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I graduated Catholic HS in 1965. The school is was in placed us in class according to ability (to start) and then by GPA (for upper classmen), so I was surrounded by others who actually enjoyed thinking and debating. While we were in a working class area of Connecticut, those I hung with were intellectual. I came to see the basic precepts of conservatism as taught by the old guys in line with my own thinking. Of course, this didn't play well with my parents or family - Depression era, service in WWII, working class, FDR Democrats. But I spouted quotes from William Buckley. I was on fire with my rabidism.
I served in the Navy (volunteer). I went to college on the GI bill. I gradjiated. I got married. I campaigned for Nixon! I thought, at that time, John O'Neill, in his famous debate with Kerry on the Cavett show, was on the right side of the issue.
But ....... I had never felt segregation was right (at age 5, my first "girlfriend" was a black girl, whose name I still remember!). I always felt we owed a real debt to our elders and a part of that was continuing care for them. I never felt the poor chose their circumstances. I was appalled by the overt racism I always saw around me (yep, even in Connecticut, from the time I was aware of it, I saw it).
By the time I was 30, I was pretty conflicted. I drifted more to the moderate in terms of my views. But I continued to vote Republican. Reagan twice. Bush once. And then, listening to him at the 92 convention I heard something that scared the shit out of me. I had long ago left Catholicism, but here was Bush, blatantly pandering to the religious right. IIRC it was about gays, but I'm not sure. I just remember the impression and I recall VERY clearly deciding, during that speech, I would vote for Clinton. I clearly recall saying to my wife, "That's it, George, you just lost me! I'm voting for Clinton." I did that twice - vote for Clinton, that is.
I stayed a registered Republican, however. Until impeachment. At this point, I'm living in Maryland. I was, at the time, represented by that ugly old fungus Roscoe Bartlett. I sent him a fax asking that he do the right thing and oppose impeachment (riiiiight .... a guy with a 100% conservative voting score in Congress). It was at this same time I went to the election board and changed my party registration.
I still find somewhat offensive some of the more egregious "mommy" stuff that dems have wrought on our country. But in the main, I am very happy in this party. It represents more of who I am than the current republican party does.
I am socially ultra liberal (and I guess I always have been). Fiscally ..... I can't say conservative ...... how about "responsible"? I strongly believe we have an actual, moral obligation to take care of all our citizens, particularly those who can't take care of themselves. I believe in a strong national posture, but am not a hawk in the current sense of the word. More in the Teddy Roosevelt vein ... soft talk/big stick.
I also think we need to be much, much more even handed with Israel. I see that single issue as the key to settling this issue with the Islamic world. It is my belief that once we have a sovereign, safe, functional Palestine, the rest will take care of itself. Somebody needs to reign in Sharon and his hard liners. Not to leave a weakened Israel, but to allow the whole issue to finally be settled.
Anyway, sorry to be so long winded, but it was nice to be able to put this in one place. Thanks for the poll!
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