Why I won't be voting for either Clinton or Obama during the primaries.

I had a very frank discussion at work today with a girl who had decided that "our vote for president doesn't matter because the electoral college votes before we even get our votes turned in". I can agree with her in some manner. I find the electoral college to be archaic. It (sort of) served its purpose at one point because, at the time, communication over distances was difficult and voting would have taken quite some time (not to mention you'd be looking at a bunch of people randomly picking from those they knew nothing about... most of these people would have had to have the ballot read to them).

But, I said, and here's the thing: it is very important that the democrats pick the right candidate. And what do I mean by that? The one that will win. Frankly, it doesn't matter if I like Obama or if I like Clinton. I know that, in the end, it is more important for the democrats to win the presidential election, no matter WHO the party picks. Put another way: In 2004, we all assumed Kerry would win. And why not? I mean, as badly as Bush had fucked up, surely Kerry would HAVE to win, right? No.

It isn't enough to be a good candidate. It isn't enough to be "not the Republicans". It isn't enough to be "making history". The democrats need to WIN.

And, frankly, I can't vote for either Clinton or Obama right now. If they become the party's Presidential Nominee, then, yeah, I'll try to support them. But, frankly, I think it'll be a lost cause. Both candidates are too controversial and neither would win the race for President. And, that, my friends, is more important than "making history" or "making progress". We're in a point in history right now where things have gotten waaaaaay out of control and I can't help but think that another four years under Republican rule would just make matters worse.

(And, in some ways, the whole thing ticks me off: I have to vote for the Democratic candidate, even if I don't necessarily support all of their ideas, because I don't want the Republicans in office and would rather have the Democrats in power, even if it isn't necessary completely in agreement with my ideals as far as government goes. I'd probably have to vote for an independent to find somebody who I agree with all the way. But, voting for any other party ensures that I'm basically throwing my vote away. So I vote for the Democrats.)