I'm still a Republican

[I AM NOT THAT GUY 5,715]

I don't think anyone who has read VJ for any length of time would mistake Soffiya for a Democrat

Gary has his own sense of reality, but he is not a Republican....or is he?

[_Simpson_ 250]

I'd make an even more disgusted Democrat, Gary. No pretending here; I'm a card carrying, thoroughly fed up Republican looking for a viable alternative. I'm not alone.

I think most of your discontent with the republican party comes from how you feel Islam is being treated or looked at within the the party. I personally think your to sensitive when it comes to this issue. As far as the rest of the issues go it seems like its the same old nonsense coming from our party but the reality of it is that they will represent our ideas better than any Democrat and thats what keeps me voting republican.

I don't think anyone who has read VJ for any length of time would mistake Soffiya for a Democrat

Yes and Gary has been around long enough to know that.

[Sofiyya 1,687]

I think most of your discontent with the republican party comes from how you feel Islam is being treated or looked at within the the party. I personally think your to sensitive when it comes to this issue. As far as the rest of the issues go it seems like its the same old nonsense coming from our party but the reality of it is that they will represent our ideas better than any Democrat and thats what keeps me voting republican.

Yes and Gary has been around long enough to know that.

My discontent began before the last presidential election, wondering why John McCain was the best we could do. It's continued to grow, and, ya, having a mounting number of prominent Republican leaders hold no bars when using insults and lies about you and your faith to drum up the faithful isn't a great motivator for me to promote the party. Call me sensitive, but I won't reward low manipulations.

Yet, it's so much more than that, so much more, that disturbs me. If I have to hold my nose to vote, turn the channel when (fill in the blank) Republican embraces another mainstream hatemonger, cannot, with a straight face, make a reasonable argument to others re why they should support the do-nothing GOP, or watch Fox News without wincing, it's time to fold up my tent and move on. I'm just looking for a place to go that doesn't depend on licking my finger and holding it up to the wind.

[Peikko 1,575]

My discontent began before the last presidential election, wondering why John McCain was the best we could do. It's continued to grow, and, ya, having a mounting number of prominent Republican leaders hold no bars when using insults and lies about you and your faith to drum up the faithful isn't a great motivator for me to promote the party. Call me sensitive, but I won't reward low manipulations.

Yet, it's so much more than that, so much more, that disturbs me. If I have to hold my nose to vote, turn the channel when (fill in the blank) Republican embraces another mainstream hatemonger, cannot, with a straight face, make a reasonable argument to others re why they should support the do-nothing GOP, or watch Fox News without wincing, it's time to fold up my tent and move on. I'm just looking for a place to go that doesn't depend on licking my finger and holding it up to the wind.

I don't understand for the life of my why you hold such store with 'belonging to' a political party. There are good republicans, intelligent, articulate and with good ideas. Just because the American media and probably the blogosphere is obsessed with shallow party political hackery does not mean for one moment that you have to buy into it. More than that, you can hold whatever views you wish to and do not have to be defined by one ideology - even when you are a party member or even running for office. The political system is a bit more complex than that.

I do agree with AJ though, that the system could be reformed in ways that would produce more interesting dialogues that don't boil down to 'if you aren't with me, you're against me'.

Anyway, I don't get the need for the drama here either, you don't need to ask people how to think now, do you?

[spookyturtle 9,465]

My life has improved greatly since Obama was elected but he gets none of the credit. I take it all for myself. In general, the economy nad people's lives have deteriorated in the last few years but that is not acceptable to me so I fixed it myself. There IS no recession in our home.

Come on, 'fess up, you owe it all to Obama.

[spookyturtle 9,465]

VW, does your state have an option to be unenrolled? Here in MA you can be unenrolled and then chose which party you want to vote for in the primary. We have a modified closed primary here. Only an unenrolled can chose which ballot they want to vote.

[_Simpson_ 250]

My discontent began before the last presidential election, wondering why John McCain was the best we could do. It's continued to grow, and, ya, having a mounting number of prominent Republican leaders hold no bars when using insults and lies about you and your faith to drum up the faithful isn't a great motivator for me to promote the party. Call me sensitive, but I won't reward low manipulations.

Yet, it's so much more than that, so much more, that disturbs me. If I have to hold my nose to vote, turn the channel when (fill in the blank) Republican embraces another mainstream hatemonger, cannot, with a straight face, make a reasonable argument to others re why they should support the do-nothing GOP, or watch Fox News without wincing, it's time to fold up my tent and move on. I'm just looking for a place to go that doesn't depend on licking my finger and holding it up to the wind.

I see.

