Re: Re- intro's and welcomes
I am a liberal who votes based on issues.
Issues that are on the top of my list:
Equal Rights
Seperation of Church and State
Healthcare
Re: Re- intro's and welcomes
I don't vote on the party - oftentimes, don't vote on the specific issues. I will generally vote for the candidate whom I think is the most level-headed and practical in addressing the issues, whether the approach is conservative, liberal, or in between.
Later edit: Phaedrus' note highlights a possible shortcoming in my communication skills. My evaluation of candidates is on their analytic and decision-making processes, not their political personalities.
Re: Re- intro's and welcomes
I tend to vote Republican but several Democratic candiates in this past election got my vote. I try to vote issues rather than lock step party.
FBR
Re: Re- intro's and welcomes
I don't belong to any political party-I just don't trust any of 'em anymore, no matter the ideology. In the past, I've voted for Democrats, Republicans and various candidates from other parties, depending upon whom I thought would do the best job. As to what is important to me re: politics, environment, healthcare and the differing business climates in various states of the U.S. And I care much more about issues than specific political personalities.
PhaedrusZ
Re: Re- intro's and welcomes
I always vote the platform, not the party.
That said, there's not much point in voting for parties that can't win enough seats to matter legislatively, so I don't vote out of pure principle--otherwise I'd vote libertarian everytime. :D
Pragmatism over dogmatism.
Re: Re- intro's and welcomes
I'm a libertarian, and always vote for the candidate who will enact the fewest new restrictions on my life, who will tax away the least amount of my money, and who will uphold my freedom both internationally and locally.
Re: Re- intro's and welcomes
This is a challenging thing to qualify. I don't prefer to vote the party line of Republican but I do because I don't like the way the Democratic party has been hyjacked. I'm more socially liberal politically and more conservative on financial policy and since I don't swing so far left on the social end, the Republican movement gets my vote. On the occasion where a Libertarian actually has a shot at winning, I usually vote that way provided the candidate isn't too over-the-top Libertarian (legalize everything in the universe type of stance). I'm more of a Zell Miller type of Democrat actually, and since there are so few of them running the Democratic party anymore, I'm left with little choice other than to vote Republican. The Democrats are never going to win major elections until they drop people like Michael Moore and other organizations such as the pro-communist movements from supporting them. They've swung far too left for the mainstream of America which is why you saw the revolt this last election. If they were to get their crap together, I'd give them a closer and more objective look as a party I'd vote for, but until they stop endorsing things like Hillary-Care, those days are a long way off I think.
Re: Re- intro's and welcomes
I am a liberal democrat who supports war and the death penalty.
As a matter of fact, I support anything that will decrease the amount of annoying people on this earth.
I like many aspects of the Liberarian ideal, and have voted for a few candidates who appeal to me. Unfortunately it is a bit too ivory tower for me, and I do belief a country must take care of its citizens.
I am fiscally conservative, but support regulations of companies for environmental reasoning because I would like to see the world before it is poisoned.
Keeping religion out of my life is also extemely important. I even began a group as an undergrad to build a community of "critical and skeptical thinkers".
Finally, Healthcare is up there too. I think a hybrid nationalized and private system would be ideal, but the nature of humans tells me we are unlikely to be able to pave that road.