In 1978 I registered to vote for the first time in my life. I chose the Republican Party because I felt their ideology most closely represented my own. Although I am Pro-Choice and Pro-Same Sex Marriage, the Republican Party’s stand on fiscal conservancy and small government, their strong support of our men and women in the military and support of the 2nd Amendment rights of all Americans were important to me. At the time, I believed that the Republicans adhered to the laws as set forth in the Constitution more often than the Democrats.
That was then…this is now.
Many years have passed and Ronald Reagan is just a name self-serving politicians (both Republican and Democrat) throw around when they want to show “We the People” that they are acting out of true Patriotism and not personal greed. I’m sorry, but simply donning a pair of boots worn by John Wayne does not make you the Duke, quoting the Bible doesn’t make you Jesus and wearing Dolly Parton’s bra is not going to give me a Triple-G bust line.
The other day I attended a seminar given by the Republican Party here in Colorado in an attempt to better understand the Caucus process. I had attended a Caucus in 2008 prior to the nomination of John McCain as the 2009 Presidential contender for that party. Having lived on the East Coast most of my life where we voted in Primary Elections by secret ballot, I found the process confusing and felt that my vote really didn’t count. The seminar did nothing to change my opinion of the process.
Being a registered Libertarian, I cannot participate in the Caucus. Fair enough. The Libertarian Party does not hold a Caucus. The thing that struck me was how many people in that room considered themselves Libertarian, yet they maintained their Republican Party status so they could attend a Caucus. The “instructors” told us how to get yourself nominated as a delegate by not associating yourself with a particular candidate. Then you can go off to Denver and cast your vote your way once you are there. In other words, even though a majority of the registered voters in your party want you to vote for Candidate X, you can vote for Candidate Y anyway. Huh? Call me naive, but isn’t that the kind of crap that got us into this mess in the first place?
I felt decidedly out of the loop because my vote and my opinion are of no importance to anyone until Election Day due to the fact that I am an “undeclared” voter. Uhm…if either party actually paid attention to what is going on in the world outside of Washington, DC, they would notice that the “undeclared” voters have been the deciding voice in most of our local, state and national elections for the past few years.
This is not what I envision as a way to change politics as usual. If anything, it only serves to plant us in a different hole in the same graveyard.
) a wonderful, safe and Happy New Year’s Eve. My heart is with our brave men and women serving our nation overseas and at home.
sstorm0730
