WHY ARE YOU A REPUBLICAN

[williamlayton]

Now this should not turn into a bashing of anyone. If you are or consider yourself to be a republican can you define why you are. Please stick to why you are without why you are not a democrat, libertarian or whatever. Just simply what draws you to the republican party. I am not trying to bait anyone as I will not respond to any post.
Blessings

[Shorty]

Quite simple.  The Republican party is generally the pro-second ammendment party.  You don't want to know why I am NOT Democrat, but the two can't be separated.  I'll give you a few reasons; Pelosi, Kennedy, Schumer, Boxer, Biden, Clinton, Kerry, Dodd, all Democrats, and all the greatest enemies of MY rights!

[Swamp Fox]

There are times I ask myself the same question.

In the end it comes down to core values.

[azshooter]

Now this should not turn into a bashing of anyone. If you are or consider yourself to be a republican can you define why you are. Please stick to why you are without why you are not a democrat, libertarian or whatever. Just simply what draws you to the republican party. I am not trying to bait anyone as I will not respond to any post.
Blessings

Mainly because of the second amendment and they are the only party with enough power and will to defend it.  I am not registered Republican but almost always voth the Republican ticket.  The Republicans also are strong on defense which is a key issue.

[magooch]

I guess I'm a Republican as a matter of simple reality.  Whether we like it or not, for all practical purposes this is a two party country.  Oh yeah, there are a lot of other parties, but they are more symbolic than anything else.  At least for the present, either the Democrat candidate or the Republican is going to be the President and with very few exceptions, the rest of the Federal and State level politicians are also going to be Republicans or Democrats.

While the Republicans do not always govern the way I would like, their general phylosophy of a strong defense, limited government (I wish), adherence to the Constitution and lower taxes, puts that party a whole lot closer to my thinking than the Democrats (socialists) will ever be.

I've been around long enough to realize that most of the time things will not go the way I would like to see them go and the Republicans won't always be where I am, but in the real world, one has to go with the lesser of two evils.

[ironglow]

While I am not now a Republican ( I am a Conservative), I identify much more`with the Reps.
   Shorty and Magooch spoke well, perhaps I can add to it.
 
    The Republicans hold the morally higher ground!
 We are "judged bty the "company we keep"!
  Let's see what kind of company each major party keeps

 

 Reps: NRA, Christian Evangelicals, Constructionist judges, REAL conservationists, Pro-Lifers, Pro family groups...

  Dems: Gun"control" groups, athiests, activist judges, Animal rights whackos7 eviro-whackos, pro-aborts..Family destruction (gay marriage) groups..

 

Personalities;
 
  Reps: R. Reagan; Charlton Heston, Rev. Falwell, Ted Nugent, The Rockl,
 Billy Graham, Gen Alex Haig, Gen Powell, most of the military..and Barney the dog.

 Dems: Bill Clinton, Ted Kennedy, James Carville, Jane  Fonda, BS...Barbra Streisand, Al Franken(stein),  George C Looney,
   most pervert organizations...and Buddy the dog...(he's dead now,as are many who dedicated themselves to the Clintons over the years).

   
Reps: Believe in hard work, self-sufficency and "rugged individualism".

   Dems: Prefer "government jobs", dependency upon a "nanny state", and Socialism.

   
Reps;
   Believe in FREE SPEECH, the whole 1st amendment, and the second amendment also.

  Dems:
   Endorse restrictive "politically correct" speech, can't decipher the part of the first amendment that says that no law shall "prohibit the free exercise thereof" when it referred to religious expression..

   

Reps: By recent polls, are MUCH more likely to be church goers and believe in God, they tend to reinforce Biblical values...

    Dems: More secular; more inclined to permit lying, perversion and various sins and weaknesses

   

If thing keep going as they have in the recent past...we will clearly have a Godly party and an Ungodly party...just my 2 cts...

 
 Just a few reasons William...want a half-million more?

[Thomas Krupinski]

Now I am sorry to have to say this, but I don't really see that much difference between Democrats and Republicans.  

That is when you compare what they actually do, with what they tell you they are in favor of and support.  They got all kinds of ways of hiding that.

Now I guess I am just cynical, but personally it's really hard to imagine why someone would want to pay more to run for an office that paid less than the cost of the campaign.  A good example of that is in our state legislature and I also see it, although better hidden, in Washington.

[ironglow]

Tom;
  Can't see the difference...did you take any note of the various vast contrasts I pointed out....
   
   Is there a difference between supporting the entire first amendment, and choosing only part to protect?

   Is there a difference between defending the second amendment, and working to destroy it?

   Is there a difference between saving a baby boy or girl's life...and doing you best to continue the holocaust of abortion?

