Has Anybody Here Ever Pulled The Republican Lever?

[DemocratSinceBirth]

Lots of acrimony between moderate and progressive Dems on this board but I can say I have lived up to my handle....


The first vote I cast was for Jimmy Carter and the last vote I cast will be for a Democrat.....

[JohnKleeb]

1. do you think theres a way in between the two conflicting ways?

[DemocratSinceBirth]

10. I Am A Center Left Democrat...

A garden variety liberal if you will...


I have always voted for the most progressive electable candidate and that candidate has always been the Democrat....


I can understand the motivations of folks who switched parties if that's your question...

[JohnKleeb]

17. no my question is that

I don't agree with the DLC third way totally but I dont agree with the lets move left all the way to win. Sorry if I confused.

[DemocratSinceBirth]

20. The DLC Has Been So Villified On This Board That's It Not Even Productive

To Discuss Them....

[JohnKleeb]

35. thats true, I dont agree with all their ideas but

There are fine people who are in the DLC like Governor Warner and others.

[fujiyama]

81. LOL

Did you say DLC? That too you said DLC, without immediately following that it's headed by corrupt republican ass kissers.

Therefore, you too are a corrupt republican ass kisser.

That's the extent to which discussions on this board regarding the DLC have come to.

The DLC has MANY faults and I'm not going to defend them. IN fact I don't believe they deserve any sort of leadership role, but by immediately threatening to leave the party or start a third party, these people are hardly offering sensible alternatives. I know many of these people have great ideas, but it's being clouded by their understandable anger.

[Darranar]

42. No one says "lets move left all the way to win"...

There is a position - one I back - that if the Democratic Party wants to sincerely improve this country, then the best solution would be to move left, and therefore make the election about real issues instead of about deciding between Warmongering Pro-Corporate Imperialist (D) and Warmongering Pro-Corporate Imperialist (R).

If the Democrats are losing because of "values", perhaps the solution is to have more of them, instead of sacrificing the few that are possessed.

[JohnKleeb]

53. People have so said it

not those words directly but they have. We need a way in between a big move to the center and just moving left on everything as some suggest.

[BlueCaliDem]

95. I'm Like D.L. Hughly...I Used To Vote for the Best Possible Candidate...

...be they Democrat, or Republican, but since the birth of fascist neo-con during the Florida 2000 debacle, I've voted straight Democrat.
I've "crossed party lines" once in the past 5 years, to vote for a Republican Steve Cooley for Los Angeles Districts Attorney, because of Gil Garzetti's foul up during the O.J. Simpson trial.
My only consolation in this decision, was that I was happy that Steve Cooley doesn't really count in "big time" politics, and he's doing an excellent job to date.

[teach1st]

2. I vot e for whomever I think will be the best candidate..

..I've been voting for 30 years and have pulled the lever for Republicans twice.

[laheina]

9. Me too.

But this usually shows up more in local races.

Please don't flame me, but I mighta' voted for McCain in 2000, if things had turned out differently.

Although, with the way that party conducts itself now, I doubt that this will happen in the future.

[Rhiannon12866]

72. I sure won't flame you. I understand. I did vote for McCain in 2000

in the primary. He was going after Bush* with a vengeance, and I liked what he had to say most, among the other candidates. Needless to say, I liked Bush* least, and was disgusted and amazed when he got the nomination. I know much more now, and know that "these folks" (the Bush* "dirty tricks" machine) stop at nothing. I voted for Gore in the general election, but am baffled by McCain, who was the victim of Bush* "dirty tricks" in 2000 and has been more critical of this corrupt administration than most Democrats, but still says he supports Bush*?! Is he schizophrenic? I just don't get it.:crazy:

[Piperay]

3. I used to be a repuke

so I guess I would have to say YES, except we don't have levers in Los Angeles.

[sweetladybug]

4. Never have and never will

[DaveinMD]

5. I have never voted for any Republican

and never will.

[BayCityProgressive]

6. NEVER. ID SOONER DIE

[conflictgirl]

70. Same here! Never have, never will.

BTW, if your Bay City is in the state I think it is, I'm there too! Perhaps we've been stuck waiting for a stupid drawbridge at the same time and never knew it. (If you are indeed in the same area, I'm sure you know what I mean.)

[newyawker99]

118. Hi conflictgirl!!

Welcome to DU!! :toast:

[kvining]

7. Not me

I would rather cut of my penis with a chunk of broken glass

[Walt Starr]

8. I've never cast a vote for anybody but a Democrat ever in my life

That's probably going to change come 2006, because I no longer recognize the Democratic Party.

