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[quote=Anonymous]In DC, the protest vote, or "principled” vote, whichever you prefer, is completely understandable.  In a swing state, it's indefensible, in my view.  Here's why:

I don't think there's any question that the Republicans will continue to control the House, and will take control of the Senate.  In that situation, I have zero confidence that a "moderate" Republican like Romney or Huntsman would have any say in the agenda (and that I'm using the term moderate to describe either of them is appalling, I get that - perhaps sane would be more appropriate).  In fact, I think they'd be completely irrelevant.  The Republican House would control the agenda - and we've seen what they envision for the country.  The only thing preventing those Ayn Rand fantasies from becoming law would be the fortitude of the Senate.  Although I don’t think the Republicans will obtain a filibuster-proof majority, I am not comfortable with putting the fate of the Republic in the hands of the weakest links in the Senate Democratic caucus.  In 2014, there are 33 Senate seats up for election – 20 Democrats and 13 Republicans.  Many of those Democrat seats are in red states, and the Democrat incumbents simply can’t be counted on to take a principled stand against the tea party lunacy that will be driving force in the Republican agenda.  Do you really want to have to depend on Mary Landrieu, Max Bauchus, Mark Begich, Tim Johnson, Kay Hagan and Mark Warner to keep their fingers stuck in the dike, when they have elections coming up?  Me neither.

Never mind the prospect that in 2014, the Senate could easily become a filibuster-proof majority for the Republicans – then we’re off to the races, with Eric Cantor effectively running the country.  Urk.

Let me be clear – Obama has been a horrible disappointment, and the country deserves better.  This is in no way an endorsement of his actions as President.  But I’m resigned to play defense at this point, for the short term.  I live in DC too, and I may cast a protest vote, simply because there is no conceivable way Obama will lose these three electoral votes.  But if I lived in Pennsylvania, or Ohio, or Florida, or Virginia (although Virginia may be a lost cause), I wouldn’t dream of it.

Let me ask the protest/principled voters a question – in hindsight, what do you think the lefties in Florida that voted for Nader 2000?  Are you pleased with their principled votes?  I’m not.  Do you wish Gore had been elected instead of Bush?  I do.  Why is this situation any different?  I’m all for principle, but realpolitik can’t be ignored, especially when the other side had lost it’s freakin’ mind.   
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