What are you politically?

[Grumpier Than Uncle Joe]

Conservative with strong Libertarian leanings.

[Bono]

I support noninterference in the affairs of others, both economically and socially.

How about in foreign policy?

[afleitch]

Moderately hawkish. Socially liberal, economically conservative, believe in secular government and policy. Oppose the death penalty, pro-Israel

[Undisguised Sockpuppet]

Economic Capitalist, Social Libertarian, against political freedom. Basically I favor a government rthat's economically and socially free but not free on political issues.

[ian]

It's so funny how people have changed.
States was an economic liberal.  (?)
MasterJedi was a social liberal.  (When the hell was that???)
And Opebo was an economic moderate.

Well, I, myself, categorize myself as a social liberal and economic liberservative (flatter taxation, less corporate regulations, but also keep social security and put more into public education).

[Inmate Trump]

I'm mostly moderate on economic issues as well as social issues.

[Tetro Kornbluth]

"Individualist" would be the best way of putting it.

[DownWithTheLeft]

I believe in small yet moral government

I would describe myself as a far-right conservative

[MaC]

Minarchist best describes me.  The midpoint between Libertarianism and Anarcho-capitalism.

Economically-privatise everything.  The only acceptable uses for taxpayer money I can see is supplying internal and external defense (police and military) and providing a justice system.

Socially-I have to say I'm not liberal because I don't believe minority groups should be getting special priviledges that other folk don't.  Also I think smoking, and transfats should be perfectly legal at the buyers discretion.

Foreign-pro-free trade, but against free trade agreements.  I'm for pulling out of 'cause-based' inteventionism including government funding on the War against AIDS as well as military intervention-that is unless war is declared. 

Top hot button issues
Environment
Education
Gun Rights
Third Party Status
Interpretation of the Constitution (or lack thereof)
State's Rights

[Gustaf]

I'm liberal with some conservative leanings. And when I say liberal I don't mean pseudo-socialist like in America and I don't mean libertarian like some people do, I mean actually liberal. Basically, I believe that politics should focus on the rights and needs of the individual, and should never, ever sacrifice an individual for some abstract greater good that is fundamentally irrelevant to human beings.

And in the popular terminology of the forum, I'm socially moderately libertarian and economically very centrist. I believe in the free market and in the economic freedom of the individual but also in our obligation to provide quite a bit of things for those who need our assistance.

[angus]

I am conservative on social issues, but am practically a socialist when it comes to economics. The social issues matter a tad more to me. I don't agree with a single thing Bush has done for the economy, but he is strong on defense, and strong on family values.

I reckon I'm spot on center.  Swing voter.  On social issues I'm way down near the bottom, but they don't generally affect my vote so much.  On the important stuff, though, I'm about as centrist as they come.  Or so that's what the tests say.  In reality, I take leftist positions on some issues (e.g., when in doubt I'd go with environmental protection over its alternative) and I take rightist positions on others (I'm very much opposed to any form of socialized medicine) so on those tests I always come up with zero. 

I think we may have some overlap on Bush.  I think he's stronger of defense than either of his two most recent rivals, Gore and Kerry.  I can't say I'm with him on stuff like gay marriage, though.  But then that's not as relevant to me as defense.

I also think we agree that Bush has turned out to be a really big spender of the public money.  Bigger than his predecessor, for whom I also voted.  In fact, I am no longer convinced that Republicans are really more conservative than Democrats, necessarily, on the issues that matter.  Not that I'd consider voting for Clinton's wife, mind you, but I'd pick a moderate like Obama over a big spender if the republicans want to try their luck with another big spender like Bush next time.  So if you want your party to win, you might try going back to your fiscally responsible roots.

[Gustaf]

I am conservative on social issues, but am practically a socialist when it comes to economics. The social issues matter a tad more to me. I don't agree with a single thing Bush has done for the economy, but he is strong on defense, and strong on family values.

I reckon I'm spot on center.  Swing voter.  On social issues I'm way down near the bottom, but they don't generally affect my vote so much.  On the important stuff, though, I'm about as centrist as they come.  Or so that's what the tests say.  In reality, I take leftist positions on some issues (e.g., when in doubt I'd go with environmental protection over its alternative) and I take rightist positions on others (I'm very much opposed to any form of socialized medicine) so on those tests I always come up with zero. 

I think we may have some overlap on Bush.  I think he's stronger of defense than either of his two most recent rivals, Gore and Kerry.  I can't say I'm with him on stuff like gay marriage, though.  But then that's not as relevant to me as defense.

I also think we agree that Bush has turned out to be a really big spender of the public money.  Bigger than his predecessor, for whom I also voted.  In fact, I am no longer convinced that Republicans are really more conservative than Democrats, necessarily, on the issues that matter.  Not that I'd consider voting for Clinton's wife, mind you, but I'd pick Obama over a big spender if the republicans want to try their luck with another big spender like Bush next time (e.g., Giuliani).  So if you want your party to win, you might try going back to your fiscally responsible roots.

wanting the Republicans to win=getting Angus's vote?

[angus]

ouch.

okay, sister.  be like that.

yeah, well, I'm serious.  I'm all about defense as well, but if you're putting five hundred billion dollars into Iraq, then I'm thinking this isn't exactly conservative.  Anyway, I'm reasonably big on defense as well.  Most of my personal friends are geeks, in one way or another, and depend at least indirectly on the dole, so to speak.  We're all into Big government spending on either chemical, biological, or physical projects.  (I guess that's what keeps me from jumping on the libertarian bandwagon.  that, and I'm neither a plutocrat nor a gun-nut.)  But yeah, all the media-ordained frontrunners like McCain, Giuliani, and Romney, are big on "the surge" and "we haven't made the case as well as we should have" and so on.  I'd love for some seriously conservative republican (i.e., small government type) to have the balls to speak truth to the GOP primary voters.  He might just win, you know.

