What Political Orientation Were You Before Discovering Ron Paul

[Mr.Magnanimous]

The title asks it all

[low preference guy]

the same. the government's role is to protect life and property.

[Fredom101]

I was Libertarian, then went RP Republican, now Voluntaryist.

[BuddyRey]

I was a pretty hardcore Kucinichite Social Democrat. Even my earliest posts here were quite poorly informed politically and economically. It embarrasses me to go back and read them, but then I remember that every thinker has to have ideological growing pains before he arrives at his current conclusions.

[brenden.b]

I was in the middle of a search in my soul for political identity when I bought two books at the same: The Conscience of a Conservative by Barry Goldwater and The Revolution: A Manifesto by Ron Paul, and that is when I discovered a comfort in my current political ideology, a self-described Libertarian Constitutionalist.

Before that, I was a Neo-Conservative, a Moderate Republican, a Conservative Republican. The 2008 election did it for me, that is when my political ideals changed severely.

[Anti Federalist]

I was a pretty hardcore Kucinichite Social Democrat.

Really?

I'll be damned.

Quite a journey, huh? :)

[RedStripe]

I was an anarcho-capitalist. See kids? Becoming a marxist sympathizer could happen to you too, if you travel down the road of anarchy long enough! Don't do drugs.

[libertybrewcity]

Neocon from fox news influence. Changed to RP Republican from youtube videos! Here to stay!

[Mr.Magnanimous]

I was in the middle of a search in my soul for political identity when I bought two books at the same: The Conscience of a Conservative by Barry Goldwater and The Revolution: A Manifesto by Ron Paul

Good thing you bought the books you did!




also, sorry for that "post a poll" thing attached to the end of the title. It's there because I copied and pasted because I was being lazy

[BuddyRey]

Really?

I'll be damned.

Quite a journey, huh? :)

You're not kidding! :) For a while there, it almost felt like my head was spinning from all the new data I was taking in and all the old erroneous notions I found I had to throw out. It was thrilling, terrifying, exhilarating, heartbreaking, and I wouldn't trade the experience for anything.

[someperson]

None. I really didn't care at all about politics and all of the associated theatrics. Honestly, I found it all rather repulsive... I suppose I still do. I had my ideas, but I kept them to myself.

[Mr.Magnanimous]

I used to be of the neocon breed, and am pretty embarrassed about some of the things I used to say, especially about Paul. Watching some old youtube clips, some of the things that I agreed with, are now the things that make me squirm.

But I guess I'm not the only person who's made this transition. Hopefully we can help convert others in time for 2012.

[Kotin]

was a Joe Biden Supporter.. which is self explanatory lol.

[amy31416]

Independent. I hated politics/politicians no matter the party and thought it was beneath most decent human beings.

Still do, but now with one (hopefully more in the future) notable exception.

[AlexMerced]

I was a pinko commi, I mean still had some libertarians streak, but at the time I just though I was missing some piece of information everyone else had.

[RedStripe]

I used to be of the neocon breed, and am pretty embarrassed about some of the things I used to say, especially about Paul. Watching some old youtube clips, some of the things that I agreed with, are now the things that make me squirm.

But I guess I'm not the only person who's made this transition. Hopefully we can help convert others in time for 2012.

Instead of squirming, take pride in your ability to change your mind - even on positions you once fiercely defended or opposed.

You should never be ashamed of the beliefs you've held so long as you've had the intellectual honesty to question, and, in some cases, change them.

[paulitics]

was a Joe Biden Supporter.. which is self explanatory lol.

OMG, in 2008? If so, that must have been some horsepill you took, and I'm amazed you survived the hangover. You deserve my respect.

edit: just saw you joined in 2007, oops. I take it was before the primaries?

[RedStripe]

was a Joe Biden Supporter.. which is self explanatory lol.

honestly that is more baffling than anything else in this thread lol

no offense :P

[Anti Federalist]

You're not kidding! :) For a while there, it almost felt like my head was spinning from all the new data I was taking in and all the old erroneous notions I found I had to throw out. It was thrilling, terrifying, exhilarating, heartbreaking, and I wouldn't trade the experience for anything.

