Quick! Mitt! Change parties. Become a Democrat, and go for the nomination for President this year

duly noted. don't want to be rude

 

depends on the people

 

what would you like to discuss?

 

honestly there's probably a couple of factors here. I've lived in states where you can't register as an Independent, so registering as a Democrat (and leaving that registration stand over time) is more of an artifact of where I used to be than where I possibly am now. Plus if you register now as an Independent in New York state where I live, you can't vote in primary elections--which is pretty stupid, I think, but over the past 25 years or so I've been far more interested in voting in Democratic primaries than any of the Republican ones.

There are aspects of the Republican Party I just don't think I'll ever be able to swallow. On the other hand, the Democratic Party continues to disappoint me more and more with each passing day. I have never strongly "identified" as a Democrat; it is simply here where people have pressed the subject that I've given my party registration. If anything I'm probably evenly split between Republican and Democratic platform issues--what Jason Brennan refers to as "bleeding heart libertarianism" probably describes my outlook as well as anything.

What that means in practical terms: I'm pretty much pro-choice, for example, even though I understand and actually admire the pro-life arguments offered by conservatives. That position is more a reflection that I am married and have two daughters in their twenties, for whom the abortion issue is pretty paramount. I vote the best I can to respect their interests.

I'm pretty much against onerous immigration restrictions. I think people ought to be able to move about freely and within reason emigrate to other countries if that's what they want to do. On the other hand, there are certain practical problems with the United States, in that millions and millions of people want to move here. That simply raises practical problems of administration, and of human health and safety. I don't have good answers on that one. I don't like the xenophobic "build the wall" rhetoric I hear coming from more vocal folks on the right, but I also understand and empathize with the anxieties and fears folks have about allowing essentially unrestricted immigration. Again, I don't have good answers on that one.

there's probably more to say, what else are you interested in? I'm just trying to stay awake tonight in case news of the big trade come in for the Rockets' replacement center. not sure how much longer I can hold out though.

 

see here's the problem with you sometimes Jigg. What part of ANTHING that I just wrote is a "lie"?

I am a registered Democrat. FACT. I am a moderate- to conservative Democrat. FACT. But I also don't strongly identify as a "Democrat," meaning simply that my political participation in voting and/or in elections as a registered Democrat does NOT contribute significantly to my personal identity of "who I am." I identify as male. I identify as what I do for a living. I identify as a father. I identify as a Rockets fan. Actually, my self-identification as a Rockets fan is FAR more substantial than my self-image as a "Democrat." Perhaps that is difficult for you to understand. I do not know how to explain it any better to satisfy you. You will simply have to take my word for it or persist in calling me a liar.