Still, they do have the edge with me as long as the dems insist on nominating an even bigger Big Government big brother (or big sister).  But if they actually have the intelligence to nominate somebody like Obama, then all bets are off.

And yes, I do think I represent that winning fraction.  Sort of.  Anyway, how many posters here are really swing voters?  I'm guessing fewer than ten people reading this thread can honestly admit to having voted for at least one Democrat and at least one Republican for president in the past couple of decades.

[bullmoose88]

And yes, I do think I represent that winning fraction.  Sort of.  Anyway, how many posters here are really swing voters?  I'm guessing fewer than ten people reading this thread can honestly admit to having voted for at least one Democrat and at least one Republican for president in the past couple of decades.

Haven't had enough presidential elections to vote in...but so far Democrat 1, Republican 0. Down ballot is a mess too.

LWRP represent!

[○∙◄☻¥tπ[╪AV┼cVê└]

I think we may have some overlap on Bush.  I think he's stronger of defense than either of his two most recent rivals, Gore and Kerry.  I can't say I'm with him on stuff like gay marriage, though.  But then that's not as relevant to me as defense.

How is Bush strong on defense? He was AWOL, ignored the 8/06/01 memo titled "Bin Laden determined to strike in US", let Bin Laden get away at Tora Bora, and then invaded an unrelated country for no good reason. Bush is truly awful at defense.

[YRABNNRM]

I think I've shifted over the past few months to slightly Socially Liberal/Economic Conservative catogory. I wouldn't say Im that much of a social liberal but I disagree with the conservative views on gay marrage, and some views on abortion.

LOL

[angus]

well, jfern, it's reasonable to say that Bush has been far from perfect, as was his predecessor, when it comes to dealing with Al Qaeda.  Neither he nor Clinton kept us free from danger.  I'm not sure anyone could have.  Although both had opportunities which were wasted, with regards to capturing Bin Laden.  Look, I'm not comparing Bush to Ubermann, just to the competition.  Sure, I'd vote for Angus' Ideal Candidate over Generic Republican.  I'm assuming that any post any of us makes need not make clear such easily inferred presuppositions.

I guess the subtext is that if we'd listened to the anti-internal combustion engine crowd in the first place, then we'd not be in the fix we're in now.  After all, if you're not addicted to a commodity, it's hard to convince the united states senate to spend the national treasure chasing it.  On that point, I'd say you may be on to Gore's strength.  Still, I found Gore stiff and unappealing.  Not uninformed, though.  But well-informed doesn't mean he's ready for prime-time.  Let's not re-live 2000 again.

Anyway, Bush will not run for president in 2008, so let's keep it real.

[adam]

Socially: As far as social issues are concerned, I am all over the map. If I had to choose a more specific label. I would say moderate libertarian conservative.
*I support abortion in the first trimester and in RLM cases (yes, I left incest out intentionally as I do not see it as a relevant factor in determing the morality of abortion).
*I strongly support the death penalty, including extending it's use to rape and child molestation.
*I fully support the deregulation of marijuana, as well as the end to the War on Drugs.
*I oppose government enforced political correctness.
*I oppose smoking bans as well as "sin taxes".
*I oppose gay-marriage, but support civil unions.
*I'm strongly opposed to illegal immigration. I support jail time for employees who hire illegal immigrants, as well much stricter enforcement of our immigration laws at the border. I also support establishing English as the national language.
*I strongly support government funded stem cell research.
*I oppose gun control legislation.
*I am pro-prostitution.
*I am pro-euthanasia.

Economically: While not as all over the map as I am socially, I am still rather moderate in my economic views. As most of you know, I have been pretty wishy washy on my fiscal issues. A lot of soul searching and research into the issues (as opposed to the knee jerk, ideological hackery I used to use) has led me to what I feel is a new comfort zone. I would call myself a populist leaning moderate conservative
*I support dumping the IRS and replacing it with a national sales tax.
*I support significantly increasing funding for education.
*I support downsizing welfare and other social programs, and replacing them with job training programs.
*I strongly oppose ANY affirmative action program.
*I support privatising a portion of social security.
*I oppose increasing the minimum wage.
*I support free trade, but oppose NAFTA and GATT.
*While I do not nessecarily support increasing it, I would strongly oppose cutting foreign aid.
*I support ending congressional earmarks.
*I oppose additional environmental funding.
*There are some instances in which I would support tariffs.

[Queen Mum Inks.LWC]

socially and fiscally conservative--but I'll sacrifice my fiscal feelings to preserve social conservativism.

[TomC]

Social libertarian and economic moderate.

[CultureKing]

Social Liberal
Economic moderate liberal

[TeePee4Prez]

Social: Liberal, but not far-left.  Crime and Punishment issues keep me from being that.  I feel parents have to take more active roles rather than the government.  My heart does not bleed for the blacks and I oppose AA, BUT I also hold Frank Rizzo partially responsible for causing racial animosity in Philly.

Economics: Straddling the left side of the fence.  Reagan = too far right, Carter= too far left.  More in the Biden/Schumer/Rendell mold. 

Overall: Libertarian-leaning liberal

[Frodo]

I don't really know anymore......

[jokerman]

I don't really know anymore......

Blue Dog Democrat

[Smash255]

I think I've shifted over the past few months to slightly Socially Liberal/Economic Conservative catogory. I wouldn't say Im that much of a social liberal but I disagree with the conservative views on gay marrage, and some views on abortion.

LOL

When I saw this thread again and your post I was about to quote it, but you beat me to it.