We have a single party system now, the Republicratic-Democans.

[DemocratSinceBirth]

12. I'd Try To Dissuade You But It's Late...

nt

[Walt Starr]

82. No matter how hard you try to dissuade me

the Democrats push me back the other way.

[truthseeker1]

11. Yes, and I'll never go back

Was raised military and in a Republican family. In the last election cycle, I departed from my old worldview and have left them far far behind - they are still repubs (they listen to Rush, O'Reilly, and my bro ran for House seat in his state...yes, Repubs through and through).

Luckily, I broke free from that mindset and man, has it been an awakening. I have swung WAY left and could not even be thought of as moderate. I am completely liberal now and proud of it!

So don't go thinking just because someone has voted Repub before that that automatically means they're a moderate. At least in my case it just ain't true.

[DemocratSinceBirth]

14. I Am Not Assuming Reps Turn Dems Are Moderates...

In fact I would assume the opposite based on the axiom "that converts pray loudest in church"...


I just get upset when moderates get trashed on this board because they feel moving to the center is the best thing for our party...


And when I say center I mean the center not the right...

[truthseeker1]

26. Do you really feel like there's hope for the party?

I just became a Dem and I'm already disillusioned with it. How much more does the party have to compromise?

This whole election fiasco has pretty well convinced me there will never be free elections again anyway. And if there are, it seems the Dems are in on it.

[DemocratSinceBirth]

77. I Don't Speak For The Entire Democratic Party...

And my vision of what America should be is probably very different than many folks on this board...


I believe in free markets and a strong defense but I also believe in a robust social safety net and a multilateral approach to foreign policy....

I am personally opposed to abortion and the death penalty but I also believe the individual is sovereign over his own mind and body and that certain crimes cry out for justice; like killing little kids...
That leads me to accept Roe-v Wade and the death penalty in very narrow circumstances...


There is so much mystery, hoopela and Bush* hatred wrapped around the vote count making it hard to discuss dispassionately... He won by 3,400,000 votes and by 130,000 votes in OH and 370,000 votes in FL...Election vote counting shenanigans is as old as the republic but I don't think you can steal that many votes....

Compromise isn't a bad thing as long as you don't compromise your principles... I am a Democrat because I believe someone has to look out for the little guy and make sure everybody's civil rights are respected... There are many paths that lead to that place...

[truthseeker1]

85. Election vote counting shenanigans is as old as the republic but I don't

"Election vote counting shenanigans is as old as the republic but I don't think you can steal that many votes...."

ah, but alas, we've never had electronic voting machines before! I think it's entirely possible.

[DemocratSinceBirth]

87. People On This Board Have Firmly Held Beliefs About Vote Counting

Shenanigans And I Respect Them...


I wish they would think hard about the fact that there's not one "big daddy" running the entire election but thousands of elections supervisors throughout the nation some of whom are Dems and some of them are Pugs supervising elections in their own individual counties...I guess I am to assume that the machines are rigged without their knowledge... I just don't....


The reason I don't is because I know from experience (living in Florida, a hotly contested state) this a deeply polarized county and for every person who thinks Bush is the messiah there's another one who thinks he's the anti-Christ....

[LTR]

13. Arne Carlson for Minnesota governor, 1990

Also proudly voted for Wellstone that year.

Yes, I voted for Carlson, who was running as an independent up until a few weeks prior to the election, when the Jon Grunseth teen hot tub party shit hit the fan. Arne's a good guy, a moderate Repug, and a hell of a lot better than Rudy (Governor Goofy) Perpich, a lame-ass who was unfortunately a Dem.

Arne's still a decent guy, and even came out and claimed he wasn't voting for Bush this year.

I've voted for the occasional token liberal-moderate Repug in the past, and more often voted for a few third party or independent guys, but I have voted straight-ticket Dem for the last decade.

[proudbluestater]

15. Several years ago, the moderate Republicans owned the party

Since they have been chased away, uninvited as it were, I have voted straight Democratic.

I'm not sure when my epiphany was, but I'm quite sure being pro-choice had something to do with it.

Judging by how I feel today, right now, I'm not sure how I'll vote in the next election. I will never again vote for a Republican -- guaranteed. But if John Kerry and the DNC is not willing to fight for this particular election, then apparently they do not care whether our votes count or not. All that matters is "how well you play the game" and maintain your personal reputation and power base.

If nothing changes soon, I will just assume we now have a one-party system called the Corporate Party of America.

[x-g.o.p.er]

16. All the way through the 2002 elections...

I kind of feel like I am in recovery, much like Alcoholics Anonymous.

