help him - we're gonna need you to use your influence, your influence within the community, to stand with him. Because it's not gonna be apparent initially, it's not gonna be apparent that we're right."

"Gird your loins. We're gonna win with your help, God willing, we're gonna win, but this is not gonna be an easy ride. This president, the next president, is gonna be left with the most significant task. It's like cleaning the Augean stables, man. This is more than just, this is more than - think about it, literally, think about it - this is more than just a capital crisis, this is more than just markets. This is a systemic problem we have with this economy."

Jerk.

Concerned the Christian Now Liberated,

Yo! Concy pussycat!

I got me 10 wiccan spells and they all work because I read the instructions.

One of the spells for this US election goes like this :

- Take one religious-toned candidate in Alaska

- Put her under the heat of the media glare

- Poof, she disappeared from the public view

See, a wiccan spell do work.

....and some election questions for you Concy pussycat, as it is your elections after all:
(use 2B pencils, eraser are allowed and you can take as long to answer until 4 November 2008)

1. Do you believe in Palinomics and McCainomics as the solution for the current financial situation and possibly upcoming economic downturn?

(a) Yes
(b) No
(c) Maybe
(d) Don't know
(e) Don't care
(f) Crisis? What crisis?

2. Were America's founders into seperation of church and state or otherwise?

(a) Yes
(b) No
(c) Yes, but...
(d) There were America's founders?
(e) America is a Christian nation.
(f) Who founded America?

3. Should "voting abstinence" as propounded by some Americans as a right, be emulated by voters in other countries without fear of their government being helmed by extremist secularists to extremist believers?

(a) Yes
(b) No
(c) Maybe
(d) Don't know
(e) Don't care
(f) Election? What election?

4. Are non-white, non-male, non-Christian Americans treated like non-entities by Evangelical Christians?

(a) Yes, but they have affirmative action
(b) No, but they have affirmative action
(c) Maybe, but they have affirmative action
(d) Don't know if they have or deserve affirmative action
(e) Don't care if they have affirmative action
(f) The are no non-whites, non-Christians and women don't really count unless they support aerial shooting of wolves, do not consider polar bear as endangered specie, believe an oil pipeline is God's will.

Cheers and don't forget to vote Concy pussycat.

May I suggest that you also 'hold your breath, stomp your feet, and sit in a corner', in addition to not voting.

'Abstinence from ego' is a sure-cure for inflated self-importance.

.

Jacques Berlinerblau makes a heart-wrenching decision not to vote.

Not to worry, Jacques.

Many Obama supporters will have your back by voting early and often this year.

Well the Reality Challenged and Obfuscating Jihadist cannot vote in the US election since she lives in Malaysia. However!!!! She can vote on the following right now, right here: (use black pencil to fill in the circles indicating your selections)

1. Do you believe in "pretty, wingie thingies", the paranormal foundation of Islam???? o yes, o no

2. Was Islam's founder a womanizing, warmongering, illiterate, greed-lust filled Arab as noted by history??? o yes, o no

3. Should Ayaan Hirsi Ali and Sir Salman Rushdie's books be made available to all Muslims without fear from Islamic radicals??? o yes , o no

4. Are Muslim women treated like fodder for Muslim men as dictated by the Worst Book Ever Written aka the koran??? o yes, o no

PLUMBER BUBBA: "Ignore all of these holier than thou creeps who insist that you need to vote.
You don't "need" to do any such thing and if you don't feel like voting then I say good for you. It's your vote so do what ever the heck you want with it."

This election is about race and religion among others.

Only those of the right gender, the right race, the right income group, the right social and educational background can afford to say such having never been deprived of the vote before like those of a "lesser" gender, race and income group, no?

Those who always have, can afford to squander what they have, no? Be it money, or opportunities or voting rights.

People who were not given, were deprived of their vote due to race and gender, value their vote.

For those not voting, pick some other reasons as follows apart from those expressed by Berlinerblau:

a) I am manifesting my elitism in being above it all by not voting.

b) This is an election of riff-raffs with dodgy issues and I have no time for such.

c) I am going to do early shopping for a goodsized succulent turkey for this upcoming Thanksgiving and would have no time to vote for turkeys masquerading as Presidential candidates,

d) I am going to spend time on election day monitoring Fox, C-Span, CNN and such on their election coverage to to study on media slants and biases and would have no time to go out to vote.

e) I have not been following the elections and haven't got the slightest clue who is Obama or Palin or McCain or Huckabee.