I know that feeling, I had that "come to Jesus moment" a long time ago, 15 plus years ago now I guess, but still remember it like it was yesterday.

It wasn't quite as radical a journey though, as yours, mine was from a pretty standard "lock 'em up and throw away the key, turn it all into a glass parking lot, it's all the liberal's fault" kind of neo-con but with a strong distrust of government streak.

[Anti Federalist]

was a Joe Biden Supporter.. which is self explanatory lol.

YouTube - South Park - What What What??? (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uFtn2Ke0vwQ)

[ClayTrainor]

I was pretty apathetic towards world issues for the most part, but I did read a couple of Noam Chomsky's books at a fairly young age, and casually leaned towards libertarian socialism for most of my younger years. I have always been very anti-war, which is one of the main reasons I was initially attracted to Ron Paul when I first saw him in the debates.

[Sola_Fide]

I was a Constitution Party guy. Still am a little bit. I struggle with how a free society should implement "family values" though. It seems to me to be against Liberty. They are also wrong on drugs.

[paulitics]

I was a libertarian at heart, but was just confused about state's rights, vs federal government. I attribute that to the public education system and media, that stresses all things Federal, and purposely ignores State and Local.

The one issue I did the fastest 180 on was the 2nd amendment. The day I realized the government passed some tyrranical legislation, was the day I became a 2nd amendment proponent. I was brianwashed to believe that the 2nd amendment was about hunting rights, and was in some lalala land that the government would never turn on its own citizens.

[Maximus]

Neocon, looking back I can't believe it. It was making no sense to me, but more sense than the liberals... so I kept supporting it

[Guitarzan]

I've always been a libertarian at heart. Hearing Ron Paul just made it drop to my bAlls.

[Anti Federalist]

and was in some lalala land that the government would never turn on its own citizens.

Waco is what pushed me over that edge.

Government is not here to help, it's here to kill you.:mad:

[Kotin]

you all have to understand I live in central Texas and went to a private christian school.. these motherfuckers were bush worshippers.. they would constantly talk about the "terrorists" and all that bullshit.. they were neocons to the core.. but not because they believed it.. because their dumbass bible thumping parents believed those things.

so I went the opposite direction.. besides me and my father both loved politics for a long time and he was a hardcore democrat..

but as soon as I was introduced to Ron Paul and Libertarian philosophy I turned around quite quickly.. learned everything I know from these forums and many books..


you just have to be introduced to the idea.. most people never are.. at least not properly..

[t0rnado]

I was a libertarian far before I heard about Ron Paul. I'm astounded at the numbers in this poll though. Looks like we shouldn't give up on neocons and socialists.

[Anti Federalist]

you all have to understand I live in central Texas and went to a private christian school.. these motherfuckers were bush worshippers.. they would constantly talk about the "terrorists" and all that bullshit.. they were neocons to the core.. but not because they believed it.. because their dumbass bible thumping parents believed those things.

so I went the opposite direction.. besides me and my father both loved politics for a long time and he was a hardcore democrat..

but as soon as I was introduced to Ron Paul and Libertarian philosophy I turned around quite quickly.. learned everything I know from these forums and many books..


you just have to be introduced to the idea.. most people never are.. at least not properly..

What position does your dad hold now?

[Kotin]

What position does your dad hold now?

Exact same as me.. He was just as open to it as I was..

[Daamien]

Libertarian.

"Orientation" is a funny word choice. It made me think of "What sexual orientation were you before discovering Ron Paul" ;)

[nayjevin]

Perotish but I was young and just saw the bumper stickers and he was funny and less fake... then out of politics until Howard Dean prompted a Google search, which turned up nothing of interest.... then turned on the Republican debates in a 'maybe CSPAN has a good BookTV on instead of infomercials' moment in 2007. Ron Paul prompted a google search, which turned up transformation in all facets of existence.

I read a non-fiction book or two here and there pretty early on, like an ambrose pritchard book i remember. and have always watched documentaries from time to time, though not really about politics, except for why we fight and the oil factor.

Changed alot! Ready for the rest of this revolution!

