?

Politically unaffiliated.

there is presently no political party in existence today that represents my viewpoints. Definately not the Democrats, and lately not teh Republicans.

Further, political parties are to blame, IMO, for much of the "us vs. them" attitude that exists today.

Conservative Republican.  So Conservative that I no longer use the "D" word to describe people of the other party.  I just use the word "bastards" instead. [:D]

My voters card says I'm a member of the Whig political party.


Hmm maybe I should get that updated...

Haven't technically declared one. Debating between Libertarian, Republican, or not declaring one at all.

I'm trying to decide weather stating a political affiliation will really mean anything in the long run when it comes to 2nd amendment rights.

Declaring affiliation will not sway my views, so I'm just wondering if it would be beneficial to support a particular party.

Republican. Been a Republican since I was in Junior High School in Texas, during the 1964 election.  Being for Goldwater in those days in the Panhandle was quite a challenge.  LBJ was really popular in Texas.

If you're Libertarian, then you need to bring yourself and your philosphy to the GOP.  The idea of voting for Harry Browne, or Pat Buchanan, or any other third party ticket is so absurd, nowadays.

I bet there are quite a few Green Party members who wished they'd have voted for Gore!!!  You know Nader got upwards of 100,000 votes in Fla.
Wonder where the Nader voters would have gone had he not been on the ballot??? Can you say PRESIDENT GORE?

EricTheRepublicanHun

Not affiliated with any political party.

Once upon a time, in my youth, I joined a major national party that supposedly espoused personal freedom, liberty, equality, and justice for all.

It turned out they were just a bunch of fascists, so I quit the party.

Conservative Republican.....................but not a naive one mind you.

Republican, but I'm leaning more towards the Libertarian and Constitution parties here lately.

I know nothing

I'm registered republican, I like most of the libertarian's views, but they want a weak national defense, so no go for libertarian.
So for now I'm still a republican.

[img=left]http://albums.photopoint.com/j/view?u=1633330&a=12491984&p=46716069&f=0[/img=left]

Conservative,who ever upholds the values I deem important.Usually the Republicans,but not always.In the last local town election every one ran as a independent.

Why should I vote for someone to represent me when they do not share my views on many issues? Libertarians draw just as many votes from the democratic party as they do the republicans. Saying that we need to vote for a republican is the same attitude that has let the republicans feel that they can betray their constituents on the issues like gun control, because they are, after all, the only viable game in town that will listen to us. Remember it wasn't that long ago that voting republican was absurd.

BTW for those of you who haven't guessed already, I'm a libertarian.

Kyle

I never understood the appeal of a third party.  I know that there are some out there that say "there isn't a dimes worth of difference between the two" or "they're just as bad"

I worked with a ardent pro-lifer that simply refused to vote for Dole back in 1996. He said that he couldn't vote for someone who was so soft on the topic.  I told him that he then deserved every pro-death piece of legislation that was to be vomited out of the Clinton White House.  By his protest/anger "non-vote," he was really aiding and abetting a philosophy anti-thetical to his own.

The same goes with with gun rights.  When we "opt out" of the two party system, we weaken our own hand.  By not consolidating our support behind those who share our beliefs (and can be elected), we only screw ourselves in the end.  How many Pro-Gun Buchananites/Perotistas of 1992 now regret not supporting Bush now that they've seen the fruit of their labor in Clinton's anti-gun legislation.  

I fully blame (and am ready to be torched) the 92 Buchananites/Perotistas for our current gun ban woes.  By not supporting someone who would give us at least an audience, we let the wolf in the hen house.

I think its time for some of you "third party" mayflies to think seriously about what is important to you and what cost you are willing to pay.

Asbestos underwear on.

You want me to support the party that claims john mccain, george pataki, james jeffords, christine todd whitman, and MANY others as members in your cherished gop who want to take away my 2nd amendment rights. What was the reason for your GOP running NRA rated F tom campbel against diane feinstein? Is democrat style gun control legislation introduced by a republican magically better? I want nothing of your philosophy of gun control appeasment.

Here is one anti-gunner that got elected with help of gun owners and got rewarded with higer office by your GOP.
Christie Whitman and Republican Legislators Push for New Handgun Ban
[URL]www.gunowners.org/op9901.htm[/URL]

If you want to call standing for the principles and freedoms that this country was founded on and thousands upon thousands that died for absurd, then so be it.

