Labels are for the weak minded. We cannot waste precious time debating such a pointless matter. The issues are what matter and if we lose sight of that we do not deserve the democracy we supposedly own. Look at the candidate, not the party.

People who abandon your ideology are interesting, because they can often point out weaknesses of which you ought to be aware.

As a liberal, let me disprove you by quoting approvingly a conservative I normally don't agree with: "Words mean things."

And @9, as soon as Mamet lays some actual, real, really-for-real true facts on the table, I will, too.

Are you saying I'm going to be disappointed in 4 to 8 Years when his administration reverts to politics as usual?

@9 Perhaps M's list is "plain insulting" cause it could have been taken from any right-wing-foundation-funded corporate-prostitute-ridden bullshit-factory press release of the last ten (make that 20) years. How many times do you have to hear "there's no point in trying to change things for the better through government" from someone who's being sponsored by someone trying to change something through government (for their narrow private gain, surprise, surprise) before you get annoyed? (An while Mamet may not be looking for right wingnut funding (though who knows), what he's pushing is same old same old from them who are...)

(@5 yep and I'd extend that to misanthropic - he seems to despise all people. So why shouldn't we despise him back?...)

#7, what #10 and #17 said. Political ideology isn't some false distinction, it is real. They address fundamental questions like an individual's proper relationship with society, the balance between individual freedom and social authority, and whether individuals are innately equal or unequal. All members of an ideology, by definition, will answer these questions consistently.

Now, if you are referring to political parties, which I actually think you were, then I can relate to your argument somewhat. Ideology transcends political parties, so it can be hard to tell someone's ideological beliefs just from their political party.

Slightly OT: does anyone else notice a tendency for conservative pundits/bloggers to generalize liberal ideology in hilariously misinformed ways? I have to wonder if liberal pundits do the same thing and I just don't see it, but I don't think so.

Fnarf @ #17 Your comment is offensive and painfully obvious. 100,000 people may be actually running the show, but half of them are the ones making the campaign donations, and they play both sides of the field baby. There are plenty of members of the same "political ideology" that disagree on enough to make you wonder why the hell you voted for them in the first place (Frank Chopp, I'm looking at you.)

You HAVE to look primarily at the candidate, no matter what hat they wear. It is illogical to do otherwise.

Insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results. If you continue to answer questions the same way, and the result isn't working, obviously you need to look at an external influence, and either make a compromise, or change the question. It could be that your ideology is holding you back from truth.