Between Bad & Worse, Who Do We Vote For?

[HomeschoolrsRUs]

Okay, this isn't about a national, state, or even county election, but it's important to me, and could have relevance to others facing a similar dilemma, so here I am posing these questions in the Election Forum. If you feel it necessary to relocate, please do so (no hard feelings, LOL).

Tuesday (10/11) is our local city commission elections. We have three positions on the commission up for grabs, HOWEVER two incumbents have no opposition whatsoever, and the third position has two newbies running. Here's the predicament Bubba and I are in:

The two incumbents are HORRIBLE. They BOTH were involved in lawsuits (as was one of the newbies running) against our city trying sue because they were unable to block a Cement Plant from being built within the city limits (no big deal that they didn't show up to ANY of the planning and zoning meetings when this cement plant was discussed, debated, decided and approved.) They unentangled themselves from the lawsuit, however they were the principals in getting it off the ground, nonetheless. The "other" newbie is KNOWN by many in our city to have some SERIOUS mental issues.

SO, with that said ... I have NEVER purposefully not voted in an election (exept ONE that I actually, really and truly FORGOT about it until it was after 7pm -- had a lot of homeschooling stuff going on that day, and it simply slipped my mind). I cannot bring myself to vote for the incumbents, for one because they were attempting to harm the city PRIOR to their election the first time, and two, because I do not agree with the decisions they've made AS commissioners during their term. As for the third position, we are supposed to choose between the one who helped start the lawsuit (and harm the city) and the nutjob!

My questions (finally, LOL):

1. Do we vote at all?
2. If we do vote, my stars, WHO do we vote for?
3. Should we just vote between the two that are running for the third position, because the other two are incumbents running unopposed?
4. Do I attempt a write-in, even though I know of no one qualified or willing?

As a side note, I would LOVE to get more involved with our local government, HOWEVER, my Mother-In-Law is the City Clerk and due to conflict of interest, my hands are tied, :crazy: .

[dPrasse]

Homes, just me but I normally vote my conscience and in your case I wouldn't be voting at all. I know it sounds terrible!!!

diane (lurking) :D

dP here , now ....

I never cast a vote in "uncontested" races and also will not vote for one stinker over
another ...

Homes , get involved at the county level ...
you'd be great !

shouldn't be too much of a conflict if your MIL is just the City Clerk .... just around budget time .... just be on a different committee than the one that over sees the Cleks office ...

[Beowulf]

I'm with Peach. I will vote my conscience, even if that means not going with the GOP in 2008. I get blasted for it often but I'll sleep well knowing I voted my conscience.

Homes, Prasse is right, you would do well at a county level AT LEAST!! I would look into it. Can't hurt to try.

[HomeschoolrsRUs]

I'm with Peach. I will vote my conscience, even if that means not going with the GOP in 2008. I get blasted for it often but I'll sleep well knowing I voted my conscience.

Homes, Prasse is right, you would do well at a county level AT LEAST!! I would look into it. Can't hurt to try.

Thanks for the advice y'all ... gots lots o'praying to do tonight before tomorrow. I just cannot see myself filling out that ballot for these jokers, but I'm truly torn -- I just don't avoid voting, it's not in my nature!

As for getting involved, I'm afraid I have too many flaws to be a valid candidate. I've screwed up so much in my "former" life, and I'm abrasive, and I'm an abrasive woman to boot -- despite having my MIL who would work behind the scenes to defeat me, of that I have NO DOUBT! I stay politically involved, but for now, I don't see me having a future there, unfortunately, :(

[UnkHiram]

Homes

Like the others I vote my conscience. HOWEVER, with that group to choose from I think I would fall back to the old standard "NONE OF THE ABOVE". It sends a message, usually ignored, but we gotta try.

[dPrasse]

Well , Homes ... is there at least one person on the council/board that you like and or trust (hopefully , not in your own district) ? Meet him/her ... follow and learn , make more friends .... it can happen ... you just need friends ! Abrassive ? you ? naw!