Don't forget the removal of all boarders with Canada and Mexico.  Would anyone stay in Mexico, and eveyone would be fighting over the Calif. free cheese blocks.

You obviously no nothing of what the Libertarian party supports. Could you please cite where the LP wants to continue welfare programs and other government funded handouts?

Borders are the only issue I disagree with the Libertarians on. We need to strengthen our enforcement of the border, not dissolve it.

Kyle

No flames here - you RIGHT!!!!!!!!

Clinton got 42% of the vote. Repub-du jour and Perot got 58% of the vote.

NO WAY perot voters left Clinton to vote Perot.

Net effect - Clinton wins. Thanks to the weenie little flap-earred egomaniac Ross Perot.

(Nah, I'm not bitter [:D] )

I'm a Lib

www.lp.org

I was too young in 92 to vote, but I would have voted for Clinton.  

I also would have regretted it today.

I guess there is a good reason why those under the age of 18 should not vote.  I was impressed by his appearence on MTV and george bush represented the old and ugly.  

Oh well, live and learn.

As a famous Vice President once said -
"I'm not part of the problem, I'm a Republican."

Libertarian.  I've been one ever since Bush the First screwed us with his "no new taxes, no new gun control" tax increase and 1989 import ban on "assault weapons".

If you're a Republican, then you need to bring yourself and at least a few parts of your philosophy to the Libertarian Party. The idea of voting for Bush the Second, or Pat Buchanan, or Henry Hyde, or Rudolph Giuliani, or any other Republican is so absurd, nowadays.

I fully blame Henry Hyde in 1994 for giving us the Assault Weapon Ban and, to a lesser extent, the Brady Bill.  By reelecting that scumbag, whom the NRA had been giving "A" ratings up until then, we let a wolf into the henhouse.  The AW Ban passed by only a couple of votes -- his and two freshman Republicans who later admitted that Hyde's "courage" enabled them to stand up for what they believed in. [pissed]

When was that, before 1860???



I doubt that, based on the Libertarians I know, but your experience may be different from mine.
I do know that the democrat party can afford to lose a few voters, the GOP can't!



You are quite mistaken, Sir.  There is nothing in my makeup or in my political philosophy that permits any appeasement on the issue of the 2nd Amendment.  On the other hand, if I am not mistaken in this assumption, you, Sir, are quite content to fritter (yes, fritter) your vote away on a party that cannot win, but that can allow the election of truly evil people to positions of power.  

We have the very recent example of the Green Party and Ralph Nader bringing the Gore presidential candidacy down to defeat.  Do you think the animal rights, pro-abortion, gay rights, environmental wackos, socialists of the Green Party feel BETTER now that they have succeeded in electing George W. to the Presidency???

Whether we like it or not, we live in a political world where compromise is the norm.  I despise the McCains, Hydes, Kassichs, et al., of the GOP. But if we elect more pro-gun Republicans to Congress, then the Henry Hydes and John Kassichs of our party won't feel the need to compromise any further on our guns rights.

My favorite candidate for the the Presidency in 2000 was Alan Keyes - the guy was 100% right on just about every issue.  But he couldn't break double digits in the primaries.  So what should I have done, left the party? stay home? go fishing?

I hope you did what I did when your candidate lost (I know you didn't support George W.) Give to the campaign of the candidate you thought was acceptable [u]and that had a chance to win[/u].

BTW, I am as libertarian as anyone I know in the Libertarian party, with the exception of the abortion issue.  I voted for Harry Browne back in 1976 when I was in school in Baton Rouge.  Now I know better!

I always give this example to my pro-life friends when they worry about a particular candidate's stance on abortion:

Suppose you are driving down the street in your car and you see a house that is on fire.  You [b]know[/b] through some manner that there are [b]10 children[/b] trapped in the house, about to be burned alive.  Through that same manner you [b]know[/b] that if you stop the car and go into the burning house you WILL save [b]5 children[/b], but that the remaining children will die.

Do you stop the car and save the [b]5 children[/b], or do you continue on your merry way and justify yourself by saying 'If I can't save all [b]10[/b], then I shouldn't save the [b]5.[/b]'?

It's precisely the same on gun control.  Until we educate a sufficient number of our citizens to understand the absolute necessity of our gun rights, then we will be forced to fight a rear-guard, delaying action against the onslaught of the anti-gun mobs.

