In another thread I answered I said that for the 2016 election I will either vote for a third party or write in a candidate. My write in will either be Jeff Rense or David Duke. If you write someone in who will it be and why?
Well, I was thinking Captain America myself, but more the 1940s version.
What is your reasoning behind voting for either of these two? It seems like the definition of throwing your vote away.
What is the motivation for throwing your vote away like this? Do you just wish to avoid having to feel responsible for the candidate that wins?
I will vote for the Democratic nominee.
Of course, as a Texan I’m told “my vote won’t count.” Because of the Electoral College. But I’m damn sure than any Democrat would be better than any Republican, so I will vote my conscience. Supreme Court nominations, anyone?
Aren’t joke votes cute?
There is exactly one situation in which it makes sense to vote for a third party or a write-in, and in that situation, the purpose is defeated by writing in David Duke (or at least, I hope it is). Voting for someone other than the two who are actually in contention sends the signal that there’s some key issue that both major parties are ignoring, and that any party which addresses that issue will get your vote. For instance, if you’re a single-issue voter on the topic of marijuana legalization, and you feel that neither party is doing anything worth mentioning on that front, then you should vote for a candidate who’s making that the centerpiece of his campaign. You still won’t win, but if enough people vote like you, you’ll convince one of the two major parties to start pursuing legalization more energetically.
Writing in a vote for David Duke sends the message that neither of the two major parties is racist enough for you, and that you would be willing to vote for either of them if they were just more racist. If enough people vote this way, then at least one of the major parties will become more racist. I do not see this as a desirable goal.
Who, then, would I vote for, if I were to write in a vote? I cannot say. If I were to write in a vote, it would be because I felt there was some issue being ignored that was important enough to trump all the other issues, and who I would vote for would therefore depend on what that issue is. But there is no single issue that I feel that strongly about and which I believe is being ignored.
Why didn’t the OP answer his own question about why?
I’m not junior modding: I’m genuinely curious. If this is how you think about elections, and all you have to say about elections, why bother posting in Elections rather than the Pit? You’re telling us that you know 511 days ahead of time that you will deliberately pollute the ballot. Isn’t that more of a rant than a reasoned discussion? People who post in Elections still manifestly believe in the process, even though they say frequently that it’s flawed.
And what about other offices? Is it only the Presidency that is polluted? What about other federal, state, county, local, court, school, and special district races? Do you write in votes for them? Why or why not? What does voting mean to you?
Is there another David Duke?
Well, there’s David Dukes, but he’s dead.
Are they still doing the deal where if you get enough votes, the government provides some sort of matching fund after the fact to help pay for your campaign?
Otherwise, if I have to write someone in (say, the Democrats decide to go with David Duke as their candidate), I’m voting for Lizard People.
Jeff Rense isn’t any prize either. I guess the OP’s choice will come down to whether he’s feeling angrier at Blacks or Jews on Election Day.
No, there is another situation when it makes sense. I live in CA, which is going to go for the Democratic Candidate not matter what I do. I might vote for the Libertarian or Green candidate to help give them a PR boost.
To me that’s like saying, “I don’t like Pepsi or Coke, but I’ll write in either 7-Up or Strychnine.” Isn’t voting Green or Libertarian like opposite ends of the spectrum? One likes environmental regulations and one detests all regulations. How can one possibly sympathize with both?
I sometimes write in my own name when I don’t like any of the candidates. So far, I’ve received votes for Governor, Lt. Governor, Attorney General, Court of Appeals Justice, and Supreme Court Justice in my state. Might just have to record a vote for myself for POTUS this year if the Dems nominate Hillary and I can’t stomach the GOP nominee, which seems likely.
It won’t matter anyway. My state is going GOP no matter what, probably by 75% or more.
They’re both socially liberal,* which AIUI is John’s primary area of concern.
*obviously, this may or may not be the case for individual Libertarian candidates, who are often just Republicans who don’t mind weed.
Sorry, i was using the “Generic I” in that situation. Pretend I said “one” instead.
I thought you lived in VA. No?
'Bama, I think?
I’ve never actually said where I live. Gives me an air of mystery.
But not Virginia. They don’t even play in the SEC. 
Hey, whatever it takes. 
OK, now I think I realize who I was confusing you with.
It’s a choice of hats: tinfoil or white hood?
Sammy Davis Jr. knows what he did!