So what party do you represent?

[Kobi]

There used to be a time when I believed party affiliation meant something. There used to be a time when I felt certain groups were more aligned with my values and beliefs. Then I found that regardless of what was being said, what was done once in office was an entirely different matter.

So, now I evaluate candidates based on plausability i.e. vote for me rhetoric vs what seems possible given the structure we live in and the current prevailing voter preferences.

I am always anti-incumbent simply because I believe being in office, even once, makes for strange bedfellows - a practice that needs to be corrected. And, career politicans....are, to me, dangerous people regardless of what they supposedly stand for.

I love the Canadian approach to elections. It is swift, cost effective, and over and done with!

[Kätzchen]

I am a Democrat - with specific attention for Labor issues: I haven't felt that my political party is doing anything of value to move Labor interests forward in ways that are productive or said differently - producing policy that that better serves to protect worker interests.

[Selenay]

A great deal of the time, I think politics are like driving:

You can pick R to go backwards, or D to go forward.

[Corkey]

I don't represent any party. The party that most reflects my values is the Democratic party.

[chefhottie25]

I am an independent voter. I usually vote for the democratic candidtate...but I have also cast a few votes for progressive republicans.

[roy g biv]

I am a registered Democrat, though most of the Democratic candidates are way right of me. I am left of almost anybody. And I do vote for the oddballs that are never gonna make it, like Dennis Kucinich and Ralph Nader, because their values and goals reflect mine. I would love to live in a world with a president I really wanted.

[theoddz]

Originally Posted by roy g biv

I am a registered Democrat, though most of the Democratic candidates are way right of me. I am left of almost anybody. And I do vote for the oddballs that are never gonna make it, like Dennis Kucinich and Ralph Nader, because their values and goals reflect mine. I would love to live in a world with a president I really wanted.

I'm like you. I call myself a "Progressive Democrat".

~Theo~

[Glenn]

The party that most reflects my values is the Animal Party.

[Miss Scarlett]

Originally Posted by Kobi

There used to be a time when I believed party affiliation meant something. There used to be a time when I felt certain groups were more aligned with my values and beliefs. Then I found that regardless of what was being said, what was done once in office was an entirely different matter.

So, now I evaluate candidates based on plausability i.e. vote for me rhetoric vs what seems possible given the structure we live in and the current prevailing voter preferences.

I am always anti-incumbent simply because I believe being in office, even once, makes for strange bedfellows - a practice that needs to be corrected. And, career politicans....are, to me, dangerous people regardless of what they supposedly stand for.

I love the Canadian approach to elections. It is swift, cost effective, and over and done with!

Very well said Kobi. I agree with everything except your position on incumbents. Not all of them are bad. I prefer to look at them on an individual basis and cast my vote accordingly.

There are members of the House who seem to be there forever no matter how bad they are. Here in the 9th District in NC once you are elected you are there until YOU decide to leave. It's just about impossible to unseat the incumbent for that House seat. We have a similar problem on the local level here in Charlotte/Mecklenburg with our County Commission, School Board and City Council.

The Canadian and British approach makes much more sense. This business of taking 2 years to run for president is crazy. It's like when John Edwards was elected to the Senate. As soon as he took office he began his Presidential campaign and largely ignored North Carolina and his duties in the Senate.

[Arwen]

I'm amazed that even one person would admit to being in the Tea Party unless they were being facetious and aren't aware of the racist, homophobes that make up that group.

[MsDemeanor]

Originally Posted by Arwen

I'm amazed that even one person would admit to being in the Tea Party unless they were being facetious and aren't aware of the racist, homophobes that make up that group.

Why? Racists and homophobes make a up fair portion of the current republican party, but lots of queers still proudly support them. Just sprinkle in a serving of "I love my gun" and "I hate government" and you've moved from republican to tea bagger.

[JustBeingMe]

Democrat here who doesn't want anymore Bushes in office.

[Sabine Gallais]

Originally Posted by Arwen

I'm amazed that even one person would admit to being in the Tea Party unless they were being facetious and aren't aware of the racist, homophobes that make up that group.