  Is there a difference between preserving thousands of loggers jobs and destroying them for the falsely claimed, protection for the fictitious, Northern Spotted Owl?

   Is there a difference between defending our national flag ..or burning it?

  Is there a difference between normal, traditional marriage and the revolting "gay marriage" ?

  Is there a difference between the moral values of Ronald Reagan, Dan Quayle and George Bush....and the moral values of Bill Clinton, Teddy kennedy and Barney Frank ?


    Starting to get the picture now? Don't really see how one can miss it!!!

[Thomas Krupinski]

Ironglow,

I certainly took note of those things, and have for a very long time.

But where the problem is, and this seems to affect both of the major parties, that they spout to their constituanties what they think you want to hear.  Then when the chips are down, something seems to come up or occur and the results you want just don't happen.  

This has been going on for a long time.  They have many tricks to hide and cover what happens.  What do you think is at the root of it?  I suspect it's just personal greed at our expense.

[Rummer]

I am an ideological conservative and my party affiliation is republican.  I will briefly point out that not all conservatives are Republicans and damn few republican politicians are conservative.

I considered joining the Libertarian party but I didn't want to give up my vote in the primary (We were so close to replacing Arlen Specter with a real conservative here in PA).

John

[Thomas Krupinski]

I am an ideological conservative and my party affiliation is republican.  I will briefly point out that not all conservatives are Republicans and damn few republican politicians are conservative.

I considered joining the Libertarian party but I didn't want to give up my vote in the primary (We were so close to replacing Arlen Specter with a real conservative here in PA).

John

John,

I usually vote republician, but went ahead and registered as Libertian.  Did that as they needed a certain number registered to be able to field canidates on the ballot and I felt it was important to have their voice out there.

[ironglow]

Of course Conservative and Libertarian are not "two peas in a pod".
  As  Conservatives, we have certain things in common with the Libertarians; limited government, self-sufficency, minimum taxes etc., but there are other areas where we could not differ more.
  Conservatives do not believe that unscruplous individuals should be allowed to sell drugs to kids: some federal  programs , such as the FAA and the highway system, as well as a STRONG military are necessary.
  Conservatives believe that our nation should have a viable "moral compass", such as the basic wisdom pointed out in the Bible.
   Without a basic moral compass, we can barely exist as a nation, with every citizen trying to play by a different rule book.
   We see just a taste of this when the Libs push "multiculturalism".

   As a nation, we need things that unite...not divide.

  It may be unfair, but I like to describe a Libertarian as a Conservative with Anarchist tendancies...

[Thomas Krupinski]

Of course Conservative and Libertarian are not "two peas in a pod".
  As  Conservatives, we have certain things in common with the Libertarians; limited government, self-sufficency, minimum taxes etc., but there are other areas where we could not differ more.
  Conservatives do not believe that unscruplous individuals should be allowed to sell drugs to kids: some federal  programs , such as the FAA and the highway system, as well as a STRONG military are necessary.
  Conservatives believe that our nation should have a viable "moral compass", such as the basic wisdom pointed out in the Bible.
   Without a basic moral compass, we can barely exist as a nation, with every citizen trying to play by a different rule book.
   We see just a taste of this when the Libs push "multiculturalism".

   As a nation, we need things that unite...not divide.

  It may be unfair, but I like to describe a Libertarian as a Conservative with Anarchist tendancies...

When the Conservative Fundamentalist start sound like the flipside of Muslum Fumdamentalist with their conviction of one way for everyone, their way, which is the only way, it makes me long for freedom from religion.  My relationship with god is a personal one and I don't need or appreciate anyone else, (especially government) to butt in and tell me that I am doing it wrong!  

I won't try to tell you how how to interact with your interpretation of god and my advise to you is to not harass me with your opinions on how I or anyone else may be doing it wrong.

Honesty, intergetry, morality, and strength of character are personal values and strengths and are not the exclusive domain of organized religion.

Now I believe that the founding fathers of this republic were described as anachists by the tories.

[williamlayton]

I AM NOT REPLYING, well cause I said I would not. This whole thing was to try and find out what folks thought, what they considered a Republican, Democrat, Libertarian to be and why they might associate theirownself with them.
We are not far apart fellows.
MY THOUGHTS on what I am.
I am very conservative.
I am very much on the side of the Lord, I wish I could say I was good enough to be but my own judgement of me finds a lot of lacking. Mercy I cry.
I find myownself despondent with mass approval of a party system and find a great deal of fault in it. I wish, yea I know if a bullfrog had wings, there was a strong outpouring of real statesmanship, real individuals who would stand and accept responsibility. That is the real concern with the party system.
back in days of old, I have had this argument with a professor in several government classes. He and I both grimaced when we learned of the need to be associated for another semester.
He was very pro party and thought the only way was to vote for a platform-a one party ticket.
I have a very real problem of endorsing a platform in whole, good with bad, all or nothing. I think this leads to hidden agendas, hidden controls. The party system has a way of throwing out bones to keep the dogs from growling. The party system has no feelings or common contact with people.
I have no real problems with the majority rule, I just want the mass to do the ruling. I will take my chances with the majority.
I do not believe that is what we have in this nation today, and, well I do not think we have a mass that gives a damn. Lord come quickly.
Blessings

[ironglow]

William;
  Oh to have the people rule...a noble ideal indeed, but as in all history, parties (coalitions) will form.

