41-42% are saying that they are Liberal or Moderate Independents. Hmmm. Majority of Americans support: balance budget ammendment line item veto real gun control laws no government waste legalizing medical mar1juana social security social safety net strong military family values environmental laws minimum wage By definition these all should be *moderate* positions.
Here is where nuance plays a role... Sishir, I don't think the US should play "the world's policeman," either, but I can easily see where intervention overseas is needed, as with Afghanistan. I think invading Iraq, how and when we did, was a colossal blunder. In general, with the caveat that we have strong alliances with our friends, something the Bush Administration has shreaded, I would prefer to let the world go it's merry way, as long as they don't hurt us and our friends. Use the platforms provided by the international community, like the UN, to admonish those who we disagree with, and hope to make a difference, but otherwise leave well enough alone. Those international platforms used to mean something. They meant something, in large measure, because the great powers choose to give them meaning. I remember seeing Adlai Stevenson show the photos of the Soviet missle sites in Cuba before the UN and the world. That meant something. I remember seeing Khrushchev pounding the dais with his shoe, saying, "We will bury you!" and that meant something as well. This administration decided a long time ago that the UN was meaningless, and it has acted that way. With the US being, currently, the one great power of the world, that left the UN a shell of what it was, and what it could be. I would like a new administration, when we get one, to change that. I'm running out of time right now, but I've always been a supporter of state's rights, and have been appalled at the blackmail the Federal government uses to coerce lower speed limits, for example. However, I live in Texas, which is currently governed by a corrupt Governor and House leader, and a spineless Lt. Governor in the State Senate. There are many things the Federal government should assure, that are not getting done in Texas, like aid for those less fortunate than many of us are, fair and legal redistricting, which we haven't had, and a host of other things. Nuance. Bush and the Republican Leadership are an out of control sledgehammer. Keep D&D Civil.
I think this is great. Question your government! That is all I ever ask of anyone. I don't expect or even want everyone to have same views on how our government should be run. Come down hard on both sides and I'm a happy man. That's why I didn't mind Fox News as much when Clinton was in office. They attacked him and that's great. The President, EVERY PRESIDENT, should be questioned. I believe that people who give "their guy" a free pass and turn a deaf ear are doing our country a disservice.
I was just responding to the previous poster who said Rudy's foreign security record was excellent or something like that. And actually Bush's were worse. He'd never even been overseas until he was president.
On pork barrel spending you're out of luck with both parties. On everything else you're a moderate Democrat. You might also be a moderate Independent, but Independent's don't have a platform and the items you (and rockbox) listed are a virtual retelling of the Dem platform.
I know abortion is one of those issues. What are the others? And how will you vote (if you even will vote) if pro-choice Rudy gets the GOP nod?
This is turning into an interesting thread. Some of us have more in common than we might have imagined, and some of us disagree more than we might have imagined, as well. Then there are those who's self-described politics doesn't appear to fit how they tend to post in this forum. Damned interesting. Being a political junkie, I enjoy reading this kind of stuff, and having been here for awhile now, as many of us have, it makes it that much more intriguing to read. If anyone cares to expound more on their political beliefs, please do! After all, we're all passengers on the same leaky boat... the CFS D&D. Keep D&D Civil.
Gun control and hate crime, affirmative action, and any other issue that the left tries to have different laws for different people. I'm on the fence about economic issues, but I tend to favor deregulation and lower taxes. Mostly I differ on the personal liberty front. I am not in favor of outlawing drugs, sex, movies, video games, etc. I am anti-death penalty and pro-nation building, which are decidedly unRepublican, or at least were pre-9/11. Hopefully there will be no openings on the SC if both sides are putting up pro-choice candidates, but that doesn't seem likely given some of the old folks sitting now. I may not vote at all, may vote for an independent, or I don't know what else to do. I will most likely look at the 2 major parties and see if there is one that I want to win less and vote against them. On the plus side, living in California I am secure in the knowledge that it doesn't really matter who I vote for in Presidential elections. On the other hand, who wasn't impressed with Giuliani in the wake of 9/11.
I agree, this was a good thread idea, Azadre. Quite a reflection that the pure fiscal conservative is truly a dying breed. I can respect some aspects of fiscal conservatism (although I am a liberal) and I have always felt that original conservative foreign policy of isolationism was in our nation's best interests (not this bastardized neo-liberalism), but for the life of me, I just can't understand the justification for social conservatism. I apologize to paint with such a broad brush, but I find this ideology hypocritical, judgemental, mean spirited, and in complete contradiction to the freedoms entailed in the Constitution and the teachings in the Bible.
Are you for or against gun control? You sound like a Republican on economic issues, but how do you feel about a balanced budget/deficits? Sounds a lot like neither party really represents you at all. On the social front, you seem to be very for certain aspects of the GOP platform (abortion) and very against the rest. Neither party is anti-death penalty as it's political suicide, but the D's are closer to it. Nation building went from a dirty (Clintonian) word to a pet GOP issue. I think most of the self-identified I's here are a lot closer to R or D than they'll admit, but you're truly a man without a party.
This thread/poll just illustrates how vastly different many posters in D&D are. That trying to pigeonhole all posters into a category such as 'liberal' or 'conservative' is an ignorant attempt at the impossible. Everytime someone uses those terms loosely, it's fairly obvious they are making broad generalizations that are probably wrong.
Always conservative, however I picked "Independent" rather than Republican because I never vote a straight ticket. I have voted libertarian, and democrat as well. I hold to voting my conscience rather than a party line. In presidential races thus far, I have chosen the Republican candidate based on wanting to choose a candidate that I could most identify with as a conservative, and at the same time knew had a chance of winning. Rather than voting with a true Independent presidential candidate, which I would see as a waste currently, I went with a major party. However on many local and state elections I have gone with other parties and candidates of parties other than republican or an independent. Most people here would call me a Republican though... even though I was for a long time a part of the Harris County Lbertarian newsletter recipients. Conservative in business, and yet somewhat liberal in other areas not involving the definition of marraige. Interesting poll choices.
Against. I would prefer a balanced budget, but would choose to get there via reduced spending and not through raising taxes. Sucks to be me, I guess.
Social conservatives are trying to follow the teachings of the Bible, though. That doesn't mean we always do, but it's obviously the goal. I don't have a mean-spirited bone in me. I love everybody, man!
