It would be interesting to know how many of us former Dems became Republicans just post 9/11. I'm about 3 years into my new Republican skin and the more I see of the far-left controlled Dem party now, the more determined I am never to go back. The only values seem to be the word "no" and a hatred of George Bush.

I knew I couldn't remain a Democrat, even if only through years-long inertia -- Gore? Joey Lieberman? I was supposed to WANT THEM to get into office? -- but I realized I couldn't become a Republican either -- that seemed to me that would be like Jane Fonda seeing that our invasion of Vietnam was all wrong and somehow deciding that the NVA were good guys. Even if I could believe that, that the oher side of the aisle had any more brains or integrity, you gotta have a bubble-ass to get away with it. So I registered Libertarian, because I find that all politicians are either crazy and corrupt or, like Jimmy Carter, ineffective because of moral considerations. At least, when you're a Libertarian, you can return the sneers of the Republicans by pointing at tax policy, theocratic control of laws, etc with a "Well, if you're THAT liberal, I guess there's no point in discussing it ..." If they (the political parties) can't govern, at least they can provide some amusement.

It happened for me about 9 or 10 years ago. I had a long flirtation with moonbatism in my youth, and voted for both Carter and Clinton (92 only). I'm especially ashamed nowadays by my Carter vote; but I was 18 at the time, so that's my excuse.

A major tipping point for me was reading an op-ed piece by Donna Shalala in the Wall Street Journal. My boss gets it at work, and I read it during lunch. Anyway, in that piece circa 1995, she said that legalizing marijuana would be a bad idea because it would send "the wrong message" to our nation's youth. I was spitting mad after reading that. It felt like a total betrayal. After all, hadn't Clinton picked up a lot of votes (including mine) in '92 with his nod and wink about "I didn't inhale"?

Long before that time, I had come to believe that the Democrats were the party of "if it feels good, do it" in sharp contrast to the Republican "if it feels good, it's immoral, it should be outlawed and you should be punished for doing it". Several of my long-time friends are still stuck at this point and still seem to believe this is the major difference between the parties.

But that was just an eye-opener. Within a year or two after that I discovered Ayn Rand and she rocked my world. I'm not talking only about "Atlas Shrugged"; I dove right in and read everything I could get my hands on. I still think her non-fiction essays are her best writing. The best way I can describe her impact on me is that she systematically demolished my core values, beliefs and assumptions; and then proceeded to rebuild them on a stronger foundation.

So after that, naturally I became a Libertarian for a few years. Even the Republicans were too socialist and statist for me. But the Libertarians lost me after 9/11; they echoed the leftist argument that America's interventionist foreign policy was to blame for the attacks. Libertarians always go back to Washington's farewell address where he cautioned us to avoid foreign entanglements. That was great advice; too bad virtually every President since Washington has ignored it. It's too late for that now. We can't just shrink back within our own borders. The terrorists would correctly interpret that as a retreat under fire.

So I ended up voting for Bush in 2000 and 2004, and I'm generally glad I did. I voted for him in 2000 because I knew the Libertarian candidate couldn't win (and I had gotten a whiff of some financial hanky-panky concerning him), and there was no way in hell I wanted Gore to win. By 2004 it was a no-brainer.

Still, I find the Republicans are too socialist and statist for my taste. If they end up nominating someone like McCain or Frist in '08 I'll probably have to go back to the Libertarians. That would be a bad thing since it would make it more likely that Hillary will win. I just hope the R's can find somebody decent to nominate.

Oh, and I quit smoking pot years ago, but I still think it should be legalized.

rickl, Maybe you could think of it this way, you are not voting FOR Republicans nearly so much as voting AGAINST Democrats.

It seems like 60% of the country is now constantly whining about the reasons for war, the incompetence of this administration, and how we've all been lied to.
Guess what? No one is saying to pull the troops because they are in danger. The majority of Americans want us out of Iraq because we are achieving nothing by being there except recruiting terrorists. People sign up for the military because they believe in America. They agree to risk their lives, health and sanity to protect us because they have faith that America will always at least try to do the right thing. It is a betrayal of our troops to send them on some pointless adventure without a solid plan. The founding fathers made it hard to start wars because they were aware that a few leaders would go to war for poor reasons, and this war is a validation of their concerns.
Guess what? Wow? This is more important than gaining a few weak-minded Democrats to the Party. Real Americans want to know why we invaded a country with no plans other than cakewalk fantasies, and real Americans don't attack mothers who have lost their sons because their sons knew there's danger involved.

Yes, I agree, those in the military 'signed up' and should have expected to have to 'go to war'; however, their 'expectations' need only have been 'going to war' to protect OUR COUNTRY, not to provide military support for a few companies, economic ventures. Iraq is not now, nor was it ever a threat to the US in any way whatsoever! Our military people are dying in Iraq, not at the hands of a nation that wants to 'conquer' us, but simply at the hands of Iraqi civilians who simply don't want us in their country; and they are the ones IN THE RIGHT! We don't belong there and need to GET OUT, NOW!
Pax,
Donna

The democrats left me about 20 years ago. This is a trend that started quite a while ago.

Donna C. Lee:

You do realize, of course, that the terrorists who are indiscriminately slaughtering Iraqi civilians are not themselves Iraqis, don't you?

(Sigh) Apparently you don't.