Tue 7 Oct 2008
Make Sure You Vote in 2008!
Posted by Gregory Rineberg under Babeled, Politics
With the 2008 presidential elections a little less than a month away, citizens all around the country are gearing up to cast their votes (hopefully) on November 4th. This presidential election is shaping up to be one of epic proportions as the elected President will without a doubt inherit not only a political mess, but also an economic nightmare. The country’s economic status is rapidly worsening as major investment firms and banks are either getting bought out or declaring bankruptcy. At the same time, the War on Terror seems to be a never ending tragedy. And in the meantime, our country is so politically and socially divided that nothing seems to get solved. What this country needs is a great leader that rises above all.
The presidential race has certainly heated up in the past few months with outlandish claims from both parties, Democrat and Republican. The vice presidential candidates have seen an enormous amount of exposure due to the celebrity status of each candidate and the presidential candidates have been engaged in a battle of mudslinging that would make a pig take a bath.
Nevertheless, the elections are approaching fast and I just wanted to take a second to remind all you voters out there that the election is not a horse race. You don’t have to vote for who you think will win or for who your party nominated or for who you think will screw the country up less or for the lesser of two evils, you should vote for who you think can do the best job! Well, guess what you do have the option of voting for whomever you believe is best fit to lead our nation out of economic turmoil, social division, and international warfare. And if you don’t see your candidate on the ticket, well then write his or her name in. Either way, make your voices heard this November 4th!
On An Ending Note
Believe it or not, this country was not founded on the principle of choosing between two distinct parties. George Washington even warned against political factions in his Farewell Address,
They [political parties] serve to organize faction, to give it an artificial and extraordinary force; to put, in the place of the delegated will of the nation, the will of a party, often a small but artful and enterprising minority of the community; and, according to the alternate triumphs of different parties, to make the public administration the mirror of the ill-concerted and incongruous projects of faction, rather than the organ of consistent and wholesome plans digested by common counsels, and modified by mutual interests.
(What a smart guy . . .) The founding father of our country warned against political factions for he believed that they would only separate our nation more and thus leave our government with no way to mutually solve serious problems. The most recent example of this can be seen last week when the $700 Bailout Plan was nixed.
Below are multiple websites that you can go to register to vote:
For people in New Jersey, like me, that have not registered yet, please visit the New Jersey Division of Elections. The process is really easy and the only traveling that you need to do is walk from your house to your mailbox.
For the rest of the country, here are some websites that are available to register at:
U.S. Election Assistance Commission
Absentee Ballot Voting
If you are going to be away from your assigned voting district on November 4, 2008, please check out the following sites that easily help walk you through the absentee ballot voting process.

October 7th, 2008 at 4:20 pm
Could you explain to me what the partisan driven problems of the bailout were?
October 7th, 2008 at 4:53 pm
When the bill was first introduced to Congress and Pelosi made her derogatory comments about the Republican party right before the vote, she turned off many Republicans who had said earlier that they would vote for it. Once she made her comments, she only further separated the assembly from making a united decision. It is complete BS, but it is what the GOP stated after the vote had taken place.
October 7th, 2008 at 5:04 pm
I think its important that everyone vote for either John McCain or Barack Obama, and not for one of the many candidates running for a third party.
October 7th, 2008 at 5:11 pm
Why Andrew?
October 7th, 2008 at 6:31 pm
The bipartisan system is unfair, and does not allow the American public the array of choices they should have when choosing their leader.
However, legislation needs to passed that integrates a third party into the election process (debates, primaries, etc). Until that happens voting for third party candidates is pointless because those candidates will never have enough national exposure to come close to competing with a Republican or Democrat.
Ralph Nader is the perfect example of why nobody should vote for third party candidates when the system plays towards bipartisanship. If you hate the bipartisan system, then petition your state senator to do something about it. That makes more sense than voting for someone who has ZERO chance of winning.
October 7th, 2008 at 6:34 pm
A lot of people subscribe to the “A vote for the third party is a vote for the Republicans” idea.
This was seen when the Deomcrats were upset with Nader for running in 2000 and 2004. They begged him to back out for this very reason. Many argue that the third party killed both Gore and Kerry’s votes.