[FrankRep]

I was pretty much non political, but voted for Bush.

sorry. :(

[Anti Federalist]

Exact same as me.. He was just as open to it as I was..

Awesome, good for you guys. :)

[thehighwaymanq]

My political affiliation was apathetic.

[Anti Federalist]

I was pretty much non political, but voted for Bush.

sorry. :(

In 2000, fool me once...:mad:

[BuddyRey]

I was pretty much non political, but voted for Bush.

sorry. :(

It's ok. I'm equally ashamed of having voted for Kerry in '04. What matters is that we're awake now, and to quote Roger Daltrey, "we won't be fooled again." :cool:

[JCF]

Neo-conservative thanks to a local neo-con host, moved onto listening to Mark Levin and then Michael Savage. Never liked Hannity he always came off as a loud-mouthed phony...

Funny enough Michael savage is what kind of changed me, he constantly bashed republicans like no other right wing host... It was all these contradictions going on in my mind; on one hand these other guys were telling me to vote for republicans as the lesser of two evils, on the other (with Michael Savage) he was telling me not to vote republican because they're gonna be the same as they were in the Bush years.

Eventually I said "fuck it" and just decided to go it on my own, stopped relying on talkers to tell me what to think.

[Anti Federalist]

It's ok. I'm equally ashamed of having voted for Kerry in '04. What matters is that we're awake now, and to quote Roger Daltrey, "we won't be fooled again." :cool:

That needs this:

YouTube - Wont Get Fooled Again (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rp6-wG5LLqE)

[Humanae Libertas]

I didn't really have a position. I tried being a Necon-Liberal, but I couldn't agree with their issues. I've always been opposed to the war in Iraq, and infringement on Civil Liberties. I was mostly a centrist.

[speciallyblend]

i was democrat, then heard Harry Browne ,was lp for 12 yrs. Then heard Ron Paul and joined the republican party!!

[speciallyblend]

I used to be of the neocon breed, and am pretty embarrassed about some of the things I used to say, especially about Paul. Watching some old youtube clips, some of the things that I agreed with, are now the things that make me squirm.

But I guess I'm not the only person who's made this transition. Hopefully we can help convert others in time for 2012.

this whole thread rocks and especially seeing folks who say they were neo-cons and now support Ron Paul. Makes me want to focus on neo-con republicans and stop wasting my time on non-republicans so we can get Ron Paul the 2012 gop nomination!!

[Mr.Magnanimous]

this whole thread rocks and especially seeing folks who say they were neo-cons and now support Ron Paul. Makes me want to focus on neo-con republicans and stop wasting my time on non-republicans so we can get Ron Paul the 2012 gop nomination!!

Thanks:D

One of the reasons I made this poll was to find out who our target audience should be. The other was just to get a little bit of history on some of the members here.

[charrob]

liberal who had not voted for the dems since Bill Clinton's first term (voted 3rd party since) mostly for Nader. Kucinich was the only dem who caught my eye, but the media never covered him so his campaigns did badly.

[speciallyblend]

Thanks:D

One of the reasons I made this poll was to find out who our target audience should be. The other was just to get a little bit of history on some of the members here.

i was very surprised to see the number of neo-cons that have converted!! gives me more of a drive to keep trying;)

[nayjevin]

liberal who had not voted for the dems since Bill Clinton's first term (voted 3rd party since) mostly for Nader. Kucinich was the only dem who caught my eye, but the media never covered him so his campaigns did badly.

I looked into Ralph Nader and Harry Browne too. Kucinich i didn't know about until Ron but we basically campaigned with his supporters in the northeast.

Outside political confusions of all sides it's the same liberty. All kinds of people supporting RP now that they've heard him speak too, it's been fun.

[Meatwasp]

Ronald Reagan republican. Before that didn't vote.

[Brian4Liberty]

Funny enough Michael savage is what kind of changed me, he constantly bashed republicans like no other right wing host...

Not so funny or crazy. Savage "helped" me go further down the anti-war path...back when Clinton was the warmonger.