People have fought, are fighting for their right to vote in the last 200 years and now.

Go ahead boys, tell Mr. Berlinerblau on his right not to vote, but don't blame women, religious and racial minorities if Obama or Palin becomes President.

J the Hubba hubba

Jacques Berlinerblau has the right to choose not to vote.

He can thank me, and countless others, for the years of our lives we dedicated to allowing him, and others of his ilk do be able to do so.

By the way, choosing not to vote means that you are endorsing whoever gets elected to be able to do whatever they want to you.

I hope your "holier than thou" attitude of non-partisan thinking will tide you over during the next iteration of Krystalnacht.

Damn it man, you could at least have the cojones to write yourself in on the ballot!

Your thinking is sloppy and your emphasis on the importance of appearing to be impartial is a little worrying - are you feeling ok?

Ignore all of these holier than thou creeps who insist that you need to vote. You don't "need" to do any such thing and if you don't feel like voting then I say good for you. It's your vote so do what ever the heck you want with it.

How can a professor of ideas even stomach the notion of shunning one of his/her most vital civic responsibilities and continue living in the very country that provides you the opportunities that you enjoy? Your choice to sit and watch is lamentable, spineless, and unacceptable. Your reasons lack substance. Stop holding yourself apart; you are not in a bubble. If you do not vote, you should resign this column and your pen in general. You do not deserve a voice in a democracy when you refuse to honor your civic duty(s) even when that country allows you to make that choice. And speaking of choices, this next presidential election may well be Sophie's Choice on a grand scale. Get yourself to the polls and vote!

After writing all the non-sense you've written about the election and the candidates, you intend to stand on such a flimsy excuse? I suppose you believe you're operating at a higher level than the rest of us, what with God and 'The On Faith' non-sense you've been preaching. A citizen who does not vote does not act honorably as I suppose you believe you are doing -- they shun the very thing they argue about believing in -- the democratic process. As far as I am concerned, and I hope others, your right to criticize without participating is the equivalent of screaming your name against the howling of a category 3 or 4 hurricane -- a waste of time. Why should anyone pay attention to anything you have to say?

I've been voting in every presidential election since I became old enough to do so. Sometimes I'd vote for a particular candidate, sometimes I'd vote against a particular candidate. But this year, I'm faced with a personal dilemma, in that I don't feel inclined to cast a vote for EITHER candidate.

One has the substance of a soap bubble, a man that we've been told, either directly or indirectly by the media and other authoritarian figures, that we MUST vote for, because we need to make amends for over 100 years of racial injustice in this country and that we'll be terrible racists if we don't elect him.

The other, still in the running after the primaries only because everyone else's campaigns went belly-up before his did, thereby ensuring his candidacy. The living personifaction of that line from Shakespeare's "Macbeth", "a tale told by an idiot, full of sound and fury, signifying nothing."

Yes, perhaps the seriously irrational should not vote. Nor perhaps should they publicly comment on anything, including religion.

Choosing the better political candidate is essentially no different from making any other choice.

One looks at the alternatives, examines their pros and cons, and then makes a logical inference about which alternative better matches an appropriate set of criteria -- one's personal set for one's own personal choice and presumably a more neutral and objective set for reasonably unbiased journalistic analysis or commentary.

Try as I might, I can't imagine why that should be a terribly difficult thing to do for any person with basic mental faculties and the ability to look at at least some aspects of the world in a reasonably unemotional and dispassionate way.

Yes, perhaps the seriously irrational should not vote. Nor perhaps should they publicly comment on anything, including religion.

Choosing the better political candidate is essentially no different from making any other choice.

One looks at the alternatives, examines their pros and cons, and then makes a logical inference about which alternative better matches an appropriate set of criteria -- one's personal set for one's own personal choice and presumably a more neutral and objective set for reasonably unbiased journalistic analysis or commentary.

Try as I might, I can't imagine why that should be a terribly difficult thing to do for any person with basic mental faculties and the ability to look at at least some aspects of the world in a reasonably unemotional and dispassionate way.

i know why you are not voting and its not for the reasons you mention.
you are not voting because you know McCain is a complete idiot and you are not voting for Obama because you are not convinced he will kiss Israel's arse to the extent that you would like him to.

i would say you have a problem and I agree with you. Skip this one.