If it came down to either Henry Hyde or Al Gore for President, let me guess, you'd vote for Harry Browne??

I don't appease, but I do understand the real world.

EricThe(UnabashedRepublican)Hun

I am a true Republican...the conservative kind...the kind with a backbone.  We are indeed a dieing breed.  And EricTheHun is right...Alan Keyes was the best man for president in 2000.  I would have cast my vote for him in all smiles if he would have been in it for the big show.

If the Republicans continue on there "bi-partisan lovefest", and continue to screw gun owners, I will consider the Constitution party.  Their base is almost flawless.

appease- To pacify or attempt to pacify (an enemy) by granting concessions, often at the expense of principle.

Ok forgive me I am wrong. The gop supports candidates that do not appease the gun control movement. They can't because the 2nd amendment isn't one of their principles.

Your "burning house" analogy is flawed as it would be a one time event. It would only count if the same family and has their house burn down every year.

More correctly would be a loaf of bread. The democrats want to take 5 slices, but the republicans "compromise" and only 2 slices are taken away. Then the next year comes and the democrats want to take 6 slices, but the republicans "compromise" and only 3 slices are taken away. So on and so on and prett soon the whole loaf is gone. What you want is gun control on the installment plan.

I'm not registered to any party. I vote Republican at the national level, except for my congressman-Virgil Goode of the 5th district,VA. He is an NRA rate A+ and an independent. I don't care who a politician is affiliated with, they just better vote my way!!!

I am an unashamed, unapologetic dues paying Libertarian. Keep voting for the Republicrats and see what it gets you. Death by a thousand pin pricks or death by a thousand paper cuts. Both major parties wipe their asses with the Constitution and it makes me want to puke.

WWW.LP.ORG

Very true.

Unfortunately, I was old enough to vote at the time and I did vote for that P.O.S. My apologies to all Americans. But I have been a rabid watcher of politics and vowed to never be uninformed again. Torch me if you must, but at least I have the balls to admit my mistake!!!!!
Most people will never admit they voted for Clinton. At any rate, that is a cross I shall bear for a lifetime.

Imbrolio, how do say that I want gun control??? Can you tell me how? Did I say I supported ANY TYPE OF GUN CONTROL??? Installment or otherwise?

I tend to think that you may be the one that is inviting more gun control.

And, IMHO, no, the correct analogy is still the burning house.  Because you can't save the 10
(and get the precise candidates you want), you say 'Phooey' on the 5 you could save (and fritter away your vote on parties that can't possibly win).

It could be used for the same family, different family, it doesn't matter.  What matters is that the actor is responsible for his choice and the resulting outcome. It could be a one time event, or a series of events. The [b]outcome[/b] is the crucial point!

I still say that unless we continue to vote for the GOP, we will be forced to concede more and more of our rights until we either have none, or have a revolution.

To use your loaf of bread analogy, we should allow the 2 and not the 5 to be taken, if, because of our insufficient numbers we can't prevent [b]any[/b] slices from being taken.  Can you explain to me how pi55ing away our votes on Libertarian candidacies going nowhere will strengthen our hand in dealing with the bread-grubbing DemocRats???

[b]I prefer to fight now, not later.[/b]

Show me the polls with Libertarian candidates within striking range of winning any election, and I will consider voting for them.  Until then, I believe that we need to win.  The stakes are just too high to lose.  Even on principal.

[b]And remember, the only true Libertarian in Congress is from the 14th District in my home state, Ron Paul, and he's a Republican!!!  Hah Hah!![/b]

[url]http://www.house.gov/paul/[/url]

EricThe(Talk to the Hand)Hun

Garandman, are you aware of the Constitution Party? If not look into it.

Anyway, I am philosophically Libertarian. I vote Republican whenever no "viable" Libertarian is running in most cases. On those rare instances a intelligent Democrat comes along with NO gun agendas, etc. I will vote for them. I'm not a "party hardliner", I always vote for the candidate that "most" represents my views.

On a side note, Garandman is right, parties do create a us against them mentality that ensures nothing can be accomplished.

Maybe you missed my point. The republicans are in power now and were in power before. They have not repealed any gun bans, but have been instrumental in getting more bans passed. The gop has had it's chance and has blown it every time. If you are looking for an outcome, then the ultimate outcome will be the loss of the Constitution and Bill of Rights.

