Last election, I had a choice between an anti-choice, anti-gay, anti-welfare, anti-labor, pro-corporate, uber-Christian Democrat and a nearly-identical Republican, so I just didn't vote in that race.

However, if it were a Blue Dog who wasn't quite THAT terrible, I might consider it.

within reason - not if he was like described in the first reply - but if he won you can bet he'd know my name from letters to his office every time he did something dumb. And some if he did something good too.

Would Dianne Feinstein fall into the category of "blue dog" democrat? I mean she's conservative right? I had to vote for her.

Probably more? That should answer your question.

What good is it just to have someone with a "D" behind their name when they vote with the "R's" every time?

With this Republican party anyway. It might have been different forty or fifty years ago.

As I said before, I've worked in conservative districts. In order for Democrats to win these seats period, they can't vote lockstep with their party.

That's what really pisses me off about these wussies. They're afraid to do the right thing because they're more concerned with their own job than with whether or not the country is healthy. Show some guts, do the right thing and force the fools he's afraid of in his/her district to accept what is good for them. They'll come around when they see the benefits, even if it costs the politician their seat in the short term.

But none of them do that, ever. My suspicion is that they never had any intention of doing the right thing. That they are as owned as any corporate republican.

Last time it was between Bill Nelson, Blue Dog, and some piece of shit tea bagger pseudo-Republican. I think the choice is pretty much the same this time around.

As much as I'd prefer to have the chance to vote for Alan Grayson as my Senator, I will take Bill Nelson over any Republican alive. He at least has support President Obama when it came down to it.

my nose. I didn't vote for Senator Diane Feinstein the blue dog here in the primary. I'm sick of voting for candidates that make me feel ashamed I gave them my vote. Still follow your conscience and if you would regret not voting for the Dem than do what you feel you need to.

I've worked for Blue Dogs before, and many are more liberal than they will admit to the public. Ultimately a politician's job is to represent the district/state. I'd rather see a conservative leaning district (or one gerrymandered for a Republican) be represented by a Democrat who votes with the party 85% of the time than a Republican who votes with the party 0% of the time.

A "Rabid RW Teabagger" and a "Conservative Democrat" would not be lesser of two evils. Any Democrat, even a conservative one, is a far better option than any rabid rw anything. I can't ever imagine even considering voting for a rabid rw ________. I've voted for plenty of conservative and moderate Dems.

Bottom line, it's a numbers game. I'd watch the Conservadem like a hawk and should he decide to jump ship, I'd be prepared to make a huge stink about it the next election, but what else can you do in such a scenario?

The descriptions of the candidates are vague and insufficient for me to make a meaningful choice.

I don't buy into the idea that write-in candidates are guaranteed not to win - I have seen it happen in my lifetime. Here in California write-in candidates for state-level offices have to be "approved" meaning their supporters must have turned in a certain number of signatures on a petition. You can't write in just anyone and expect your vote to count.

I always look carefully at each candidate's qualifications and track record. Knowing their party affiliation plus some qualifier is not sufficient. Party is one of my lowest priorities. I can't remember the last time I picked one candidate over another because of it.

I certainly won't vote for any candidate that I know to be dishonest.

what certain others want you to think.

This means that what we actually need is a better informed, more active, courageous, responsible, honest electorate to absolutely doggedly pursue absolutely everything whichever "lesser of two evils" gets into any given office.

Rather than let a Republican serve by default.