Bah!

[dananne]

Having come from a Norwegian immigrant family that worked to "Americanize" as quickly as possible (was given the name Daniel Christopher instead of Vegard Thorfinn, much to my later dismay), it's an important issue for me. I did not like the talk about immigration, and cast several votes against "send everyone back home" candidates in this election. I was a lifelong Republican (started working on campaigns at the age of 13, met Barry Goldwater at his 80th birthday party, College Republicans, the whole nine yards), but have more recently dropped away and started thinking of myself as an independent/Libertarian. I'm liberal on social issues, conservative on matters of economics and size of government, and a realist when it comes to foreign policy. Kind of like a Republican from the old days. The problem with this past election is that the GOP moderates from the NE, MW, and the W got slaughtered, so I think the party will move even farther to the right. It may not bode well for more moderate Republicans in '08, like Rudy (who Anne and I both like), or McCain (big fans here). If the Dems put up Hillary, it'd probably help their cause, since so many people would vote GOP to simply vote against her, but if they put forth someone who has the appearance of being more moderate and reasonable (Obama, Edwards, etc.), the Dems could muscle the GOP off the middle turf needed in a close, swing election. It'll be interesting to watch what transpires.