Although I never really considered myself "hardcore" Republican; I definitely leaned conservative. Some of that was due to living in TN which has become a Republican state and also some of that was due to the line of work I was in. However, after getting my divorce and becoming a teacher, I have changed my views on some things. No, I have not gone completely into the entire Democrat spectrum, but I now see myself agreeing more with the Democratic stances on things than the Republican stances. So, not that I am going to be posting all the time in this forum but chalk me up as a new member of that "back slapping cadre of liberals" that runs this place, lol. bigtexxx falls in faint.
I already admire you, Manny, but it has gone to a whole new level now. Congratulations! You woke up and smelt the coffee. As a Democrat of long standing, let me be the first here to welcome you aboard. Outstanding! Now you have a political level that is in the same ballpark as your level of music appreciation, and both are groovy, dude. :-D-
Right, so you have been voting democrat for over a decade and you just now consider yourself to have quit?
Congrats on leaving the party! I hope you don't fall into the Dem grasp either. Try being an independent with allegiance to neither.
I consider myself to lean more towards the democrats perspective on things yet if I would vote for president i'd be voting for Ron Paul. I guess the point i'm trying to make is that it isn't about a particular political group but about the individual and what he stands for.
My only ties to the Democratic party consist solely on the ideologies of the Democratic party but not the practices and policies. I do believe government is responsible for benefitting (without restricting liberties) citizen's lives and their environments. Unfortunately, agreeing with the Democratic party makes me a socialist in the eyes of conservatives nationwide.
Congrats, Manny. I think a job like a teacher where you often times deal with the complexities of people perhaps outside those you grew up with or socialize with can change your perspective on many issues.
I imagine both parties will disappoint in one way or another down the road: best to find five or six issues you feel strongly about, donate to their PACs and then just go by their voter guides/endorsements every election cycle.
Voting democrat over a decade? I think you mistyped there Casey. I actually voted for Clinton in 1992, didn't vote in 1996, and voted for W in 2000 and 2004 and voted for McCain in 2008. But you can bet your ass I am voting for Obama later this year.
It has played a big part of it along with the influence of my parents. There are lots of problems in the world and to me, it looks like the Democrats are trying to think about these. [sarcasm]The Republicans, I guess, model their thinking on this after Jesus who said that you will always have the poor. [/sarcasm] So, that means let's don't do anything about it. Yeah, I'm a little bitter towards the Elephant right now..
whats amazing is the republican party's delusional state... its like they cant wait for these debates to 'flex' all their ideas... and in reality they just continue to self implode on-air for all of america to see. these debates show how out-of-touch and uncompromising the republican candidates are. manny, youre not alone. oh, and obama has this wrapped up...
Ahhh, I see, now that you're sucking on the government teat, you want some more, so you support the guys who give you more. More and more handouts, eh? Just kidding; I'm trying to be a crazy right-winger. Thanks for thinking critically!
Manny you have to do what you believe is best for you. Using you as an example though this really shows how messed up the Republican party is. This isn't the party of Eisenhower, Nixon, G H Bush or even Ronald Reagan anymore.
Welcome to the dark side Manny. But seriously, I don't think it's so much that you are leaving the republican party as much as it has left you.
teaching knuckle headed kids in the inner city will make you love them or hate them. i think another poster who fell off the edge let them get to him