[Beowulf]

As for getting involved, I'm afraid I have too many flaws to be a valid candidate. I've screwed up so much in my "former" life, and I'm abrasive, and I'm an abrasive woman to boot -- despite having my MIL who would work behind the scenes to defeat me, of that I have NO DOUBT! I stay politically involved, but for now, I don't see me having a future there, unfortunately, :(

Show me a candidate who is perfect. Show me one that doesn't have something to hide. Difference is in how you learn from it. If you can take a negative and use it as experience to positively affect someone else, it's a lesson well learned. Homes, you would do just fine, better than many in fact. Stop shorting yourself.

[dPrasse]

homes , you may have a MIL that would try to bugger you , but , my own mother would bugger me .... at least you 2 aren't "blood" ... :D

one thing though ... you need to be CONFIDENT in yourself .... if you get ripped in public but just smile and shrug off attacks that have nothing to do with issues , the voters will see confidence and will back you ... keep your doubts within your own house walls ...

[HomeschoolrsRUs]

Aww, y'al stop, yer makin' me :icon126: .

I think I'm more of a behind the scenes kinda gal -- I'm not much of a "people" person, believe it or not, LOL. I'm one of those rare breeds, you either like me or hate me, there's no in between :smirky: . Perhaps when my kiddos are out and on their own, I might entertain thoughts of "public life," but for now, I'll reserve my right to be a pain in the tuccus (how DO you spell that word, anyway?) of the local candidates in our city and county commissions, LOL. Now my Daddy, HE would have made a GREAT politician (I miss you Daddy!)

So honestly -- do y'all think we should just NOT vote? My conscience is having a hard time swallowing that. I wonder if there is a blank on the ballot where we could just write-in "None Of The Above"?!? I spoke with Bubba, and we're still on the fence ... this is a real "Kobayashi Maru" (no-win scenario). I have NEVER faced this sort of thing before (hope I never do again!)

[Beowulf]

I will ALWAYS vote for someone, even if it's voting 3rd party or something. At least if you vote, you have the right to bitch. If ya don't vote, you should remain silent.

[dPrasse]

but , Beo , there are times in my area where the Democrasts don't even field a candidate ... if my choice is not voting or voting for someone I don't want ...I'll not vote ...

[queue]

You could do a write-in for those positions. If you do not know of any person that could do the job, you could vote for a pet (http://www.enquirer.com/editions/2004/09/03/loc_kyoldtimers03.html) .

[DeclinetoState]

Write in your own name.

[HomeschoolrsRUs]

Okay y'all, I just returned from "voting," or not-voting depending upon how you look at it, :smirky: . It was quite an unsettling experience.

First, I had NOT expected to run into my MIL (the City Clerk), as I was signing the voting register. NOR had I expected to have a conversation with her prior to voting (not-voting, :smirky: ). After I got away from her, I went over to the little individual ballot table, and just stood there looking at the ballot. There were but two choices (both totally unacceptable). There was no line for a write-in, there was no option for "None Of The Above." I made the conscious decision to turn in a blank ballot -- my only avenue of protest.

I strode confidently over to the machine and stuck my ballot in, only to watch it pop right back out. The "assistant" asked me to do it again -- I did, with the same result. She THEN asked me did I vote for two (meaning BOTH candidates). Another UNexpectation -- I did not expect to have to reveal my vote (or non-vote), I thought that was a private matter. Well, I DID have to tell her my ballot was empty, and I DID have to tell her I was choosing "None Of The Above." It ALSO became common knowledge to everyone who was in the ballot location because she said (for all to hear), she would have to adjust the machine to accept my ballot since I was voting for no one. Then she proceeded to cause a minor scene "fiddling" with the machine, while others waited behind me to input their ballots.

It really doesn't matter much to me that others KNOW I did not vote for either candidate ... I make no bones about my distaste for either of them, it's just the principle that a person's vote should be a private matter. Oh well, it's over and done ... now to watch the telly this evening and see who "won." I can certainly tell you already who lost ... my city.

[Beowulf]

but , Beo , there are times in my area where the Democrasts don't even field a candidate ... if my choice is not voting or voting for someone I don't want ...I'll not vote ...

Understood. I'll vote Constitutionalists or some Independent in those cases, anything to NOT support a major candidate I don't like.

