# Yet Another Vote & Run Coward **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [April 9, 2010, 4:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yet-another-vote-run-coward/535551 "2010-04-09T16:53:46Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![flickster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/7bcc69/32.png) [@flickster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/flickster)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2010, 4:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yet-another-vote-run-coward/535551/1 "2010-04-09T16:53:46Z")
RE: Stupak The rats [continue to slink off into the night](http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0410/35585.html)… Yet another example of our neutered leadership that are afraid to stand up and justify their voting record. ---
**Author:** ![Euphonious\_Polemic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/euphonious_polemic/32/3002_2.png) [@Euphonious\_Polemic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Euphonious_Polemic)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2010, 4:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yet-another-vote-run-coward/535551/2 "2010-04-09T16:58:46Z")
Interesting spin you have there **Flickster** Is Stupak indeed “afraid to justify his voting record”, or could we possibly take him at his word that he has thought of retiring for the past 3 election cycles, but has always been talked into staying? Do you simply take whatever Ken Spain of the NRCC says at face value? Try using some critical thinking skills. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2010, 5:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yet-another-vote-run-coward/535551/3 "2010-04-09T17:01:17Z")
Losing and retiring because you expect to lose produce the same result, so who cares? What’s it to you? ---
**Author:** ![flickster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/7bcc69/32.png) [@flickster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/flickster)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2010, 5:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yet-another-vote-run-coward/535551/4 "2010-04-09T17:01:20Z")
> [@Euphonious\_Polemic](#): > > Interesting spin you have there **Flickster** > > Do you simply take whatever Ken Spain of the NRCC says at face value? Try using some critical thinking skills. Clueless as to who this is, and care less. ---
**Author:** ![Bosstone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/22d042/32.png) [@Bosstone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosstone)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2010, 5:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yet-another-vote-run-coward/535551/5 "2010-04-09T17:02:08Z")
> [@flickster](#): > > Clueless as to who this is, and care less. So you didn’t read your own link? ---
**Author:** ![Giles](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/giles/32/60_2.png) [@Giles](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Giles)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2010, 5:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yet-another-vote-run-coward/535551/6 "2010-04-09T17:03:15Z")
I think he’s human. He knows that he will face a very strong Republican campaign against him, so he will have to work harder than ever to get re-elected. I can’t blame him for wondering whether all that hard work will be really worth it. ---
**Author:** ![flickster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/7bcc69/32.png) [@flickster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/flickster)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2010, 5:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yet-another-vote-run-coward/535551/7 "2010-04-09T17:08:12Z")
> [@Bosstone](#): > > So you didn’t read your own link? actually, just picked a convenient headline for reference in case someone was unaware… > [@Marley23](#): > > Losing and retiring because you expect to lose produce the same result, so who cares? What’s it to you? I think it a reflection of the weak willed leadership we currently have in place. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2010, 5:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yet-another-vote-run-coward/535551/8 "2010-04-09T17:09:53Z")
> [@flickster](#): > > I think it a reflection of the weak willed leadership we currently have in place. A weak willed man would have voted against the bill. ---
**Author:** ![Bosstone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/22d042/32.png) [@Bosstone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosstone)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2010, 5:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yet-another-vote-run-coward/535551/9 "2010-04-09T17:10:00Z")
> [@flickster](#): > > I think it a reflection of the weak willed leadership we currently have in place. Good thing he’s leaving then, eh? We don’t even have to vote him out. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2010, 5:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yet-another-vote-run-coward/535551/10 "2010-04-09T17:15:40Z")
What is your definition of a vote and run coward, **flickster**? ---
**Author:** ![Bricker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/977dab/32.png) [@Bricker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bricker)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2010, 5:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yet-another-vote-run-coward/535551/11 "2010-04-09T17:27:10Z")
> [@Marley23](#): > > A weak willed man would have voted against the bill. This is true. Don’t get me wrong – I’m glad to see him go. He was strong willed, but his will wasn’t in favor of what I wanted. So calling him weak-willed is very off base. Calling him cowardly is similarly misplaced. Calling him wrong is right on the mark. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![flickster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/7bcc69/32.png) [@flickster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/flickster)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2010, 5:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yet-another-vote-run-coward/535551/12 "2010-04-09T17:30:00Z")
