Go Jessica Jackson. Welcome to the Republican party!! We'll take you!! Clapping for tax breaks!! Going against your family!!! Honey you are one of us and we need you.

Did I mention that I am the only Republican in my biological family? Yup, that's me. The loose cannon. Can I hold my own? Always have, always will. I think the tapes jk played to change me when we started dating really worked. You are a Republican... think Republican... Vote Republican... Tax breaks... Free-trade... Small Government... The tapes I played for jk worked also. Everything you own is mine and everything I own is mine also... buy more guitars... coffee is not the enemy... Chocolate... Chocolate... Chocolate

I too am a bad apple being the only Democrat in my family. However, as I get older I lean more Republican on the issues, but as my parents get older they lean more Democrat. It is a crazy mixed up world. I thought we were supposed to be crazy liberal when we were young and then mature into a more conservative stance as we aged. So what do all the young conservatives do to rebel?

Silence,

I think that the Republicans have taken the "dreamer" mantle. For better or worse, the GOP has become the radical party of change. The Democrats want to preserve the entitlements that they proudly passed when FDR and LBJ were in the White House.

Bush has this Wilsonian foreign policy, Reagan made great strides for smaller government libertarianism, and Speaker Gingrich, though derided, proposed sweeping changes to government.

That's painting with a broad brush, and yes, I am painting my side in the most favorable light. But I truly believe that the Right has grabbed the radical-change-the-world designation and that appeals to young folks.

Miss Jackson is such a cutie-pie. Who'd've thought I'd take so kindly to a member of THAT family.

Riza, I'm very glad that you are posting here frequently. You add a very healthy element that I appreciate very much. You make me laugh out loud very often! Coffee and chocolate indeed! (I guarantee you that JK appreciates your inclusion of the message "buy more guitars".) Thanks.

JK,

I think you are right. This has been my big disappointment with the Democratic party, they just don't have a coherent view for the future. If we could get the unions out of the Democratic party and the religious zealots out of the Republican party maybe we could make some real forward progress. Both Newt Gingrich and Bill Clinton had some very good policy ideas that got buried under personal issues for Clinton and lack of charisma for Gingrich.

I have some substantive disagreements with both parties but this has been floating around and seems apropos to this discussion.

A young woman was about to finish her first year of college. She considered herself to be a very liberal Democrat, but her father was a rather staunch Republican.

"One day, she was challenging her father on his beliefs and his opposition to taxes and welfare programs. He stopped her and asked her how she was doing in school. She answered that she had a 4.0 GPA but it was really tough. She had to study all the time and never had time to go out and party. She didn't have time for a boyfriend and didn't really have many college friends because of spending all her time studying.

"He asked, 'How is your friend Mary?'

"She replied that Mary was barely getting by. She had a 2.0 GPA and never studied, but was very popular on campus and went to all the parties all the time. She often didn't show up for classes because she was hung over.

"Dad then asked his daughter why she didn't go to the dean's office and ask why she couldn't take 1.0 off her 4.0 and give it to her friend who only had a 2.0. That way, they would both have a 3.0 GPA

"The daughter angrily fired back, 'That wouldn't be fair. I worked really hard for mine and Mary has done nothing!'

"The father slowly smiled and said. 'Welcome to the Republican Party.'"

What do I do to rebel? I've been to a Bush Speech. I drink out of Republican cups that my biological family wouldn't be seen using. I post my Christmas card from Laura and George with my other Cards knowing that my family will see it and go crazy but not as crazy as they do when the see the Reagan calendar hanging in our kitchen.

I had no idea what I was until I met jk. My family just thought I was strange but what can you do, I'm family. Maybe it's a phase and maybe I'll grow out of it.

I knew I was strange when my family thought Carter was wonderful and I couldn't see it.

The wonderful 70's, early 80's. Carter was President. Not the best of times. I put myself through college. I had loans and grants because I proved to the tax payer that I was a good investment. I had decent grades. I got less money because I could have marked MEXICAN on the form but I didn't. I worked the grease pits of hell. I was a short order cook. I reeked of roast beef and all kinds of fast food. Fast food gave me the hours I needed but not enough to make it full time. If I had no money for food I didn't eat. Once I had a Jesus freak buy my lunch and I'd listen to what he had to say. I wasn't convinced but I did thank him for lunch.

I graduated from College with a degree in Psych. I'm told it's pretty much useless but I don't think so. I took liberal arts classes. I almost have a minor in Sociology, Women's studies and Communications. Kind of funny, a Republican taking liberal classes but back then the professors taught us all kinds of things and let us decide.

Off I went into the real world. Jobs were hard to come by so I ended up in a law firm and I living two levels above poverty. I have loans to pay. I have an apartment and all the bills that come with living on my own. I started saving money again. I gave one third of my paycheck in taxes. I'm angry because they wanted to give my money to programs that I'm two levels above.

I worked hard, saved my money and started looking for a party that shared my views.

The Republican party shares many of my views but not all of them. That's good enough for me.

Re: Father and college daughter:

Imagine if you will the the party animal with the 2.0 GPA goes on to become President...