[Ricky201]

I was a Ann Coulter-reading, Bill O'Reilly loving, Mike Huckabee supporter until I saw this:

YouTube - Ron Paul @ Fox Debate Pt.7 1-10-08 (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p8TkmE5t1Pk)

Talk about a mind fuck. I felt like I had been hit by a train, and decided to start reading.

[Pauls' Revere]

A dropout from The Limbaugh Institute.

Love this place.

[Maximus]

This thread shows exactly why we can't go writing off Neo-Cons and others.

If some visit this forum with questions, don't flame them out of the site. Don't treat them as idiots and sheeple.

One night I happened on an epic youtube of Ron Paul, I spent the next two hours watching everything RP on youtube. This was after the primaries (I voted Romney). Once I got bit by the RP bug, it took me a while (and a lot of reading) to wholly embrace the philosophy and understand how it works in economics, foreign policy, domestic affairs, etc. It's complicated stuff.

Please, in the future, especially in this election cycle and the 2012 race, let us be hospitable and engaging, and not holier-or-smarter-than-thou. We might actually win this thing.

[BuddyRey]

This thread shows exactly why we can't go writing off Neo-Cons and others.

If some visit this forum with questions, don't flame them out of the site. Don't treat them as idiots and sheeple.

One night I happened on an epic youtube of Ron Paul, I spent the next two hours watching everything RP on youtube. This was after the primaries (I voted Romney). Once I got bit by the RP bug, it took me a while (and a lot of reading) to wholly embrace the philosophy and understand how it works in economics, foreign policy, domestic affairs, etc. It's complicated stuff.

Please, in the future, especially in this election cycle and the 2012 race, let us be hospitable and engaging, and not holier-or-smarter-than-thou. We might actually win this thing.

^ Ditto!!!

[TortoiseDream]

I was apathetic to moderate.

[Kregisen]

I was a typical neo-con too.....in the 2012 debates we WILL win over tens of thousands more, but like others above me said, let's help them and friendly debate them instead of calling them neo-cons and telling them to gtfo.

[Son of Detroit]

Neo-con, but didn't know any better. Just got influenced by my parents.

Saw Ron in the debates, these emotions followed in order:

:eek::rolleyes::confused::o:):D

Still working on my parents... I've made significant progress, but still a long ways to go. I've gotten my dad to concede that we need to remove our troops from overseas, but he still feels we should back Israel in war because they're our ally. Any ideas on how to go about convincing him otherwise?

[akforme]

was a Joe Biden Supporter.. which is self explanatory lol.

I was and independent left who hated bush and liked Biden too. I was pissed at the democrats after the 06 election which opened the door I guess for me to hear Ron's message. It was him talking about the Federal Reserve that got me hooked. My dad always told me they ran the show, but I never understood what he meant, and he never explained.

[hugolp]

You're not kidding! :) For a while there, it almost felt like my head was spinning from all the new data I was taking in and all the old erroneous notions I found I had to throw out. It was thrilling, terrifying, exhilarating, heartbreaking, and I wouldn't trade the experience for anything.

:) Exactly what happened to me. My parents are social-democrats, and I was raised like one. I was all over the place for a while, watching videos, reading stuff, trying to make up my mind.

And I would not trade the experience neither. It has given me an incredible understanding of how the world moves. I am so grateful that a movement like libertarianism exists. Without the people behind it I would not have become a libertarian.

[YumYum]

Still working on my parents... I've made significant progress, but still a long ways to go. I've gotten my dad to concede that we need to remove our troops from overseas, but he still feels we should back Israel in war because they're our ally. Any ideas on how to go about convincing him otherwise?

You should start a new thread with that very question. Since many members on this forum want to help neocons change their views, how to tackle the "Israel is our best friend" issue should be addressed if we want to win neocons over to support Ron Paul.

[Old Ducker]

Thanks, Tonie (Nathan) for helping me find my true self. The year was 1980. It took a couple of years of study for it to sink in as I can be obstinate. I ran into her an an LP convention and I said, "Hi, remember me? You converted me.!" She replied, "No I didn't, you were born a libertarian and just didn't realize it." That was a few years before I'd ever heard of Ron Paul. Prior to that I was an antiwar Democrat, of the moderate variety. Over the past 30 years, I've modified my views many times over many things but the basics have stuck with me to this day.

