So..... what you're saying is you are a democrat?

 

No actually I'm an Independent, I have a degree in Political Science, I see where both sides are coming from and I agree with some of the policies on both sides. It is the lack of tolerance for one another's views where you run into problems, which is what I was pointing out in the shortsightedness of your "half-joke"

 

Last time I took the test, I fell under Republican. Just barely, but regardless. However, with the Rep. nominees that have been chosen since I've been able to vote (and even before, in '00), I've always chosen the Democrat.

I can sort of understand voting Republican (certainly for certain types of people :hsugh, but not so much voting for someone just because of the party they represent. I probably would've been pro McCain in '00 had he been nominated - keeping in mind I was not following things super in-depth, and not of age - but not at all now.

 

There's a fantastic book that looks at this in more of a historical sense, The Paranoid Style in American Politics: And Other Essays, by R Hofstadter. Very good book, but I think he more looks at the rise of Pseudoconservativism as opposed to party line aspects that this author is promoting.

 

Official definition and actual party leanings are quite different in America. The Dem party is actually a central party on the worldwide scale, and our Republican party is a far-right Christian party.

The McCain back then and the McCain now are two different beasts. Remember 8 years have passed and he WILL NOT have another chance to become president. The first time he sought his nomination on merit and was slandered to death by his own party (like the illegitimate black baby questions and stuff). This time he wants the presidency more, and has fallen into a lockstep with his party's style of politics....

 

This is on-topic, so stay on topic. this is not the place to make snide remarks or make jokes.

 

Are you kidding me? h:

http://community.adn.com/node/131535

This is all so twisted to me. It's like saying you know something about Black people, but live in an area where there aren't any Black people.

 

If your total resume is: local weather girl, 4 years on the city council and 6 years as the mayor of a town with less than 7,000 people (and elected by only about 10% of those people), 20 months as the governor of a state with only 650,000 people, then you're qualified to become the country's second highest ranking executive.

I heard a recording of her speech yesterday, and a chick in the audience, who was genuinely trying to help Palin quell doubts or whatever, asked about her views/experience in foreign policy. She completely dodged the question and basically said, "I'm confident." She sounded like a total idiot.

Palin focking terrifies me. :nervous:

 

it baffles me that for some reason, if you are conservative/republican, liberals/democracts think there must be something wrong with you :dunno:

so why am i a republican? lets see:

- tax dollars going towards perpetually abused welfare systems that the democrats refuse to reform

- the idea that successful people are responsible to hold the rest of the nation up, rather than get rewarded for their hard work doesn't really fly with me. (perfect example... my 80k in student loans but still my tax dollars contribute to the free education of those that are considered 'less fortunate' i say give them the same loans i have since they will be qualified for the same jobs... for the same pay)

- the idea that basic constitutional rights are considered outdated is complete bs (and you all know which amendment really comes to mind)

- the idea that repeat violent criminals should be reformed and returned to our communities is absolutely absurd. fry 'em.

- the idea that its okay to let above mentioned criminals re-enter society and that corporal punishment is deplorable whereas, terminating a pregnancy is 'a womans choice' doesnt really work with me.

- the idea that people aren't smart enough or well enough suited to make responsible decisions for themselves so we need a goverment to do it for us is one step toward a complete lack of rights.

- for some reason, the money that i am contributing to social security is completely beyond my control. why can't i privatize at least a portion of that contribution? i understand that i am here to pay for the people who are retired right now but if we allowed people to save toward their own retirement at the same time, we wouldnt need a battered social security system to take care of our future retirees.

this is just a short list. i guess if that makes me close minded, ignorant, or whatever else, so be it.

 

I can see both sides on most of this stuff. To me the most unacceptable mainstream republican beliefs are the "family values" stuff. Any way you cut it, I can't see opposition to legal gay unions as anything other than bigotry. Abortion is a little more of a gray area, but the bottom line is that your* religious beliefs have no place in a secular government.

I can agree with most of James' statements, for instance, but I think a lot of republicans need to reconcile the ideal that the government should play a minimal role and butt out, so to speak, with the reality that under republican leadership, spending (and national debt) has increased, the government has condoned domestic spying, warrant-less wire tapping, and building/buying prisons in foreign countries so suspects can be detained indefinitely without trial. For all the rights you stand up for, you certainly don't mind other rights being violated.

*you = a hypothetical republican, I'm not trying to attack any HANners here