Should I be a Republican?

[KEmperor]

You don't support captialism.

Neither did Lincoln.

Capitalism is a pox on the world.

I'm not going to touch that second statement, but Lincoln most certainly did support capitalism.  The Republican Party's platform in 1860 states that they support the development of the country's industrial interests and policies that favor commercial prosperity.

[??????????]

Lincoln legalized the corporation. He was the first true capitalist. And West Virginia was created illegaly.

[Ben.]

every normal person should be a republican.

Hey! What about sensible Blue Dogs like yours truly we're the most sensible Democrats around

[Ben.]

I should be a Republican, because I support all the things Abraham Lincoln supported.

Hmmm...things have kinda moved on since the 1860's and the issues have changed, I'm not a Democrat because I support all the things James Buchanan or John Breckinridge supported.

As for Lincoln, he had little or no regard for the constitution, this is shown firstly in that he fought the war with the south in the first place and secondly through some his actions during the war such as the creation of WV and the intention to create a Pro-Union state out of Eastern Tennessee, his suspension of Habeas Corpus was another instance of his disregard for the constitution.

On another point Lincoln was a great believer in free enterprise and the value of individualism and hard work (With his back ground that is very understandable) he was never an opponent of capitalism, if anything it was the south which was anti-capitalist in the sense of opposing what they saw as the worst excesses of unrestrained capitalism in the land of the “All Mighty Dollar” where huge corporations and rich business man pushed out the smaller and less well supported competition and it was this same popular sentiment that would feed the populist party’s brief rise a generation after the civil war.    

[Fritz]

I disagree with the notion that Lincoln had little or no regard for the constitution.  Read Lincoln's first Inaugaral address.

[12th Doctor]

no, while you may be a moderate libertarian-leaning conservative, the GOP is ran by right wing nuts. You don't belong in the party of DeLay, Gingrich and Santorum.

Yeah and Giuliani and Pataki and Powell and Ridge and Snowe.  Man, what a bunch of far out right-wingers those people are.

look at what faction is in control now. Who's in the leadership positions in the House and Senate?

For all the talk about how the far-right is taking over, they certainly haven't accomplished much.

[they don't love you like i love you]

Boss, you said you were a big fan of Howard Dean and would vote for him. How many Republicans would say that? You said you hate Pataki, a more moderate Republican. Are there any Republicans you will vote for in November? Are you going to vote for Schumer? You're definately more of an independent than a Republican, even a moderate one. Go with a green icon.

[they don't love you like i love you]

no, while you may be a moderate libertarian-leaning conservative, the GOP is ran by right wing nuts. You don't belong in the party of DeLay, Gingrich and Santorum.

Yeah and Giuliani and Pataki and Powell and Ridge and Snowe.  Man, what a bunch of far out right-wingers those people are.

look at what faction is in control now. Who's in the leadership positions in the House and Senate?

For all the talk about how the far-right is taking over, they certainly haven't accomplished much.

they have in some cases, those just didn't get much press, such as Bush's plan that allowed businesses to strip many workers of their overtime pay. And look at the right wing nuts Bush is appointing to judicial seats.

[they don't love you like i love you]

interesting, I just found this article too:

http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/national/179636_enron26.html

[© tweed]

Boss, you said you were a big fan of Howard Dean and would vote for him. How many Republicans would say that? You said you hate Pataki, a more moderate Republican. Are there any Republicans you will vote for in November? Are you going to vote for Schumer? You're definately more of an independent than a Republican, even a moderate one. Go with a green icon.

-I don't Pataki (I was middle of the road before he messed us the budget)
-I like Giuliani
-I will vote for schumer

[Keystone Phil]

What would make you vote for Schumer?

[© tweed]

What would make you vote for Schumer?

I would vote for Rudy over him, but he isn't that bad.  plus the guy running against him is an absolute laughingstock.  He is a two-term state assemblyman.  The last poll had Schumer up 72-17%.

[Keystone Phil]

well there is that Michael Benjamin running for the GOP nomination (highly unlikely he'll win but Mills isn't the nominee yet). No doubt Mills will lose to Schumer but not THAT bad. I can't believe the NY GOP couldn't get a strong candidate.

[Bandit3 the Worker]

Lincoln legalized the corporation. He was the first true capitalist.

Whatever.

You must be logged in to read this quote.

No, it was not.

The Constitution says you can't carve a new state out of an existing U.S. state without the existing state's permission. Virginia, however, had opted to secede from the U.S., and therefore was not a U.S. state.

[Bandit3 the Worker]

if anything it was the south which was anti-capitalist in the sense of opposing what they saw as the worst excesses of unrestrained capitalism

Slavery was an excess of unrestrained capitalism.

[??????????]

Lincoln legalized the corporation. He was the first true capitalist.

Whatever.

