Once again Splice Today writer Todd Seavey in his repetitive condescending drivel has wasted metaphorical ink whining about both political parties in favor of his literal unknown “presidential candidate.”
Has anyone even heard of born-in-1985 Chase Oliver? I haven’t. Even his name sounds like a knockoff 1980s Marvel villain, complete with Ray-Bans and a discount-rack Macy’s Polo, who thankfully ended up on the cutting room floor of some guy’s basement. But I looked him up: he’s not a bad guy, and I agree with most of his views even if he is a reject bargain-basement Pete Buttigieg. It’s a shame he didn’t stick with the Democratic Party where most of his views align; he might have a bright future someday if he manages to get something on a resume.
The Libertarian Party, which was formed in 1971 and supports civil liberties and capitalism free from government supervision, is the third political party in the U.S. and has little influence, garnering around three percent of the national vote, with very few elected officials (mayors), never a member of Congress. But could they have enough influence this year to get Trump elected by taking votes from Harris, who Seavey refers to inaccurately as (yawn) communist and fascist.
Calling Harris a fascist and mentioning Mussolini while Trump invents new ways to Ken-doll accessorize fascism is beyond the pale: proposing criminalizing judges who criticize him, telling people they’ll “never have to vote again”, not to mention the obvious: inciting insurrection and condoning, even congratulating, the behavior of the thugs and murderers who participated in it.
I try not to practice black-white thinking and embrace that there are gray areas where creative change can happen in politics but Seavey it’s not “protest vote time,” it’s reality in this election for libertarians, who love to whine “my vote is not a wasted vote!” Pointing out the obvious, you’re correct. Your vote isn’t just wasted, it’s a clear vote for a convicted criminal, rapist, and insurrectionist who isn’t mentally capable of running this country and voting for him (or not against him) is dangerous to democracy. It’s crazy that any intelligent human would see it otherwise. And for you to find fault with Tim Walz is equally insane.
For a party that claims to want government out of their lives, your vote against the estabished party who agrees with you on that is a vote for the guy who has a playbook to end government in a far more dangerous way. Seems like DNC envy. I heard Joy Reid say that everyone who’s spoken this week makes it feel like the kind of neighborhood you want to live in, and I agree.
Libertarians put forward a candidate whose entire political experience consists of (checks notes)... nothing. I was the chief elected official of a small town and have more political experience than this guy, who was born when I was going to high school prom. Libertarians are never going to achieve the numbers necessary to create real change from their outside stance, and I agree with the late John McCain and others who have used this quote: “There is more that unites us than divides us.”
I find only ironic lunacy in Todd Seavey’s statement about wasted libertarian votes: “Anyone who tells you with a straight face that this is not the time for a desperate symbolic gesture should be regarded as a lunatic. It’s a wonderful time for a desperate symbolic gesture.” And as a proud lunatic by your measure, I hope there aren’t too many “symbolic gesture” voters in your libertarian party sufficient to actually put a real lunatic back in office.
