I've seen some Christians use a gambling metaphor for the 2016 election. It's a sure bet that we have lots to lose if Hillary wins. By contrast, Trump is a roll of the dice. You may win the bet or lose the bet, but given the choice, it's more reasonable to roll the dice, which gives you the chance of a better outcome. Neither candidate is a safe bet, but one is undoubtedly threatening in a way the other is not.
I think that's a useful analogy. I don't object in principle. The question, though, is whether the choice is really that clear-cut. Trump can do a different kind of damage than Hillary. BTW, there's an outside possibility that McMullin will be the next president.
Steve, I love you Brother, but we both know that a third party candidate has exactly zero percent chance of winning this year. Like every election, we have to choose between weak and stupid Republicans or evil and insane Democrats. My conscience is OK with voting for the lesser evil, especially since HRC is so stinking evil. DT is a buffoon and an embarrassment and a jerkface, but even if he were as bad as HRC, he will be kept in check by the Democrats in Congress and by the media. She, on the other hand will likely be uncontested and even accommodated by weak stupid Republican members of Congress, and she will be aided and abetted by the corrupt media that did everything they could to help get her elected. I believe that we as a nation would be subjected to four more years similar to and maybe far worse than the last eight years. The "Never Hillary" movement deserves our support far more than the "Never Trump" crowd. One more thing - when I vote on Tuesday, I could write-in the name of my Pastor or Jesus Christ and then pat myself on the back for not voting for an unrighteousness candidate, but my actions would be a waste of time and energy if I could have prevented President HRC. We Christian Conservatives need to be more active and vocal during the Republican Primaries if we truly want elected officials who represent us and our beliefs.
ReplyDeleteHow is your comment responsive to my post?
DeleteTrump isn't just weak and stupid. He is also evil. I agree he is probably less evil than Hillary, but to pretend as if Trump hasn't done or said genuinely evil things is wrong.
DeleteThere is no reason to think Democrats will win Congress. Last I checked, Republicans still had a good chance.
The idea that the media will keep Trump in check makes no sense. For one thing the media is largely discredited among the right. And Trump doesn't care what the media says about him, since he dismisses every accusation as a lie and threatens to sue and even change libel laws so that he can sue even more.
The idea that Republicans in Congress are weak and stupid and just accommodate to Democrats is wrong: http://www.nationalreview.com/corner/435078/republicans-didnt-cave-obama
That Trump voters use this as an excuse to vote for Trump, someone who isn't a conservative, is idiotic. How does outrage over Republicans in Congress who don't stand up for conservative principles justify voting for a Republican in the White House who doesn't care about conservative principles? If there were any truth to the idea that Republicans in Congress aren't conservative enough, voting for Trump will only push the GOP further down that road.
" I could write-in the name of my Pastor or Jesus Christ and then pat myself on the back for not voting for an unrighteousness candidate"
This is a caricature of the protest vote position. No one is arguing that they will only vote for a candidate who is a pastor or Jesus. That's not the NeverTrump position or reasoning. If you can't honestly frame our position, then you're part of the problem with our political climate.
" my actions would be a waste of time and energy if I could have prevented President HRC."
That's a naïve understanding of the possible scenarios involved. Trump may do more damage to the conservative movement within the Republican party, in the long run than HRC in four years.
"Christian Conservatives need to be more active and vocal during the Republican Primaries if we truly want elected officials who represent us and our beliefs."
I think that may be right, although a lot of Christian conservatives were very vocal in their opposition to Trump during the primaries. The problem was we couldn't decide who to consolidate behind (Rubio or Cruz and a lot of Christians, unfortunately, naively cast their support behind Carson). Another issue is that we need to start arguing for conservative ideas and positions and not just supporting a particular person every four years.
I started my rant in response to your closing comment, but I was also defending the gambling metaphor. I believe that a "chance of a better outcome" is a valid and worthy goal for Christians this election season for the reasons I listed. I voted for Cruz in the primaries, and DT was at or near the bottom of my list; but HRC is so deplorable that she makes the decision "clear-cut". A protest vote for a better candidate will not accomplish anything, but "rolling the dice" for DT can defeat the "sure bet" of a wicked HRC administration.
ReplyDeleteYour comments suggest a point of disagreement with what I wrote, but it's unclear what I said that you think stands in conflict to your own position.
DeleteSteve
ReplyDelete"I started my rant in response to your closing comment..."
"we both know that a third party candidate has exactly zero percent chance of winning this year"
If this is in reference to McMullin, I believe Steve (Hays) is alluding to the fact that the House of Representatives could decide the election if neither Trump nor Hillary achieve the magical 270 electoral votes needed to become prez. If the House does, then it's possible McMullin will win.
By the way, Steve (Hays) did say this was an "outside possibility".