Hi everyone. I'm located right here in the middle of Free Republic country, about 30 miles south of Fresno, CA. I've enjoyed the site for a while and figured it was about time I became a registered visitor. The forum is fantastic and I am in awe of the cast of characters who post their thoughts. I began my political life as an avowed marxist. The first vote I ever cast was for Jesse Jackson (in 1987) in the California Democratic primary. In 1992 I voted for Bill Clinton, with much anguish at the time (not to mention subsequent regret), abstained in 1996 (though by this time my politics were quite conservative), and voted for John McCain in the 2000 primaries and then Bush in the general election. As I said, I used to be an ideologue of the left but I have no intention of becoming an ideologue of the right. I like to think that my thinking on political matters to be governed by reason alone. I tend to by more of a libertarian. The people in history I admire the most are Jefferson, Lincoln, and Churchill. Glad to be among you. Sean