[Warlady]

Homes, MOVE http://smileys.smileycentral.com/cat/23/23_27_1.gif (http://www.smileycentral.com/?partner=ZSzeb001_ZNxmk121YYUS)

[HomeschoolrsRUs]

Homes, MOVE http://smileys.smileycentral.com/cat/23/23_27_1.gif (http://www.smileycentral.com/?partner=ZSzeb001_ZNxmk121YYUS)

Wanna help me convince Bubba? http://www.freeconservatives.com/vb/images/icons/biggrin.gif

The MORE I learn about Texas, the more I'd rather move there than Georgia (which is where my beloved Bubba wants to move). < Sigh > I'm afraid I'm stuck between a rock (my MIL) and a hard place (my SIL), :nut:

[dPrasse]

Beo , our ballots here must be more like Homes ... no Third Party , no ,Write In area ...

Homes .... while some feel the voting is private ...I'd have been proud and vocal about voting for no one !You might just have given someone else in line guts to pause and think ... might even started your new political career there ...

WL's idea is great ... move to N. IL and then you , Peach and I can start a movement !

[HomeschoolrsRUs]

Homes .... while some feel the voting is private ...I'd have been proud and vocal about voting for no one !You might just have given someone else in line guts to pause and think ... might even started your new political career there ...

Oh believe me, if it were JUST me, they WOULD have heard a ruckus. But, in my effort to be the loving, supportive (submissive, http://www.freeconservatives.com/vb/images/icons/biglaugh.gif), peacemaking, temperate, wife and daughter-in-law, I held my tongue. http://www.freeconservatives.com/vb/images/icons/smirk.gif Funny thing is, pretty much the whole town knows me and where I stand (I am like a book -- you can read me quite plainly from the first moment you meet me, LOL), but I try to be respectful of my MIL and my Bubba's family because they are well respected in the community. I already bring enough embarassment to the family :smirky: . I mean hey, we are such radical boat-rockers -- we married, we had kids, we stayed together, we homeschool, we vote conservative, we go to church, we read our Bible, we uplift moral values ... THE SHAME of it all, LOL.

WL's idea is great ... move to N. IL and then you , Peach and I can start a movement !

Don't know if I could handle Illinois .... only been through there once, on a trip to Wisconsin. I think I was born to be, and stay, a South'n gal, http://www.freeconservatives.com/vb/images/icons/cool.gif. 'Course I think I could DEFINITELY get used to bein' a Texan, :thumb: .

[dPrasse]

Well , if I left IL it would be for either Montana or Texas .... Peach would say TX .... I think Il is as far North as I'll get the GA Peach to go .. she still has her AZ "thin blood" ...

[Warlady]

Homes, stop being the peacemaker and do what you feel is right. I do not see a conflict of interest with your MIL. Why would she work against your? That sucks. She must be a lib.

[UnkHiram]

Well if we are discussing moving ---- Almost any small town in Texas beats the devil out of almost any other place in the world. (Of course that is my slanted opionon)

[Melz]

There are some wonderful communities here in southern Ohio which would suit your political needs but I am sure that you have no InLaws up here for that wonderful "support" they seem to give you :( geesh

Hms darlin, you should not feel political pressures from your family (in-laws or not), they are supposed to be support mechanisms for each other! What an awful situation, but I am glad that you non-voted your concious :)

[Beowulf]

One last thing, Sister Homes. My family, in-laws included, are mostly on the opposite side of the political fence than I am. One brother I can't talk to without an argument insuing, one sister is the same way and still more siblings just hate George Bush. I hold my ground and I do it well. You may disagree with this part but I'm not afraid to distance myself from even those I love if they choose to be belligerent about things or make politics the only thing they want to talk/fight about. I isolate myself from them because I do well on my own even if at times it sucks.

If you want to do something politically, I say go for it. You are a smart lady and a caring one that would use her conscience in her decisions. I wish more politicians would be that way.

[Peachdiane]

I agree with Beo, Homes. I also cut out the negative people in my family not just because they were negative but we were on opposite sides politically. If all these replies aren't a call from God, I don't know what is. ;) But I know you would be terrific. Pray about it. :D