This is a load topped with a crock. If you don't want to vote for Obama and there is no republican you like just say so. Stop your cowardly tirade and just say you would never vote for an 'Obama'.

Saudi in America
Land of the Free! Home of the Brave?

To vote or not to vote...

For whatever reason, choosing not to vote is abandonment of duty. For those that came before us and made it possible to have this honor, and right to vote, it is a privilage. To those that will come after us and will live with the consequences of each and every election, we have a obligation and opportunity to correct the path and direction to the future. Neither one of these reasons to vote are small or casual. And certainly not a experiment in balance.

This would be egghead thinking.

MR. Berlinerblau
In this country you of course have the right to vote or not vote with no questions asked.

That said, the only purpose that I could see as reasonable for you to not vote is that you see not one iota of difference in the merit of one candidate over the other. I find that possibility hard to believe. If you do see one candidate as more valuable than the other and still do not vote for that candidate then you effectively give the election to the other candidate. Theoretically that's your loss.

Give me the straight facts and I don't care who you vote for.

I would have no way to know how you voted. Given that fact I would have to judge your credibility solely by what you write or have written in the past, when seen in the light of other facts that I know. I find it hard to understand how your credibility would appear tainted to anyone who didn't know how you voted. Nor would I automatically feel that you are more or less credible solely because of who you did or didn't vote for.
I could see where a good and honest researcher and writer could find and publish all the facts as they truly are and yet personally interpret those facts in your own way for your own use.

I have long suspected that Berlinerblau writes not so much to state a real opinion as to stir up contention. After a bit of thought, I have concluded that this is not a bad thing. While our essay author imparts no wisdom, he goads us into discussing the issue, forcing us to examine our own positions, and finding out how others feel. Kinda Socratic, actually.

As to voting: it is always easier to vote against, than to vote for. This is what I have usually done, but not this time. I am voting FOR Obama.

....and by the way, Mr. Berlinerblau, as you are not voting in this 2008 election, is your vote for sale on E-Bay to the the highest bidder and such? Just joshing.

There may be some anxious to vote not just once, but twice and three times just to make sure the candidates or party of their choice gets elected.

In third world politics, there are accusations of "vote buying" and "votes for sale". Definitely not legal but a clear indication of the "value" the financial value (immediate, short-term and long-term) of a vote/s for third world politicians and voters.

Cheers and out of here
J

This is why I have stopped reading the newspaper and watching TV news programs. There is little if any objective reporting. At least reading the news online, I can click away muttering or read on if it's an objective piece. Like stock gurus, never own the stocks you are promoting on national news.

Thank you.

Abstinence does not make the commentator grow more believable--or more responsible. I do not believe in "objectivity" as lately practiced; I believe in truth. That means I have a rational fondness for policies that have been intelligently selected for the likelihood of their improving the chances for survival and prosperity for myself and people I care about (a category that I try to keep widening rather than narrowing). Thus, truth includes plenty of attention to hard data, but cannot exclude severe questioning about what the data is for. It seems likely from what I've read from and about you that your vote would be to everyone's (not just your own) advantage. Therefore your failure to cast it is more reprehensible than the failure of some ignorant religious nut or some pathetically poor person barely managing to survive by working double shifts. In fact, it would be reprehensible for a person of your intelligence not to be contributing some time and/or money to somebody's campaign no matter what you do for a living. This would not lead you into the type of "objectivity" that tries to be "fair and balanced" between advocates of and opponents of, say ethnic cleansing or holocausts or lynchings (apparently the type of "objectivity" lately favored by much of the press). But it could very well add to the truth value of what you have to say. Go vote, young man; go vote!

