Has the Republican Party left you?

[sixpacktr]

Much like Ronald Reagan claimed 40 some years ago that the Democrat party had left him, not he it (??), I believe that the Republican party has left me. I can't see any difference btw any of the candidates except one wears a dress, one has to drink prune juice, and one thinks everyone is out to get him because of his race.

I'm just curious about if you believe that your party has left you as well?

[JohnBirchSociety]

Much like Ronald Reagan claimed 40 some years ago that the Democrat party had left him, not he it (??), I believe that the Republican party has left me. I can't see any difference btw any of the candidates except one wears a dress, one has to drink prune juice, and one thinks everyone is out to get him because of his race.

I'm just curious about if you believe that your party has left you as well?

I've followed George Washington my whole adult life in teaching that political parties, coupled with entangling foreign alliances, will destroy us.

There has never been a substantial difference between the parties. In the long run, each will lead to our destruction.

[DigitalShadow]

I've followed George Washington my whole adult life in teaching that political parties, coupled with entangling foreign alliances, will destroy us.

There has never been a substantial difference between the parties. In the long run, each will lead to our destruction.

I agree that parties will be the downfal of this country. Before I moved to Utah, I lived in a town where "republican" and "conservative" were practically insults. Now that I've lived in Utah for a few years, I've learned that people here think "democrat" and "liberal" are considered insults here.

I personally don't particularly subscribe to either political ideology but I find the increasing hostility between the two groups very disturbing.

[skalenfehl]

There was not a category for me. I'm neither Republican nor Democrat. While there is merit in both sides to a degree, I don't subscribe to either party whatsoever. I'm a conservative independent.

Our founding fathers were not party politicians. They'd turn over in their graves if they could see what politicians in both parties were up to. In my opinion greed and power has overshadowed true patriotism. When I say patriotism, I mean one's willingness to stand up for his/her country, to fight for his or her freedom and defend his or her neighbor's freedom. Our elected officials should be there to represent our needs and not their careers.

Don't get me started on politics, earmark spending, supreme court justices, foreign policy, environmentalists, medicare, bankrupt social security, etc. I can't believe one party is bent on moving towards socialized health care. There are people from other countries moving to the U.S. just to have quality health care, as messed up as it is. If you think health care is expensive now, though, wait until it's free. We will be forced to pay for health care and we will receive poor quality coverage whether we like it or not.

I believe in limited government. The government needs to get out of the way and let businesses thrive and create jobs instead of punishing the successful hard working American business owners with taxes and more taxes.

People need to be responsible for their actions and become involved in their community all the time. Otherwise the wrong politicians end up in office and make decisions for the apathetic masses, who then complain about their position in life that they put themselves in, and then rely on the same government to bail them out. It's a big messy cycle that happens every few decades. It's like we're going through the 70's all over again--war, steep gasoline prices, bad economy, etc.

There shouldn't be any parties. It shouldn't be about right or left. It should be about right or wrong. I'm rambling...

[jjrogers]

I am very against liberalism. It is extremely destructive to free will.

I also feel that the Republican party is not for me anymore. The fact that as a mormon, they want my vote, but no mormon should run for president did me in. I cannot be part of a party that things someone of my religion should run based on religion alone.

I am from Arizona and have had to deal with John McCain. He is not a good man. He should be a democrat. The only reason I MAY vote for him is to get him out of Arizona for good.

[kona0197]

I really do not care as I am part of the Constitution party.

[jadams_4040]

Much like Ronald Reagan claimed 40 some years ago that the Democrat party had left him, not he it (??), I believe that the Republican party has left me. I can't see any difference btw any of the candidates except one wears a dress, one has to drink prune juice, and one thinks everyone is out to get him because of his race.

I'm just curious about if you believe that your party has left you as well?

No they havent left me because i have never let them in!:)

[Moksha]

Takes the wind out of your sails to vote for a party that ultimately rejects you because you are Mormon, does it not?

[Fiannan]

Takes the wind out of your sails to vote for a party that ultimately rejects you because you are Mormon, does it not?

Wonder if Harry Reid would be ever considered for a place on the Supreme Court. Yes, he's the majority leader of the senate (and a lifelong Democrat) but he is opposed to abortion and the Democratic Party sees abortion as the ultimate litmus test in regards to judicial appointments.

[Elphaba]

Our founding fathers were not party politicians. They'd turn over in their graves if they could see what politicians in both parties were up to.

It is true the founding fathers did not expect to have political parties.