"Hi, I'm x-g.o.p.er, and I used to be a Republican."

[spooky3]

18. Lugar

[JitterbugPerfume]

23. oh crap

I need to change my vote

Lugar-----I voted for him , and probaly will again

[Metatron]

94. I voted for Lugar last time.

The Dems ran one of the worst candidates for Senator that I have ever encountered. He was almost as bad as Bobby Hildago (who even non-Hoosiers might remember from the Daily Show interview with him some years back.)

[Imalittleteapot]

19. Never ever for President. I did vote for a Repub for

city council once. Never again!!!

[htuttle]

21. I voted for a guy running naked against WI Gov Thompson in a Repub primary

He was a friend of mine.

And he was campaigning naked (as The Candidate With Nothing To Hide).

Gotta love open primaries.

[Lone Pawn]

22. McCain/Gore 2000 would have been a tough choice

I'm not sure I would have voted D that year. And had he gotten in power, I think he would have done well enough to deserve a second term.

Let's see. Who else.

A few minor candidates...very few. I think I've filled in the R bubble 2 or 3 times in sum.

[Rhiannon12866]

75. I agree. I voted for McCain in 2000, in the primary.

I may have also voted for him in the general election, if he'd been the candidate, and I always vote Democrat, unless it's a library board member that I happen to know personally. McCain was going after Bush* with a vengeance, and I liked what he had to say more than any other candidate. Needless to say, I liked Bush* the least, and was disgusted and amazed when he got the nomination. I know much more now, and know that "these folks" (the Bush* "dirty tricks" machine) stop at nothing. I voted for Gore in the general election, of course, but am baffled by McCain, who was the victim of Bush* "dirty tricks" in 2000, and thus lost the nomination, and has been more critical of this corrupt administration than most Democrats, but still says he supports Bush*?! Is he schizophrenic? I just don't get it.:crazy:

[NEDem]

24. I voted for a repub congressman

He was running against the former head of the Christian Coalition in my state, the fundie had the audacity to run as a Dem.

It was 4 or 6 years ago.

[in_cog_ni_to]

25. Nope.

Never have, never will.

[arewenotdemo]

27. Never in a presidential race, but voted for

Mack Mattingly in 1980 for U.S. Senate from Georgia. His Dixiecrat opponent, Herman Talmadge, had been a staunch segregationist, and when he started calling Mattingly (originally from Indiana) a "carpetbagger" it was too much for this Ohio Yankee to take.

First and last time (unless I ever had a chance to vote for Lowell Weicker).

[Leilani]

28. I have never been a registered Republican

but I have voted for them.

I've always been an Independent, but considered myself more Republican than Dem a while back.

But they left me a long time ago. When the Fundies started having influence, that was the end.

I've always been socially liberal, fiscally conservative, & I don't think I've ever had a real idealogical home.

I'm probably more reform-minded than liberal. I think there is so much wrong that needs fixing, but nobody's fixing it.

I actually agreed with wacky Perot on some issues, like trade & the deficit.

I only know that we are being run for, by, & of the corporations, & we're losing our middle class. And our middle class, with its upward mobility has always been the strength of our country.

[Pachamama]

29. Was a registered Republican until 1992....

First time I voted Democrat was for Clinton in 1992....Yes, I voted for Pappy Bush and even before that (gasp) Reagan...My father was/is a staunch longtime Republican...I eventually "saw the light" and never gone back to that "flame" as a moth ever since.....

I was even going through my jewelry box the other day looking for something and saw my GOP "Elephant" pin and even the Presidential Seal pin with the signature of George HW Bush....Yikes....I can't believe it.....my, my, my how times have changed for me....

:kick:

[sabbat hunter]

30. i voted

for a republican state supreme court judge one year when the democratic candidate was cross endorced by the right to life party

david

[Rhiannon12866]

73. I sure don't blame you

I didn't find my political voice until after 9/11, when I decided that I really needed to understand exactly what was going on. But when that fetus symbol started appearing by candidates names, I just knew that these were not anyone I could ever support or consider voting for, very early on.:puke:

[yellowdogintexas]

31. three times in 38 years of voting....see inside

never never for president:
however I did vote for Senator Howard Baker in his last re election.
I voted for Lamar Alexander for governer of Tennessee, the Dems had a real crook that year
and this year I voted for a personal friend for county appellate judge and he was unopposed anyway.

