(If you saw my related thread in GD recently, you'll now understand what was behind that... )


Just so you'll understand why this is such a big deal to me, let me give you a little background:  As some of you know, I am a life-long Republican and have been very involved in Alabama GOP politics for a very long time -- College Republicans, Young Republicans (my wife and I were founders of our local YR group), and the State GOP in general (I have served on both my county's and the statewide Executive Commitees and my wife and I have worked on several local and statewide campaigns) and, even though we have taken some "time out" since our son was born, we still stay involved.  

I turned 18 and became eligible to vote in August of 1984 and cast my very first vote for Ronald Reagan and the slate of GOP candidates who accompanied him - my first vote was a straight-party vote in a general election.  Since that time, I have voted in every single election - primary, general, run-off, local, national - in which I was eligible to vote, without exception.  I have always voted my conscience in primaries, but a straight-GOP ticket in the general elections.  I have been less than enthused about some of the candidates who have received the benefit of my party-line vote and have caught myself asking, more than once, "Is this the best we could come up with?!?"  But my personal beliefs are almost completely in line with the GOP platform and almost completely at odds with the Democrat platform, so I always tell myself that the worst Republican should get my vote more than the best Democrat... little comfort at times, I will admit, but it has gotten me through thus far.

(As an aside, I usually hear one of two responses to that kind of declaration.  Either "I vote the man, not the party" or "There's not a hair's difference between a Republican and a Democrat anymore."  If the latter is true, then all we really have to go on is Party platforms and voting records.  As to the former, IMHO you can't really "know" the candidates enough to "vote the man."  Even when I was knee-deep in party politics, I didn't know every statewide candidate personally enough to know how they would think, believe, and govern so, with the exception of those candidates you happen to know well personally, once again all you really have to go on is Party platforms and voting records.  JMHO, YMMV. )

Anyway, with my background and voting history in mind you can see why it is such a big deal to me to split my vote for the very first time in 22 years of voting and political activism.  (I feel certain that those of you who routinely split your vote will still shrug and think "So what?" )

I don't want to get into the particulars yet (I'd rather any discussion in this thread, if my comments should foment one, be about straight- vs. split-ticket voting in Alabama in general instead of specific, individual candidates), but there is one candidate on our statewide GOP ticket this year for whom I simply cannot vote in good conscience and whose candidacy will, unless something changes drastically, cause me to split my vote for the first time in my life.

Thoughts or comments on the issue? (Especially from my fellow Alabamians?)

You got to cast a great vote in your 1st presidental election and it's been all downhill from there and getting worse. I've been wondering why that has occurred and now I know- YOU.

Just remember that the national parties have a huge influence on funding for candidates.  Even though many Republican candidates are dirtbags, the DemocRATS practically invented the word hypocrite.  You might want to follow the money trail for each candidate to see who they owe favors to....

I am not voting for Bob RINO, but I won't split either.  I am writing in Bill Armistead, who should have been our Lt. Governeor anyway now, so I guess throwing my vote away on principle, so be it.

I am not forgiving of politicians in general, especially those who haven't repented.  RINO has never said he was sorry or wrong for attempting that massive tax hike.  Richard Shelby has never apologized for the dirty trashing campaign he ran against one of my personal hero's, Jerimiah Denton, back in 1982.  I am a hard core Republican but I will not vote for those two guys.  They can both go lick a fire hydrant.

I'm refusing to vote for Billion Dollar Bob and Baxley is a joke. I'm writing in BEERSLAYER for governor.  

I'm glad to see it, Hard.  We all have to make our own voting decisions, but I have always felt that voting a straight party line was a little irresponsible.  I like to vote candidate by candidate, no one party has all the answers.  Except for mine.

www.alabamaequine.com/partyheck/

Quoted: RINO has never said he was sorry or wrong for attempting that massive tax hike.

I knew that I wouldn't be voting for him when this all went down... and I was still living in GA at the time, looking at coming back to AL.
I was watching it unfold from across the state line thinking "What is going on here?".

I will be voting a split ticket this fall. 1/2 TBS, 1/2 LWC.
-Hobbit