The only thing stupider than a "GREEN" party idiot is an ignorant Jesus freak voting for freedom.  What the hell kind of freedom with you get from carrying 1% away from a Republican who would have got you something???  So your guy opposes every damn thing under the sun, he could not get elected major of his home town.

"The lesser of two evils" beats the hell out of democrats raping your rights.  You guys are farther right than Osama Bin Laden,,,,,,,,,

I agree. I can't believe people are stupid anough to throw away a vote for someone they KNOW DAMN GOOD AND WELL hasn't got a snowballs' chance in hell of winning. Viable third party my ass. The stakes are entirely too high these days to go trying to get a third party legitimized. I suspect I might have a different gov here in ILLinois if not for that waste of a vote Skinner. Yeah, I liked him too, MUCH better than either of the other two candidates, but I like myself too. Write me in! Why not write in a vote for my dog? Makes as much sense.

And if a third party ever does become viable through decades of people throwing away their votes on them, how much is likely to be left of the constitution? How many rights will be left by then?

I would like to thank all the conservatives on this board who vote independent for the screaming liberals now in offices accross this nation, particulalrly this state. You got what you asked for, and I don't want to hear a single negative word against the leftists you helped elect.

Libertairian/independent/etc.people: my compliments and be damned.


Red out

First off, it is the ignorant "Jesus freak" REPUBLICANS who most encourage the Libertarian party.  Second of all, how could it possibly be a bad thing to have a third party that manages to get itself on the ballot in most states against all odds?  Do you know how hard it is to actually get this done?  You have no respect for a bunch of really hard working Americans who genuinely want FREEDOM and are not afraid to take the hard road to get it.  Getting a Libertarian elected is not going to happen, but nipping at the heels of the powerful, and being a loud, consistent pain in their ass is what it is all about.  You're much too worried about short term politics and not worried enough about the fact that statism is a disease that is rampant in both the major parties.  At least when there's a Libertarian on the ballot, the people who object to big government and power politics can do something besides not vote.  

Get off your high horse!  Do you really think Republicans are going to rescue America from the abyss?

hmm, well I don't suppose I will waste my time trying to explain everything wrong with your broad characterization of a number of voters as idiots.

I will, however, note that to vote for an unsavory candidate because your candidate is likely to lose might violate some people's principles. Some people are not willing to compromise oh...say either their voting principles nor their ideas about what the Constitution means (including the 2nd Amendment)

Furthermore, the perpetuation of the idea that a 3rd party candidate cannot win and therefore should not be entitled to your vote is a self-fulfilling prophecy and does little more than tighten the chokehold that the two-party system appears to have on the political system.

Instead of lambasting your fellow Americans with the courage to vote for unpopular candidates, you might consider supporting their right to vote for whomever they wish.

Funny how a devisive term like "Jesus Freak" is used so offhandedly...
As I Christian and a Republican (who started a survial supply company back in 1975 ) I am offended...so you should be happy.. :)

No, I don't think the republicans are going to "rescue America from the abyss". I do however think they are going to destroy it more slowly. During that interim, the dimocrats may start to run less objectionable candidates, at which time I would be more than willing to vote for a third party candidate. Until then, I must vote for the lesser of two evils. Not in all cases, I might add, is that the Republican candidate. I want freedom, I want there to be some left before I worry about gaining back that which is lost, and that is how it will happen. While voting third party more and more rights disappear, making the road that much longer IF the third parety ever becomes legitimate, and that is a long road too, legitimizing the libertarian party.

If I'm on a ship that's been torpedoed, I can plug the leak, bail out the water, then re-arrange the deck furniture. Re-arranging the deck furniture isn't much use while the ship is still sinking. Fight your battles in order, I guess is what I'm saying.

Cpt. Redleg out

Is the Whig party still around?
[whacko]

Yeah, why should any American be allowed to express their belief and vote their mind.
What scum.

Why are there so many registered Republicans but so many of them don't bother to vote?

At least those who "wasted" their vote are active citizens and care enough about America
to participate.

"Jesus-Freak?" "Idiot?" Me thinks somebody needs an enema. I, for one, would feel compelled to vote for a Libertarian Party candidate if the corresponding Republican seemed poised for a lopsided win or loss. I'd do this to send a message that we as voters and taxpayers need choices, clear choices on election day.