I hope you stay because other than things Islam related I always thought you were spot on. Also learning a little about your history has helped me see where you are coming from and this might be just what fellow conservatives need.

[Sofiyya 1,687]

I don't understand for the life of my why you hold such store with 'belonging to' a political party. There are good republicans, intelligent, articulate and with good ideas. Just because the American media and probably the blogosphere is obsessed with shallow party political hackery does not mean for one moment that you have to buy into it. More than that, you can hold whatever views you wish to and do not have to be defined by one ideology - even when you are a party member or even running for office. The political system is a bit more complex than that.

I do agree with AJ though, that the system could be reformed in ways that would produce more interesting dialogues that don't boil down to 'if you aren't with me, you're against me'.

Anyway, I don't get the need for the drama here either, you don't need to ask people how to think now, do you?

It's just a discussion, PH. Ultimately, I will decide what to do, but there's nothing wrong with asking for the constructive input of others.

VW, does your state have an option to be unenrolled? Here in MA you can be unenrolled and then chose which party you want to vote for in the primary. We have a modified closed primary here. Only an unenrolled can chose which ballot they want to vote.

No such option here

I see.

I hope you stay because other than things Islam related I always thought you were spot on. Also learning a little about your history has helped me see where you are coming from and this might be just what fellow conservatives need.

I'm spot on about Islam, too Conservatives, like Muslims, are increasingly defined by their lowest common denominators and not by their critical thinkers. I can't buy nor sell that.

Edited March 26, 2011 by Sofiyya

[chri'stina 190]

I don't understand for the life of my why you hold such store with 'belonging to' a political party. There are good republicans, intelligent, articulate and with good ideas. Just because the American media and probably the blogosphere is obsessed with shallow party political hackery does not mean for one moment that you have to buy into it. More than that, you can hold whatever views you wish to and do not have to be defined by one ideology - even when you are a party member or even running for office. The political system is a bit more complex than that.

I do agree with AJ though, that the system could be reformed in ways that would produce more interesting dialogues that don't boil down to 'if you aren't with me, you're against me'.

Anyway, I don't get the need for the drama here either, you don't need to ask people how to think now, do you?

The political system is complex but the way things are presented here in the US in politics, it usually does matter what party you belong to (if you care about politics). Leaving one party to join another can signal how unsatisfied those people are with how things are going. Sometimes those in charge need to see it.

Of course the two major party system is part of the problem. If more people became Independent and voted according to views and not according to their party alone, that would be much more interesting than the more predictable way things go during elections.

And after reading VJ for so long, it should seem obvious that a lot of the Americans who participate in P&R are defensive of their chosen political party. It's how it is.

[_Simpson_ 250]

I'm spot on about Islam, too Conservatives, like Muslims, are increasingly defined by their lowest common denominators and not by their critical thinkers. I can't buy nor sell that.

It all boils down to you thinking that this is just as much my problem as it is yours and its not. They're hijacking your religion and distorting it. Like it or not this is more Islams problem than any one else and overall were getting very little help from Islam.

[luckytxn 2,264]

My discontent began before the last presidential election, wondering why John McCain was the best we could do. It's continued to grow, and, ya, having a mounting number of prominent Republican leaders hold no bars when using insults and lies about you and your faith to drum up the faithful isn't a great motivator for me to promote the party. Call me sensitive, but I won't reward low manipulations.

Yet, it's so much more than that, so much more, that disturbs me. If I have to hold my nose to vote, turn the channel when (fill in the blank) Republican embraces another mainstream hatemonger, cannot, with a straight face, make a reasonable argument to others re why they should support the do-nothing GOP, or watch Fox News without wincing, it's time to fold up my tent and move on. I'm just looking for a place to go that doesn't depend on licking my finger and holding it up to the wind.

I agree. Seeing that McCain was the best they could do was disgusting. Even seeing that the major media place him front and center at the debates and let him answer any and all questions and the other candidates shuttled to the side was disgusting. Both major parties had some really good people that deserved more than they got and we deserved.

The holding ones nose is due to having two major political parties that try to have a wide tent to encompass as many voters as possible. They both have become pretty much the same and no matter which two parties candidates are fielded they are pretty much the same. I opted out of the majors but Congressman Paul has encouraged me to try to change the party but I am old and do not want to fight politically anymore like I did when I was that young kid and a volunteer. Eventually I moved more into organizing and still get asked to do so but turn all offers down. The GOP still try to send me info but I tell them to get lost but in much stronger words.

I have to agree with you that the media does trot out the more extreme politicians and they make the party look worse than they are. The GOP deserves their reputation even though I know that most Republicans are not that way. In the end we are left with few choices and until many more start searching out and actually voting away from the majors we will never see change. I ask my GOP friends why they don't like my fave politician and I get the negatives and not the many positive features. This is the media and the national party faults to focus on the few negatives.