I first must began by saying thank you for giving me the opportunity to write this comment and secondly, thanks beforehand in replying to my comment. The following words are not written with any intent to offend or demorlize any human race or religion. Sir, I respect your right to chose to vote or not. I really feel that someone of your stature would add much if you were to vote. I understand that you do not believe in mixing politics with religion but can one vote without involving one's religion. With all respect, Obama was not the one who introduced the topic of religion into politics, it was done by others with intent to attack his character and to attempt to wrongly affiliate him with certain individuals who appeared as redicals and in his defense he mentioned he was a Christian and not any other religion. I am a Christian but never would I allow my religion to be a factor in whether I voted for a person or not, neither would I bring it up for the sake of voting for it serves no purpose. I some how believe that you may have hidden reasons why you will not vote by unconciously see those reasons as not wanting to mix religion with politics. Please sir, before you totally throw away the idea of voting, think of all the benefits you as an individual will reap as a result of many individuals of various religious belifs who stepped up, voted and helped to create change. Should one benefit without effort and input, the votes of others would create a lot of change not only for them but for you as well. Shouldn't you be willing to do the same for them, voting is not about religion it is about making wise choses to become involved in people and policies that will have an enormous impact on all of are lives. Respectfully, I say that those who are able to vote but refuse to are not apart of the solution but apart of the problem but take pride in reaping the benefits handed down by those who stood up and voted and this Sir is not only unfair, it is totally not acceptable neither responsible behavior regardless of ones affliation to religion or not.
Thank you for your time.

Arminius wrote: "Anyone who does not vote forfeits his right to complain. Mr Berlinerblau should stop writing here."

While I, for one, would miss Berlinerblau's perspective on these questions, I agree with Arminius here. An active and informed citizen body is the cornerstone of our democracy. Any refusal to vote denotes a level of detachment that is, in my mind, unacceptable.

It is not a credit to Giuliani that New Yorkers showed their kindness and spirit of community in the aftermath of 9/11 -- the credit goes to the humanity of each citizen. Giuliani has been shown to have done enough to discredit him by making wrong decisions which cost others their lives and health. I live in downtown Manhattan, and I remember how appalled I was that Giuliani was calling for Wall Street to open in 2-3 days after the disaster, to show "them" that we would not be crushed -- in this posturing, he didn't care about safety of the area and the air, what happened to people's health. Residents were told that they could go back to their homes, and later on found out that the EPA had not conducted the tests of the soil and air that they were told that were done....

To me, Giuliani is a politician -- a self-serving man and no hero.

correction:
supports this type of CRUELTY...

Dear Mr. Jacques Berlinerblau,

Thank you for your essay on a stance against stances.

Unlike you, I did vote in 2008, but for the Malaysian general elections in March. But them politicians are still having campaigns till today on race, religion, leadership, the vision thing to lead the country into the murky future, the solution thing in the still uncertain economic situation.....

Like you, I am not voting in the US presidential elections in 2008. But obviously because as I am not a US citizen, as I certainly do not pay taxes to the US government, and thus not eligible for representation there.

1. Sitting out of elections.

Not voting in elections is a luxury only those in full democracies can afford to as a free choice, as a fundamental human right, as a stance against the political process, the election process, the merits or demerits of candidates and such. This form of passive resistance against elections and candidates and party platform and issues is just that - passive, as in not voting and therefore, no say.

There is an obvious difference between having no vote in non-democratic societies, no right to vote due to gender or race, and not voting due to any personal reason. In this last case, with hairline winning and losing by candidates byb just two or twenty or two hundred votes, every vote obviously count and this you know. And to what end is all this vote abstinence?

2. For the love of God, why aren't you voting in 2008?

Because one don't believe in God and the God vote, and therefore not voting because to vote is a vote for or against God?

Come now, just one is researching and writing about this or any election does not mean one's powers of analysis would be blunted by emotions. It is that good old trick of thinking like the other or others too.

A good scientist, be it in sciences or social sciences, would want to know, at least, how heat as in temperature, feels like to the touch (a low heat bearable to the human touch at least), and the political heat in the heart and mind to be able to grasp what "heat" is not just in theory, but in reality and in practice too.

2. Unless a journalist takes a vow of "ballot abstinence" he or she can't be objective in covering the campaign?

"Ballot abstinence" in a political scientist or analyst seem just like "sexual astinence" in a priest who then went on to speak on sex and family planning to an audience. One doth think both may not know completely what they are talking about as they are, perhaps, mere theorists with no practical experiece, but only punditing and positing with information gleaned from the experiences of others.

Surely someone who practice a "critical distance" from sex or voting without having sex or voting could not possibly have a balanced "inner, psychic check-and-balance"? Surely sexual repression cannot be good, not is voting repression.

How could anyone takes the observation or complaint by someone who abstained from sex, that sex is evil, seriously? Surely someone who abstained from sex is not capable of thinking of sex as omni-directional and partnered? Same as politics. Like sex, being non-commital and not up-front in and about politics is bad, no?

Oh, come now, what is wrong with the practice of "politically engaged" scholarship? After all, in the hard sciences, scientists do take a position for or against a theory, a hypothesis too. An economists also describe themselves as Keynesian too.

