Are there any Republicans you could see yourself actively supporting?

[Comicstripper]

Just out of curiosity. I consider myself a moderate (although the "mainstream" voter would consider me a fringe leftist.) There are Republicans in the Senate/House that I like. I wouldn't necessarily vote for them.
Does anyone know of some decent, thoughtful, moral, competent Republicans out there?
I know that sounds like a contradiction of terms. Just curious.

[jackster]

1. I used to support a local state Repub rep...

and a local sheriff

after this election, it will be a cold day in hell before I even THINK about voting or supporting another one

[AuntiBush]

5. My Sediments...

Exactly!

[Jack Rabbit]

8. I've always seen two or three I could vote for in a pinch

. . . and if the Democrat in question is somebody like Edwin Edwards or Dan Rostenkowski.

This select group would include John McCain, who I think at least respects one's right to disagree, and in the recent past Jack Kemp, who had ideas that seemed a little dubious but at least they were ideas.

* * *

When Edwards ran for Governor of Louisiana against David Duke there was a bumper sticker seen in New Orleans: Vote for the crook -- it's important. Edwards and Duke really seemed like the yuckiest choice imaginable in any American election of which I've heard.

[jackster]

16. Jack...

in cases like those, I'll chose neither or write in someone of my own choosing

I just cannot vote for anyone in that party until they get rid of the neocons and christo-fascists running the show!

[Jack Rabbit]

19. I understand your sentiments

Most of the time that I'm particularly dissatisfied with the Democrat, I vote Green.

Right now, I'd even be reluctant to vote for Lincoln against Boss Tweed (he was Democrat, too), but in the end, I'd probably do it.

[blm]

2. The only one I ever felt respect for was Richard Lugar.

John McCain is just too inconsistent for me, and far too masochistic to respect.

Warren Rudman has been a thoughtful patriot, as reflected in the Hart-Rudman report on global terror. He has definite integrity. That's why Bush made certain Rudman wasn't on the 9-11 commission, even though the families wanted him there.

[salin]

45. Lugar is only respectable in rhetoric... he always backs down

and votes the party line. He's been doing that since Reagan. Frankly, Hagel (for all of his warts) seems to have taken Lugar's mantle of critical talk and gives glimmers of perhaps veering away in more substantive ways (eg voting)... haven't watched his votes closely as I have Lugar (he's our senator) over the years - so he may be from the same exact all bark no bite mode.

Rudman is good as is now independent but formerly republican Lowell Weicker (the only repub for senate that I was ever rooting for when he was challenged by a more conservative dem - who are are now all familiar with ...)

[Rabrrrrrr]

3. Oddly enough, Orin Hatch has been downright sensible at times.

But I think he's still a bit too much of a nutcase.

John McCain I've long liked. And there are a couple others, but I can't think of their darn names. Other ones like McCain who actually love this country, not the corporations and the money and the lust for power and who's politics isn't based on hate.

[AuntiBush]

4. Till Today...

I could have answered that question. But, on this day of mourning for my Democratic Party, I think's best not to respond, respectfully.

[Erika]

6. No

Even some moderates like Chaffee, Snowe and Collins backed Bush on party lines on critical items. I once donated to McCain but his backing of the Bush has killed that desire.

[PassingFair]

39. Chaffee voted

AGAINST IWR...
wish we could have said the same re: our candidate.

[bigmonkey]

7. Used to think I could vote for Jeffords.

Now he's an independent, so none now.

[TheFarseer]

9. Not actively supporting

There are some I could see myself voting for.

[AverageJoe]

10. I would vote for a yellow dog in the street

before I would vote for a Republican for any office at any time.

You must remember: It's not the person in isolation. Maybe a single Republican is okay--maybe--but if they get into office they work to further the Republican agenda.

The Republican party is a virus. Do not feed the virus.

[deadparrot]

11. No, but I have various amounts of respect for Chafee, Collins, and Snowe.

I could support them if they jumped ship.

[GreenArrow]

12. no

and there are damn few Democrats.

[justy329]

14. then why are you on a Democratic message board if you do not

support our party?

[GreenArrow]

15. try reading my post again

I said I would support/vote for NO Republicans. I added that there were damn few Democrats, but there is a difference between none and few, right? The American political system as it exists in 2005 is fucked up beyond repair, and no real change is going to come under the aegis of the two major parties. While the Democrats are preferable in virtually every instance than the Republicans, (at least in most domestic policy issues) the difference is often in terms of degree rather than direction. The party's constant and relentless drift to the right doesn't do much to inspire hope and confidence in me. It has become not the lesser of two evils, but the better half of a single evil. Part of that is the country we live in, part the fault of the party.

FWIW, the board is for "Democrats and other progressives who work to support their goals." Since I'm currently registered as a Democrat, and with the exception of Nader in 2000, have voted for only Democrats in every election I've voted in, I guess that qualifies me, but I don't have to like the direction the party is heading, and have little compunction in leaving it if it persists in its current corporatist mode. It's quite likely already too late. The real fight is not between Republicans and Democrats; it's between fascists/corporatists and non-corporatists.

