• ZombiFrancis@sh.itjust.works
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    2 months ago

    Due to the electoral college a massive portion of the electorate, outside of a few key districts that swing whole states, coyld vote third party without changing the result.

    I think about a third of my state who voted Democrat in 2020 could vote 3rd party and blue would still win. There are plenty of 20+ point blue districts.

    So for many: voting third party sends a message, usually about a specific policy.

    Now, outside the presidency though where there’s no electoral college discarding eberyone’s vote? (Or in those few swing districts?) Different story altogether and I get that. Local elections are usually the only place a chance to win exists for third party candidates.

    • stanleytweedle@lemmy.world
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      2 months ago

      So for many: voting third party sends a message, usually about a specific policy.

      Sure, in some states you can reasonably gamble that other voters will compensate for your ‘message’, but you might as well put that message in a bottle and toss it in the ocean.

      The politician that wins won’t give a shit about your 3rd party ‘message’ because they won anyway, and the politician that loses doesn’t matter because they lost. In an election where a 3rd party has no chance of winning your ‘message’ is basically “IGNORE ME”.

      • ZombiFrancis@sh.itjust.works
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        2 months ago

        Yeah so I generally find most of these tactics appropriate and effective for primaries, which has only happened for President. The rest won’t happen until August.

        We are still hard in primary season for the entire House of Representatives, a third of the senate, and like a dozen governors. They all have a calculus to make over how supportive or public they’ll be on issues being protestee.

        Regardless a lot of this judgement should be reserved for the general election. I will be interested to see what the landscape will look like and the rhetoric sound like come September.

        • stanleytweedle@lemmy.world
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          2 months ago

          All fine and good in the primary but relying on the electoral college and other blue voters in your state to let you send a ‘message’ is dangerously stupid and pointless in any presidential election, and doubly so in 2024.

          • ZombiFrancis@sh.itjust.works
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            2 months ago

            For the record I have only ever personally expressed how I will likely vote for Biden if he makes it to the general. I just understand the ‘message’ people are trying to send and don’t think it is worth trying to stifle or suffocate.

            (That and I thought Panel 2 was referring to a third party voter at first, but the feathers are already ruffled now.)

            • stanleytweedle@lemmy.world
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              2 months ago

              I understand the ‘message’ people are trying to send too. I don’t have any capacity to ‘stifle\suffocate’ that ‘message’- but I don’t mind telling them they’re just tossing away their only real political ‘voice’ to shout into the void.

              • ZombiFrancis@sh.itjust.works
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                2 months ago

                I dunno. Biden went from ‘no upper limit’ on children and civilian death in Gaza and ‘no chance, none’ about a ceasefire to calling for ceasefire a month after the Uncommitted campaign and recently aired conditioning aid. I don’t think it is mere coincidence, but I get there’s strong pushback on that idea. Though I think calling it shouting into the void is a little bit stifling.

                • Optional@lemmy.world
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                  2 months ago

                  I think that was in part the change in the ‘war’ and his growing agitation that Bibi was saying one thing and doing another. There are a lot of gears turning to prevent a lot of what we’re seeing, and then you’ve got a single, final soundbite which is all most people know of it.

                  I would agree it has had some effect, at least in the messaging. I would disagree we can afford it at this time though. Nationally. With a corrupt demented orange rapist in the wings.

                  • ZombiFrancis@sh.itjust.works
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                    2 months ago

                    And that’s arguably true: maybe Biden would have done nothing different than he already has if everyone shut up about the matter in Gaza.

                    I don’t see it, but I accept that it’s a possibility. I’ll hear that argument.

                • stanleytweedle@lemmy.world
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                  2 months ago

                  Though I think calling it shouting into the void is a little bit stifling.

                  I’m an anonymous stranger on the internet, it’s completely your choice to be ‘stifled’ or not here. That’s kinda pathetic.