You must be logged in to read this quote.

No, it was not.

The Constitution says you can't carve a new state out of an existing U.S. state without the existing state's permission. Virginia, however, had opted to secede from the U.S., and therefore was not a U.S. state.

But Lincoln said that no southern state really seceded. He believed they were still a part of the union.

[KEmperor]

if anything it was the south which was anti-capitalist in the sense of opposing what they saw as the worst excesses of unrestrained capitalism

Slavery was an excess of unrestrained capitalism.

Hmm.....do you listen to yourself when you speak, or do you just repeat everything your parrot says?

[bullmoose88]

Is the Boss that much more liberal than I am?

I'd actually think he's more conservative.

[MarkDel]

I've had similar results before but its the fundamental commitment to Social Justice and the role of government that leaves me a democrat even if i have more in common with some Republican moderates than many Democratic Liberals, In short I'm in a similar boat to Jo Lieberman or Evan Bayh, I think you proably are to

Ben,

You need to go to "R.A." which is short for Republicans Anonymous...LOL

You need to stand up in front of a room of people and admit it, like those poor alcoholics do, and say, "I have to come to grips with a serious problem and admit that I've been in denial for a long, long time. I am a REPUBLICAN....there I said it...I'm gonna scream it out loud....I AM A REPUBLICAN..."

Then break down in tears...LOL

Come on man, when are you gonna come to grips with it? You've already admitted that the Michael Moores of the world are FAR worse than people like Rush Limbaugh...you are more than half way there!

My wife is probably more liberal than you, but she switched to the Republican Party a few years back. Why??? It was because of POLITICS and not POLICY. She could no longer support a party that tolerated VERMIN like Michael Moore or Al Franken, and NOW, you have party leaders like Al Gore and Howard Dean who are MAYBE two steps up from Michael Moore on the Troll Food Chain!!!

[Keystone Phil]

I'd actually think he's more conservative.

I think he is, too.

[they don't love you like i love you]

Boss, you said you were a big fan of Howard Dean and would vote for him. How many Republicans would say that? You said you hate Pataki, a more moderate Republican. Are there any Republicans you will vote for in November? Are you going to vote for Schumer? You're definately more of an independent than a Republican, even a moderate one. Go with a green icon.

-I don't Pataki (I was middle of the road before he messed us the budget)
-I like Giuliani
-I will vote for schumer

well did you vote for Pataki in 2002? And Giuliani's not running for anything. It seems to me that it's strange to be a Republican when you don't vote for any Republicans. And in 2008 who do you see voting for? I know you've said you would vote for McCain, but it's very unlikely he'll run (too old + has skin cancer, plus it's unlikely he'd get the nom). Like I said, you strike me as an independent, same as bullmoose.

[Filuwaúrdjan]

I'd say you're more of an Independent. You *did* vote for Perot (and would have voted for Anderson).

[Ben.]

   

I disagree with the notion that Lincoln had little or no regard for the constitution.  Read Lincoln's first Inaugaral address.

He may have made a speech saying that he would respect the constitution but come now... look at his actions? The suspension of Habeas Corpus, starting the war in the first place and the creation of WV in of themselves where gross violations of the US Constitution and do not forget that written records have shown that Lincoln personally sanctioned the brutal tactics of Union irregular forces in Kentucky and Missouri in their fighting with Confederate irregular forces and he also supported similar tactics employed by Ben "butcher" Butler in New Orleans and as well as in other areas of the south.

Lincoln receives too much of a free pass imho, that said I understand his reasoning and motivation I just think that he was wrong, that said as far a secession as an issue is concerned where I to have lived at the time I think I would have found it very hard to cast my lot with either side, as it was for many leaders on both sides most notably the likes of James Longstreet and Robert E Lee.

[elcorazon]

Conservative Issue Stances:

Economics

-Free Trade, do not link human rights violations into trade with China
-No Universal Health Care
-Balance the Budget
-Tax relief on middle class Americans

All in all, build a government that taxes and spends less, and trades with other countries to keep industries growing and moving.

Social Issues

-Ban on late-term abortion, undecided on Roe v. Wade
-Rethinking Gun Control
-Rethinking Death Penalty
-Rethinking AA
-Rethinking Vouchers

I think I need to know what you mean by "rethinking", but I also would like to know how you feel about the environment,  bill of rights, etc.  From what you have put here, you could go either way.

[© tweed]

well did you vote for Pataki in 2002? And Giuliani's not running for anything. It seems to me that it's strange to be a Republican when you don't vote for any Republicans. And in 2008 who do you see voting for? I know you've said you would vote for McCain, but it's very unlikely he'll run (too old + has skin cancer, plus it's unlikely he'd get the nom). Like I said, you strike me as an independent, same as bullmoose.

I voted for Golisano in 2002.