jason- i would disagree that it invalidates your opinion politically if you wont ever vote for one party or another....... can you say why you believe that.

the republicans highly discourage any dissent and i wuld not want to vote for their platform. because they frown so heavilly on dissent beyond the slightest degree, i dont fel like i am voting for an individual. i feel like i am voting for that team.....

the dems take their heat for not "being on the same page" but i like that fact. it means that they have the ability to disagree with eachother and have the room for many viewpoints.....in that case i feel like im voting for the individual.
my landlord is/was the head of the state republican party(bill finkbeiner) but he had a tough time with the party because he is kind of an individual and there was not much room for that