Sometimes you gotta do what you gotta do.

BTW, once that enema kicks in, keep some milk of magnesia close by.

Hey RED,

You must be one of those highly educated Republicans, who can't do math correctly....

BLAGOJEVICH (d): 1820059
RYAN (r):        1584684
Skinner (L):       73287

1584684 + 73287 = 1657971, which is less than 1820059 = D

Even if all the libertarians were closet republicans, their votes wouldn't have made Ryan governor.  Same thing with Attorney General & US Senator:

Madigan (d):  1737455
Birkett (r):  1643197
Shilts  (L):    86982
1643197+86982 = 1730179

Durbin (d):   2073743
Durkin (r):   1315586
Burgauer (L):   56760
1315586+56760 = 1372346

Face it...  The republican party in illinois is filled with corrupt & inept politicians, & they lost because of it.  Libertarians may have led to the defeat of some state legislative positions, but the governor & attorney general were wond by the democrats without libertarian help.  

So quit whining, & complain to the Republican party of Illinois...

Richardson

I am a registered Republican in CO.  Now, a Colorado republican is a hell of a lot different than, say, a New York Republican (NY Republicans are VERY liberal by our standards).  Most of our Republican candidates could easily be considered Libertarian, so a Libertarian candidate doesn't effect our races as much as some other states since pro-freedom voters have no reason not to vote for most of the Republicans that run in this state.

Yes, I get upset when a third party steals votes from a candidate that I wanted to win.  However, what I do realise is that when the next election cycle comes around the Republicans will take into consideration what happened in the last election and get a candidate a little more to the right to try and win back some votes (if they are smart).  The trick is to not bring in a candidate that appears to be too far to the right or you will lose more votes than you gain (as much as it sucks, you have to kiss up to the moderates and undecideds from both sides if you want to win).  That has been going on in Colorado and we now have a right-leaning bunch of Republicans running the Senate and House.  CCW, here we come [:D]

No, I don't think that the Republicans can fully restore the constitution and bill of rights.  HOWEVER, I don't think that any party could get that done at this time - America is just too divided on too many issues, even within parties.

I would like to see strong pro-freedom candidates in every office, but it just isn't going to happen as long as liberals (socialists) plague this country.  I would also like the NRA to get the machinegun ban lifted, but it isn't going to happen at this time.  Politics is a balancing act - you have to get people to agree with you in order to get elected and have power.  You can't come out and piss a bunch of people off with your strong views and expect to win.  If the NRA went after the MG ban they would instantly lose credibility with a lot of people.  Weather I like those people or not (I think that they SUCK) is irrelevant because the NRA needs their money to keep supporting candidates that, while maybe not loosening firearm restrictions, at least they aren't taking any more away.  Now, if the current trends continue (sadly, they rarely do) then all of this will change.

At least the national AW ban will likely not get renewed now!!!  

Post from High_Plains_Drifter -

That is the truth.

Too bad that not everyone sees that.

We didn't just wake up today and discover the gun laws that are on the books.

They have been there for an awfully long time, and the AWB was just the latest in a long line of such laws.

But, as the journey of 10,000 miles begins with the first step, we are now on the right road, at least, to begin ridding ourselves of those laws.

Beginning with the most recent - the AWB!

Let's see how the Republicans handle this one.

I, myself, am quite anxious to see how they will do. In politics nothing can be taken for granted! (Just watch some idiot with an AK or AR do something stupid in the Fall of 2004!)

The Republicans are not God, after all.

And they are surely not 'Jesus Freaks', either! [:D]

Although, I would feel more optimistic if they [u]were[/u] 'Jesus Freaks'!  

Eric The('JesusFreak'FFLDealer)Hun[>]:)]

As far as I was concerned, this was not an election, but a war. The Democrats dropped every pretense of fair play and went for the jugular. This had nothing to do about voice of the people, or voter choice, but power. They wanted to keep power. They want ballistic fingerprinting. They want registration. They want a stronger AW ban. As strong as the pull to vote third party was (especially in as left a leaning state as NJ).....there are times you go with your conscience, and there are times you fight. This was a time to fight, which is why I voted Republican.