Those who do not trust the professorate in the humanities and social sciences are being as partisan as the academics they accused of such. Their lost in missing out on other views and other perspectives. Non-social scientists may think they know how the human mind and body work or don't, but they can never help to understand how and why humans act and behave as much as social scientists.

3. "They (evangelicals) are the natural enemy and chief predator of the secularist."

Nay. The evangeligals of any ilk are the natural enemies of anyone who do not share their belief, and not just against the secularists. This everyone already knows.

And, careful there Mr. Berlinerblau, "self-asbstinence" in politics in not voting, in not being partisan, in being objective may be perceived as intellectual, physical and emotional cop out by others who demanded one has to have a black and white stance on anything, to be clearly for or against an idea, a people, an ideology, a platform, types of winea and cheeses, or kind of beers and chips....

...and I live in Malaysia, not Chad or the United States.

Oh! Uh huh! Oh, oh.

Thank you and regards

J

"ballot abstinence" is a poor excuse for laziness...

Christian or not, anyone whom supports this type of cruelly, as does Sarah Palin, SHOULD NOT BE VOTED INTO OFFICE!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EQobIUE1zTU

Dear Prof. Berlinerblau,

As a member of the Academy, and a conservative who believes in conserving the principles of our Constitution and Bill of Rights, including conserving the dignity and political power of the Citizens of this country who choose to avoid entering the middle and upper classes for valid reasons of their own and upon whom the middle class depends, I worry about the model of participatory democracy that you seem to follow.

It is true that there are areas of the world where abstention is a strong political statement. Those are areas in which consensus is the goal of democratic process. If a party abstains from endorsing the candidate or issue, that party can stop the entire election. This happens when the needs of a minority are not included in the negotiated resolution to the particular problem at hand. In consensus democracies, abstention is power.

Democracy as practiced in our Republic is competitive. The person or issue that assembles the largest coalition of factions or garners the most votes win. Abstention, in our form of government, is tantamount to voluntary slavery and the political castration of the self.

Yes, Prof. Berlinerbrau, you do have the right to abstain from the election. But are you willing to be a slave? Advocacy of abstention and the resultant castration of the power of the Citizen is a necessary factor for those who may wish to exploit your opinion in favor of fascist or totalitarian states.

I urge my students to participate. We have had enough of slavery in this nation.

Marsha Robinson, Ph.D.

Absolutely Arminius-
It's not a true intellectual impartiality that Berlinerblau seeks. It is the public perception of his impartiality.
Mr. Berlinerblau is basically stating the, "I gots mines", and has nothing to lose by non-participation.
So, instead of caring about those who don't gots theirs, and voting for the bettermemt of society as a whole- he is saying he prefers to concentrate on how it affects his own career, and bragging rights in the future to his colleagues and readers.
To maintain an intellectual purity, Mr. Berlinerlau really didn't need to share his non-voting stance.
If he is an impartial pundit (and he certainly has his partialities) it would be apparent from the writing itself.

If Obama loses, as you've indicated that is where your vote would go- you get partial blame.
Your future claims of "I didn't vote" are nullified.

I think Mr. Berlinerblau is working on a false assumption. Just because he decided not to vote it does not automatically make him unbiased. It is impossible for a human to completely divorce themselves from the emotional subtext of their lives. Note his admiration for Giuliani was based on being a New Yorker during 9/11 - there's no way to remove that emotional subtext from his choices. Not voting doesnt remove your biases or history from your decisions and views it just removes you're taking part. If you believe in NONE of the candidates, great dont vote, that's valid. But what you're trying I believe is a flawed experiment.

justify any way you like, by not voting you are actually voting! you are simply delegating your vote to somebody on the winning side. or rather believe in the "tragedy of the commons" and want to be a non-commoner, or rather being a secret "anti-muslim"...in any case you are actually voting sir! admit it at least to yourself and move on!\
cagatay buyukkoc

Golly, thanks for you insipid and meaningless confession. Hope this self-flagellation thing works out for you.