   I am very skeptical of the "masses" ruling...at what point does mass turn to mob?
   Just because majority rules; doesn't mean the majority is right! Pure democracy can be one of the worst of all systems.
 
  One of our fellow posters on here or the former Marlin talk, quoted a wise person as a tag line:

"Democracy is two wolves and a lamb, voting on what will be for dinner.
Liberty is a well armed lamb , debating the outcome."

   We see what happens when the "masses" have the opportunity to vote themselves a new largess from the national treasury.

    For democracy to begin to work, several things must be present:
  1) All must have the best intentions for the country.

  2) We must have a VERY well informed electorate. If they are to choose between "Frick & Frack" they must know all about them...the good, the bad and the ugly.
  In this, our partisan media fails completely.

  3) We must be all "operating from the same page". If we are to do anything as a nation, we must agree upon what is right and what is wrong.
   Our nation has, in years past, been guided basically by the values of Judeo-Christian truths. Now , even that has been fractured by the activist unbelievers.

  4) Voters must be able to vote intelligently.
  They should be able to read and comprehend the dominant language,  (how else could they be informed?)
   Now days we are blessed with people that can't even understand what instructions mean when they say... punch the card completely through, leaving no part attached...Duh!

  5) Somehow...there should be a balance arranged so those that live a life of parasitism, do not have the same voting power where expenditures are concerned, as those (most of us) who are to pay the bill.

   Barring all these things and a few more being put into place, our only real choice is to find the party or candidates that get CLOSEST to our ideas, and back them.
   It won't always be the same party, especially in local elections: in fact , I look upon a straight-ticket voter with skepticism...don't you?

[williamlayton]

Well I do get off in a purple haze now an then, dreaming only produces longing.
PS--I am not holding my breath.
Blessings

[lgm270]

I am a Republican because I hate the Republican Party less than I hate the Democratic Party....not much less...but less.

[Antlurz]

"I didn't leave the Democratic party, the Democratic party left me." ~ Ronald Reagan

Close enuf...

Ron

[Mikey]

I don't think there's really a choice.  I think that overall the democrats favor a 'change with the wind' interpretation of rights, standards, ethics and morals type of mentality, leaving little to be learned or remembered from the lessons of history.  Their view on the Constitution reflects that and they have, too often, called for a Constitutional Convention to in order to 'rewrite' or 'reinterpret' that document.

I think the Republicans like the Constitution just the way it is and see no need for change, which suits me fine.  

There is no need to make change for the sake of change, especially when change is not needed and will serve no good cause.  

I see the structure of the Constitution with the 2nd Amendment supporting the First Amendment and providing 'umbrella' coverage for all the others.  Any change to that structure and we will then find ourselves facing 'TASS', The Truth, as an oppressive gov't would have us see it.  It is bad enough with the liberal press now, imagine what kind of crap they would have us believe if there weren't controls on gov't - that is, the kind of controls that allow us to exercise our freedoms the Constitution gives us.  

No! We really don't have a choice.  If we want to keep our freedoms we need to think in terms of which party will honor those freedoms the most.  The democratic party seems to honor them only for its own purposes - like kerry, shumer and feinstein owning guns but the rest of us don't need to.  Fortunately, the Republican party properly identifies them as individual, not state's rights.  

And that's why I vote with the Elephant.  Who wants to be represented by a jackass.  Mikey.

[Lee Garton]

I'm Republican because i'm for gun's and good values in life and alot of other thing's. But most of all, all the peopel that Shorty namd on he's post Plus the peopel like George Soros that are backing the democrat's. WAnt to turn this country to the communist party as fare as i see it when it come's right down to it. Once they have gun controll it's all over whit.

[crazyjjk]

I think politicians from either party are only for themselves. The way I see it, it has nothing to do with rights or morals or beliefs. It has to do with polls, votes, money and power. They politicians will follow whatever they believe will benefit themselves the most.

[williamlayton]

Well this has been an interesting read and study for me. The results were not much different from what I expected from such a group. You folks aint exactly a broad crossection of the population. Kinda the opposite, like asking bears why they live in the woods. Did not expect, or get, any replys from the left.
Thanks for the replys and thoughts.
Blessings