[Brooklyn Red Leg]

It wasn't quite as radical a journey though, as yours, mine was from a pretty standard "lock 'em up and throw away the key, turn it all into a glass parking lot, it's all the liberal's fault" kind of neo-con but with a strong distrust of government streak.

Yea, I was similar. My distrust of government really began with the aftermath of Waco. It only intensified in college when I had all kinds of BS shoved down my throat. I can remember having decided Non-Interventionist leanings, though at the time I couched them in terms of us not getting involved ANYWHERE that wasn't a security or resource threat to us (Kosovo really hit home how fucked up many of my college peers and professors were at the time, which was why I switched from International Studies back to History).

Sadly, like a dumbass, I got caught up in the 'More Humble Foreign Policy' Bush and then just as caught up in the 'Flypaper Strategy' (kill them over there instead of here) but my distrust of government really re-asserted itself after Bush won re-election. Before I discovered Dr. Paul, I was a Barr supporter (never make that mistake again) and learned enough about the good doctor that I wrote him in as my vote in the '08 general election.

[Gaius1981]

I was a Norwegian conservative, which basically means a social democrat.

[Stary Hickory]

Conservative sorta, but with a libertarian flavor. I just did not think about politics much but always thought people should always just leave each other alone when it did not affect them.

So I chose other. I never even voted really for any politicians. And I was always "Isolationist" as defined by many conservatives.

[GunnyFreedom]

Other -- I grew up from early-teen pre-teen as a voluntaryist due to RA Heinlein and in my mid-teens attached that philosophy to constitutionalism. So I have been, from childhood, a "voluntaryistic Constitutionalist" if that makes any sense. The only things that really changed in my outlook upon encountering Dr Paul in early 2007, is 1) I came to understand the evil that is the Federal Reserve and Fiat Currency, and 2) I came to terms with a latent pro-life position that I had formerly been ashamed of.


ETA -- as far as registration, I have always been disgusted with both parties lack of obedience to the US Constitution, and understood (even as a naive child) that Nixon-Reagan's drug prohibition violated the fundamental American concept of liberty. Therefore, the instant I was old enough to vote I registered "Unaffiliated" and remained in that condition until 2007 when (on the very last day possible!) I registered Republican in order to attend the conventions for Ron Paul.

[ChaosControl]

Conservative. Mostly paleoconservative with a tint of neocon.

[Romulus]

Neocon. I admit, I bought into the 9/11 Neocon agenda. Soon enough I grew weary of the Iraq war. In 2008 a buddy suggested Ron Paul in the primaries. I read his campaign site and that's all it took - I didn't know the meaning of a true libertarian conservative until then. Watching RP youtubes and debates in 08 woke me up to a new reality.

[bruce leeroy]

I guess you wouldve classified me as a moderate democrat

[erowe1]

Neocon and liberal mean pretty much the same thing.

Where's the "conservative" option?

[TheBlackPeterSchiff]

Somewhat pro War
Pro social saftey net, but limited
Pro- low taxes
pro-police state
pro-government

I guess that would put me in the neo-con land.:confused:


Put it like this, I was a BillOreilly.com Premium Member :facepalm

[Son of Detroit]

I find it interesting that we have full-blown neocons/liberals being converted so quickly... What made us find the way while other neocons/liberals are totally immune to the liberty doctrine?

[pcosmar]

Mostly Apathetic.

In voting,,conservative independent, leaning toward neo-con. :o
I got my information from the MSM as a rule.

Personally,, libertarian,, though I did not define it as such.

Presently,,Angry American.
:cool:

[Romulus]

I find it interesting that we have full-blown neocons/liberals being converted so quickly... What made us find the way while other neocons/liberals are totally immune to the liberty doctrine?

Fanatical beliefs and emotional responses that overrule logic.

[Stary Hickory]

Fanatical beliefs and emotional responses that overrule logic.

Some people have a desire to search for the truth and have the intelligence to question the norms in society. This means most of us who are from statist backgrounds were never firmly in the camp to begin with.

