Barring something major happening, Hillary Clinton is now the Democratic nominee for president. A party supposedly in favor of progressive policies and values has chosen a candidate who voted for the Iraq War, was the driving force behind the intervention in Libya, and who is beholden to Wall Street.

I cannot join them.

For me, it is a matter of conscience. If I vote for Hillary Clinton, I am basically saying I approve of, or at least can accept, her militarism and advocacy of “humanitarian” interventions. It would say I accept the economic deregulation pushed through by the Clintons in the 1990s. It would say I approve her support for fracking. Barring some major change in circumstances, I cannot do that in good conscience.

If I voted for Hillary Clinton, I would be indirectly responsible for any military interventions she carries out. I would be endorsing her plan to establish a no-fly zone in Syria, in airspace where Russian military jets are active. If a Republican were pushing this, everyone on this site would pointing out how dangerous and irresponsible this plan is. (I do not believe that Hillary Clinton, or Vladimir Putin for that matter, would deliberately seek to start World War III, but a situation involving the shoot down of a Russian or American plane could easily spiral out of control.)

This will be my last diary dealing with the presidential campaign. I have no interest or desire to continually point out the foolish and dangerous course the Democratic Party is taking. Nor do I intend to express support for a candidate I differ with on fundamental issues. I will continue to blog here about liberal issues, but presidential politics are no longer my concern.