Reply #10: lots of litmust tests ...

[welshTerrier2]

there are certain truths that i hold to be "self evident" ...

it's not so much that i have a litmus test on a single issue ... unless that single issue is my core beliefs ...

if someone violates a principle i deeply believe in, i often might consider not supporting them ...

so, for example, anyone who votes to give bush more money for his PNAC agenda is out ... i'm done with them ... it shows me they do not accept my view that their vote is doing nothing but furthering American corporate hegemony ...

if someone votes to deprive citizens of their fundamental rights, e.g. woman, gays, blacks or anyone else, it shows me they just don't get it or are too willing to compromise to help THEM win ...

we need to be pragmatic ... winning is important ... i've heard all the arguments for voting against one's beliefs ... some flexibility, some compromise, some practicality is perfectly reasonable in the political arena ... but certain core values must NEVER BE COMPROMISED ... and it's just as likely that politicians who do so "to win" will either end up losing because they put winning ahead of "doing the right thing" or they may "win" a victory with no mandate to do the right thing ...