Other than that, straight Dem all the way

[Komrade _azul]

32. Have voted for people I know...

...and am proud of it. I know I have probably been cruel to those who have split their votes among several parties in the past but realistically and especially in local elections when the candidate is more approachable, it is possible to hold your breathe and vote for a Republican candidate over a Democrat when the choice becomes one of common sense over party loyalty.
I'll say it again, I have voted for Republicans when the alternative is an A** of a crook.

[Zynx]

33. Yes, for some local offices.

I supported Republicans before I could vote when I was more conservative, but after the Republicans moved right, I moved left until Bush forced me to join to Democrats firmly.

[Rhiannon12866]

76. Same for me. I live in a blue state, but in a red district

Locally, it is often a choice between Republicans. I voted for the Republican candidate for town supervisor who knocked on my door, explaining how and why he would reduce local taxes, as opposed to his Republican incumbent challenger. If these are your only choices, you have to choose your best options. But on a state and national level, I always vote for the Democratic candidate.:shrug:

[gauguin57]

34. I used to pull a Republican's lever regularly ...

... but I came to my senses and we broke up about 20 years ago!

[karlrschneider]

38. Oh, shit! I misunderstood the question! I've pulled a LOT of them!

:evilgrin: :D :bounce:

[Pastiche423]

50. Not those kinda "levers"

[Demi_Babe]

36. HELL NO...NEVER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[karlrschneider]

37. I voted for a few GOP candidates many moons ago. Goldwater for one, who

was a passing acquaintence of moi. But Republicans in 1963 were a universe away from what they've become. (not that AuH2O was a paragon of excellence, but I was just emerging from the far-right cocoon in which I had been raised)...that's my reason if not my excuse. :eyes:

[DaveinMD]

48. Goldwater

opposed civil rights. He was a right there with Reagan.

[American Tragedy]

54. Barry Goldwater didn't totally oppose civil rights

He actually co-founded the Arizona NAACP, and he did support the Civil Rights Acts of 1957 and 1960. He voted against the Civil Rights Act of 1964 based on the argument that it was a futile attempt to force the southern states to change, and an infringement on the rights of the private sector, hence his famous quote, "you can't legislate morality". Not that I agree with his reasoning, but it seems to have been more based in his libertarian philosophy than in racism.

I resent Goldwater's ideology and the legacy that it has left, but when I look upon the Republicans of today, I sincerely miss him as an opponent.


"We're the new liberals of the Republican Party. Can you imagine that?" -Barry Goldwater, 1996

[liberal democrat]

116. Did Goldwater really say that?

Can you please tell me where the quote was said in context? In 1996, Dole was running a pretty moderate campaigh, was he refering to "The Contract?" What did he oppose? Possibly the new Republican's staunch pro-life attitude. Even though Goldwater was fiscally conservative, was he socially conservative also?

[Contrary1]

39. I would bet that...

more Democrats have voted Repub than the other
way around. I attribute this to being able to
look at issues and candidates with a more open
mind, rather than some blind political idolatry.

[DuaneBidoux]

40. The first vote I cast was for Gerald Ford

Then I think I voted libertarian. I'll get flamed here but I've been Republican before I was independent and now Dem. The more I read, the more I learned about history, the more I went to school (286 undergraduate hours) plus a professional masters, the more liberal I became. For me, becoming a Democrat has been a process of becoming educated. They have moved together hand in hand. It is hard to believe I can ever go back.

BUT--if Dems were in power many many years, and had become as corrupt as Repukes are now, well....

[Sparkly]

41. I've never voted for anybody but Democrats for anything

yet I don't expect the people I vote for to be "historically-pure" or pass a "Mayflower test" as Democrats themselves.

Just thought I'd throw that in there. ;)

[liberal democrat]

43. I have voted for:

Gerald Ford in '76
Anderson in '80 (kinda Republican)
Giuliani in '93 and '97
Bloomberg in '01 (and will do so again in '05)

[DaveinMD]

49. some pretty good Dems

may run against Bloomberg including Rep. Anthony Weiner.

[liberal democrat]

115. If Weiner runs,

I might vote for him. If a lightweight runs, I will probably vote for Mike. He's doing a fine job and is really not a "republican" in the national party sense. He just ran as one to avoid the crowded Democratic Primary in 2001.

44. No never voted Republican Taliban

No I guess the reason why I could not ever vote for a Republican is
because of the Republican Party being so militaristic. Republicans actually worship the A bomb.

Even when the scientists that created it such as Ralph Lapp said, that the creation of the bomb was the worst thing they ever did and that they think the A-Bomb should be dismantled the Republicans went nuts.

All the Republicans did from then was takeover the scientific community in America then turned it into a miliary-industrial-complex run by Army generals. With Republican Taliban Generals telling the scientific community what to invent and work on.

