I wish that I could say that I have made up my mind for the 2024 election….but I cannot.

We are sitting at 2 short weeks before our trips to the polls.

We have two major candidates that stand for nothing that I hold dear.

I have said many times that I have not voted for a winner in presidential elections since 1976….during all that time I have voted usually for a third party….not that any of the candidates were that appealing to me but rather their platforms were more in-line with my principles.  Never have I ever regretted the vote I cast.

That brings us to this election….I still think that a third party and/or an independent candidate would get my vote…..and then brace myself for the unbending stupidity about my doing so would elect this person or that…none of which I agree….

Why Your Third-Party Vote Is Not Wasted

My argument is that it is MY vote and I shall put it where I think it will do the most good for this country not because of some personality that is all show and no action and what actions they do take is usually for the benefit of business not the people.

I have not noticed an uptick for independent candidates….if this was any other election but this one I would see this as a good sign….but sadly it is not…..but it is a good sign for the people are starting to see just how corrupt and do nothing the two parties have become.

Now let us look at nightmare scenario that is forming.

Let’s say the independent s make it so that neither major candidate gets the required number of electoral votes to win the election outright….what then?

Then it would fall to the House to elect the president….

If you don’t believe the 2024 presidential campaign can get any more bizarre or anxiety-inducing, just wait.

70 percent of Americans have indicated that they don’t want the major presidential candidates they now appear stuck with. A substantial percent of Democratic voters and a majority of Republican voters don’t want President Biden to run because of his age and perceived cognitive issues. A substantial number of Republicans and a majority of Democrats don’t want former President Trump to run because of his perceived legal issues.

…

If no candidate receives a majority of electoral votes, the Presidential election leaves the Electoral College process and moves to Congress. The House of Representatives elects the President from the three (3) Presidential candidates who received the most electoral votes. Each State delegation has one vote and it is up to the individual States to determine how to vote. (Since the District of Columbia is not a State, it has no State delegation in the House and cannot vote). A candidate must receive at least 26 votes (a majority of the States) to be elected. The Senate elects the Vice President from the two (2) Vice Presidential candidates with the most electoral votes. Each Senator casts one vote for Vice President. (Since the District of Columbia is has no Senators and is not represented in the vote). A candidate must receive at least 51 votes (a majority of Senators) to be elected. If the House of Representatives fails to elect a President by Inauguration Day, the Vice-President Elect serves as acting President until the deadlock is resolved in the House.

What if no candidate wins 270 electoral votes?

With the House controlled by the GOP, no matter how small the margin, and that party in bed with the Trumpian mindset we could be looking at a Trump win.

Now do you see my quandary?

My vote could throw this thing into a House election….in a different time I would laugh it off as corrupt politics at work….but it is different this time around.

Do I hold with the convictions of my principles or do I hold my nose and vote for an old fart that may not live another 4 years?  And his successor is not someone that I would ever consider worthy.

Then there is the other ‘guy’ whose policies are so far right that it scares me and the party he controls just keeps with its trek right….no where would I consider a vote for these people (being polite as possible)

Now I stand at the crossroad.

Three paths are before me….one is one that I would never travel….one is a road that holds no hope for the people of this country….and the last road is more in line with my principles but could be disastrous for the country.

I try to vote with my head and the policies that I think could benefit the most people not the party that promises and seldom has any inclination of fulfilling those promises.

My head is telling me to look beyond the two corrupt parties, which I have done on numerous occasions, but then the thought brings me back to those damn crossroads.

What to do?  What to do?

I Read, I Write, You Know

“lego ergo scribo”