> [@Marley23](#): > > What is your definition of a vote and run coward, **flickster**? Someone who would rather slink off instead of standing up and being proud of their decision and justify their voting record to their constituents ---
**Author:** ![Squink](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b5e925/32.png) [@Squink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Squink)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2010, 5:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yet-another-vote-run-coward/535551/13 "2010-04-09T17:51:26Z")
> [@Giles](#): > > He knows that he will face a very strong Republican campaign against him Nah, The GOP is a spent force. Stupak knows [he can’t win in a primary against a real Democrat.](http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/03/10/connie-saltonstall-challe_n_493443.html) Good Riddance. ---
**Author:** ![Enderw24](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ba9def/32.png) [@Enderw24](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enderw24)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2010, 5:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yet-another-vote-run-coward/535551/14 "2010-04-09T17:56:56Z")
> [@flickster](#): > > Someone who would rather slink off instead of standing up and being proud of their decision and justify their voting record to their constituents Ok. But (I suppose in theory) politicians vote on legislation every single term they’re in office. Are they never supposed to retire? ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2010, 5:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yet-another-vote-run-coward/535551/15 "2010-04-09T17:57:11Z")
> [@flickster](#): > > Someone who would rather slink off instead of standing up and being proud of their decision and justify their voting record to their constituents So does that apply to all retiring representatives, or just the ones who voted for the healthcare reform bill, or some other group? ---
**Author:** ![Jenaroph](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e8c25b/32.png) [@Jenaroph](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jenaroph)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2010, 6:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yet-another-vote-run-coward/535551/16 "2010-04-09T18:06:23Z")
> [@Marley23](#): > > Losing and retiring because you expect to lose produce the same result, so who cares? What’s it to you? Actually, it doesn’t, potentially in a few different ways. Running and losing in the general election puts a Republican in office, where a different Democrat might have won. Running and losing in the primary will still give you a different Democrat in the general, but with a depleted coffer due to an expensive race to unseat an incumbent, which might also put a Republican in office. Declining to run has the potential to change the primary race, and thereby the general election, entirely. ---
**Author:** ![Giles](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/giles/32/60_2.png) [@Giles](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Giles)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2010, 6:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yet-another-vote-run-coward/535551/17 "2010-04-09T18:06:41Z")
> [@Squink](#): > > Nah, The GOP is a spent force. Stupak knows [he can’t win in a primary against a real Democrat.](http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/03/10/connie-saltonstall-challe_n_493443.html) > Good Riddance. Interesting. I would have thought there was a lot more anger from the Republican side than from the left-wing Democratic side against Bart Stupak. I would also have thought that a left-wing Dem would find it harder to win in a conservative and predominantly rural district. If Saltonstall is the candidate, then I’d think the Republicans would win that district comfortably (despite my political leanings going much more her way). ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2010, 6:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yet-another-vote-run-coward/535551/18 "2010-04-09T18:10:53Z")
> [@Bricker](#): > > This is true. > > Don’t get me wrong – I’m glad to see him go. He was strong willed, but his will wasn’t in favor of what I wanted. So calling him weak-willed is very off base. Calling him cowardly is similarly misplaced. > > Calling him wrong is right on the mark. 😃 That’s just your personal opinion, based on your personal wants and needs…and as such, I have no right to question it, do I? ---
**Author:** ![StusBlues](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/dc4da7/32.png) [@StusBlues](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/StusBlues)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2010, 6:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yet-another-vote-run-coward/535551/19 "2010-04-09T18:27:29Z")
> [@Bricker](#): > > This is true. > > Don’t get me wrong – I’m glad to see him go. He was strong willed, but his will wasn’t in favor of what I wanted. So calling him weak-willed is very off base. Calling him cowardly is similarly misplaced. > > Calling him wrong is right on the mark. 😃 I do disagree with you, but classy post. ---
**Author:** ![buttonjockey308](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bcef8e/32.png) [@buttonjockey308](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/buttonjockey308)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2010, 6:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yet-another-vote-run-coward/535551/20 "2010-04-09T18:28:07Z")
> [@Squink](#): > > Nah, The GOP is a spent force. Stupak knows [he can’t win in a primary against a real Democrat.](http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/03/10/connie-saltonstall-challe_n_493443.html) > Good Riddance. Qualifier; the GOP may be spent politically, but there is a serious conservative groundswell in this country that the left side of the aisle would do well to pay attention to. You can call them nutters if you want, and you may even be right, but don’t discount them; doing so could have disasterous consequences. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yet-another-vote-run-coward/535551.md?page=2)