Railroad commissioner

[The Annoyed Man]

I can’t figure out where else to stick this.....

Who do you guys like for Railroad Commissioner, and why? There’s no way on God's green earth that I’d vote for either a democrat or green party member, but Matt Sterett answers no policy questions, and while I might agree with some of James Wright's answers to questions, none of the questions or his answers seem to have anything to do with being a railroad commissioner.

So what do you guys know and prefer?

[srothstein]

TAM,

I have several rules for how I vote. On general principles, my first rule is to not vote in any race where there is only one person running. Something about having an uncontested race bothers me and this way at least it will not be a unanimous decision. I then vote for the specific people who I have decided I like in office. We have too many elected offices and I do not have time to study the candidates for every race on the ballot, as much as I know I should. If I do not have a person i want in office, I believe that I can judge them by the party they choose to associate with. My party preferences for Texas elections are Libertarian, then Republican, then Democrat. In a few cases, there are people I know I want out of office and I don't care who replaces them. In those cases, I use my party preference and make sure to skip the party that person is in. There are certain parties I will never vote for, including the Green party, the Socialist (by name not action) party, and the Communist party.

When I lived in other states, with different parties getting on the ballot (like the Constitutional Party), I place them in various spots in my preference list.

While I always recommend voting for a person, I honestly think no one can study every race any more. And then we have the problems you mentioned of how to vote if the issues I am concerned about are not part of the candidates public platform or answers. My system may not work for everyone, but so far I am satisfied with it.

[Ruark]

My party preferences for Texas elections are Libertarian, then Republican, then Democrat.

I appreciate your preferences, but IMHO, a vote for "Libertarian" is a wasted vote. It's a vote that helps the wrong person get elected. For all its impact on the final outcome, you might as well stay home and not vote. Just my 'pinion.

[Ruark]

The Railroad Commissioner, through its Oil and Gas Division, regulates the exploration, production, and transportation of oil and natural gas in Texas. It's function is largely bureaucratic - issuing drilling permits and the like.

[jason812]

TAM,

I have several rules for how I vote. On general principles, my first rule is to not vote in any race where there is only one person running. Something about having an uncontested race bothers me and this way at least it will not be a unanimous decision. I then vote for the specific people who I have decided I like in office. We have too many elected offices and I do not have time to study the candidates for every race on the ballot, as much as I know I should. If I do not have a person i want in office, I believe that I can judge them by the party they choose to associate with. My party preferences for Texas elections are Libertarian, then Republican, then Democrat. In a few cases, there are people I know I want out of office and I don't care who replaces them. In those cases, I use my party preference and make sure to skip the party that person is in. There are certain parties I will never vote for, including the Green party, the Socialist (by name not action) party, and the Communist party.

When I lived in other states, with different parties getting on the ballot (like the Constitutional Party), I place them in various spots in my preference list.

While I always recommend voting for a person, I honestly think no one can study every race any more. And then we have the problems you mentioned of how to vote if the issues I am concerned about are not part of the candidates public platform or answers. My system may not work for everyone, but so far I am satisfied with it.

Your philosophy mimics mine except that I will not vote for any Democrat either.

To those that say I'm wasting a vote by voting Libertarian, well tell the Republican's to put up better candidates and to quit being democrat light. Getting blanket votes because they are the larger of the parties that are not Democrat is one of the reasons why we have the political mess we do.

[Grayling813]

Democrat = Socialist

Green Party = Environmental Socialist

Libertarian = who knows?

Republican = not a Bush.

[flechero]

To those that say I'm wasting a vote by voting Libertarian, well tell the Republican's to put up better candidates and to quit being democrat light.

Why don't you tell them?

I agree with your principle but "accidentally" helping a dem get elected doesn't make the point. Vote in the primaries. If you dislike a R than get active. This is not the time in our history to be nitpicking the little things... we are in the fight of our constitutional lives.

[RicoTX]

I personally don't care who likes the way I vote and I don't think any vote is wasted. But, I will say I don't think party affiliation should even be on the ballet. You should either know who you are voting for by name or you shouldn't vote in that particular race.

To those that say I'm wasting a vote by voting Libertarian, well tell the Republican's to put up better candidates and to quit being democrat light.

Why don't you tell them?

I agree with your principle but "accidentally" helping a dem get elected doesn't make the point. Vote in the primaries. If you dislike a R than get active. This is not the time in our history to be nitpicking the little things... we are in the fight of our constitutional lives.

[powerboatr]

Democrat = Socialist

Green Party = Environmental Socialist

Libertarian = who knows?

Republican = not a Bush.

yep good thinking

[The Annoyed Man]

I’m a libertarian-leaning independent. I’d rather die of strychnine poisoning than vote democrat, but there is some leeway for me between republicans and libertarians. I really just wanted to know something about the libertarian and Republican candidates for Railroad Commissioner.

[puma guy]

I won't get into the argument about wasted votes for third party candidates, but I will always remember the 1992 Presidential election. Ross Perot likely was responsible for Bill Clinton's election. With out Perot as a choice I can't imagine his supporters/voters would have voted for Clinton, who only received 43% of the popular vote. I use both his elections as ammo against eliminating the Electoral College by pointing out to my liberal friends that there would be run offs and in Clinton's case he most certainly would have lost a run-off in his first election and maybe even in the second which would have been moot if he lost the first one in a run-off. Yes, I know that logic is lost on them.

[TxRVer]

To those that say I'm wasting a vote by voting Libertarian, well tell the Republican's to put up better candidates and to quit being democrat light.

Why don't you tell them?

I agree with your principle but "accidentally" helping a dem get elected doesn't make the point. Vote in the primaries. If you dislike a R than get active. This is not the time in our history to be nitpicking the little things... we are in the fight of our constitutional lives.

It has gotten to the point where I'd vote for a yellow dog before voting for a Democrat. Protect our country against socialism from the ground up.

[JustSomeOldGuy]

....... I will say I don't think party affiliation should even be on the ballet. You should either know who you are voting for by name or you shouldn't vote in that ........

Both passive-aggressive AND quite profound. No labels in the voting booth. I like it!

[srothstein]

....... I will say I don't think party affiliation should even be on the ballet. You should either know who you are voting for by name or you shouldn't vote in that ........

Both passive-aggressive AND quite profound. No labels in the voting booth. I like it!

I do vote by party in elections where I don't know the candidates. Even so, I have long said that the two most important election reforms we can do are to equalize access to the ballot and to remove all indications of party or incumbency from the ballot. By equalize access, I want everyone to have to do the same thing to get on the ballot - number of signatures, cash fee, whatever the requirement is. This should be without regard to being in a party or not. And once they get on the ballot, there should be no way for anyone to know who is the incumbent or to which party the candidate belongs, if any.

This way we get more people to run and hopefully a fairer election. I figure if the incumbent does nothing during his term to get his name out, he is obviously incompetent and not representing his people.