Georgia state rep. Bobby Franklin (Republican) does a whole lot of really crazy shit - Polidicks

[QUOTE=Treybuchet;28280076]so you're a centrist just like the majority of americans a++ work[/QUOTE] Seriously? The majority of Americans, or at the very least the majority of vocal Americans, are [i]strongly[/i] tilted to one side or the other. What I am is somebody who's not so stupidly closeminded as to blindly wave the banner of a party which doesn't necessarily represent my best interests or ideals. I look at each politician as an individual rather than as a Democrat or a Republican, and I don't go around spreading the ignorant bullshit that so many of the flag-wavers on either side of that line love to perpetrate. Finding other independent voters is a breath of fresh air, and is even somewhat rare, because we're the sort of people who tend to quietly shake our heads at the idiocy purported by the fools who that they are obligated to pick a side and support it as vehemently as possible. Contrary to what so many pseudo-politicians think, spewing nonsense about "baby-killing liberals" or "racist republicans" in order to defend the standard that you carry does not make you a politically superior intellectual. [QUOTE=SigmaLambda;28281103]but the fact is is that the Republican party as a whole has become more extreme over the past few years while the Democratic party has more or less remained fairly moderate. Desire for stricter corporate regulations (especially in the wake of an economic crisis that was caused by excessive deregulation) is nothing compared to the egregious offenses against people's rights that the republicans have supported. The this thread is about may be a lone crazy, but the republicans (more or less) as a whole still oppose same-sex marriage and equal protection from discrimination for homosexuals, abortion rights, effective sex education, and stem cell research. For any moderate, their greivances with the democrats should be chump change compared to the ones he or she has with republicans. they are not the same level of bad[/QUOTE] For the moment this is true, yeah. During this next election, depending on the candidate and what he preaches, I will probably be voting Democrat. The Republican party as a whole has gone batshit during Obama's administration, though most of their proposed bills seem to be some sort of misguided publicity attempt. I have some strong grievances with the actions of the Democrats these past several years as well, but for the moment, they pale compared to the insanity proposed by the Republican side of the line. I don't imagine we'll be seeing many moderate candidates from them next year.

[QUOTE=Big Dumb American;28278210]The extremes of either side are deplorable as far I'm concerned. I'll always favor the more moderate candidates. I prefer economic [i]AND[/i] social freedom, and in the wake of all this two-party-banner-waving-team-spirit bullshit that's got the whole country so riled up, it's common for only the most extreme of either side to garner the kind of support needed for serious political office. It's essentially a choice between the stupidly misguided social views of the far-right Republicans or the equally restrictive economic policies of the wingtip Democrats. A free people need a free economy, and vice versa. It would be ideal, in my opinion, for the government to neither tell us how we're expected to live our lives, nor for it to take control of the market any more than is necessary to ensure that it remains balanced. Until we see the kind of change in attitude necessary for such a progressive shift in politics, I expect that I'll remain one of those crazy independent voters.[/QUOTE] Sigma said it best. The "wingtip democrats" like Bernie Sanders are a minority in the party but the crazies of the right wing are the backbone of the Republican party. Obama was a moderate Democrat. Financial regulation doesn't mean limiting economic freedom necessarily. [editline]25th February 2011[/editline] Woah ninja'd

You could do a lot worse than Bernie Sanders.

[QUOTE=Habsburg;28281468]You could do a lot worse than Bernie Sanders.[/QUOTE] Oh I know but not elected. I'm saying the most far left in Congress is probably Sanders and he's not really that bad while the most far right in Congress is much farther right. [editline]25th February 2011[/editline] Technically speaking he's not even a Democrat but for all intents and purposes he is because he caucuses with them.

What's the farthest right in congress? [editline]25th February 2011[/editline] Bachmann or McConnell probably

[QUOTE=Habsburg;28281680]What's the farthest right in congress? [editline]25th February 2011[/editline] Bachmann or McConnell probably[/QUOTE] Maybe Bachmann but since they are so monolithic when voting it might just as well be all of them.