I know I wasn't.

[djdellisanti4]

I was a pretty hardcore Kucinichite Social Democrat. Even my earliest posts here were quite poorly informed politically and economically. It embarrasses me to go back and read them, but then I remember that every thinker has to have ideological growing pains before he arrives at his current conclusions.

That gives me hope

I was for the most part a neo-con. I openly supported war and the police state and my only economic position was "low taxes".
Around the time of my sophomore year of high school I became less religious and this sort of set me on my path to libertarianism, along with a friend of mine making the switch from neo-con to RP Republican/libertarian.

Then my junior year I worked for McCain, sorry. After the election I was really pissed and then my dad bought me "Basic Economics" by Thomas Sowell. I think my dad, a moderate conservative with some libertarian leanings, noticed my political development was not going well. That book really opened my mind and then I read Ron Paul's Revolution and the rest is history.

[Kludge]

Jesus-y Neocon -> Rejection of Christianity -> "common sense" Conservative -> read Ayn Rand & watched Stossel -> An-cap -> Convinced to support Paul -> Continued Reading Bullshit on RPFs -> "libertarian socialist" -> Read Robert Anton Wilson -> Voluntaryist

[kahless]

Typically voted Libertarian or Republican since 1990 depending on the candidate. Prior to that I brought into the MSM and Dems line of crap on economic issues but I was pretty young then.

[Romulus]

Some people have a desire to search for the truth and have the intelligence to question the norms in society. This means most of us who are from statist backgrounds were never firmly in the camp to begin with.

I know I wasn't.

Agreed. And that is the difference really. No wonder there's such a push to dumb down the public.

[TheTyke]

I was raised to believe in strict constitutional government, and the issue of being pro-life was the highest priority for us. I never knew quite what to make of the wars though, so Ron gave me a lot of perspective there. Other than that, my beliefs didn't really change... but the activities of Ron and you all across the country inspired me to actually do something about it! :)

[StudentForPaul08]

I was an anti-war liberal who hated the Bush admin. Before that I had no ideology. That liberal phase only lasted about 3-4months and ive been a Ron Paul/Libertarian/Constitutionalist ever since 2007

[speciallyblend]

That gives me hope

I was for the most part a neo-con. I openly supported war and the police state and my only economic position was "low taxes".
Around the time of my sophomore year of high school I became less religious and this sort of set me on my path to libertarianism, along with a friend of mine making the switch from neo-con to RP Republican/libertarian.

Then my junior year I worked for McCain, sorry. After the election I was really pissed and then my dad bought me "Basic Economics" by Thomas Sowell. I think my dad, a moderate conservative with some libertarian leanings, noticed my political development was not going well. That book really opened my mind and then I read Ron Paul's Revolution and the rest is history.

woot woot;) don't forget to become a delegate:) woot woot:)

[speciallyblend]

I was an anti-war liberal who hated the Bush admin. Before that I had no ideology. That liberal phase only lasted about 3-4months and ive been a Ron Paul/Libertarian/Constitutionalist ever since 2007

I know the poll isn't scientific, but i give it more weight then most polls in msm;) if i was gop establishment this rfp poll would scare the hell out of me;)

almost a breath of fresh air seeing how many rpf members were former neo-cons! We are getting somehwere:) we already knew we have a wide variety here at rpf but seeing the amount of liberals and neo-cons that have switched to our message is alarming in very good ways;) the current gop should be scared. We are not going away;)

[Vessol]

Liberal leaning, but mostly apolitical.

Growing up as a teenager I became quite the militant atheist though. I got in tons of debates about that. Looking back at myself, a lot of what I said was silly. I'm an apathetic agnostic now. So I guess I went to caring about religion but not politics, to caring about politics but not religion

[speciallyblend]

Liberal leaning, but mostly apolitical.

