I am a Californian with an absentee ballot: Should I still vote for Kucinich?

[Elspeth]

I am mailing back my ballot this weekend and am torn. I have been a Kucinich supporter all along. I love the guy. But I am worried that my vote might by kind of useless by Feb 5 when it gets counted. I feel like I should vote for Edwards because he has the best message (outside of Dennis) and I am dismayed that he isn't getting his due.

Anyone have suggestions?

[Generic Brad]

1. Vote your conscience

That is what primaries are for.

[arthritisR_US]

26. hear hear ! n/t

[rwheeler31]

2. Go with Edwards if you can. I hope they can both stay in .ty

[book_worm]

3. vote for the candidate you most believe in

[HCE SuiGeneris]

4. I will vote for Edwards, but have been aligned much more with Kucinich.

Feel like it is a bit of a sellout, but I much prefer Edwards over either of the other 2 major candidates.

[Elspeth]

6. I was thinking the same thing

But I've been so staunchly Dennis for so long.

[MzNov]

5. Perhaps wait until after SC then decide?

I think CA is going for Edwards, and Kucinich will get a lot of votes. I see your predicament.

[Elspeth]

8. I want to do the right thing here

I want to send the message that I support Dennis--and his articles of impeachment. I used to not think impeachment was a good idea, but I have changed my mind over the past 6 months. On the other hand, if Edwards has a shot......

[MzNov]

17. Well, you could support Dennis with donations and work

on a DK group in CA. Then wait till later for your ballot. :shrug:

No one can tell you what to do, just vote your heart.

:hug:

[Individualist]

7. Vote in your best interests

and don't let the teevee decide for you.

[Lydia Leftcoast]

9. Vote for the person you really want

The primary is your only chance to express YOUR preference.

[scarletwoman]

10. As a many years long Kucinich supporter here's the way I see it:

Voting for Kucinich at this point is like voting for Nader in 2000. I'd rather try to actively fight against Status Quo or Audacity of Hype getting the nomination by voting for Edwards.

sw

[readmoreoften]

11. I switched from DK to Edwards.

Edwards' rhetoric has become more progressive: immediate pull out of Iraq-- he said there's no military solution. That's huge. Today activist Harry Belafonte came out supporting Edwards. In my opinion, you'd don't get a more honorable endorsement than this.

[TahitiNut]

12. Vote for the peson you wish EVERYONE voted for.

... instead of the one you're afraid everyone voted for.

[rucky]

13. Kucinich is more of a protest vote

Edwards still has a shot - and if he's sending the right message and is still viable, then what's to protest?

PS: I'll most likely be voting for Kucinich by the time Ohio rolls around. If the race is up for grabs, I'll reconsider because I have preferences among the top-3, but if it's already a done-deal, Dennis is my guy.

[bemildred]

14. It's a primary, vote for whomever the heck you want.

It's your one chance to vote your heart.

[scarletwoman]

16. I'm sorry, but I don't agree. I think it's the time to vote strategically.

I'm not going to vote for Kucinich knowing that it guarantees that either Clinton or Obama get the nomination. As I said above, it's like voting for Nader in 2000.

All the primary votes for Kucinich in 2004 didn't do a damn thing to move the Democratic party to the left. A vote of "conscience" doesn't mean shit when you are supremely easy to ignore.

sw

[bemildred]

19. You get ignored either way.

You might as well be ignored while expressing what you really think. And I doubt that my vote guarantees any particular outcome.

[scarletwoman]

20. That being the case, why bother voting at all?

I guess I'd rather try to effect the outcome if I'm going to go the trouble of playing the game.

sw

[bemildred]

25. It's your only real chance to clearly express your opinion.

If enough people agree with you and vote that way, it can even lead to change. It is by trying to be clever and letting other people tell you what your choices are that you wind up with no voice.

[scarletwoman]

27. Voting to "express your opinion" is about as effective as a rant on DU.

There is essentially no practical impact in the real world, whatsoever.

I didn't see the Democratic Party move to the left due to all of us who worked our butts off for Kucinich in 2004, did you?

[still_one]

15. Hold off, I am from California with an absentee ballot also

You have until Feburary 5, a lot of water can go over the dam between then, and if you want to be fully informed, I would wait until a week before

[cboy4]

18. I've changed my vote to Edwards because I think he needs

the votes more than my first choice, Kucinich.

It's bugging me a little in a sense, because I buy into the premise that theoretically, primaries are for voting one's conscience.

However, at this juncture, I think I'd feel more guilty not voting for Edwards, considering the way the primaries are going for him right now.

[kevsand]

21. A vote for Kucinich is as valid now as it has ever been.

You had to know all along that he would never win. That's not why you wanted to vote for him. None of that has changed. The reasons you wanted to vote for him are still true and valid and the same now and forever. You may second guess yourself, but Kucinich's situation hasn't changed at all.

[TahitiNut]

22. I agree.

I choose to be COUNTED as supporting the 'message' that Kucinich delivers! Period.

[Desertrose]

23. Good point. I would agree with that assessment.n/t

[tyedyeto]

24. Go for it but the Democratic nominee was decided in Nov 2004

buy the Corporate Media.

It doesn't matter who you vote for since another Clinton will be the next nominee.

Dynasty anyone?

[Joe Fields]

28. OH GOD YES!!! PLEASE VOTE KUCINICH!

you'll feel much better for having done so.