I'm torn
 

After yesterday's arguments about Brian's election reaction, I've been forced to re-examine my position on the political spectrum. For a long time I've been considering the Constitution Party, but a few things about it bug me. They don't want gays in the military and they are absolutely against gay marriage. Both of these views I oppose. There's also a few other things concerning women that I don't agree with. I've also looked into the Libertarian Party. They are probably my best bet right now.

I planned on switching out of my current party before this election, but when I saw how tight it was going to get, I decided to be a part of it. I'm sorry if I made anyone angry yesterday. I may have overreacted at Brian's post, but every word he said was right.

Just today I was in a class where we talked about the election. Two girls said they voted Republican because their parents are Republican. This burned me up beyond belief, but I found the willpower to keep my fist inside a pocket.

Does anyone have opinions on either the Constitution or Libertarian parties?

Bob: Personally, I've been a fan of libertarian ideas for quite a while, although there are also many aspects I disagree with. Really, though, I respect what you're doing. Looking up the facts and issues for yourself and deciding for yourself takes a lot of hard work and guts, but it'll give you a more satisfying position in the end.

This is exactly why I'm not a member of any party. I've got my opinions, and I'm not going to get a label slapped onto me until I find a party with any and all of my beliefs in common. Which will never happen. This also means I never vote for anyone solely on their political parties, and whoever does needs a swift kick to the head.

You're a better man than me, Bob. If it were me, those two girls would have been introduced to the business end of a bat.

Business end of a bat? try a ford pickup. As well as having their "as here-to unknown" criminal history broadcast publicly. lol

he he heee...

I pimp for the LP.

Oh sure, they are inept politicians, internally divided over several issues, idealists, and often stubborn as hell.

But they more or less agree with me on a lot of things. I have a beef with how they go about DOING things, (Baby step folks. Dont run on a platform that you are going to end the drug war, close the federal reserve, and end social security all in the first week of your administration. that might appeal to some people, but it doesnt WORK), but they are still the largest third party out there. They have more elected officials then all other third parties combined.

Heh, that's one of the reasons I was also considering going undeclared.

Undeclared usually means you can't vote in ANY primaries. (at least, that’s what it means in my state). If you're undeclared, you're essentially removing yourself from part of the process.

That’s why I’m a registered Republican. I vote all over the place, but i have a (small) say over which way the Republican Party goes. I'm too young to have influenced a presidential candidacy, but I got to pick which congressman my districts Republican Party put up for congress. This means I get move the Republican Party in the direction I want to see it go.

If I was undeclared because I’m not "hard core" republican, then only hardcore republicans would influence the party. And that's not the way I want to see it go.

DZ has hit on the best way (IMO) to affect the process. Even if you don't agree with a lot of the party line, you can still nominally join just to have a say and balance out the extremists.

If presidential primaries weren't already decided months before my state was even invilved in the process, I'd care enough to register one way or the other. Unfortunately....


Anyway, I'm waiting for the day when the moderates in the Dem and Rep party just say 'screw these guys" and form the Centrist party.

I agree that that is a good way to influence votes. It's the old canandrum of why democrats don't join the NRA: Stick enough democrats in there to have majority over the republicans, hold a vote on whether or not to ban firearms, and voila: no more guns.