I'm all for the Libertarian Party...I've even worked out the few of my greivances with them....but when it comes down to it, there's only one party out there that has a chance to keep the AWB dead.....and it wasn't them....

WAAAA!!!! They didn't vote for me!! They are all doo-doo heads!!! MOMMMMMYYY!!!!! WWAAAAAA!!!!!!

Hey gop groupies, here is a tip: TRY EARNING MORE VOTES NEXT TIME. Incessant whining at your own failures does nothing but show you all as spoiled little children who take everything for granted.

Hmmmm,
Erskine Bowles: Clinton Crony, supports gun control.
Elizabeth Dole: Bush Crony, wife of former Senator Bob Dole, WHO VOTED FOR EVERY PIECE OF GUN CONTROL LEGISLATION THAT EVER CROSSED HIS DESK.
Remember when the NRA endorsed Dole? Remember Tanya Metaksa running around making speeches about abortion issues? While working for the NRA?
Yer goddamned right I voted Libertarian. And you can kiss my ass for calling ME an idiot. The idiots are all those fools that follow the NRA party line to vote Republican straight party ticket. The gun owners are to the Republicans what black voters are to the Democrats.
Taken for granted, then ignored.
Were was that big repeal of the 94 ban your buddy Newt promised us? Guess he was too busy running around on his wife while she was in the hospital with cancer. Family values indeed.
You Retardicans are so funny. You always forget that Bush Sr banned importation of semi's and new production of licensed class III's. Why? Cuz he watched Miami Vice.
Do any of you honestly believe anything is going to change? Glock 21 magazines that sold for $13 in the spring of 1994 are now going for $150.00. Do any of you actually think the GOP would do anything to stand in the way of commerce? Like say, devalue all these hi-cap mags and pre-ban AW?
The Dems and Repubs are both members of a country club that doesn't allow our kind in.
Get yer head out of your ass, and start voting for people who deserve it. I did not waste my vote. I voted for the only senate candidate that was against gun control. Every gun owner in NC that voted for Liddy Dole is a fool and a traitor to our cause.

Finally someone says it.

But uh...I guess I'm the only person here that voted both [i]republican and libertarian[/i] on the [b]same sheet[/b]. shock! check that shit out.

Okay, lets suppose the losertarians would not all vote republicans and the voters that did not turn out are to blame for the fall of America.  Please point to a winning losetarian canidate,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,anywhere in state or national government.

I happen to think it is worse to go to the polls and piss away a vote for a nobody than to not vote at all.  You have a third party that could not carry the majority in a damned Dairy Queen.  Why keep voting for a fringe loser? Your vain hopes that millions of democrats will fail to show up and your kook canidate will win are confounding.

The republicans dont do everything I want, but that can win and keep the worst from happening.  I'll take that for now.  "Vote like an idiot and live like a slave", the losertarian motto.

Well, IMHO anyone who votes is 1,000 % better than anyone who dosen't. It dosen't really matter who they voted for.

With that said I also think that any vote for someone other than a Republican was a wasted vote.

Take Washington State (please).
The Republicans mad a good showing against the democRATs, but they fell short.
In some races the libratarians and independant vote would have pushed the Republican over the top.
Indies and libbies want change, yet they vote (again IMHO) against the very party that can produce change.
It's gonna be the same ole shit here in Washington State for the next two years.
Nothing is going to get done, more taxes will be proposed and more anti-gun legislation will be introduced.
And it will be the libbies and indies who will be complaining.
If the GOP (on the national level) can gain control of the way Republicans vote then things can get done.

Don't feel so "special". So did I.

This was an important vote - I did it for my guns and nothing else. We needed a Republican majority to help in 2004.

First of all, get a grip.

Second of all, [b]When did voting for somebody you agree with become a "wasted vote?"[/b]

Instead of whining, as Imbrog put it, like little children, why don't the Republicans [b]earn[/b] the votes that the LP has [b]earned[/b].

This is America, the last time I checked, and any one who is capable is allowed to run for an office, and voters are free to choose whom they agree with and vote accordingly.  

Now that the GOP controls congress, we all get to see how "conservative" the Republicrats really are.

Want some cheese to go with your whine?  

"We are not to blame for our own incompetence." the republicrat motto.

It's better to be right than to be president.