You still have not answered the question as to why does gop continually runs and supports candidates that are blatantly anti-gun? Let me help you. THE PARTY AS A WHOLE DOES NOT CARE ABOUT YOUR RKBA. Ya sure you will have Alan Keyes, Ron Paul, Bob Smith types, but how many times have you seen these people stand on principle, only to have their colleagues abandon them? The gop only represents itself, NOT the American people.

bob dole's "the assault weapon repeal is a top priority" then 6 weeks later "the assault weapon repeal is a non-issue" demonstrates this fact.

"In matters of style, swim with the current; in matters of principle, stand like a rock."- Thomas Jefferson

Libertarian (voted for GWB).

I belong to the AR-15 party any questions!!!!!!

Imbrolio, I don't run the GOP and I certainly don't pick the candidates they picked to run in California.  The Republican Party in Kali is a shell of its former self. I guess they do what they can.  As late as 1990, you could count on the GOP to carry the state.



What bans have been passed since 1994? The GOP didn't take over Congress until sworn in 1995. Even Clinton put the blame of the Democrats' loss of the House and Senate on the assault rifle ban of 1994, and the Brady Bill.

The GOP was well on its way to overturning the assault rifle ban in 1995, when tragedy struck.
The Oklahoma City Bombing gave Clinton his 'voice', reinvigorated gun control as an issue, and thoroughly demoralized the GOP. It was the right wing gun nuts responsible for OKC, over and over.

The GOP did run for the tall grass.  I'm not certain that they've stopped running yet, but, boys, they're the only game in town!

If all we have left is membership in the vast and unstoppable Libertarian Party, I'm certain that our gun rights won't make it through our generation, much less the next.

The dam's about to burst and we argue over crap like legalization of pot!  In my neighborhood, pot is pretty much legal, or almost so, from what I've seen.

Give me a break.

Let's just give George W. a chance.  If he and the GOP pass or promote any form of gun control then we can decide the next party to support.

If we give him the numbers, who knows, maybe the assualt rifle ban, etc., can be repealed.

But it's up to us to help him.  Ain't that better than a revolution?

Eric The Hun

Libertarian...  the others make me [puke]

Libertarian that votes for the gop. I must say I agree 100% with EricTheHun.  Ever heard the saying divide and concure?  All of the right wing third parties must unite with the gop, the more people with backbone that supports personal liberty and a smaller government that lets us keep our money, guns, beer and whatever the better chances we have to boot out the John McPains and the Patakis or at least shut them up.

 i used to be a republican until george "new world order" bush showed his true colors. i know that one person does not make a party but unfortunately there are to many career policitians in the republican party. i have trouble discerning a real difference between career demcrats and career rebublicans.

 for several years i was an independent until i was tuned in to nealz nuze. ever since then i have become a political ass.

 i have never heard of libertarians wanting a weak national defense. i dont think that would be so unless your talking about the governments waste of money on equipment and programs the military does not need to be paying $4000 bucks for a hammer. military spending is not an indication of a weak military. its how that money is spent. even democrats have increased the defense budget every year. the envolvement of our troops in foreign wars does need to stop. i dont give a crap about other countries, only this one. if the isrealies and the muslims want to kill each other thats their problem not mine. we should not be the "world police". if you think im wrong, then you think the founding fathers of this nation were wrong. this however does not mean we should not gather intelligence on possible enemies...like china. screw taiwan, let them handle their own problem. sell them weapons? fine. order our own people to die for them? wrong.

 the idea behind opening our borders is to let others share in opportunity. we did not originate any differently. however those that do MUST!! learn the common trade language of english and learn the history and meaning of our constitution, not just swear to it.

 i personally believe that in order to vote in this country, one must show a working knowledge of the constitution and what it stands for.  if you cant read it or at least explain the purpose of the document then you can not vote period. simply memorizing wont work. anybody could do that and not care a thing for it. perhaps like an apptitude test for driving. a test that should be free and straight forward.

 how about it? any reasons why this would be a bad idea? flam away[:)]

bill of rights protecting libertarian out...

Libertarian but vote Republican to be safe. Can't take a chance of a democommie getting elected.

Independent-
I vote for which ever candidate matches my views and I feel can [b]win office[/b]. That being said my ideal canidate is anti-gun control, anti-abortion, anti-welfare, pro-tax cut, and several other views that I have. However the most important are views on guns and taxes.

