99% of the time I live and let live. God knows, plenty of my posts have been wrong or stupid or counterproductive. In one particular case I argued against the 2003 Iraq invasion even after it was decided (in late 2002). I was asked to stop arguing (well asked would be a nice word) because I was impacting troop morale. I stopped pretty soon after that.
I don't track trolls or newbies very often, don't have the time and nobody pays me to be here or do that. Maybe one time a year at most. I have occasionally called out a poster I thought was a troll and there was one occasion where I contributed to the banning of an obvious troll (much more obvious than you).
The reason I spoke of Palin is I checked your other posts to make sure you weren't bad mouthing her. There are still third party deadenders who are. You are not and that is good. Considering your posting history I do not think you are a troll (whew that must come as relief to you!)
With that kind of censorship there is always the danger of group-think. But I don't think that is a problem in this case, there are still plenty of reasonable arguments against McCain's specific positions. I just don't like innuendo such as your postings in this thread.
I am the anti-PC and some people just can’t stand it. I don’t like spin and I don’t like lies from either side. When I see something that false, I call it out. When I see something questionable, I challenge it.
I am now no longer a Republican, but even when I was, I refused to support the “R”. I don’t believe that you get the best representation if you do that. If you forgive their bad votes — and reward them with your vote again — you don’t hold them to any standard at all. The only thing that pols pay attention to is the voter who has not climbed onto their bandwagon. Once you are aboard, they can forget about you.
If we hadn’t withheld our support from McCain, we wouldn’t have got Palin. Why would he give us anything when we were already on board if he could instead win other votes with other promises?
Relate this to any negotiation. If you accept the first offer, you will not get what you want. You have to say no and say it often. The fear of lose (a sale or an election) is a great motivator. If you hold out, they will give in. Always let the politician know that your vote is never to be taken for granted even if you have already decided that you will vote that way.
If we give in early then we are little different from the girl that ‘gives it up’ on the first date when there is no commitment from the man. They have to earn it. ;-)