I Voted Libertarian

[fightingquaker13]

In each instance I voted for what the candidate offered, not the party.  Just so  happened the second time the Republican offered equivalent 2A support and was better aligned with my views on other issues than the Democrat.

Don't judge everyone by yourself.

Not judging. But I am saying two things. First, in politics, you dance with who brung you. If you want a pol to be loyal to you, you return the favor. Its like being a regular at a diner. Second, we need to vote for pro 2A Dems, Tom's purist nonsense not withstanding, because if it comes down to guns=GOP, then the first time the GOP screws the pooch and gets thrown out of office (and it will happen, it always does), then we're screwed as we'll have no gun friendly Dems. We have to keep our feet in both camps.

Don't believe me? Look at the blacks. The Dems take them for granted and the GOP ignores them. Both parties however, are falling all over themselves to get the latino vote. Why? Because they could go either way depending on the candidate. That's where we need to be.
Sorry if I was too harsh Solus, I just feel strongly about this as I think its key to the long term survival of the 2A.

[GeorgeCook]

Not judging. But I am saying two things. First, in politics, you dance with who brung you. If you want a pol to be loyal to you, you return the favor. Its like being a regular at a diner. Second, we need to vote for pro 2A Dems, Tom's purist nonsense not withstanding, because if it comes down to guns=GOP, then the first time the GOP screws the pooch and gets thrown out of office (and it will happen, it always does), then we're screwed as we'll have no gun friendly Dems. We have to keep our feet in both camps.

Don't believe me? Look at the blacks. The Dems take them for granted and the GOP ignores them. Both parties however, are falling all over themselves to get the latino vote. Why? Because they could go either way depending on the candidate. That's where we need to be.
Sorry if I was too harsh Solus, I just feel strongly about this as I think its key to the long term survival of the 2A.

Quaker, I generally agree with your comments in this thread. I remember Michael Bane talking about the same thing a few years back.

If the Democrats want to know how to win virtually every election, they just need to go back to the big government/pro 2A party they were 50 - 60 years ago. There are enough socialists in this country who want their guns too, who will vote for a Dem if they espouse their support for the 2A in very tangible ways.

[tombogan03884]

Quaker, I generally agree with your comments in this thread. I remember Michael Bane talking about the same thing a few years back.

If the Democrats want to know how to win virtually every election, they just need to go back to the big government/pro 2A party they were 50 - 60 years ago. There are enough socialists in this country who want their guns too, who will vote for a Dem if they espouse their support for the 2A in very tangible ways.

Big Govt is why we have $16 TRILLION in debt. It is also in direct conflict with the founders stated intentions.

Yep, and as usual I rolled my eyes. We don't live in a world where politicians are bound by the platforms. Those days ended in the Sixties with primaries. The politicians are now entrepreneurs. They have to get their own votes, and the parties know this. Democrats  Baucus and Testor are a hell of lot better advocates for the 2A than W. was. And they're miles ahead of a lot of GOP reps and Senators. The GOP platform is anti-choice, but there are plenty of pro-choice Republicans out there, even Mitt, (on even numbered days of the week ). And lets talk about a few other things. How about foreign trade, or border control, or defense policy, or the environment. (Gee, which Democratic President started the EPA...) Remember BO's stimulus was essentially an amped up version of the one put into place by Paulson under W. And, OBTW, Bloomberg was a freaking Republican until he wanted to be Mayor of NYC. And how much time has Christie spent trying to get CCW passed in New Jersey, can I have none for a thousand Alex?  Are you seriously saying I should vote on a party platform that means virtually nothing if it conflicts with the politics of the district? That's Soviet Commissar type thinking.

Pretty much exactly what I expect from some one so poorly informed that he voted for Obama the last time around.
To much "learning" and not enough "thinking".

[Rastus]

.............
Don't judge everyone by yourself.

Very astute Solus.  The proven psychological observation of people gauging the world from the standpoint of their own subculture or individual viewpoint and tendency to think the people they meet or consider are like themselves is proven fact.  Invariably, they want their preconceived notions to be correct for multiple reasons...it's easier, they never have to admit they are wrong, etc.

[fightingquaker13]

Very astute Solus.  The proven psychological observation of people gauging the world from the standpoint of their own subculture or individual viewpoint and tendency to think the people they meet or consider are like themselves is proven fact.  Invariably, they want their preconceived notions to be correct for multiple reasons...it's easier, they never have to admit they are wrong, etc.

