I play guitar, watch USMLR and NHL, occasionally brew beer, enjoy live music and travel, and practice sarcasm.

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Joined 2 years ago
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Cake day: June 11th, 2023

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  • The primaries are where you vote with your heart for the party you want. The general is pretty much always a strategic vote against the who you really don’t want to win. Granted, that requires more than one candidate running for the nomination, and if nobody steps up for it you’re kinda stuck. That’s what David Hogg’s plan is about. Funding progressive primary challenges in Dem-safe districts where the incumbent is asleep at the wheel. If that describes your situation, maybe write to Leaders We Deserve to get them to take a look at your district.



  • I’m in a gerrymandered district in a very low-turnout state. So I have at times had to vote in the Republican primary to try and keep the ultra-crazy off the general election ballot. Sucks but it’s better than silencing my own voice by not voting. Even turning in a ballot without a selection is better than fully not voting, because it proves you’re engaged in the process. When they know you’re engaged, they know there’s a chance at getting your vote.







  • The chair of the MN state party where Tim Walz was able to rise to Governor is now the chair of the DNC, and David Hogg is the vice chair and has announced he’ll be funding primary challengers in safe Democratic districts with a do-nothing incumbent. These changes to the national leadership were brought to you by party members who voted in the parties internal elections. Aspiring progressives need to declare their candidacy in the primary whether the state party wants them to or not. And the progressive voters need to show up whether the state party wants the progressive or not. That’s the only way to make it happen. Passively sitting it out while waiting for another group to cater the perfect candidate to you is a recipe for “we don’t care about your non-vote.”

    Disclaimer: I’m not specifically accusing you individually of being a non-voter, as I don’t know you at all.


  • Naturally, if you’re already voting consistently in the primaries, then you are not in the target audience for my comment… More people voting for a different candidate resulting in the other candidate winning isn’t really an example of the process not working. Keep fighting for a ballot initiative for ranked choice or approval voting, but don’t stop voting in primaries and elections just because the result isn’t what you wanted. Your presence in the process is a matter of public record and it tells every campaign that if they don’t attempt to win your vote then you’re a potential vote for someone else.