Then from the 40's on they went on to takeover all the political, educational, and business organizations as well.

Ralph Lapp an American physicist who, with Teller, built the first hydrogen bomb in 1949 describes why the bomb was such a failure in his book Kill and Overkill.

Ralph Eugene Lapp
Type: English : Book : Non-fiction
Publisher: New York, Basic Books <1962>
Kill and Overkill

http://www.efn.org/~bsharvy/nukes.html

This information was last updated in 1988.

Here is a list of some of the accidents that have occurred in the two spheres of modern nuclear technology: energy production and the military. It is not a complete list, nor is it a list of the most serious nuclear accidents in history. Instead it is an account of various types of nuclear accidents, and a description of some of the most serious accidents within those types.

Military
3/1/54, Bikini Atoll
A test explosion of a hydogen bomb exposes 290 people to radioactive fallout. The explosion contaminates 7,000 sq. miles of islands and ocean, resulting in widespread sickness and one death due to radiation poisoning. (MIT: 286-87)

1/17/66, Palomares, SPAIN
An airborn B-52 carrying four multi-megaton nuclear weapons crashes into a refueling tanker and drops all four weapons. The explosive triggers for two of the weapons detonate, scattering plutonium. The accident requires removal of 1,500 tons of soil and plant life, to be stored in the U.S. A third weapon is lost at sea for three months. (DOD)

http://www.efn.org/~bsharvy/nukes.html

[donheld]

45. I sadly voted for reagan

:spank: :spank: :spank: :spank:

[babylonsister]

59. Me also, twice.

I'm older and wiser? But that's how I felt then.

[Flammable Materials]

46. WORSE. I VOTED FOR "BO GRITZ".

What can I say? I went through a regrettable fundie phase.

[mandyky]

47. I would have voted for McCain in 00

Glad I never got the chance now. I have voted other than D a few times. Probably will again.

[Warren DeMontague]

51. I've voted for the occasional Green in local elections...

But never, ever a Republican.

[Doohickie]

52. I have always voted for Dems for president

But I sometimes vote Repub for lesser offices, depending on who's running. In the case of Senate/Congress, if the incumbent is doing a good job for the local constituency and is well-established in the committee structure, a case can be made to cross lines. Granted, it doesn't help the numbers in Congress for votes, but sometimes I just go pork barrel, you know? I could see voting for a Repub president too, if they could put up someone I favored over a Dem. At this point that's hard to imagine but I wouldn't rule it out.

[DrGonzoLives]

55. Voted for three this year

Steve Carter for Indiana's AG and a local trucking company owner for the county council (who is now the sole Republican on said council).

It didn't help that the two Democrats running in those races were pricks, either.

Oh, and I had to vote for an unopposed Republican judge. Oh well.

[American Tragedy]

56. Never

Not out of partisan loyalty to the Democrats, but out of sheer revulsion for the Republican party platform and anybody who would embrace it.

I have personally admired many Republicans, even including some who are considered conservative icons. However, I vote on the issues, and I have yet to see any Republican whose plans and stances were preferable to that of their opposition. I have only voted Democrat, Libertarian, Green, Independent, and Reform.

[Doomsayer13]

57. Yeah, local races - Sheriff, Judge

One congressman (Mark Kirk R-IL) who is a moderate, back in my old district. good guy.

[flaminbats]

58. straight ticket voting not allowed in Georgia

people can vote for candidates individually, but never for the party.

I only vote for unopposed Republicans on the county level. But never support Republicans running for state or federal office. I voted for Zell Miller..before I knew he was a Republican.

[babylonsister]

60. Keep in mind

how old some people are? "I've never voted for...dem/repug?" doesn't mean squat if you've only voted once.

[hughee99]

61. I voted for Bill Weld in the early 90's

against the more conservative Dem John Silber. I'm not one of those people who will vote for a Dem no matter what. I always vote for the canidate that best reflects my views. If it happens to be a repuke, then I'll vote for them and not give it a second thought... it's only happened once so far.

[Bush was AWOL]

62. Never have never will

same way all the way up and down my family.

[progressoid]

63. I was a register Independent but I always ended up voting for Dems so

I figured I might as well join the party

[Dr Fate]

64. Voted for conservatives & independents, but never Republicans...

n/t

[Pushed To The Left]

65. If the Republican was more progressive

than the Democrat on an important issue, such as drug laws, I have voted for the Republican. However, I have always voted Democrat for President, even when I was more of a swing voter.