I just hope that I can keep living the good life I have now and stay as happy as I am. You are not alone in this. There are many disillusioned.

[웃 910]

It's just a discussion, PH.

Did you just do a name history check to find the initials of a prior name to purposely irritate her or do you normally call her PH?

btw, Spooky was the one who referred to you as VW, not 'PH'...

[Sofiyya 1,687]

As far as Muslims and the anti-Islam movement goes, it's a real concern for American Muslims, who voted mostly Republican for Bush. As a group, we are well educated and prosperous, tending toward social and fiscal conservatism, capitalism and self-reliance. I'm a board member of our family trust which, has supported the GOP in the past.

It's not just me that's at a crossroads, most members of the trust are, as well. Not to mention, other wealthy conservative Muslims who are feel unwelcome by the current mood that finds comfort in vilifying our faith and fellow co-religionists, not to mention the spreading xenophobia toward immigrants. Seeme Hasan, also a Colorado resident, is expressing similar doubts. I suppose they have found other sources of funding that support their sharp right direction, and our money could be put to better use.

Influential Donor May Bolt From GOP Over Anti-Muslim Hysteria

An influential Muslim GOP donor is at the end of her tether, and tells TPM she may eventually have to leave the Republican party over its opposition to the Cordoba House project and other anti-Muslim positions.

"I don't know if I'll be a Republican a year from now," says Seeme Hasan, who chairs the Hasan Family Foundation in Colorado, and has close ties to the Republican party leadership. Hasan's frustration with the GOP was evident, and not just over their public opposition to the construction of a Muslim cultural center in lower Manhattan. "Every time a Muslim person becomes famous, they are viciously attacked," Hasan said.

"The past few years in the Republican party has been constant humiliation for Muslims," Hasan told TPM in an interview yesterday evening.

Hasan continues to support the Republican party, including the GOP's Senate nominee from Colorado, Ken Buck, who also opposes the Cordoba project.

Interestingly, though, Hasan says at this point, Republican politicians have little choice but to join the GOP in opposing Cordoba House, and she understands that.

"I would tell him to go ahead and be against it. I did not support it when the top people started this. I did not support that," Hasan said. "Newt and Sarah Palin and all the others made it so the rest of the Republicans have no choice."

Over the past decade, Hasan said, she and her husband have given over a million dollars to the Republican party, and it was evident in conversation with her that she's on a first name basis with party party leaders. "All Republicans in Washington know us," Hasan said. "They could have called to say, 'Hey we are going to come out against this mosque, what do you think?' It's sad."

Though she called into question whether or not she'll remain in the Republican party, Hasan said that in any case it will be difficult, if not impossible, for her to be as supportive of the GOP's presidential nominee in 2012 as she was of George W. Bush in 2000. She says she has only one reason to suspect she'll put a great deal of effort into defeating Barack Obama: His policies are perhaps more anti-Muslim, Hasan says, as Bush's were. "It's like my son says, he's been more hawkish than ####### Cheney."

[Peikko 1,575]

The political system is complex but the way things are presented here in the US in politics, it usually does matter what party you belong to (if you care about politics). Leaving one party to join another can signal how unsatisfied those people are with how things are going. Sometimes those in charge need to see it.

Of course the two major party system is part of the problem. If more people became Independent and voted according to views and not according to their party alone, that would be much more interesting than the more predictable way things go during elections.

And after reading VJ for so long, it should seem obvious that a lot of the Americans who participate in P&R are defensive of their chosen political party. It's how it is.

The bolded is exactly the point. What is 'presented' is what the media chooses to define as what is important. 99% of the time, what is presented is the least important part of politics, the important part is not 'sexy' enough to warrant prime time exposure. That said, that does not mean you have to buy into it and define yourself as a Conservative or a Liberal. Most people have a mixture of conservative and liberal beliefs. I doubt anyone on these boards would deny that liberalism is a necessary requirement for progress in for example technology yet very few would demand a completely laissez faire economy, and that's not even going into the more complex issues of social liberalism and conservatism. These things are not simple, and can't be summed up in a political party that appeals to one and all alike so trying to find solutions in a political party is pretty dumb, well in my opinion anyway.

[Sofiyya 1,687]

Did you just do a name history check to find the initials of a prior name to purposely irritate her or do you normally call her PH?

btw, Spooky was the one who referred to you as VW, not 'PH'...

I probably haven't been VW, as spooky called me, as long as MC hasn't been PH, but we came to know each other by those old handles and tend to fall back on them.