Why I Am An Independent.

What makes an Independent? Is it someone who watches Lou Dobbs? Is it someone who has no convictions? No, an Independent is someone like me.

A little background here first. I have voted for President every year since 1988. I cannot for the life of me remember who I voted for then. By 1992 I was, I thought, a little more grown up and thought that Bill Clinton was my generation's JFK. So I voted for him. Then, in 1996, I thought Bob Dole was a bumbling idiot, wrongly of course, so I voted again for President Clinton. Then came the wake-up call.

April 1999, Littleton, Colorado. The mass hysteria in the wake of the Columbine tragedy made me actually look at the parties and see the differences. The Conservatives blaming it on Marilyn Manson made me shake my head, but the calls for gun control scared me. I had never looked that deep into the philosophy of each party, I had just went by emotion. So when I realized just what most of the Democrat Party stood for, I was actually scared. That issue affects me. At that point, I changed. I became much more of a righty Republican. Therefore, in 2000 and 2004, I voted for George W. Bush. Not because I agreed with everything he was about, but because he was closer to my way than either Al Gore or John Kerry. Sure, there might have been a couple of things I agreed with those 2 about, but there was a whole helluva lot I didn't. And, I supported my choice until the very end.

In 2008, I went with John McCain. Another choice I was not happy with, but I didn't, and still don't, have much faith in Barack Obama. I still considered myself a Republican though. So what happened? Why do I now consider myself an Independent?

Here's why. Ever since the election, there has been a attempt by some to hi-jack the Republican Party to become the Conservative Party. I am not a Conservative! To listen to Rush Limbaugh, Dick Cheney, and Sean Hannity, the requirement to be a Republican is you must be a Conservative. If you're not, like Colin Powell and me aren't, you should just go and become a Liberal Democrat. That is just crap!!!

So, since I believe there should be a compromise on abortion, I am not wanted in the Republican Party. Because I believe in civil unions, I should go drink the Liberal Kool-Aid. My support for legalized marijuana means I'm a socialist. Since I have a belief that it's OK if the Government spends some money on the people of the U.S.A., I'm an flamin liberal! Pure bull!!!!

I also support a strong military. I believe in what we are doing in Iraq. I believe in the family. I feel that instead of not allowing Religous Symbols on Govt. property, we should allow anyone to put up an recognized symbol. I think our intelligence department should be properly funded. I believe in individual responsibility when it comes to crime. Yep, I'm for law and order. I also don't buy all the "Global Warming" hoohah. I love pick-ups, not little Prius style cars. I am so very PRO 2nd Ammendment! I hunt. I fish. I'm not a big fan of race based affirmative action, economic based yes, race based no! I love God, my country, the flag, and just want to be left alone.

So I'm not wanted in the Republican Party because I'm not Conservative on every issue. I may be a Republican on most, but since I don't tow the extreme right wing line on everything, they can do without me. Since I can compromise, I'm out. Well, it's that the case, then see ya! You either accept me and allow me to share my views without your crap, or I'm gone. So a couple of months ago, I became an Independent. Sure, I may still vote for Republicans, but I may also vote for Democrats too. Thanks to Limbaugh, Hannity, and Cheney, I have switched again. This time I think it's forever. Maybe the Republicans will wake up and I can go back and be accepted, but until then.

INDEPENDENTS RULE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!