On the narrow matter of a person's vote, is there any meaningful difference between . . . .

[Stinky The Clown]

. . . . a vote "for" Candadate X over Candidate Z or a vote "against" Candidate Z in favor of Candidate X?

Seems to me they're different only on motivation, not outcome.

[Fumesucker]

1. Attitude once the candidate is in office..

If you voted against the opponent you're likely to have a less positive attitude toward the office holder than someone that voted for him.

Which has a lot to do with what we see on DU every day.

[Stinky The Clown]

2. I think you're right on that point.

I also think you're point is right on a far wider and more important field than just one internet message board.

[Fumesucker]

8. DU is but a reflection of society..

It might be a bit of a funhouse mirror doing the reflecting but the general patterns are still there even if a smidgen warped.

[Stinky The Clown]

11. the 2008 cycle saw everyone in our family and extended family vote for the same person.

That NEVER happened before. I am pretty sure it won't happen in the 2012 cycle.

[Coyote_Bandit]

3. If I vote against Candidate Z

there's a chance that I really don't give a shit about Candidate X and do not have good expectations should he win. I just think he's not as bad as Candidate Z.

But he still gets my nose holding stomach churning vote - and the op scan machine doesn't know whether I'm barfing or dancing.

[ZombieHorde]

4. Assuming you're only talking about those who vote for or against the two major parties in the US,

I think the main difference is enthusiasm. Someone who is voting against a candidate will probably have a harder time finding free time for door knocking and phone calling, and will probably be less likely to donate money.

[SwampG8r]

5. i am passing on the whole "lesser evil " thing for now

its still evil
i will only vote FOR people now
the other guy is suckier no longer works on me
i will no longer vote against people
if there is no one for me to vote FOR i will leave that line blank
if they cannot run someone i want to vote for screw em
in this election i will vote and work for candidates that i will give directly to
no more money to the state or national parties
they dont understand that lesser evil is still fucking evil

[Bluenorthwest]

6. Not to the candidate, really. Here is chaps the hide of some

who want, for themselves, to hear nothing but passionate love for the President. To them, it seems to matter hugely, they do not want votes nearly as much as they want displays of affection performed in front of them, which of course the President never sees nor would he care about. This is part of why DU gets so stressful at times, many here do not want just a vote or some support, they NEED to hear it, to hear it in extremes, they are not happy with any qualifications of that support, which to me is asking way, way too much as long as the President is openly opposed to my own civil rights, I will oppose him loudly on that so called 'policy' stance, which he communicates exclusively with religious terminology and talk of 'belief' which has no place in the public discourse. I'm not going to be 'favoring his policy' across any board, ever as long as his policy is exclusionary and discriminatory. Also, those who do the 'full tilt support it all' routine are in fact supporting discriminatory, exclusionary religionism. I note that precious few of them conduct themselves in a way that would cause one to think them to be devout Christians. 'we are Christians, you ain't shit, did you fill your diapers, did you get your pony?'. Yeah. Like Carmelite nuns, they are, shiny and engaging....

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

7. The chance of one vote making a difference in an election are miniscule (to be generous).

I've voted in 23 federal elections. In not one has my vote changed the outcome no matter who I voted for or who I might have voted for.

After years of nose holding I've decided to relieve my nose from it's biannual endurance of injury and vote for/against issues rather than parties or candidates.

“Always vote for principle, though you may vote alone, you may cherish the sweetest reflection that your vote is never lost." John Quincy Adams

[TheKentuckian]

9. You cannot be an evangelical, true believer holding your nose, Stinky.

Those that are know they need more than votes, they need you to have a multiplier effect. They need us to flip fence sitters, drive people to the polls, sign up new voters, canvasing, phone banking, donating, and most of all they want a unified voice for candidates and their policies.

They need us to be true believers and repeat 2008 efforts or even improve on them but they need that to happen without demands and expectations of liberal goals being sought. They need lesser evilisim to be accepted and then brought to a partisan boil with fundamentalist religion like fervor.

They do not want questions, doubts, concerns, and certainly not opposition to whatever Obama does or proposes.

[Stinky The Clown]

10. If true . . . .

. . . . then I bet I really frost their asses.