[ferret111]

Originally Posted by tomno00

you forget that most hispanics identify themselves as conservatives, especially Cubans.

Cubans vote Republican almost as a rule, but I thought Hispanics overall tended to vote Democrat. Look at county maps of presidential elections in Texas. Texas is a pretty red state, but practically every county in South Texas (the counties with Hispanic majorities) goes blue.

[OrlFlaUsa]

Originally Posted by Dragneel

Oh thank God Florida isn't California politically, thank god ! Florida is moderate, it's great like this.This state doesn't have any interest being a red state or blue state..Purple state is great, politically Florida is powerful.
Texas and California are less powerful politically because they're too partisan of a party, so the other party doesn't invest/campaign there, because he knows it's useless.
BTW outside Rick Scott Republicans are pretty moderate in Florida, it's not Texas or Kansas.

Never thought I'd agree with you but here I do. I'm happy being a "swinger" in the great purple state of Florida. Plus we all know that swing states have more fun lol.

http://www.legalaideducation.org/about_the_consortium/2008-year-end-report/Purple_Florida.jpg (broken link)
http://www.legalaideducation.org/about_the_consortium/2008-year-end-report/Purple_Florida.jpg (broken link)

[FLGator487]

Originally Posted by chopchop0

Do you understand there isn't just one type of "liberal"? Many people, myself included, are socially liberal, but fiscally conservative.

I'm happy for people to go smoke whatever they want and marry whomever they want, just don't use my taxpayer money to fund your lifestyle, that's all.

That's libertarianism. When was the last time you saw a libertarian win a major election, in Florida or elsewhere?

Regardless of the particular nuances folks may have on issues, 90% of the time, in American politics, the practical (i.e., person who is going to be elected) choice is between a conservative Republican and a liberal Democrat.

Which is precisely my point, in a way. Everything about Florida would seem to suggest that we would elect, at a minimum, moderates on both sides - but this simply does not happen. We elect hardcore conservatives and a few moderates such as Debbie Wasserman-Schultz.

[bbronston]

Originally Posted by FLGator487

...and a few moderates such as Debbie Wasserman-Schultz.

Are you joking? DWS is practically a shill for liberalism from what I've seen.

[chopchop0]

Originally Posted by FLGator487

That's libertarianism. When was the last time you saw a libertarian win a major election, in Florida or elsewhere?

People pretty much vote against the other guy in our 2-party system. If people had a truly viable libertarian 3rd choice, they'd be much more likely to vote for him or her.

The 2-party system has failed us miserably, and people continue to vote for the lesser of 2 evils.

Regardless of the particular nuances folks may have on issues, 90% of the time, in American politics, the practical (i.e., person who is going to be elected) choice is between a conservative Republican and a liberal Democrat.

Which is unfortunate, but at the end of the day, the conservative republican is going to give me a much smaller haircut when it comes to tax time. The GOP and democrats use abortion to rile up their bases, but at the end of the day, roe v wade isn't going anywhere. I don't see either party legalizing marijuana entirely either.

Which is precisely my point, in a way. Everything about Florida would seem to suggest that we would elect, at a minimum, moderates on both sides - but this simply does not happen. We elect hardcore conservatives and a few moderates such as Debbie Wasserman-Schultz.

Moderate? Right

Debbie Wasserman Schultz - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

[seain dublin]

Originally Posted by southernnaturelover

Over half of the gay (and lesbian) people I know vote republican, including myself. Democrats don't have the GLBT community in Florida brainwashed like they do in other states.

Gee I wonder how they feel about living in the only state in the nation that doesn't allow gay people to adopt.

[OrlFlaUsa]

Originally Posted by seain dublin

Gee I wonder how they feel about living in the only state in the nation that doesn't allow gay people to adopt.

That's not true anymore, but it's a rather recent development.

[Kevin from Tampa]

For the following reasons...

1-Much of Florida is southern, and the south has gone from Democratic-dominated to Republican-dominated...and even the Dems are more Dixie-crat conservatives than the Pelosi types
2-The Hispanics in Florida are dominated by Cubans, and Cubans tend to be conservative.
3-Many of Florida's transplants in areas outside of south Florida are from the midwest, and those people tend to be conservative.

[ferret111]

My favorite Florida political party (aside from the Whigs) is the all-white British Reformed Sectarian Party, whose platform basically seems to be anti-black.

[seeriously]

Originally Posted by Jimrob1

With a population from literally all over, one would think Fla politics and elections would reflect that diversity but they don't. Election after election Fla retains its conservative political culture. I don't know how that happens or whether its good or bad, but people do notice it.

Yup, we noticed it. It's why we left Florida.