Growing up as a teenager I became quite the militant atheist though. I got in tons of debates about that. Looking back at myself, a lot of what I said was silly. I'm an apathetic agnostic now. So I guess I went to caring about religion but not politics, to caring about politics but not religion

this has to be the coolest thread i have read in awhile:)

[Liberty_Mike]

Libertarian! I found out about Ron Paul in early 2007 before he declared his candidacy when people were mentioning he might run on Libertarian forums. I was 19 at the time, and had never heard of Ron Paul. I didn't know there were any true libertarian minded patriots that held office at the Federal level. Once I looked his name up on Google, I found out who my real congressman was!

[The Dude]

I was a hardcore McCain supporter in 2008 believe it or not. An Iraq war supporter, believed in "strong national defense" even listened to Hannity. After McCain lost in November I began to explore the primaries again via YouTube and began to be interested in political ideologies as a whole. I then bought Revolution: Manifesto and started to be more open to Paulish ideas. Started reading Mises, Hayek, Rand, ect. Three years later and I am a hardcore Libertarian and Ron Paul disciple and not looking back.

[Mr.Magnanimous]

I then bought Revolution: Manifesto and started to be more open to Paulish ideas.

Yeah, I've started loaning out my copy of The Revolution. It does a pretty good job of converting people.

[Deinonychus]

I was a liberal. I remember learning from my government teacher in high school that Obama was awesome and to vote on him.

Also, we did management vs. union roleplays.

I found an old letter that our teacher told us to write to GWB. I said that we should ban all guns.

Yeah. Things have changed. A lot. lol

[Kludge]

I was a liberal. I remember learning from my government teacher in high school that Obama was awesome and to vote on him.

Also, we did management vs. union roleplays.

I found an old letter that our teacher told us to write to GWB. I said that we should ban all guns.

Yeah. Things have changed. A lot. lol

Coincidentally - not too long ago, I found an essay I wrote in 9th grade calling for a ban on all guns, too, while remembering how I'd go on about how great Bush was, "despite his flaws." I also put punctuation outside quotation marks -- that pissed me off most while reading the essay.

[Hraggleblarg]

Ugh, I started out so lib, I can't even bear to think about it. Then, I stopped caring about politics and just decided to ignore the massive problems in our country. I'd pay attention, but mostly just followed whatever decisions my mom made.

I heard about Ron Paul during the 08 election and voted for him, but didn't really switch over to the Libertarian party until recently.

[dannno]

Green libertarian

[heavenlyboy34]

I was an anarcho-capitalist. See kids? Becoming a marxist sympathizer could happen to you too, if you travel down the road of anarchy long enough! Don't do drugs.

A Marxist anarchist saying "don't do drugs"? Now I've heard it all! ;) lolz

[heavenlyboy34]

this has to be the coolest thread i have read in awhile:)

I think your hallucinogen-induced rants make for pretty funny threads too. :D:cool::)

[PreDeadMan]

went from neocon to... constitutionalist to voluntaryist

[cindy25]

conservative Republican

the party changed

[JCF]

I guess I was originally a liberal, you can thank my teachers for that though... Was shown all the Michael Moore films, that a long with Al Gore's film I found myself asking my teacher "Why Al Gore could not have been president" (I was politically inept)...

Their simple explanation as to why I should vote democrat?

"Under Clinton more people got rich and under bush they are poorer, so democrats are who you should vote for and I know because I was working in the 90s, you were still a kid".


The same teacher was a major d-bag who black mailed me when I was defiant... At the time my parents were hooked on drugs and I was for the most part afraid of authority figures to the extent that I wouldn't say something about a corrupt teacher so he got off scott free...


But through it all I was very apolitical until the 08' elections and when I found talk radio.

[speciallyblend]

I think your hallucinogen-induced rants make for pretty funny threads too. :D:cool::)

god forbid we do what Ron Paul asked us to do, join the gop and become a delegate such craziness!

[RedStripe]

not worth it lol

[speciallyblend]

Ugh, I started out so lib, I can't even bear to think about it. Then, I stopped caring about politics and just decided to ignore the massive problems in our country. I'd pay attention, but mostly just followed whatever decisions my mom made.

I heard about Ron Paul during the 08 election and voted for him, but didn't really switch over to the Libertarian party until recently.

