I was an Independent for a long time, but I got tired of not being able to vote in primaries, so switched to the Dems. I have voted for Republican candidates on occasion. I would not dream of voting Republican in this election, however, in part because the thought of Palin as potential president terrifies me.

So he swings both ways...

Yes, after actually being a member of the Dem party, working on local elections, national elections, and being part of the process; I have actually developed a terrible distaste for them. I am over it! I switched to unaffiliated.

sorry monster. I voted in your poll "no", then read your post. I answered a question you didn't ask: "have I changed my (inclination to) vote in this (general election)? Ahem... you didn't ask that question.

To answer your question... every vote I've ever cast was made with the earnest intention of voting for the candidate I thought would do the best job in the office being sought. Depending on where and when I was voting, I might be restricted in my choices of who I could select. In fact, only this year in Washington have voters been able to cross party lines in the primary ballot--a substantial improvement to the previous closed party line system.

I have in different elections voted for candidates from different parties, Reagan and Clinton, for example. And I voted for a republican Attorney General and a democratic Governor. I do split my ticket, according to what I think is best, given my possible choices.

I have voted for both Republickins and Demoncrats in every election cycle, as well as independents. This is going to be the first time I vote and will not vote for a major party for president since I started voting.

Here's the presidential elections I've voted in:

1972 - Nixon vs. McGovern
1976 - Carter vs. Ford
1980 - Reagan vs. Carter
1984 - Reagan vs. Mondale
1988 - Bush Sr. vs. Dukakis
1992 - Clinton vs. Bush Sr.
1996 - Clinton vs. Dole
2000 - Bush Jr. vs. Gore
2004 - Bush Jr. vs. Kerry

Out the the nine votes, I went Democratic twice and Republican seven times.

Just some trivia you didn't need to know. But it was kind of fun looking them all up.

This should be a thread of its own -

3 Rep, 2 Dem and 1 "other"

1972 - Nixon (R) vs. McGovern (D)
1976 - Carter (D) vs. Ford (R)
1980 - Reagan (R) vs. Carter (D)
1984 - Reagan (R) vs. Mondale (D)
1988 - Bush Sr. (R) vs. Dukakis (D) (can't remember! I'm pretty sure I voted)
1992 - Clinton (D) vs. Bush Sr. (R)
1996 - Clinton (D) vs. Dole (R)
2000 - Bush Jr. (R) vs. Gore (D)
2004 - Bush Jr. (R)vs. Kerry (D)

Bold==my vote
First candidate==winner

In every presidential election (since the first Bush) I've voted for Democrats.

At the local level, I've often voted for Democrats but have sometimes voted for independents and 3rd parties. Never for a Republican.

If you’re 20 and not a Liberal, you have no heart. If you’re 40 and not a Conservative, you have no brain.
— Sir Winston Churchill

I'm 40.
---Juniper

It's important to use your heart and brain. I'm 32.;)

I'm trying to use both and I'm getting killed for it. :smashfrea

My vote will go to the first person who stands up and, in response to some insipid story of heartbreak and loss, says, "I'm sorry for your situation, but solving that problem is not the job of government."

:::applause:::

Not exactly the same thing, smooth. But at some point in Obama's nomination speech he does say that there are some problems the government is not intended to solve.