[F16Fighter]

"Not everyone who lurks knows DO was a Buchanan supporter. His post left the impression that he was a Republican. I just wanted things to be clarified."

Maybe DO is in fact a Conservative and Constitutionalist...

Principle over party is to be commended, or should it not?

[Miss Marple]

It depends on what the principle is and whether or not the party is without principle. I happen to believe that no one person is perfect, and that goes for parties, individual candidates, and voters.

My choice is to stick with a team (the Republican party) which although it has its share of doofuses, on the whole most closely matches the way I think.

If you feel your way is the best, that is your privilege. My position works best for me. So far, it seems that most Americans are happiest in the two-party system, but of course things do change over time. Those who are in third party movements will have to work on getting a message that attracts enough voters to win. Until then, most accomplishments (or disasters) will be through one of the two major parties. That's just how things are right now.