[Barney Rocks]

66. some will beat me up--

but I have a friend who serves on the school board here--he is a fantastic man--could not be better in anyway--so I always vote for him (although he is a registered Republican). I have known him for years, and a more first class man you will never know.

The only thing I cannot figure out is WHY he is registered as a Republican. Oh well--I haven't voted for any other republicans--and he is a special case because I know and like him. Plus--because school board politics is very local--I feel like I have a friend in the office--I have never known or liked any of the folks who have ran against him.

He is quite liberal--kind of a Suter type Republican (would be with the Democrats on most issues). But he was raised in a Republican family--and just never questioned being a Republican....

[genius]

67. My dad's ghost would come back and haunt me if I voted Rethug.

He was a lifelong Democrat who believed the Republicans were evil. He was right.

[Buck Rabbit]

68. Maybe, I would need to check with the Oregon caucus.

Do Tom McCall or Mark Hatfield when he was fighting against the Vietnam war, constitute a Republican? I mean those 2 Oregon Republicans were more liberal than the vast majority of the nations Democrats of that era.

[m berst]

69. always a Dem

I have voted for some 1400 Dem candidates I guess when you count up all of the ofices in all of the elections over the years, and never once for a Republican. I used to be a middle of the road mainstream Democrat. I haven't changed my views, but people now tell me I am on the extreme left fringe. Back then, before we became practical and electable and started imitating the Right, we used to win quite a few races. I saw it with my own eyes.

[Ivan Sputnik]

71. Only once

It was for mayor -- a "hold your nose" acceptable Repub running against a very corrupt Dem machine.

[Hawkeye Pierce]

74. I did in the past

I also once pulled a repukes finger but that is another story. :)

[The Flaming Red Head]

78. Knowingly? No

I have never voted for a Republican in my life, knowingly, but now I am starting to wonder if my straight Democratic ticket came out Democrat. Who knows?

[robbedvoter]

79. Congratulations on your purity. I am not worthy, therefore bye bye

democrats. This attitude is both self-destructive as disgusting.
geez, one would think you'd want people to come to you instead of leaving.
I have joined in 2000 under the mistaken impression that this was the party of the people. Since it seems to be some sort of a country club, enjoy your disappearing ways.

[Fifth of Five]

80. Never voted R for president, never will.

I voted for our R US Rep this time to reward him for voting against giving B* the authority to go to war. Besides, the D was an idiot.

[freestyle]

83. The choices were a former dem, a crook, and a klansman

In a Louisiana governor primary when I was in college. I voted for the former dem. The runoff came down to the crook and the klansman and I enthusiastically supported the crook. That was the one and only time.

[lukasahero]

84. Not nationally

but I grew up in RI where we grow our pub's moderate so yes, I pulled the R lever for Senator John Chafee (Lincoln's father) - 3 times.

Now, before anyone suggests I give up my membership to the Dem party for such heinous a crime, here's some quotes on his death from folks people here might recognize:

"I don't know anyone that didn't like and respect John Chafee. I have lost my closest friend and mentor." - Sen. James Jeffords, I-Vt.

"As a governor and senator, John Chafee set the standard for honesty and decency that the rest of us on our best days could only dream to emulate." - Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz.

"He was one of the most principled men I have known, and he stood for moderation and common sense over political extremism." - Sen. Frank Lautenberg, D-N.J.

"Senator Chafee represented the best New England instincts of decency, integrity and solid principles. His strong convictions about the environment's right to survive made him a shining light in the United States Senate." - Fred Krupp, executive director, Environmental Defense Fund

"John Chafee proved that politics can be an honorable profession. For him, civility was not simply a matter of personal manners. He believed it was essential to the preservation of our democratic system and the progress of our nation." - President Clinton

Honestly, I think our nation, both sides of it, could use some of John Chafee's mentoring right about now.

[Fleurs du Mal]

86. Never even tempted

[Mist]

88. Voted for Bill Green

When I lived in NYC for a couple of years. Bill Green was running for congress. He was a very liberal Republican (running in Manhattan he would have to be!). Actually, he would make most current Democratic office holders today look quite conservative.

[Eugene]

89. For governor in 1990. Never nationally.

The choice was between a liberal Repub
and a fire breathing Reagan Democrat.

[robbedvoter]

90. Are you gonna do blood tests too? Disgusted ex democrat wants to know

Look at what the GOP did with raygun. And look at what we did to Clark.
Thuggery and stolen elections aside, I am afraid the elitist accusations are true - I didn't think so, until I saw attitudes like yours. be pure guys - I am sure the dinosaurs were as well.
P.S. I'll never vore GOP after what they did in 2000, but daym, dems are losers because they can't fight for their wins and are so idiotically full of themselves.
P.S. Poor people need a party too - noticed you pure blooded superior people dithec them completely.

