Reader Conradg asks Daniel Larison, “Why not just suck it up, be a mensch, and vote Obama?” Larison’s views on Obama have until now been cryptic and indecipherable, so he has attempted to clarify them: “Because Obama holds disgraceful and indefensible views? How about that?”

Larison, more than any single individual has convinced me that there isn’t much of anything to get excited about in Obama, other than his not being McCain; when I really wanted to believe otherwise. But I stand by what I wrote back in March:

If I had to pick between the three remaining I guess I would choose Obama because, well, he isn’t Clinton or McCain. Since no remaining candidate is addressing any important issues and my vote doesn’t matter, I don’t waste much time worrying about it. Whenever I do; I stop what I’m doing, relax with a cold compress on my forehead, pour myself a stiff drink and repeat to myself, “permanent things . . . permanent things . . . permanent things . . .”

But I still have one nagging question that Daniel hasn’t answered clearly enough yet: why aren’t you voting for Obama?