You see, a Republican is usually stubborn and will not be “open-minded” to a third party, whereas a Democrat will be. This equates to third party votes being taken from the Democrats and not the Republicans. Since so many left-wing voters are hell bent on getting the GOP out of the White House, they often frown on third party votes. Not all of them though!
In any natural comparison algorithm, everything comes down to two individuals or teams, much like professional sports. As for me, I encourage voting for a third party (smirk).
October 7th, 2008 at 6:46 pm
The way I look at it is that you, the voter, are going on the record saying that you think that a certain candidate is better than another. If you don’t think either candidate is great, then why waste your vote by just backing a person because you think no other candidate has a shot? Again, I am of the opinion that you shouldn’t vote one way just to oust the GOP and I don’t think you should vote another way just because you think that that candidate will win. You should vote for the person that you think can best represent you and and lead the country… and he/she might not even be a candidate in the election.
October 7th, 2008 at 6:54 pm
Greg,
If I would normally vote for the conservative candidate, then why would I not vote for the most conservative candidate on the ticket? Just because my candidate of choice lost in the primary does not mean I should indirectly support someone I fear is WRONG for the job.
Essentially my vote would be lost to the only conservative on the ticket and hence the liberal on the ballot would gain one vote by default.
October 7th, 2008 at 7:00 pm
Hey Jack, what is this if talk?
October 7th, 2008 at 7:03 pm
“However, legislation needs to passed that integrates a third party into the election process (debates, primaries, etc).”
Andrew, I am going to give you 5 seconds to think about why your logic is flawed (and I’m being nice here).
…OK, ready?
Why on Earth would democrats and republicans ever pass legislation that would diminish their grip in government with the rise of a third party?
October 7th, 2008 at 10:14 pm
Been there done that…Ross Perot did horrible in the debates.
“I’m all ears”..lol
October 7th, 2008 at 10:56 pm
I can’t vote. It’s almost better that way, since Andrew would berate me for voting for a third party, and I would only assist in the election of a man I do not agree with (I don’t agree with either, by the way).
October 7th, 2008 at 11:12 pm
Jason,
I recommend you vote none of the above.
October 7th, 2008 at 11:18 pm
Brewster’s Millions… what a great movie.
October 7th, 2008 at 11:18 pm
“Who’s buying the booze?”
October 7th, 2008 at 11:36 pm
Even though multiple third parties would be nice in a perfect world, I’m sorry…
Don’t show up to the World Series and preach about how there should be a third leage in addition to the American and National.
October 8th, 2008 at 3:28 pm
I can see where you get that analogy, and at first blush, it seems like a really good one. I’m not gonna lie, I bought it at first. Further scrutiny tells me that we have had more than two dominant parties before, and those that are dominant now were not necessarily at the forefront in the past, so that sort of logic may actually retrospectively spell the demise of the Republican party today. That would be bad news for a modern Conservative
October 8th, 2008 at 5:02 pm
A modern conservative is a moderate Republican. There are lots of these types of people who are mix-matched on issues like pro-choice, pro-civil union, environmental-friendliness, small government, war on terror(inc. Iraq) and tax breaks.
Given that, a victory for Obama is not as bad of a defeat to a modern conservative as it would be for a radical conservative who is deeply rooted in everything that Ann Coulter is for.
October 12th, 2008 at 9:13 pm
Vote for who ever you want to. As long as you vote. I’ve voted third party before and I’d do it again if I felt they were the best choice. I don’t believe my vote for Nader was a vote for Bush. That’s ridiculous it’s that type of thinking that will prevent a change.
During that same election Pat Buchanon ran. Would a vote for him be a vote for Gore? The voter turn out in this country is a disgrace. Italy has the largest voter turn in the world 95+. One of the reason is because they have dozens of choices.
October 12th, 2008 at 9:16 pm
I wonder if they are passing out free espresso at the polls there?
October 12th, 2008 at 10:07 pm
Greg, that comment shows how little you know about the Italian culture. Everyone knows they pass out Spaghetti and Meatballs and Pizza at their elections.