[justy329]

32. I understand that you support no republicans.

I was attacking that you support few Dem's. If you think that most of the Democratic Party is part of an evil, then you I do not feel this board is a good place of you. Of course, you are welcome to stay here, but understand that loyal Dems such as myself are tired of this "both parties are evil" mantra. There are a multitude of green and other very left-wing message boards out there.

It is because of people like you that we are in this mess. This is not meant as a personal attack. However, because of all this nonsense among lefties that the Democratic Party is corrupt due to big corporations and that Gore and Bush are the same led to the Bush presidency. I understand that nobody in their right mind could have imagined that we would be attacked or that we would face the serious threat of global terrorism. Arguably, a Gore administration would have prevented 9/11. And, without question, we would not have the mess in Iraq or our credibility shattered throughout the world.

When liberals lament over the rightward shift of our party or how some Dems don't have guts or some are Dems sold by corporations, remember when voting for president you are not only voting for the guy in top. You, indirectly, choose the cabinet members. Because of your lack of faith in the Democratic Party, we may continue to see Rummys and Wolfowitz and other neocons.

I absolutely reject the notion that Dems are just as bad as GOP'ers.

[GreenArrow]

40. "It is because of people like you that we are in this mess"

No, frankly, it isn't. Keep telling yourself that if it makes you feel better. Let's take one example, the war in Iraq. It was built on a lie, supported by lies, justified by lies, lies repeated by members of both parties. As it turns out, the lies have been exposed, (indeed, most of them were exposed before the war started) and the pro-peace left wing (along with a few concientious voices on the right) were completely validated in all their arguments. The left was right. Not the moderates. Not the far right. The LEFT.

At last Summer's DNC, 95 percent of the delegates were against the war and favored language in the platform recognizing that position. Did they get it? No, they got some drivel about "people of good will being able to disagree." We got a candidate (and a VP candidate) who voted for the War even when their consituents were begging them not to, and who then, while on the campaign trail, spouted inanities about still voting for the war even knowing what we know now (that is was a bunch of lies and general horseshit) and how it was a "right war done the wrong way." It was never a "right" war; every single justification for it was bogus. It was criminal, both legally and morally. Yet members of both parties and the state media continue to perpetuate the lies and to regurgitate the justifications back to us, as if we citizens were so many baby birds incapable of eating and assimilating anything other than the softest and tenderest pre-digested pap.

It isn't our civic duty to believe everything our leaders tell us; rather, it is our duty to question it. My duty lies not to political party, but to truth, justice, honesty, honor, fairness, compassion, beauty and dignity. Insofar as Democrats, whether individually or collectively, support these values, I will support them. If they insist on insulting my intelligence by lying to my face and by supporting a shameless, obvious, odious liar like Bush, I see no reason to give any allegiance to them. Right now, both parties are full of liars, cheats and thieves. The Republicans are worse. There is no Democratic equivalent to a Tom Delay, for example. There are a number of extremely committed, fair minded, fundamentally decent Dems. But the Party is not without guilt; the further right it goes, the more of its relevance it loses. And life will go on, with it, or without it.

BTW, don't kid yourself, we would have been in Iraq one way or another, at some point; there was a right way and a wrong way to do it; the Bushies chose what Kerry referred to as the "wrong" way.

[Zhade]

21. Does anyone ever read about the website they're joining?

http://www.democraticunderground.com/about.html

"We welcome Democrats of all stripes, along with other progressives who will work with us to achieve our shared goals. While the vast majority of our visitors are Democrats, this web site is not affiliated with the Democratic Party, nor do we claim to speak for the party as a whole."

[blondeatlast]

25. GA's a definite left winger. He's got his street? cred.

DU isn't just for Democrats, although it's geared towards us Dems.

You'll find we have a huge tent on DU. Even Nader supporters were welcome here last year up until pretty late in the game, and most of them just cooled the rhetoric and are still here. Very, very few were banned.

[justy329]

13. In New York City,

Bloomberg isn't that bad.
If Weiner wins the nomination, I would vote for Weiner. If C. Virginia Fields wins, I would vote for her to demonstrate that a mayor can be a woman. (Why is that mayors of most big cities are always men?! He's a great, funny guy who will make a great mayor. However, I'm not sure who I would support vs. Gifford Miller (too young, inexperienced, and I just get bad vibes) or Fernando Ferrer (typical machine politician)
Oh year, and I will never vote for Mark Green. It is just common knowledge that he is an asshole. I've seen it first hand and heard stories from a friend at the convention about his behaivor. He keeps on running for higher office... and keeps on losing.

But, NY city politics are different. Here, "Even the Republicans are Democrats."

[OnionPatch]

17. ROFL!

:7
That was a joke wasn't it?

[theboss]

18. My family used to back Arch Moore

Only Republican sign we ever displayed.

Of course, he went to prison so maybe that says that it was a bad idea.

[American Tragedy]

20. None who are still alive.

I find Goldwater to have been very respectable at times, even when I profoundly disagreed with him. He was pro-gay and pro-choice, he co-founded a NAACP chapter in Arizona, he denounced the Republican smear campaign against Clinton, he had the guts to stand on the Senate floor and say that Nixon should be indicted.