However, strong and vicious disagreements between Hamilton and his followers, and Jefferson/Madison and their followers created the first political parties.

Followers of Hamilton called themselves Federalists, and followers of Jefferson/Madison called themselves Democratic-Republicans.

And believe me, Congress’ current disagreements were nothing compared to the vitriol with which members of these early parties treated each other.

In fact, many of you know Adams and Jefferson became bitter enemies, each of them creating dissension behind the other one’s back. Once friends, their attacks against each other destroyed that friendship, and were vicious and unforgiving. They even resorted to suspicious deeds intended to ruin one and the other.

Luckily they made up in their senior years, and even died on the same day, July 4, 1826, almost 50 years since the signing of the Declaration of Independence. (It was actually signed in August of 1776.)

But it is romantic to think it was exactly 50 years later. So the story goes on and we like to believe Adams and Jefferson died exactly fifty years, to the day, of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. Doesn't bother me one bit to believe it as well.

Elphaba

[Elphaba]

Wonder if Harry Reid would be ever considered for a place on the Supreme Court. Yes, he's the majority leader of the senate (and a lifelong Democrat) but he is opposed to abortion and the Democratic Party sees abortion as the ultimate litmus test in regards to judicial appointments.

Reid does not have the legal background or experience to be appointed to the SCOTUS. His career has been mainly in politics.

Elphaba

[sixpacktr]

Takes the wind out of your sails to vote for a party that ultimately rejects you because you are Mormon, does it not?

You know, it really wasn't all that crap either with Huckabee and the others. The same thing would have happened in the Dem party, I'm sure. It is more that there is not difference btw Repubs and Dems anymore except for one thing, kind of, and that is the war.

I talked with the cabbie on Tuesday as I was heading to the airport. He was a political refugee from Iraq, escaping during the reign of Saddam. Saddam had killed his mother and brother for political reasons. He was disgusted with the way the media and the parties are fighting about what is happening over in Iraq. He said the Iraq is so much better that it was during Saddam's reign, that the soldiers, except for a small area in Iraq, are very well liked and trusted, etc., and yet we NEVER see any part of that. And the Repubs are a bunch of spineless wonders that don't tell the Libs to shut up, that don't challenge the pilf that is passed off as 'journalism' but these left wing kooks as propoganda, etc.

Anyway, I didn't care that they rejected Mitt. Having lived in the South for so long, that is par for the course. Friendliest people I know, and I will retire there because I like them, but I also know that they are taught in church that I, being a Mormon, am going straight to hell...

[NeuroTypical]

I don't consider myself a member of any party. I'll vote for whatever viable contender tramples on my rights the least.

LM

[prisonchaplain]

Sometimes I'm concerned that the grassy fields of my party have faded and grown some weeds. Then, I look over the fence at the other side, and see only concrete, which the birds use for "target practice." No...my party has not left me.

[crytsprospect]

I can't vote in your poll. I do not belong to any party . I use to be republican but can not totally align myself with any party at this time. I do care very deeply and in my perspective they both should be done away with I study and pray and vote who I think might do the best but any more does my vote in the end really count???????

[skalenfehl]

It is true the founding fathers did not expect to have political parties.

However, strong and vicious disagreements between Hamilton and his followers, and Jefferson/Madison and their followers created the first political parties.

Followers of Hamilton called themselves Federalists, and followers of Jefferson/Madison called themselves Democratic-Republicans.

Indeed, and the Dem-Reps formed their party to oppose the economic and foreign policy of the Federalists five years after the Constitution was adopted. They cited that Hamilton's proposals especially about having a national bank, were unconstitutional. Funny how the Democratic-Republican party didn't last long and divided into the two main parties that exist today.

[Adeipho]

When asked if they would still pull the troops out of Iraq even if all their best advisors and generals told them to do so would result in chaos and more death in the middle east both the democrats said they's still pull them out.

The Republican candidate spent years as a POW and was offered the chance to go home but stayed in the POW camp because not all the other Americans could leave with him...

No one likes war but guess what we dont live in Heaven yet.....

if you vote Dem...then I hope you like speaking Arabic and living in a socialist country.

[skalenfehl]

War is often the unfortunate price of peace and security. Interesting that while the war on terror has continued all these years, there have been no more attacks on the U.S. and Iraq is better off today.

[sgallan]

I don't consider myself a member of any party. I'll vote for whatever viable contender tramples on my rights the least.

Fair enough..... looking over your votes for the past decade or so what Party has gotten the lions share?

