"...what does it say when large groups of conservatives either write in a canditate or just dont vote ..."

It means they will take their bat(s) and ball(s) and go home, and/or be like the little boy who peed into the wind because it made him feel warm all over.

It is 2008 now, and the last successful attempt to create a third political party of significance was c1854, when the formation of Republican Party caused the split-up and realignment of the existing parties (Whigs and Democratic-Republicans {Democrats}) of the day. There will never be another third party of significance in American politics.

"What!" you cry. "How can you make such a pronouncement?"

The size of the country, both physical and population; the myriad of viewpoints, cultural, religious, and political; and the invasive fourth estate insidiously crafting the world view of those too lazy to reason or incapable of reasoning outside their own environs all act together to ensure an alternative to the two party system will fail. As is commonly said, "wish in one hand and..." you know what you will have in the end. You may of course, rant and rail about how unfair it is and so on, but in the end you must conform to the political realities we live in, or mark yourself as irrelevant. If you cannot agree to form a viable third party, capable of electing your candidate - and if you could do that, there would be no reason to form said third party, because you would have the votes to install your own candidate in either of the existing two parties - then any other action you take, whether not voting, or writing in an unelectable candidate, merely trivializes you and the country as a whole.

The general election is not a game, the rules are only as perfect as we make them by being involved, and this is still the best system ever conceived and created by the hand of man. But, like all systems involving multiple human beings, there must be a give and take. In our case, we air our differences, mark our territories, and bash our nearest similar compatriots about the head and shoulders in the primary season. This is the time we make our wishes known, count up our staunchest allies, and try to get others to agree with our point of view. We form our alliances and work for a concensus favorable to us. Some times we are successful, others we are not, but in the end there will be two viable candidates - and only two.

Then comes the time to fall behind the standard bearer of our chosen affiliation. I see a lot of you feel betrayed, left out, or appalled in general by the choice of the Republican Party this time around. Believe me, McCain has never been my choice - but I will not play games with the United States at stake. I will vote for him, because the majority of the party - and yes, I know there are states that allow cross-over voting, but that is for another time - have determined that he is either the best candidate to represent the balance of their (our) beliefs, or is the most electable candidate we have available and running. Have no doubt, for all his faults, John McCain is electable, unlike Bob Dole in 1996 - yet I still voted for him. But - and there always is a but - he is only as electable as we gather behind him and push.

This is no second rate democracy, or democratic republic, or constitutional republic, or whatever you care to call it today. We don't have three, four, or ten parties, all with significant elected members such that none has a majority, and alliances are made of expediency after the elections are over, and a ruling government must be crafted from a ragged mix of third and fourth tier players. Our alliances are made up front, in the primary season we are concluding, not in the shady back rooms of powerbrokers trying to rule after the elections, when we have no control over with whom we are in bed with politically. If you don't like the alliance this time, then try harder next time, but remember, all the little fracture interests have to agree to support your interest, or you will forever be shut out. Again I point out the obvious - you don't need a third party if you can carry your own, and if you can't then no write in, or third party candiate will win. Sitting out, however you chose to do it, removes you from any consideration for the next four years.

As I have repeatedly told my children, "I don't care who you vote for, but vote. If you do not, then do not speak to me about politics for the next four years, do not complain about what is being done in the country, and accept whatever Washington dishes out to you. Your right to complain comes from your trying to influence what is done by your vote."

So, back to the original question, "...what does it say when large groups of conservatives either write in a canditate or just dont vote ...?" Succinctly, it means they forfeit their right to bitch about what happens over the next four years. Just a little bit of tough love, I'm afraid.

R/

Clyde

"...the aspirants to tyranny are either the...men of the state, who in democracies are demagogues,... or those who hold great offices, and have a long tenure.." - Aristotle, Politics, c350BC

I will still be doing the Romney/Thomsen write-in

I cordially invite 51% of my fellow voting citizens to join me

that'll show the deal makers:)

democracy lives