I kinda miss him. It's frightening to say, but compared to the current breed of Republicans, he'd be positively refreshing.

That having been said, he'd have to be running against the worst Democrat in America for me to actually vote for him.

[blondeatlast]

28. As a longtime Arizonan, I think I can say this with some authority.

Goldwater would be comfortably just a nudge right-of-center, and only because of his economic policy.

In fact, on the political spectrum, he is just about where our Democratic governor, Janet Napolitano, is.

[justy329]

33. It is quite true,

This is never reported by the media. They say Goldwater led to Conservative Revolution. Far from it!! Goldwater believed in fiscal responsibility (if he were alive today, I imagine he would me so angry at Bush and the GOP congress) and freedom for all people. I bet he would even become an Independent with this campaign to put hate in the constitution.

[No Exit]

22. NO! The republican party can NEVER be forgiven for

having foisted George W. Bush on us. That was the end for me--and it came 3 years after I voted for Bush, in 2000. With the needless Iraq war, the needless killing of Americans (not to mention innocent Iraqi civilians), as far as I am concerned, there is nothing the republican party can do to ever get my vote again.

Please understand that this comes from a person who routinely voted for republican presidential candidates. This party must never be allowed to have power again.

If any republican candidate wants my vote, he/she must first change his/her party affiliation--and only then I'll be willing to look at the candidate and their record. But they will have little chance with me if they have a long republican history.

[progressiveright]

23. well yeah

a whole bunch of them actually, if i only had a choice between them and bush. It all depends on the alternative. even goldwater is a liberal compared to the current bunch. bush labeled kerry 'the #1 liberal senator, left of ted kennedy' ? compared to bush, nixon (who created a brand new government agency to combat poverty) was a liberal...

[eridani]

24. Ron Paul

Antiwar, anti PATRIOT Act

[ElsewheresDaughter]

26. Chaffee & Snowe

[annabanana]

27. Sadly, no, not right now (or even lately)

I say sadly because there OUGHT to be a way for me to vote for a principled member of the "opposition". But right now... with this criminal cabal ruling the party with an iron fist, I cannot send a vote their way, regardless of how honest or moderate the Republican in question.

[LynneSin]

29. Five years ago - YES, today - HELL NO!!

Supporting a republican, even a moderate pro-choice one like my US Rep Mike Castle, means I'm supporting the republican leadership that comes with the package: Dennis Hasert & Tom Delay.

[Bampa]

30. Yes

There is, um... OK, there is.... Oh, NOPE, nope - NONE - SORRY!

[charlie]

31. Last one I'd consider would be Weicker

If for no other reason than he drove Reagan, Dole, and Gramm batty. It was about the time when they drove him out that the malignant wing got a lock on the party. There were still guys like Packwood and Hatfield around, but supporting any Republican from then on aided the ascendant crazies.

But no, I've never given my support or vote to a Republican and certainly wouldn't do it today.

[welshTerrier2]

34. maybe Abe Lincoln ...

yeah, i could see doing that ...

[leyton]

35. John McCain, Lindsey Graham.

Both seem interested in actually approaching this nation's problems and despite the fact that I may disagree with them somewhat, I think they rise above partisanship on most occasions. McCain you all know, Sen Graham (D-SC) I know less about but what I have seen is reassuring. He seems interested in reasonable approaches to social security; he called the GOP out on their attacking trial lawyers; and to my knowledge (correct me if I'm wrong) he was one of the Senators who went tough on Gonzales during the confirmation hearings in committee.

I'd probably vote for those two if I lived in their states, though I don't know if I'd work on a campaign for them or anything.

[Vinca]

36. I like Lindsey Graham, too . . . for the most part, but

I wouldn't even consider voting for a Republican until the Democrats regain significant power. I actually voted for McCain in the New Hampshire primary in 2000 (I never liked Gore), but he's disappointed me big time by allowing himself to become another Bush toadie. (FYI I was a registered Independent then.)

[E_Smith]

37. McCain supported Bush to postion himself for '08 n/t.

[NeoTraitors]

38. Unless and until some of the supposed

'real' repubs start demanding Chimps impeachment, I consider the R to be T for Treason. And I won't vote for a traitor, would you?

[More Than A Feeling]

41. Rep. Mark Kirk is far from the worst

He is pro-choice, for one thing. An associate of mine works for him, and he told me that Kirk didn't want to use the office copier for political copies. He told Kirk that Dan Rostenkowski would have already sold the copier. This story says to me "This is a decent man who is just operating by his beliefs" I can respect that.

[marcologico]

42. Richard Riordan wasn't bad and I'd support him in a race against Arnold

if I could vote in a GOP primary, which I can't, but that's about it.

[John_H]

43. If chafee ever ran against lieberman, I'd flip a coin n/t

[leesa]

44. No. Because no matter what they might say, they ALWAYS support

Bush, no matter how egregious the deed. Ya gotta put your votes where your mouth is. They all goose step the same way.