I'm not asking what party you vote for, but how you describe your political beliefs. Are you right/left, moderate, independent, etc. What political thinkers do you admire the most?

As for me, I am an independent, free-thinking pragmatist. I can't resist playing Devil's Advocate, which gets me in trouble. Absurdity trumps everything with me, which is why Clinton is one of my favorite presidents. Other faves are Harry Truman and Theodore Roosevelt. Of course, I can't stop you from flaming me, but I really am interested in this question. I want to know if the cbid BBers are as predominately conservative as they seem.

Conservative with Libertarian leanings. A strong foundation in the preservation of States rights and a longing for a MUCH smaller government with term limits. Senators and Congressmen have become accustomed to an entitlement that NEVER should be there. A pension! That involves a career, and that my friends is what is wrong with our system. Career politicians. Get in,serve, and move up or on not stay there forever and collect wealth beyond the reach of citizens that elect them.

There was a time in my life where I used to vote for the person and not the party. That line was forever damaged during the Reagan years. Here we had a REAL President(Read Reagan...In His Own Hand) that could barely get any of his initives passed because of political posturing. Now it's straight ticket. I didn't like voting for Bob Dole, but Clinton wasn't even an option! 3rd party candidates are throw away votes because they wouldn't have a party behind them to pass ANYTHING! I doubt that a 3rd party President could even get a Cabinet approved!

Conservative, without the Religious Right extreme beliefs! I think Republicans should toss the Falwells and Robertsons out of the Party! This makes me a middle of the road/moderate Republican with Hawkish leanings, attempt to negotiate (if no interest as in Iraq) bomb them and then negotiate!

Charlie

Charlie, agree totally. the takeover of the Republican party by the religious right soured me on the RP. I still vote for some Rs but as individuals, not because of their party.

"The government that governs best, governs least"

The ONLY legitmate functions of government are those that can be performed in NO other way ... our government has grown to be so prodigious that it's far beyond the wildest imaginings of our founding fathers to say nothing of being far beyond our needs and far beyond control ... the "entitlement" programs spawned by greedy politicians doling out OUR money to buy the votes of the uneducated and unthinking masses should be eliminated en masse ...

Social Security is a prime example ... pure and simple, it is a classic Ponzi scheme and if it were being run by private enterprise where people could choose to buy into it or not, it would be declared illegal under existing law and the perpetrators put in prison ...

The hue and cry from the liberal left against the corporate greed of those behind the fraud would be exceeded only by the hue and cry that would come from those same liberals if the present program were to be abolished ...

OH, JR ... what a soapbox ... best I not go on ... I could write all day on this subject and not run out of words to speak my mind ...

Conservative? ... perhaps. By San Francisco standards, I most certainly am, but I grew up in Utah where I was viewed as a liberal by the yardstick of the community there ...

I do tend to vote for a lot more Republicans than Democrats, don't waste my time or my vote on 3rd party candidates, although the Libertarians are in some respects closer to my views than are the major parties ...

DocMaddVibe said it pretty well and concisely above ... perhaps I should have just written ... "What DMV said"

i gotta agree with everyone here. i would call myself a republican, if several of said party weren't so darn embarassing. i like the quote steve said about the government that governs most does so least. the old less is more theory. ( or kiss- keep it simple stupid)

Yes, the Republicans have some embarrasments!! But OMG, look at Al Gore, Fat Red Nose Teddy, Congressman Franks, etc!!!

Charlie

Conservative/Libertarian - I vote 3rd party or repub. views
Stop immigration no. 1
ban abortions except to save mothers life or rape/incest no 2
shut down the IRS no 3

Agree heartily with no. 3.

put me down for WHOLE-heartedly

I know this is gonna get me flamed, but I don't think banning all immigration and abortion is consistent with a libertarian philosophy.

I for keeping my own money instead of giving it to people who do nothing but sit at home and have kids they can't afford because they have no clue who the father is and have no motivation to better themselves or their small village...I mean children.

I am for the flat tax income tax, of 15% no writeoffs, no exemptions and also for the death penalty in a timely fashion!

Close down the damn borders for about next 5 years or so and ship back all of the so called "student visa" holders!

Free cigars!

Charlie

No flame here re; the thought that all immigration and abortion can and should not be stopped ... what should be stopped is the the wholesale, headlong rush of each ...

A reasonable, controlled flow of legal immigrants should be allowed ... the flood of illegals and undesireables must be controlled and stopped.

Abortion has a just and rightful place, but I think that mere "inconvenience" is not included in that ... 26 years ago, I was appalled at the casual manner in which an otherwise caring doctor suggested to MrsS that if her newly discovered pregnancy were not convenient for us, that was a readily available solution ... regard for human life really should carry a lot more regard than that ...

Bottom line, IMNSHO, is that it is not possible to legislate and/or spend all problems out of existance and that the effort on the part of our do-good legislators to do just that in the past 50 years has created an immense, unworkable, overly-costly behemoth in the place that a sleek, well-run government should be running. Big-brother does NOT know better and should not be my constant guardian ... for example, I do not need or want his demand that I wear my automobile seat belt or be fined for not doing so ... it just flat isn't his business.

I'm getting launched again and promised I wouldn't ... sorry 'bout that ... best I save some space for others

Isn't "political philosphy" an oxymoron? Like "Military Intelligence"

Barry

Couple of great points for discussion on this thread.

Steve, you're right that government shouldn't make you wear a seatbelt, but in doing so shouldn't your insurance rate be higher than those that do? Don't get me wrong, I hate big government and find myself leaning more towards the Libertarian philosophy each day.
I used to be registered as "independent" and claimed to be fiscally conservative and socially liberal. Hogwash. I'm quite conservative in most of my beliefs. That does NOT, however, preclude me from being a "freethinker" as many independants like to suggest. My new-found Republican realization is simply an issue of honesty (with myself).

Abortion is convenience plain and simple. "Choice" is what you do when you're picking out a wardrobe. Stopping a beating heart isn't.

Immigration isn't our problem at the borders. It's our insistance to financially support the non-citizens that burns me. My ancestors came here legally and worked to make a living. Others who do the same are more than welcome. It's the parasites that come here and surp the welfare systems that cause the real problems. Stop welfare to non-Americans and you'll see an end to unwanted immigrants, with no further border control needed.

I would identify myself as being socially liberal and fiscally conservative.

I definitely agree that the government gets involved in way too many parts of my life, and takes too much of my money. But on the other side of the coin I feel we have a duty to help others, not by simply throwing money at our problems, but by fixing them. I think if we give those who want and deserve a better life the opportunity to make one for themselves then we can create a win-win situation. Obviously, this is vary idealistic and probably an unattainable goal, but our current systems don't have a chance at solving the problems.

I agree with some of you that the religious right has hurt the republican party, and the heated question on abortion is lumped in there for me as well. If the republican party distanced themselves from these two elements they would gain 5-10% more votes overnight!! I don’t classify myself as a baby killer and in fact I would never ask a woman to get an abortion, but I don’t think it’s my place or my right to make that decision for everyone, and nor do I think it’s the government’s or anyone else’s right.

The sad thing is that the American government is not the only problem, we still elect these turds, and this points to the greater problems within our society. I don’t question that this is far and away the best country in the world, what I question is the complacence towards making it even better!!

That's my two cents, let the flaming begin, but please read before you flame...

Anything opposite of Rickamaven!

Not trying to side with anyone, I speak my mind. Don't talk $hit unless you have the ball$ to state your views first!!

Chris, well-stated and eloquent. I agree with everything you said. You should be a politician!