Where do i stand politicaly.

[vienna]

From Frau Kaleun:

And yes I say pandering, because IMO most of the Powers That Be in the GOP couldn't care less about the religious right's agenda beyond doing what it takes to get their votes on election day.

More truth than you think. Afew years ago I was asked to cover for someone who was going on a trip to Europe. They worked for a professional political campaign organizing firm and I was to provide IT coverage for the firm's Los Angeles office. When I went to their office, I discovered they were soley employed by the Republican Party or Republican Politcal Action Committees (PAC). I had always had suspicions abouth the ethics of political campaigns, but during the time I spent there, I was exposed to some of the most cynical, devious, underhanded, dishonest, and just about, but not quite, illegal activities ever to be seen. I wasn't even privy to the majority of the activities undertaken by these people but what I did see and hear exceeded anything I had ever experienced. The truly astonishing part of the experience was the totally amoral attitude expressed by the employees in the office. The attitude was one of "If it gets the votes, it's justified". I am rather certain that the Republicans are not alone in their use of such firms; the Democrats and other parties no doubt have there own political 'hitmen'. I am registerered as a Democrat; in California we do not have open primaries, so if you register as an independent, you are sometimes excluded or limited from cretain partisan election issues. I registered as a Democrat initially because the Republican Party in California is a near total mess. I vote for the candidate or issue I have decided upon after studying the issues. I was going to vote for John McCain for President until the Republicans foisted that joke of a running mate Palin on him and he chose not to object or refuse. I am not be registered as an Independent, but I vote independently of any partisan influence. Sometimes it seems if the voters scrapped party affiliations and voted not as told but as common sense indicates, we'd all be better off in this country.

[Bakkels]

Originally Posted by vienna

More truth than you think. Afew years ago I was asked to cover for someone who was going on a trip to Europe. They worked for a professional political campaign organizing firm and I was to provide IT coverage for the firm's Los Angeles office. When I went to their office, I discovered they were soley employed by the Republican Party or Republican Politcal Action Committees (PAC). I had always had suspicions abouth the ethics of political campaigns, but during the time I spent there, I was exposed to some of the most cynical, devious, underhanded, dishonest, and just about, but not quite, illegal activities ever to be seen. I wasn't even privy to the majority of the activities undertaken by these people but what I did see and hear exceeded anything I had ever experienced. The truly astonishing part of the experience was the totally amoral attitude expressed by the employees in the office. The attitude was one of "If it gets the votes, it's justified". I am rather certain that the Republicans are not alone in their use of such firms; the Democrats and other parties no doubt have there own political 'hitmen'. I am registerered as a Democrat; in California we do not have open primaries, so if you register as an independent, you are sometimes excluded or limited from cretain partisan election issues. I registered as a Democrat initially because the Republican Party in California is a near total mess. I vote for the candidate or issue I have decided upon after studying the issues. I was going to vote for John McCain for President until the Republicans foisted that joke of a running mate Palin on him and he chose not to object or refuse. I am not be registered as an Independent, but I vote independently of any partisan influence. Sometimes it seems if the voters scrapped party affiliations and voted not as told but as common sense indicates, we'd all be better off in this country.

Interesting story Vienna. One thing I always wondered; why do you have to register yourself for voting in the US? And what's even stranger to me; why do you have to register with either the democrats or the republicans? (well you dont have to, but as you said, if you don't you get excluded from voting which is -again even more- weird in my eyes) I never understood that.
Over here, even asking someone what they vote can sometimes be considered slightly offensive; it's your business and no one elses.