You do realize there are racists and homophobes rampant in all political parties, right?

[Arwen]

Originally Posted by Sabine Gallais

You do realize there are racists and homophobes rampant in all political parties, right?

Hi there, Sabine,

I'm going to offer you the benefit of the doubt since I'm hoping that you didn't mean to imply that I was a dim bulb with your emoticon.

I'm open to hearing your intent on that. Thank you.

And, just so we are clear, I know there are all types in all parties, but the party I choose to follow doesn't make blatantly racist and homophobic remarks in their ad hominem attacks. Nor do they threaten an elected official with murder.

Of course, I'm sure you know that about the Tea Party, right?

By the way, I'm fond of the Longfellow quote "Though the mills of God grind slowly, yet they grind exceeding small; Though with patience he stands waiting, with exactness grinds he all." as well.

Now then, about that dim bulb remark? I'm all ears.

[Mrs. Strutt]

I am a registered Democrat, although I never vote a straight party ticket. The backgrounds and platforms of the individual candidates themselves are what interest me, not their party affiliation.

Anyone wants to start the "Keep Your Fucking Politics Out Of My Uterus and My Bedroom" party, I'm in.

[Apocalipstic]

I am a registered Democrat, but I lean wayyy farther to the Left than main line Democrats.

No War. Period.

[Bob]

Originally Posted by Arwen

.. the party I choose to follow doesn't make blatantly racist and homophobic remarks in their ad hominem attacks. Nor do they threaten an elected official with murder.

I don't have a dog in this race, but this statement is patently false, and easily disproved by googling 'george bush death threats' and 'racist comments by democrats' or similar.

Also, I fail to see how just because a party doesn't make 'blatantly racist/homophobic remarks' (although that isn't true, but if it were) would make it somehow superior.

I've often thought that the sole difference between the south and other parts of the country in terms of blatant remarks is that in the south, you know who doesn't like you up front. Elsewhere, you find out when you wake up with a knife in your back.

"So it is said that if you know your enemies and know yourself, you can win a hundred battles without a single loss.
If you only know yourself, but not your opponent, you may win or may lose.
If you know neither yourself nor your enemy, you will always endanger yourself." -Sun Tzu

[Arwen]

Originally Posted by Bob

I don't have a dog in this race, but this statement is patently false, and easily disproved by googling 'george bush death threats' and 'racist comments by democrats' or similar.

Also, I fail to see how just because a party doesn't make 'blatantly racist/homophobic remarks' (although that isn't true, but if it were) would make it somehow superior.

I've often thought that the sole difference between the south and other parts of the country in terms of blatant remarks is that in the south, you know who doesn't like you up front. Elsewhere, you find out when you wake up with a knife in your back.

"So it is said that if you know your enemies and know yourself, you can win a hundred battles without a single loss.
If you only know yourself, but not your opponent, you may win or may lose.
If you know neither yourself nor your enemy, you will always endanger yourself." -Sun Tzu

Thank you for your response, Bob. I appreciate the time you took to post your opinion.

Can you point out to me where I said my party was superior? I have reread what I wrote and I do not see that I said that at all. I see where you may have inferred it, but I did not say it.

Plus, are you assuming my party choice? I did not state that either so I am unsure of your meaning there as well.

In the future, it might behoove you to consider exactly what is written before you make statements like "patently false" which seems to imply that I'm lying intentionally.

Thanks.

[Waldo]

Originally Posted by Arwen

Of course, I'm sure you know that about the Tea Party, right?

MAYBE it's a fan of TeaPartyTart?

[ButterflyKisses]

I'm registered as a Dem but don't always vote a straight pary line.
A lot of my friends, whatever their political affiliation, cannot give a clear answer as to why they are with this party or that party. They vote the way they do because that's the way their friends or families vote. It's comfortable and safe.

To me that is far more disturbing than a person who is a complete opposite from what I believe. No one should be a blind sheep.