[sgallan]

War is often the unfortunate price of peace and security. Interesting that while the war on terror has continued all these years, there have been no more attacks on the U.S. and Iraq is better off today.

So you are one of those "scared" one hundred year type occupation guys?

Americans are such wimps..... in WWII, and in Darfur now (along with other countries), thousands die everyday. Millions died in general. Heck, even many hundreds of thousands of Americans. But a handful of terrorists kill a few thousand of us, and we spend a trillion dollars, and occupy a land that wasn't even part of the original attack, as a reaction? Goodness gracious, no wonder we seem to be a fading nation.

[Moksha]

But a handful of terrorists kill a few thousand of us, and we spend a trillion dollars, and occupy a land that wasn't even part of the original attack, as a reaction? Goodness gracious, no wonder we seem to be a fading nation.

Are you forgetting about the oil?

[Fiannan]

War is often the unfortunate price of peace and security. Interesting that while the war on terror has continued all these years, there have been no more attacks on the U.S. and Iraq is better off today.

So you are one of those "scared" one hundred year type occupation guys?

Americans are such wimps..... in WWII, and in Darfur now (along with other countries), thousands die everyday. Millions died in general. Heck, even many hundreds of thousands of Americans. But a handful of terrorists kill a few thousand of us, and we spend a trillion dollars, and occupy a land that wasn't even part of the original attack, as a reaction? Goodness gracious, no wonder we seem to be a fading nation.

Wouldn't make that a partisan issue though -- Democrats supported the Iraq War as well.

Interesting, the Democrats try to portray themselves as the peace party yet just the other day a prominant US Democratic senator said that if Iran were to attack Israel with a nuke then she would support the US "exterminating" the people of Iran. Never heard Bush ever make such a statement.

[NeuroTypical]

But a handful of terrorists kill a few thousand of us, and we spend a trillion dollars, and occupy a land that wasn't even part of the original attack, as a reaction?

I suppose you could label the Iraq war as a "reaction", but you need to be very sure what it is America was reacting to. It wasn't a handful of terrorists killing a few thousand of us. We reacted to the attempt to reinstate an Islamic Caliphate by creating popular uprisings in secular Arab countries.

And considering the dramatic advances like Pakistan's security and intelligence services working with the US, and the obvious fact that Al Qaeda's dream of uniting the Islamic world is as dead as it was before the 9/11 attacks, I've got to say that our reaction is working quite well.

Dang - I occasionally wish that we really did just invade Iraq for the oil. Maybe gas wouldn't be heading for four bucks a gallon right now.

LM

[DigitalShadow]

I suppose you could label the Iraq war as a "reaction", but you need to be very sure what it is America was reacting to. It wasn't a handful of terrorists killing a few thousand of us. We reacted to the attempt to reinstate an Islamic Caliphate by creating popular uprisings in secular Arab countries.

And considering the dramatic advances like Pakistan's security and intelligence services working with the US, and the obvious fact that Al Qaeda's dream of uniting the Islamic world is as dead as it was before the 9/11 attacks, I've got to say that our reaction is working quite well.

Dang - I occasionally wish that we really did just invade Iraq for the oil. Maybe gas wouldn't be heading for four bucks a gallon right now.

LM

I've had a few interesting discissions with my co-workers about this subject. While it wasn't directly stated that we were invading Iraq in retalliation to 9/11, I know many people who supported the war because they thought it was a retalliation and with politicians invoking "in a post 9/11 world" before justifying any completely unrelated policy, I can see how they might get that impression.

I can't say I'm an expert on the subject since I know almost nothing about Arab culture aside from what sensationalist news stories see fit to tell us so I will refrain from judgement, but I do know that I'm quite sick of the 9/11 incident being exploited for nearly every political agenda. I do agree it was a tragedy, and my heart goes out to the families of the victims, but the reactions to it make no logical sense in relation to the incident.

If you don't believe me, just try getting on a plane these days.

[Misshalfway]

I can't really feel good about affiliating with any political party either. I feel at a loss sometimes, because it is harder to participate fully in the political system if you don't affiliate.

I have been really watching the process of this presidential campaign like no other time in my life. I have become very dissolutioned with the whole thing. I can't see how an accurate vote can be taken in the primaries alone. And with the super delegate thing, I suppose one could buy the presidency.

I live in Utah. And sometimes I feel like my vote doesn't matter much anyway. The state will go Republican. I think the world knows this. I wish that there was a more equitable way of choosing a president.

Which then reminds me of campaign/election reform..... don't get me started.