And then there are those so ideologically rigid that they see the world in black and white, and won't listen to those who disagree with them. This is because  such disagreement must be heresy, egregious error, or simply evil. Again, its easier then thinking, as thinking means entertaining the notion that they themselves could be wrong. And we can't have that now can we? It would be heretical.

[Sponsor]

[Solus]

Not judging. But I am saying two things. First, in politics, you dance with who brung you. If you want a pol to be loyal to you, you return the favor. Its like being a regular at a diner. Second, we need to vote for pro 2A Dems, Tom's purist nonsense not withstanding, because if it comes down to guns=GOP, then the first time the GOP screws the pooch and gets thrown out of office (and it will happen, it always does), then we're screwed as we'll have no gun friendly Dems. We have to keep our feet in both camps.

Don't believe me? Look at the blacks. The Dems take them for granted and the GOP ignores them. Both parties however, are falling all over themselves to get the latino vote. Why? Because they could go either way depending on the candidate. That's where we need to be.
Sorry if I was too harsh Solus, I just feel strongly about this as I think its key to the long term survival of the 2A.

Position on the 2A is my primary concern when evaluating candidates...I figure if we are armed, we have the means to fix the worst mistakes we can make.

And while the 2A is most important, I am not quite a one issue voter.

If the person I came to the dance with keeps trying to pick my pocket, I'll dump them as soon as I can find another ride. 

I am neither a Republican nor a Democrat.  I pay dues to the Libertarian party and have done so for around 20 years...

If we had the usual crappy Democrat and Republican candidates I'd be voting for Johnson.  Instead we have what is probably the greatest threat to our country I'll ever experience running for President on the Democratic ticket and the usual crap on the Republican ticket.  I've chosen the usual crap as it has the best chance to defeat BO.

If a Libertarian was running for Governor, I'd have voted for them in every election, assuming they hadn't proven to be a LINO (which would give them no advantage, so it isn't likely), since they would match my views on more issues than any other party.

Since no Libertarian was running, I picked the best of what was offered and felt no obligation to support what I saw as a lesser candidate the next time around of of some type of loyalty. 

As for Ted Strickland not 'belonging' to the Democratic party program, here are some links that might show more....  I have not watched them since I know what he was about...so I'll not 'filter' what I post  here.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ted_Strickland


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gw9Y7b8kvK0

http://2012.talkingpointsmemo.com/2012/09/ted-strickland-sets-crowd-on-fire-with-anti-romney-jeremiad.php

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/09/04/ted-strickland-speech-text_n_1853071.html

[fightingquaker13]

My apologies Solus. I came off a lot harsher than I meant too. (I might have mistook you for Tom, it was late at night ). I just really believe that allowing guns to become a partisan issue is a recipe for disaster.

[tombogan03884]

My apologies Solus. I came off a lot harsher than I meant too. (I might have mistook you for Tom, it was late at night ). I just really believe that allowing guns to become a partisan issue is a recipe for disaster.

Wake up and smell the Hoppe's dude.
Guns have been a partisan issue for decades, it's not our choice.

http://www.democrats.org/democratic-national-platform

We believe that the right to own firearms is subject to reasonable regulation

What part of "Shall not be infringed do they not get ?

Chuck Shumer D
Carolyn McCarthy D
Bill Clinton D  (AWB )
Hillary Clinton D  (UN small arms treaty)

http://thehill.com/video/senate/240657-cybersecurity-bill-includes-gun-control-measure

Democratic senators offer gun control amendment for cybersecurity bill

I could go on but I've made my point.

[fightingquaker13]

Ronald Reagan (R) allowed a ban on F/A fire arms made post '86. Its why you'll pay $15 K for a crappy M-16 A2 rather than the $1000 it should cost.
George W. Bush (R) was going to extend the AWB until his own party, and Dems like Baucus, threatened him into reversing his position.
A party label doesn't make you pro-2A. Its the person, not the party. And if you think Mitt (who I'm voting for) won't flip flop and sell us out in a heart beat on the 2A if he thinks it will work for him, you're delusional.
FQ

[MikeBjerum]

Ronald Reagan (R) allowed a ban on F/A fire arms made post '86. Its why you'll pay $15 K for a crappy M-16 A2 rather than the $1000 it should cost.
George W. Bush (R) was going to extend the AWB until his own party, and Dems like Baucus, threatened him into reversing his position.
A party label doesn't make you pro-2A. Its the person, not the party. And if you think Mitt (who I'm voting for) won't flip flop and sell us out in a heart beat on the 2A if he thinks it will work for him, you're delusional.
FQ

And the idiot that YOU helped vote into office went on record in the last debate of going after gun rights!  So now it is time to quit living in the past and move on!