If a Rupublican congressional candidate promised the voters three terms ago that he would only serve three terms decides to run for a fourth term, would you vote for him?  In other words, what's more important to you as a voter: partisan politics or holding politicians accountable to their campaign promises?
214906
holding politicians accountable to their campaign promises?
96323
I guess that the best assessment of a politician is:\n\n* does he or she make an effort to implement their promises;\n\n* does he or she tell the truth to voters;\n\n* does her or she have firm principles or will he or she say or do anything to get elected.\n\nIn the end, you would have to judge by outcomes not talk.
461533
I'd have to say neither.\n\nDemocrats are bad as usual.\nRepublicans have bad representation.\n\nThis country is divided over too many things. Who do you want to control the house and senate? The party which has tried and at this point is messing up (Repubs) or the party that bashes them for it but has no plan for their own (Demos). Think about that when you vote.
384582
The same reason that all the Repubs who so desperatly wanted term limits refused to term limit themselves.\n\nYes some did 'choose' not to run again, but when it came to voting, most refused to abibe but the same rules they wanted.\n\nIt's the issue more than the substance.\n\nAt least Rangel was honest about what he was doing.
294460
Sounds good but I will tell you the reason it happens, Because it works.\n\nThe people elect the guy who throws mud on the other guy, it's not right but it happens so the other guy throws mud back.\n\nThis is why fewer people vote now because you end up voting against some on and not for anyone.\n\nAnother problem with just getting to gather to fix our problems is that My Idea of how to fix our problems and your Idea (I am just guessing by your question) are complete opposites!  I would probably be against most of what you propose and before you know it we would have a mud slinging campaign ad.\n\nBut it would be nice if they ran on their issues alone and worked together, and brought some honor to politics again.
369926
Yes and no for both. It depends on who the candidate is. Some races, I plan on voting Repub, some races Dem, and a couple Independent. I vote for the candidate that I feel will be best for the job, not for the political party.
560929
Voting is a privalage, I, myself try to always vote for the lesser\nof 2 evils. Yes it's true we gripe and complain about our corrupt\ncandidates, and yes seldom does an honest man or woman get elected.\nBut think about it, if all who ran for public office were true and\nhonest. We'd have to find something else to gripe about.
631418
Pretty much nobody.\n\nThe problem with running on a "centrist" platform is that it is arbitrary.  Some people are centrist in one area, while others are centrist in others.  For this reason, you can never have a "centrist" third party.\n\nSome policies above would ensure that Republicans won't vote for your theoretical candidate (gay marriage, assisting Mexican economy), some would ensure no Democrats vote for it (treatment of criminals, abortion), so you'd end up with only a handful of people who vote purely on candidate likability without serious regard for the issues.
415130
Why vote?  Even if your candidate doesn't win, you have shown the parties that you are one who doesn't agree with them.\n\nWhy do Rep/Dems get voted in? They are the 2 biggest parties in the country with the most money.
415620
what they mean is if the republicans agree with their partisan plans they will call it  bipartisan. the thing is they had 12 years to be bi partisan and couldn't do it.\n\nthey have no plans to work with republicans . watch the very first week they will cry about gridlock and the non cooperation of republicans.
287328
A Vote for a Democrat\nis a Vote for a Republican\nwhich is a Vote for a Democrat\nwhich is the same as a Republican\n\nThey are one and the same.\n\nThey have proven it for decades now.\n\nI voted Republican because the Democrats REFUSED to put forth a platform.\nThey were much to vague. \n\nI will not lean toward voting Republican this time\nbut there are some good republicans.\n\nThe Democrats Expect me to vote Democrat\nand have the audacity  to think I will \nvote their way simply because "we aint the other guy".\n\nI am no fool.\nThose who would vote in that manner I do not respect.\n\nA Third Party?\nThere are many. But the point is this. \nThe Libertarians Platform reads as though they are Democrats in disguise.\nRead their Webpage....See how they say "we aint the other guys".\nBut there may be some good people in the Libertarian Party.\n\nThe Constitution Party is too far Right.\nThe Parties that play to your enviromentalist side are too far Left.\nBut there may be some good people in the Constitution Party.\n\nAs for all the other fringe Parties...they play to a particular group also.\nBUT THERE ARE GOOD PEOPLE OUT THERE.\n\nWhich brings to a point.... WHY do we even Need a Party?\nWhy can't we simply vote the candidate?\n\nBut with things in place the way they are now, \nHERE is what needs to be done:\n\nExisting restrictions that remove Voices from the Debate Stage need to be forcibly removed. Forced by the voter.\nWhat do I mean?\nThe fact that you only have 2 freaking choices and both of them are worthless bastids.\nI want Every Candidate that shows minimal support from around the country, to be in my face right up to election day.\nI won't stand much longer for being told that these two candidates (the Dem or Repub) are the best America has to offer.\n\nIn fact: Simply calling them a Third Party Candidate limits the weight you put on their stance.