Slab,

Not blindered at all. There's problems with far left liberalism in the form of 1st Amendment, 2nd Amendment, nanny state, and sometimes the belief that there is such a thing as a free lunch. I would have added spending like a drunken sailor, but Bushco co-opted that in the previous administration, so it isn't just liberal territory any more.

I'd identify more with conservatism if only it were conservative. The conservative propensity to interfere in social issues, contrary to their alleged "less gov't." philosophy like gay rights, abortion (if you're against them, don't get one), 1st Amendment, and the "there's no such thing as a bad defense expenditure" mentality turn me off. Then again is the pursuit of policies that favor the "have mores" or 1%ers and working to reduce if not eliminate the American middle class, and as previously mentioned destruction of the natural environment turn me off and make it hard to find a Republican worthy of support.

The upcoming governor's election may be tough. From what I know of Insley, he's pretty classic bleeding heart liberal. McKenna would likely be a significant improvement in financial management, and might be OK on environment, unless there's money to be made destroying it, in which case I expect he'll choose money. I'm not sure how he comes down on social issues, but I've heard him say a couple things that make me think he'll come down on the wrong side. I think a Republican candidate who stays out of people's bedrooms, doesn't try to re-write RvW, and values a natural environment would be a shoo-in. But then that candidate would probably be a Democrat.

Sg