Reasons people switch political afiliations (McCain, Ron Paul, Iraq, extremist)

[Ebrehm]

Since someone already did a thread called "Reasons people switch from liberal to conservative; and conservative to liberal," I decided to check it out. Finding it to be full of the typical rabid partisanship and the narrowminded stereotyping by the idiots that plague this site, I decided I make a more intelligent and reasoned thread as to why people switch sides.

My theories:
1.) Someone else said something to sway them: I think the biggest reason a liberal would become a conservative or vice versa, is because someone on the other side of the aisle made a decent point as to why they believed what they believed, or why they opposed what they opposed.
2.) Extremists from their own side scared them away: Someone might switch sides because some idiot on their side said something ridiculously idiotic or fanatical. A liberal saying all conservatives hate women, or a conservative saying all liberals hate God, are both examples of blind partisan rhetoric that would frighten away the more open-minded and reasonable members of their party.
3.) Views change over time: A person's views can change over time. Perhaps someone starts out as a liberal but overtime becomes a conservative, or vice versa, due to their experiences in life.

I really want an intelligent discussion without any partisanship, stereotyping, or generalizations being made here. We're all civilized adults here, I'm pretty sure we can find a way to behave as such.

[RCCCB]

People just see the government unions in action and government bloated as hell.

[andywire]

They put down the doobie and grow a brain. Why do you think the democrats are so pro pot?

[HarryWho?]

I admit I'm a lifelong Democrat, but I've voted Republican several times in local elections, and twice in general elections. It would have been three times if McCain had been the nominee in 2000. Sometimes moderates overlap and obscure the line to the point where you choose the man rather than his policy.

[djacques]

I've usually tended to be more pro-Republican when the Dems are in power, and vice versa. But post-9/11 and Iraq, I can't envision voting for another Republican for national office, unless Ron Paul supporters take over the party.