Guns are a right we have and any bans placed on anything to do with them is wrong. Why do police get to have all the goodies? Do I not have the same right to defend my family and self?

Taxes are necessary, however they are way to high and the tax money is going to the wrong places. Why is almost the same amount of Tax money spent on welfare that is spent on the military. With the milatary being the largest employer in the nation/(world?) is welfare the second. Nothing makes me madder than thinking a whole month's salary of mine goes to a bunch of leeches so they can stay home and become dummer and lazier.

That being said I vote for the person that I feel will best fit my bill. However to get my volt that person must be able to win. Example: If one person is going to net 48% of the volt and is for gun control and is going to raise goverment spending my volt goes to the person that can get 49% unless he is also for gun control and raising taxes. If I was to vote for A guy who could only garner 3% of the vote, wouldn't I be wasting a vote agaisn't gun control.

Promotion of gun control right from dubyah's own website.

[URL]www.georgewbush.com/issues/guns.html[/URL]

Background checks at gun shows and pawn shops

Expand ‘instant check’ system.  Governor Bush believes the instant check system is the best way to keep criminals from buying guns at gun shows and supports changing federal law to give gun show sponsors special access to the National Instant Check System to conduct checks on behalf of non-licensed vendors.

Supports child safety locks for all handguns.

Child safety locks for handguns.  Governor Bush supports voluntary efforts to equip all handguns with child safety locks. [B] If Congress passed legislation requiring mandatory trigger locks for all new handguns, he would sign it.[/B]  He is concerned, however, that such legislation not be seen as a panacea, because adults still have to be responsible for using the trigger locks and for monitoring their children's actions.
----
If it won't do any good, why the hell does he want to sign it?

----
Supports ban on importation of high-capacity ammunition clips.

Include imported high-capacity ammunition clips to current ban. [B] Governor Bush supports extending the current ban on high-capacity ammunition clips to include those imported from foreign countries.[/B]

The current ban is part of the 1994 "assault weapon" ban. The only way to extend this ban is to not allow the law to sunset OR pass an new law banning magazines. Prior to the election I had posted 2 articles where statements were made by 2 different bush spokesmen stating that dubyah would not allow the 1994 ban to sunset.

"Bush expressed support for some gun control measures, including the ban on assault weapons"-
Source: Dan Balz, The Washington Post Apr 25, 1999

"[B]Bush opposed repeal of the 1994 assault weapon ban[/B] and indicated his openness to Clinton’s call to raise the age of legal handgun ownership from 18 to 21." - Source: L.A. Times May 1, 1999

"An aide to Bush said the governor has “consistently supported since 1994 the idea of instant background checks at gun shows to make sure the people we don’t want to sell guns to are
not buying guns.” The aide noted that Bush previously signed legislation prohibiting anyone from carrying a weapon within 300 yards of a school"- Source: CNN AllPolitics Apr 30, 1999

"Supports the current ban on automatic weapons"- Source: GeorgeWBush.com: ‘Issues: Policy Points Overview’ Apr 2, 2000  

I have never really considered my self as being affiliated with any one party, however, the more pure crap that the DemoRats spew, the more Republican I become.

Sorry, Imbrolio, but I believe that the Gore people have taken down his website, and I so wanted to post some good ol' quotes from Gore himself, to remind you of the anti-gun positions of the former Vice-Perpetrator.

So I could only get the following from the Democratoc Party Platform of 2000:



Sounds like a group with whom I've got nothing in common.

So what's it to be abandon our country to the Demos, or what?

The Libertarian Party, and the Constitutional Party, for better or worse, just ain't getting the job done!

Simple as that.

When George W. screws us, then and only then will I abandon him, but not the GOP, until they screw us.

Eric The Hun

hi

on voting and stuff

i just found this somewhere i did not draw it

[img]http://www.libertarianthought.com/images/I15_democracy.gif[/img]

One major thing I have a problem with is the NRA being 100% in bed with the Republicans. Regardless if the republican candidate is F rated by the NRA and a third party candidate is rated A. Not talking about presidential candidates here but lesser positions. The only way the NRA will endorse any other party is if the Republicans are not running in the race.  You ever notice that NRA tends to rate these controversial candidates with much higher ratings than the GOA does?  

I have an easy philosophy on voting - I vote for who I want to win.

[img]http://home.earthlink.net/~thegardenweasel/flap.jpg[/img]