[SammyWinstonJack]

91. Never have and never will!

:grr:

[GiovanniC]

92. Never for President

[deutsey]

93. Connie Morella.

She was a somewhat liberal Republican in Montgomery County.

[Kitka]

96. Of course I have.

Not for President. Not on the state level, either. But locally, party doesn’t usually mean anything. I know most of the people who run, and vote based on capability to run an office or be a judge, not their party.

[no name no slogan]

97. Green, yes. GOP? NEVER.

I've voted for Green candidates at the local level, and for president in '96 and 2000-- especially when the Dem candidate has been either lackluster or a DINO.

However, I have NEVER voted for a Repub, and probably never will-- unless the parties switch places again.

[Zinfandel]

98. They ARE fucking assholes ALL republicans, so that makes ANYONE

who chooses to vote for them what......????

If anyone says one more time, they voted for the best person, and NOT their IDEOLOGY I'm going to fucking die!

A REPUBLICAN IS A FUCKING REPUBLICAN, NO MATTER IF THEY SAY THEY ARE COMPASSIONATE THIS OR THAT. THEY ARE A REPUBLICAN.

AND REPUBLICAN IDEOLOGY IS TO GET RID OF THE "NEW DEAL" THEY FUCKING HATE IT OR THEY WOULD NOT BE REPUBLICANS, THEY WILL LIE CHEAT STEAL DISTORT FOR YOUR VOTE AND SAY OR DO ANY CHEAP SHIT FOR YOUR VOTE, THAT'S WHY THEY ARE REPUBLICANS!!!!!

IF YOU VOTE FOR A REPUBLICAN ANY REPUBLICAN YOU ARE VOTING FOR SOMEONE IN EVERY CASE NO MATTER WHAT THEY SAY PUBLICLY...THEY WANT TO GET RID OF SOCIAL SECURITY, UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE, THE MINIMUM WAGE, CORPORATIONS OVER THE ENVIRONMENT, CORPORATIONS ALWAYS--OVER PEOPLE AND FUCK YOU THE WORKING CLASS THAT'S IT!!! IF YOU BELIEVE OTHERWISE YOU ARE A FUCKING STUPID MOTHERFUCKING FOOL!

ONE SHOULD ALWAYS VOTE IDEOLOGY OVER THE PERSON, BECAUSE THE PERSON WILL LIE, THE IDEOLOGY OF THE PARTY AT LEAST CARRY'S SOME WEIGHT...UNLESS THEY ARE SPINELESS FUCKS LIKE DASCHLE AND SO MANY OTHER DEMOCRATS!!!

IDEOLOGY!!!!

[Zinfandel]

99. First vote I casted was for McGovern and I NEVER ever missed an

election, nor have I EVER voted for a filthy, lying, slimy cock-sucking rat shit republican!!!

There's no fucking gray area here DUDES!!!!:smoke:

[indigobusiness]

100. Voted for McGovern, Carter, Mondale, Clinton, Kerry

missed Gore out of futulity and poor planning. But I was more supportive of Gore than most. The world would be a far better place today, if he hadn't been robbed.

[Democrat 4 Ever]

102. Bless me father for I have sinned. Once. And the guy ended up

resigning during his second term. Of course, this was 1968 and I believed him when he said he would end the war. The last damn time I believed anything a repug has said. They lie, cheat, steal to take elections and nothing has changed in 40 years. Won't fool me again.

[Zinfandel]

106. You fucked up! BUT>>>

at least your fucking aware of it (so many are NOT or don't care to even understand).

Republicans want people now to believe it's alright to vote for the person (and fuck their ideology)...Like my fucking republican Guv Musclehead, "democrats" voted for him...but when push comes to shove all republicans fall back to their conservative right-wing ideology and play republican ball.

I have never and will never play anything but democrat ball and FDR democrat ideology!!!

[Zinfandel]

101. Looks like the vote is pretty lopsided...I guess it's to say...

The freepers will tell you...don't worry if you vote republican, vote for the person who looks the best to you at the moment, not the party and ideology they are associate with and believe in.

We are republicans, we have to deceive to get your vote...or steal it.

Filthy lying fucking republican pigs!!!!

Vote your ideology not the fucking person!!!!

[lukasahero]

104. Yes we got your point

the first three times you made it. I'm a vile despicable person who should be shot for voting for a Republican in RI who did more for education and the environment than any democrat I've ever had the opportunity to vote for. I DID vote IDEOLOGY, damn it. And other than having to withstand your raving insults, I don't much care what you think of me for it.

