Shep, this is a ridiculous position to take. However, I felt the same way after she cried in NH (and won) and then whined about the at-large caucus sites in NV (and won). I took a look around at the positions of the other candidates and thought how I wouldn’t like the country I lived in if they had their way.

So there’s stopping the Republicans for one.

The position I came up with (and I’ve been a vocal Obama supporter from the ‘04 DNC) was that “she can have my vote, but she won’t have my support.” Her positions are almost identical to Obama’s. She would just be a worse, more partisan, less inspiring leader. If she can push through (if by sticking her fingers in Congress’ eyes) the policies that make her a true liberal (I’m deeming that word OK to say again), then that would, I think, help the country overall.

So there’s implementing strong Democratic policies for two.

You say “a write-in candidate will never win.” But you must realize that a candidate that no-one votes for will also not win. Plus, if you’re not at the ballot that day, you can’t vote down ticket for the still-important state and local government races. Surely you still support them?

So there’s the the other, more local races going on for three.

Plus, if you abstain, you lose a lot of credibility as a teacher and a citizen. You’ve looked down upon those who don’t vote. You’ve told them that they can’t complain, because they didn’t make their voice heard. You would become that person.

So there’s fulfilling your obligation as a leader and an American for four.

I’ve donated a lot of money (no donation > $200, so I don’t come up on donor lists) and I’ve donated a lot of time (I’ve called around 300 phone numbers in 4 states — NV, VA, MI, HI). I say put your money where your mouth is. If you’re that tied to your candidate, get out there and make it happen! You don’t have to go to the STL field office (is it even still open?) You can make calls from home, on your cell phone. I go to the Chicago HQ office to volunteer only because it is 3 blocks from work (and because I met a cute girl there) but I usually use my own cell phone because their phones are in use. As I’m finding out, politics is us. As Obama said (and I was there to witness), “We are the ones we’re waiting for.”

http://my.barackobama.com/page/content/phonebankmap