BTW, I’m coming out with my own line of “Maui Yak” shades.

Yak- superannuated, ever so gracefully since your flying days!

I wasn’t attempting to apply the “traitor” label to what you said at all, as I’m more than certain you and I are on the same page here. What I object to (not your comment) was that people are now labeling anyone that had party affiliation with the GOP in the past as less loyal to the cause for not having toed the line this time around.

You’re right though that being independent makes for an easier post-game. However, I think that it makes for a harder process (if the person is doing what they’re supposed to as a voter) during the election season because you need to make objective comparisons based on substantiative positions put forth by the candidates.

I don’t feel guilty – other than what an Irish-Catholic upbringing delivers to the table on a daily basis.

I did not mean to cast any aspersions on you or your piece. What I wrote here was more a series of musings on what has been discussed above and elsewhere with regard to the election. What I was saying was more addressed to the general audience here (who can get a little vicious on occasion) versus to you specifically.

For the record, I’ve a significant amount of respect for you and 100% of the other regular posters here. I wouldn’t do anything to intentionally raise anyone’s ire. Please accept my apologies if I did anger or offend in any way.

Unless we’re talking about helicopters versus fighters and who has the greater share of God’s grace. In which case, fight’s on.

It’s your choice, no- right, being an independent..I wasn’t flaming YOU, per se, but don’t expect a candidate acceptable to you to ever win national election. That is based on your individual by-in to the process, x millions of like minded “Independents”. That also includes next time, too.

Winning takes an organization as I’ve pointed out ad naseum. As imperfect as it is the Republican Party provides the vehicle. “Man in the ring” so to speak. Call it “branding” if you want. Strap hangers are welcome but it always better to have affiliated members, wouldn’t you say? Of course being a registered independent it makes it easier for all here, including our host, to say I told you so- post defeat. Form of rationalization I’d say…IMO, independents aren’t fully vested in the process-they order ala carte all the time..

Where your use of the the word “traitor” comes in I’m not clear on? That is your word. Is there some guilt there? I hate to be mischaracterized on my opinion. That really would pi$$ me off. Do you really think I have ever drunk any Kool-Aid? Why would you think I wasn’t independent within the party? Good. Glad we have that cleared up…

BTW, I clicked your link and read your piece 0n the election. Not much I don’t agree with on the surface. However, McCain was never my first choice, in 2000 or 2008. Although I bleed blue just like that retired CAPT and serving Senator that affiliation is secondary when it comes to who I vote for..Lastly look up the word politics I suggest you read the definition for politicas in the Greek politikos.

b2

It’s your choice, no- right, being an independent..I wasn’t flaming YOU, per se, but don’t expect a candidate acceptable to you to ever win national election. That is based on your individual by-in to the process, x millions of like minded “Independents”. That also includes next time, too.

Winning takes an organization as I’ve pointed out ad naseum. As imperfect as it is the Republican Party provides the vehicle. “Man in the ring” so to speak. Call it “branding” if you want. Strap hangers are welcome but it always better to have affiliated members, wouldn’t you say? Of course being a registered independent it makes it easier for all here, including our host, to say I told you so- post defeat. Form of rationalization I’d say…IMO, independents aren’t fully vested in the process-they order ala carte all the time..

Where your use of the the word “traitor” comes in I’m not clear on? That is your word. Is there some guilt there? I hate to be mischaracterized on my opinion. That really would pi$$ me off. Do you really think I have ever drunk any Kool-Aid? Why would you think I wasn’t independent within the party? Good. Glad we have that cleared up…

BTW, I clicked your link and read your piece 0n the election. Not much I don’t agree with on the surface. However, McCain was never my first choice, in 2000 or 2008. Although I bleed blue just like that retired CAPT and serving Senator that affiliation is secondary when it comes to who I vote for..Lastly look up the word politics I suggest you read the definition for politicas in the Greek politikos.

b2

I knew you’re post was meant to draw a contrast, and didn’t take any offense to said. Also, you’re right to avoid the HOV lanes, they’re likely filled with large displacement SUV’s piloted by people that have no business on a tricycle, let alone something that could easily admit a steam catapult or two on the hood.

What I forgot to append to that post above was that I agree with the heart of what you’re saying – that it’s silly to discuss the GOP in third person terms.

Reminds me of how dead people are discussed ’round certain parts.

Moving on to something else, probably the crux of the post and the ongoing discussion here. I suppose you could point fingers at me and call me a RINO. I actually don’t care for aspects of neoconservative (Bush-Cheney versus Reagan-Goldwater) canon. Furthermore, I’m not sure that questioning certain parts of a political philosophy indicates disloyalty. Smacks of Maoist “Cultural Revolutions” and whatnot if you ask me.

Not that I’m accusing anyone of being a Maoist, or a Marxist, or anything else here. Rather, I’m opposed to the idea that one size fits all and you’re with “us” or against “us.” Asking these sorts of questions (meaning ‘why is it like this’) I think is one of the reasons that we’re (meaning the United States) here in the first place.

Echo everyone’s comments above about a serious requirement for vigorous debate in schools. Perhaps an inversion of who gets the lion’s share of funding – football versus debate – is in order. I’m also loathe to say that the educational system being dominated by someone’s idea of “right v wrong” is going to get us everywhere.

I recently took a modern American history course here in San Diego and was rather happy to have a wide (politically speaking) spread of people present. Made for interesting discussions and I think people walked away from that knowing more than they would have in the event a single perspective was solely dominant.

So far I’ve been lucky to only have had two teachers (one liberal and one conservative) who dominated the sphere of what was considered acceptable. I chafed at the restrictions in both places and wondered what about the other side was so wrong.

Hence, I claim no party affiliation not as a rejection of both parties, but because I refuse to buy into the notion that I need to “brand” my views and constrain them to a single side. If this makes me a traitor? So be it. I’d rather be independent than an automaton capable of only preprogrammed responses.

Flame me if you want, but it won’t change the fact that I won’t unquestioningly drink the Kool Aid – no matter if it’s red, blue, green, mauve, or plaid.