[Zinfandel]

107. There's a fucking button up there to block me out! USE IT!!! You will NOT

be the first. Like I give a shit!!!

[LaPera]

108. Cheers to you my brother BUZZ--- On this forum, there are many

very soft, middle of the road, never take a real stand, because they are afraid to "moderates" around here, and you must consider that.

I know the ignorance and arrogance of it all pains you, however, it's fact.

[lukasahero]

110. Oh right so

I can only stand up for myself if I agree with everything one person here says? Um, that's not having a backbone, that's cowtowing to someone else's beliefs and not standing up for my own.

BTW, I really hope your "ignorance and arrogance" remark was not supposed to be about me.

[LaPera]

111. No. Absolutely not! But I know of many here--

who can not stand to hear anyone, voice ones opposition too strongly.

It seems to offend their own point of view, which of course would be the exact point of the one voicing strongly.

[lukasahero]

113. Ok. Thanks

and I'm sorry. I, myself, am feeling a little touchy and am uncharacteristically snarking back.

You know, there's nothing wrong with "voicing one's opinion" but I'm watching this place descend into the vicious back-biting and name-calling I associate with the other side. I swear the repugs and freepers have got to be laughing their asses off watching us canabalize each other for having "slightly" different opinions.

If you note my post to the original question, I voted for a very liberal republican who did wonderful things for the environment and education - supposedly liberal causes. And yet I come back to see posts suggesting that all republicans are evil and anyone who has ever voted for one is responsible for the death and destruction of this country and world. You've got to be kidding me, right?

I do not for one second advocate dispensing of our liberal values nor do I support moving one centimeter to the right (or middle) more than we have already done if it means sacrificing the values I hold so dear. I voted for the man who best represented and supported those values and I would do so again. I would vote for John Chafee (were he still alive) over Zell Miller or Joe Lieberman any day of the week and I do take some offense at the idea that I should basically be flogged for holding such a position.

[Rambis]

103. Never!

Way to left for that-

[pmbryant]

105. Yes

I was never a Republican, but I have voted for Republicans. It's been a very long time though.

[noonwitch]

109. I've voted for republicans before-never for President

I voted this year for the republican for county prosecutor, because the democrat running was previously an assistant under a very corrupt dem. I thought some housecleaning was needed.

I voted in the 2000 Michigan GOP primary for John McCain, for a lot of reasons. Mostly because I feared the damage Bush would do through stupidity and arrogance.

If I had still lived in Detroit in 2001, I probably would have voted for the only republican in the mayoral primary, Bill Brooks. The only reason I would have was because he was the only candidate who had the guts to say that Detroit's biggest problem is poverty, and that all of it's other problems stem from that. Plus, both Gill Hill and Kwame are corrupt. I'm glad I don't vote in city elections there anymore-I suspect 2005 will be Kwame vs Sharon McPhail, who is not only corrupt, she's absolutely crazy.

Before I was old enough to vote in real elections, we always had class elections. I voted for Nixon in 1972, for Ford in 1976 and for John Anderson in 1980. I cast my first presidential official vote in 1984 for Mondale.

[robbedvoter]

112. George Wallace, Strum Thurmond. Jesse Helms, Lester maddox....

is anyone getting the message?

[liberal democrat]

117. Excellent point

This Democrats are good and Republicans are evil rhetoric need to stop. On the national scale, all of us support Democrats. However, sate and local races are less about party and more about who will do a better job. With only two major parties, obviously, there are going to be a wide range of opinions in both parties. The best Republican is going to be much better than the worst Democrat. To better advance the party, it is important to only elect honest Dems who espouse the spirit of the party. If a corrput person is running as a Dem- don't feel a need to vote for them.

[Crunchy Frog]

114. Twice. The first time was I don't know

how many years ago, when I voted for the oral surgeon who did my wisdom teeth when he ran for the Board of Regents for my local university. I won't vote for him again because he's in favor of the dog labs at the medical school.

The second time was in 2002 when I was trying on being an Independent, and I voted for the Republican State Treasurer, who seemed to be doing a competent job, and who had little real competition. I voted Green for Governer that year too. If I had a choice between voting for Joe Lieberman and Lowell Wiecker, I would vote for the latter.

I have never voted for a Republican for president or any senate or congressional seats, either at the national or state level. I will never vote for a Republican again as long as I live, unless the party suddenly metamorphosis into a liberal/progressive party. Not something that I see as very likely.

I hope I'm still considered pure enough to be on this board.