\n\nAlso, believing that crap our 2 parties spew, \nthat a Vote for a Third Party candidate is a vote for the other party (dem or repub) \nis a Lie.\nYOUR VOTE is not wasted.\n\nYou showing support for ANY Candidate is support for That Candidate!\n\nWe also need to get rid of this Electoral College disease.\nDo you know, that the Electoral College representative is NOT REQUIRED to vote the way the state votes?\nHe hasn't, but can change his vote to the candidate NOT supported by the majority of voters in your state.\n\nDrokk, that is crapola!\n\nThe lie that the electoral college is best for america is proven in the fact that it does not represent OneMan=OneVote.\n\nWhat it directly does, is take away the demands for a candidate/s to travel to every state.\nThey can stay in California,NY,Michigan,Ohio etcetera and go for the big electoral college states.\n\nOne man = one vote? NO, Your state has 3 electoral college votes? It is swamped and owned by NY or Another who can offer a 20+ electoral college prize.\n\nGET RID OF THE ELECTORAL COLLEGE.\nOne Man, One Vote. That is what will always work. Quit believing the lies.\n\nWhat else can be done?\nVote these other parties in at the local level.\nStart there. \nGive the Law Party/Libertarian  Party/Constitution Party etcetera, \na chance to prove their mettle with decisions that Directly affect you. \nALSO by voting them in at a local level, you can keep a better eye on them \nand have more influence on the development of their national platforms.\n\nOur 2 Party System must be destroyed. \nThe stranglehold they have on your vote is bought and sold by both parties \nin the very halls of congress where laws are created.\n\nTake back America is not a waste of words.\nPatriotism starts with awareness \nand a willingness to not be bought \nwhile fighting for what is right.\n\nIf you elect someone who says "change is needed, I am for change"...WHAT CHANGE? \nand if he is bold enough to say what he wants to affect,\nHold Him to It.\n\nEnough. is Enough. I am with you Drokk.
518125
here here my friend i couldn't agree with you more .this is why i get out and try to vote for the best candidate because I'm not keeping count here on who will win the game of power the Dem's or the Republicans I'm very concern for my kids future this is what getting out to vote  is really about .I'm sick of the childish bickering between demarcates and republicans a like it's time for  all of  them to do what right for this country .
541781
Agreed. I believe that's what voters are for. I mean, think about it: if the Supreme Court was appointed by his daddy, who do you think they'd give (give being the key word) the presidency to? Even if it took longer, wouldn't it've been a better idea if the whole country just re-voted?
343417
I don't vote for the party and I don't vote for "the person".  I vote for the issues.  If I don't know how a candidate stands, I have a phone, I can call and ask.  People who don't care enough to do a little research should lose their vote.
139401
It would be nice, but no. These two parties are too powerful and have too much money for a third party to compete. They will try, as they have in the past, but they won't succeed. I don't like to believe that any vote is "wasted" but I do believe that voting for the third party just increases the chances of getting someone like Bush in office again. I find it apalling that anyone could still support this man or the Republican party after all they have done to damage our country.\n\nI have voted for a third party in the past, but as I've grown older I realize that it just did more damage than good, so I will remain a democrat. The only way I would vote for a 3rd party again would be if I saw (through the polls) that the person running clearly had a chance, and if they ran on a platform I could really support.\n\nBut don't ever not vote. Don't ever believe that your vote doesn't count. We have a responsibility to vote for the person we believe should be in office, even if you do vote for a third party candidate.
429406
I heard Hutchinson (the independent candidate) speak last year, and I was impressed with him. He's a great speaker and he seems to have a solid plan for the state. Unfortunately, I don't think he'll win (polls are putting him far behind Hatch and Pawlenty) so we will have to consider who of the remaining two candidates we would like to see win.\n\nI generally think Pawlenty has done a decent job thus far, and as such I'll probably vote for him again, but I can't tell you how to vote.  I was a little put off by the fact that Hatch has been so abrasive to reporters.\n\nTry looking at this website: http://www.vote-smart.org/ for information about where candidates stand on certain issues.
197985
Party line voting is wrong.  It is also wrong to be a wind sock for public opinion. That places the power in the hands of a small oligarchy in the first instance, and in the hands of the uninformed in the second.  A politician should vote for what is best for his constituants and not worry about his next election or even his popularity within his constituancy.  The people should only vote a person in office they trust.  \n\nIn truth, people are selfish and narrow-minded and vote for people like themselves.  An honest man running for political office doesn't stand a chance of getting elected and if he lucks out and does get elected will not be re-elected.  The people that put him in office (voters and donors)expect special treatment and will viciously turn on him if he tries to do his job fairly.\n\nTo Sandy_Sweet_Pie, Most of your military are conservative, they are the last people that want to go to war but when called to do so, they proudly fight for the right of leftist liberals like you to have freedom of speech.  To bad you have nothing constructive to say.