[QUOTE=Dalndox;28257226]Is there a virus going around recently affecting the cognitive functions of our Representatives? Seriously. :colbert:[/QUOTE] Yes, it's called republicanism.

[QUOTE=Acesarge;28281803]Yes, it's called republicanism.[/QUOTE] Naw it's really called conservatism. Liberal republicans exist [i]somewhere[/i] [editline]25th February 2011[/editline] or did they just become libertarians.

[QUOTE=Habsburg;28281839]Naw it's really called conservatism. Liberal republicans exist [i]somewhere[/i] [editline]25th February 2011[/editline] or did they just become libertarians.[/QUOTE] Maybe some of the northern Republicans are moderate but the liberal wing died after Nixon and Reagan

unless the republicans drastically change their party platform, i will probably not be voting for them any time soon.

[B][I]Dammit bobby[/I][/B]

[QUOTE=Big Dumb American;28281152]Seriously? The majority of Americans, or at the very least the majority of vocal Americans, are [i]strongly[/i] tilted to one side or the other.[/QUOTE] not really there aren't many fascists nor hard socialists in america, or at least vocal ones

when it comes down to republican or democrat, its either voting between a lazy asshole or a fucking douchebag, there is no latter

This won't pass. Unless of course, if Georgia wants to see what happens when you combine Saudi Arabia with Somalia. [editline]25th February 2011[/editline] [QUOTE=RBM11;28281864]Maybe some of the northern Republicans are moderate but the liberal wing died after Nixon and Reagan[/QUOTE] I don't see any of them up here. [editline]25th February 2011[/editline] [QUOTE=thisispain;28284016]not really there aren't many fascists nor hard socialists in america, or at least vocal ones[/QUOTE] We have extreme capitalists. Actually, if that isn't the case, I challenge you to define extreme capitalism past where our republicans are. I'll admit capitalism is good, but any extreme is bad.

[QUOTE=Big Dumb American;28281152]Seriously? The majority of Americans, or at the very least the majority of vocal Americans, are [i]strongly[/i] tilted to one side or the other. What I am is somebody who's not so stupidly closeminded as to blindly wave the banner of a party which doesn't necessarily represent my best interests or ideals. I look at each politician as an individual rather than as a Democrat or a Republican, and I don't go around spreading the ignorant bullshit that so many of the flag-wavers on either side of that line love to perpetrate. Finding other independent voters is a breath of fresh air, and is even somewhat rare, because we're the sort of people who tend to quietly shake our heads at the idiocy purported by the fools who that they are obligated to pick a side and support it as vehemently as possible. Contrary to what so many pseudo-politicians think, spewing nonsense about "baby-killing liberals" or "racist republicans" in order to defend the standard that you carry does not make you a politically superior intellectual. For the moment this is true, yeah. During this next election, depending on the candidate and what he preaches, I will probably be voting Democrat. The Republican party as a whole has gone batshit during Obama's administration, though most of their proposed bills seem to be some sort of misguided publicity attempt. I have some strong grievances with the actions of the Democrats these past several years as well, but for the moment, they pale compared to the insanity proposed by the Republican side of the line. I don't imagine we'll be seeing many moderate candidates from them next year.[/QUOTE] there you go: the majority of vocal americans. the average american is again, fairly moderate and doesn't need to spew all this nonsense because they don't have strong views on everything.

[QUOTE=Madman_Andre;28255014]How the hell did this guy get elected?[/QUOTE] Sometimes people fill in the "vote all republican" option, and don't know who they voted for.

[QUOTE=Treybuchet;28287024]there you go: the majority of vocal americans. the average american is again, fairly moderate and doesn't need to spew all this nonsense because they don't have strong views on everything.[/QUOTE] According to the average numbers I'm seeing on searches, 30-40% of voters are independent, which puts us on about the same level as the decided voters. I suppose it's just easy to forget that there are so many when the majority of the other two-thirds feel the need to yell and shout to make their points heard, or just to make it known that they dislike the other guys. I don't consider myself an independent because of a lack of political interest, I consider myself an independent because neither the Democrats nor the Republicans fully represent my interests. Don't just assume that an independent voter is such because of apathy or ignorance.