Should I be a Republican?

[Ben.]

I've had similar results before but its the fundamental commitment to Social Justice and the role of government that leaves me a democrat even if i have more in common with some Republican moderates than many Democratic Liberals, In short I'm in a similar boat to Jo Lieberman or Evan Bayh, I think you proably are to

[Ben.]

If you're basing your choice on on-line tests then the answer is simple Hell no.

Tweed, I hate to tell you this but it isn't smart to base what party you join on on-line tests or to take tehm too seriously.

On the other hand what are your stances on issues?

No, I've been considering it for a little bit now.

In that case, give the switching parties idea further thought.

Tweed has been thinking about this for some time as i recall, with the Democratic Party dominated so much by the far left I don't really blame him but I remain steadfastly loyal to Democratic Values and still belive that at least to an extent the party is also loyal to those principles.

[Ben.]

every normal person should be a republican.

Hey! What about sensible Blue Dogs like yours truly we're the most sensible Democrats around

[Ben.]

I should be a Republican, because I support all the things Abraham Lincoln supported.

Hmmm...things have kinda moved on since the 1860's and the issues have changed, I'm not a Democrat because I support all the things James Buchanan or John Breckinridge supported.

As for Lincoln, he had little or no regard for the constitution, this is shown firstly in that he fought the war with the south in the first place and secondly through some his actions during the war such as the creation of WV and the intention to create a Pro-Union state out of Eastern Tennessee, his suspension of Habeas Corpus was another instance of his disregard for the constitution.

On another point Lincoln was a great believer in free enterprise and the value of individualism and hard work (With his back ground that is very understandable) he was never an opponent of capitalism, if anything it was the south which was anti-capitalist in the sense of opposing what they saw as the worst excesses of unrestrained capitalism in the land of the “All Mighty Dollar” where huge corporations and rich business man pushed out the smaller and less well supported competition and it was this same popular sentiment that would feed the populist party’s brief rise a generation after the civil war.    

[Ben.]

   

I disagree with the notion that Lincoln had little or no regard for the constitution.  Read Lincoln's first Inaugaral address.

He may have made a speech saying that he would respect the constitution but come now... look at his actions? The suspension of Habeas Corpus, starting the war in the first place and the creation of WV in of themselves where gross violations of the US Constitution and do not forget that written records have shown that Lincoln personally sanctioned the brutal tactics of Union irregular forces in Kentucky and Missouri in their fighting with Confederate irregular forces and he also supported similar tactics employed by Ben "butcher" Butler in New Orleans and as well as in other areas of the south.

Lincoln receives too much of a free pass imho, that said I understand his reasoning and motivation I just think that he was wrong, that said as far a secession as an issue is concerned where I to have lived at the time I think I would have found it very hard to cast my lot with either side, as it was for many leaders on both sides most notably the likes of James Longstreet and Robert E Lee.

[Ben.]

Lincoln never said any such thing. He was misquoted by Reagan at the 1992 Republican National Covention.

So what was the original quote?