Ron Paul is a republican joining the lp does nothing to secure the nomination for Ron Paul in the gop for 2012. i was lp for 12 yrs joined the gop for Ron Paul. i hope you consider helping Ron Paul get the nomination:)

[Hraggleblarg]

Ron Paul is a republican joining the lp does nothing to secure the nomination for Ron Paul in the gop for 2012. i was lp for 12 yrs joined the gop for Ron Paul. i hope you consider helping Ron Paul get the nomination:)

I'm registered Independent, so I can vote for whomever I like. I guess what I meant by Libertarian party was that my views are closer to Libertarian than anything else. Sorry about the confusion.

[Pennsylvania]

Leftist with democratic party sympathies (lol). Couldn't vote in 2000 but supported Gore, voted for Kerry in 2004 stupidly thinking he'd end the Iraq war. Hadn't heard of Kucinich at that point but really liked him when I finally did. Later heard about Ron Paul and became a constitutionalist, came to RPF and became a libertarian.

[ronpaulhawaii]

I was a libertarian far before I heard about Ron Paul. I'm astounded at the numbers in this poll though. Looks like we shouldn't give up on neocons and socialists.

The numbers don't surprise me at all. It has always been a big tent for small government. Most of the sleeping giant identifies themselves as this, or that, in their stupor, but once they awaken few turn into hardcore enemies of liberty...


This thread shows exactly why we can't go writing off Neo-Cons and others.

If some visit this forum with questions, don't flame them out of the site. Don't treat them as idiots and sheeple.

One night I happened on an epic youtube of Ron Paul, I spent the next two hours watching everything RP on youtube. This was after the primaries (I voted Romney). Once I got bit by the RP bug, it took me a while (and a lot of reading) to wholly embrace the philosophy and understand how it works in economics, foreign policy, domestic affairs, etc. It's complicated stuff.

Please, in the future, especially in this election cycle and the 2012 race, let us be hospitable and engaging, and not holier-or-smarter-than-thou. We might actually win this thing.

+2012


I find it interesting that we have full-blown neocons/liberals being converted so quickly... What made us find the way while other neocons/liberals are totally immune to the liberty doctrine?

The presumption that others are "totally immune" is contrary to the results of this poll


I know the poll isn't scientific, but i give it more weight then most polls in msm;) if i was gop establishment this rfp poll would scare the hell out of me;)

almost a breath of fresh air seeing how many rpf members were former neo-cons! We are getting somehwere:) we already knew we have a wide variety here at rpf but seeing the amount of liberals and neo-cons that have switched to our message is alarming in very good ways;) the current gop should be scared. We are not going away;)

The neo-con infiltraitors of the GOP should be scared, not the rank and file...


this has to be the coolest thread i have read in awhile:)

+1


Green libertarian

+1

:D

[speciallyblend]

I'm registered Independent, so I can vote for whomever I like. I guess what I meant by Libertarian party was that my views are closer to Libertarian than anything else. Sorry about the confusion.

same here;) i was lp for 12 yrs but we have to Win the GOP nomination for Ron Paul. I beg you to register republican. I will throw in free snowboard lessons in Colorado Mtns;)
I have been fighting for 3 yrs without you. WE NEED YOU:)

[ItsTime]

I was a dontgiveafuckian

[1000-points-of-fright]

I was pretty much a libertarian. I always voted for Libertarians and independents if they were on the ballot. But I also tended to defend the Republicans on non-social issues just because the Dems and liberals have been so consistently wrong about almost everything and the GOP seemed to be the only viable option.

[QueenB4Liberty]

Liberal, although I was Conservative before I went to college. lol

[Anti Federalist]

Yea, I was similar. My distrust of government really began with the aftermath of Waco.

That ^^^^

It was that seminal event that really drove the point home for me: government is death and violence.

Everything past that point has just become continual debate as to how much, if any, of this subsidized violence is needed.

[LibertyVox]

I was "other". A GOP conservative. Well because most of my family was.

[tremendoustie]

I was a pro-war unprincipled "libertarian". So, not sure how to vote here.

[MR2Fast2Catch]

You need to add a category for "apathetic." I was totally apathetic and knew nothing about politics before I discovered Ron Paul.

Dr. Paul cured my apathy.