From Captain's Quarters:
Over the past week, many of us have written on the frustration felt by conservatives (especially fiscal conservatives) over the past few years. Some believe that the only manner in which to serve notice on the GOP that it cannot take conservative votes for granted is a massive walkout, a boycott of the 2006 midterms and perhaps even the 2008 presidential elections. Others, such as myself, believe that conservatives will marginalize themselves by doing so and will prove themselves incapable of being reliable partners in any kind of ruling coalition.
Today we have an example of what can be accomplished through active engagement rather than disengagement. In Pennsylvania, primary voters have unseated the two Republican leaders in the state Senate that gave the body an unpopular pay raise, joining thirteen of their incumbent House colleagues in getting the boot
About the same time we moved out here, the state legislature voted themselves a pay raise, and contrary to the state constitution, voted to take it the same year. Voters were already furious because Fast Eddie Rendell had diverted 90% of the gasoline tax away from road construction throughout the state to prop up the failing Philly public transportation system. The pay raise pushed them over the edge.
Imparters of conventional wisdom said over and over again that the anger would fade, and it would have no effect on elections. Yet, the anger never did fade, and thirty state legislators decided not to run, and not to face the anger of their constituents. And voters demonstrated their disgust yesterday in the primary.
This is a prime example of what I've taken some heat over lately on certain blogs (which shall remain nameless): If you want to effect change, then vote. Sitting on your ass and doing some passive-aggressive Korean "I'll let them know how pissed off I am by not voting" act won't do a damn thing, other than hand the Democrats the election.
It's irrelevant what your politics are, or what issues are most important to you. If you want change, vote. Period. End of discussion.