Neutral, objective; are you not human; this is not possible, sounds like another human being believing its own lies (just like the rest of us)? You seem to be basing this on who is going to be the next temporary emperor--your local officials are much more important to your (and your neighbors) day to day lives. Go vote man, be honest with yourself it will not make you a 'bad' social scientist. Not voting will make you a foolish one. I too have abstained from voting in the past-(by lying to myself)- this fool is warning you not to join that club

You are not voting in 2008. I understand the logic behind this but I hope that you don't regret it later. One of the two gentlemen running for president will be the president of this country. And for good or worst, a lack of vote will also mean, a lack of a vote for one of them. This is such a critical election that the future of the country depends on how wins the election. Good luck with your work.

Completely and totally irresponsible, and your rationalizations don't cut it either.

I am not surprised that Jacques is not voting, but I had different reasons from the ones just revealed. Since Jacques was so critical of Obama, I figured that was the reasoning he was abstaining- because he had no reasonable choices in this election.

Anyone who does not vote forfeits his right to complain. Mr Berlinerblau should stop writing here.

I see your point, but I think it's a little off touch. Who cares whether or not you vote, and honestly, how do we really know that you're not voting? Simply because you say so? Voting is a personal action, and regardless of what people tout in public about it, the real decision an individual eventually makes only reveals itself in the general result. There's no piece of paper that gets published linking each voter to their choice of candidate. Unfortunately we as readers, have no way of knowing whether or not you actually don't vote. Thus, your point of having some sort of critical view of the process becomes a moot point. So just go vote. I live in DC too, but that doesn't give you an excuse to skip out on elections.

Sir,
It saddens me to hear an educated man talk about not voting at any time but especially, while we are at war and facing a Presidential election. You are absolutely wrong when you say that not voting shows you are impartial. You are simply abdicating your obligation to your country. Throughout the United States history our young men and women have made great sacrifices including their lives to give us the right to vote. It goes beyond being a right; it is an obligation to contribute to our country’s future. If we are to maintain our hard earned freedoms we must educate ourselves about the candidates at all levels of government running for office but especially for President and how they propose to lead our country. We also must research the various issues presented for consideration in order to ensure our government is managed properly both financially and morally according to our own beliefs. When we do any less we are opening ourselves up to having our precious rights and freedoms taken away a piece at a time. It only takes good men and women to stand on the sidelines for our country to take the wrong path. Please reconsider and vote.

Also – PLEASE vote for the candidate you actually want to lead out country. Do not throw away your vote to protest the system or to show your dislike of the Democratic and Republican parties.
Respectfully
RW

VOTE VOTE VOTE AMERICAN PEOPLE FOR BARACK OBAMA!

OBAMA BIDEN 08...!!!

I am voting for a write-in to demonstrate my conscience. Perhaps, you would consider doing the same. A write-in allows you to express your world view and gives harmonizing value to who you want in the presidency even if they are not the known winner of a particular brand or party.

Nothing against your opinion, but your wrong. We have A African American running for president and a Female Vice President and you won't vote. Not to mention you give vague and silly reasons why your not voting. Hopefully you'll change your mind.

I admire your resolve and attempt at impartiality. I am also grieved to see religion playing so much of a part in politics today.

There's a reason such a young country as the U.S. has reached world power status, and one of those reasons is the inclusiveness of all groups and types of people promoted through the separation of Church and State.

I could respect all the candidates more, if they would only stand up to podiums and declare my religion is a personal matter not one to be used towards a political end.

professor berliner,

as a professor and a specialist why donot you study and discuss the *radicalization* of secularism and its effect on america ?

people keep talking about the radicalization of the religion but forget totaly about the secular financial log that stock in them from eye to anus!

I didn't vote in 2000 and I'm sure that my vote would have changed the out come!

vote "present" and send a message

I never heard of Mr. Berlinerblau before and can't seem to see any kind of agenda here. I simply clicked on a news story from my google homepage and this came up. I prefer the open randomness of news stories that come this way.

That being said, I think his premise is valid and wonder if certain groups within society wouldn't serve a greater purpose in educating and questioning our public servants - outside of being voters or beholden to specific interests.

Right now, they all have some kind of stake in outcomes and therefore are subject to bias. It might be nice to read articles written by people whose point of view is not attached to right or left ideologies.

wow very interesting

http://www.diarytech.com/blog/1-general/3-powell-will-have-a-role-in-obama-administration.html

It is astonishingly naive to think that 'ballot abstinence' will have any effect on your opinions or motivations.

I find it also bizarre that you think that voting must involve 'towing the party line'.

As yer voting in DC, I see your point!
Here in North Carolina we are getting ready to make history!