I appreciate Rand Paul's positions on a limited number of issues and the general theme/rhetoric of taking back D.C. from bureaucratic corruption, inefficiency, etc. But he's much too conservative for me on social issues and is a hypocrite (he takes big money, gets support from super PACs, etc.)
I do not like Bernie Sander's political stances or ideology, but I love his position on campaign finance reform and open transparency in D.C. He is probably one of a handful of politicians who I would actually trust to take on lobbyists and Wall Street. It is clear to me that he truly cares. His heart is in the right place.
But, to answer your question, I am not "for" anyone since I do not believe in the two-party system. Maybe if we had a legitimate Centrist or Objectivist or Independent who actually campaigned on issues alone and not on party lines, I'd consider him or her.
Regarding the topic of "throwing my vote away" on a third-party candidate: I live in a state (Maryland) that is unlikely to be even remotely in play next fall. Therefore, I don't see why I shouldn't use my vote to send a tiny, tiny message about my dissatisfaction with the status quo. I'll vote for the candidate who best represents my views, regardless of party affiliation.
I realize the calculus might be different if I lived in Ohio or Florida.
No. A mutual understanding of the corrupt two-party system and how it's extremely lucrative for the lifetime pundits and career politicians. Public service was never intended to be a career. It was intended to be a limited time of service by citizens.
In a perfect world, your leftist credentials mean absolutely nothing. There would be no "left" and no "right." Just the issues and how we all collectively feel about those issues. Screw politics and its BS corruption.
You know who's exactly the same for real? Elena Kagan and Antonin Scalia. Physically they are identical, can not tell any different between the two of them. They were nominated to the Supreme Court by presidents from "different" "parties" who are EXACTLY THE SAME. IT'S ALL THE SAME. IT'S BS! IN A PERFECT WORLD BLAHBLAHBLAH
President Barack Obama is on David Letterman right now. You know if Mitt Romney had won, it would be EXACTLY THE SAME THING. Just, you know, identical. Impossible to tell apart.
I got into a heated debate about Hillary with a friend this weekend. At the end of the conversation she asked me if there was anything Hillary could do to make me consider voting for her. I had to think about it for a few minutes but the answer is yes.
Hillary Clinton could come out and say she is going to stand with Bernie Sanders and refuse contributions from Super PACs and make her fundraising methods as transparent as possible.
If Bernie Sanders, who has practically no name recognition can raise over 1.5 million and sign up over 175,000 volunteers in a few days Hillary Clinton should have no trouble raising cash through a grass roots campaign.
Hillary's lifeblood are the Super PAC's. She wants to reform campaign finances but still get her greasy hands on all the money they provide. She is not fighting for any class or group. She is fighting for her own ego and fortune and fame and power.
I know you're not asking me, but I believe the current Supreme Court is the best (or least bad) I'm likely to see in my lifetime*. Unfortunately, it's a delicate balance that is just about certain to be destroyed by the next president (or possibly the current one) when justices start retiring.
Who nominated John Roberts, THE most corporatist chief justice in history? Was it Obama? It doesn't even matter. Whoever nominated Roberts is EXACTLY the same as Obama. Absolutely no difference.
For me, the SCOTUS is always the most important factor in a presidential election. Keep in mind the ages of the current justices:
Antonin Scalia 3/11/1936 Anthony Kennedy 7/23/1936 Clarence Thomas 6/23/1948 Ruth Bader Ginsburg 3/15/1933 Stephen Breyer 8/15/1938 John G. Roberts 1/27/1955 Samuel A. Alito, Jr .4/1/1950 Sonia Sotomayor 6/25/1954 Elena Kagan 4/28/1960
Three of them will be 80+ when the next POTUS takes office, and another will be 78. Anyone who says it doesn't matter who is elected just isn't paying attention.
"It does me no injury for my neighbour to say there are 20 gods or no god. It neither picks my pocket, nor breaks my leg."
-- Thomas Jefferson