At its inception, the Republican party was nothing like what we know it as today... so I'm sure there were some decent ones before Lincoln.

Remember that the Republican party was, until LBJ's time, the ones who fought for civil liberties and human rights. You're insulting a hell of a lot of Republicans who battled in Washington in the 50's and 60's to earn equal rights for blacks, women, and Asians.

As far as presidents go, though, Eisenhower was the last good one we had. (Though I still hate what he did with social security, which I believe should be abolished.)

I thought you might actually feel some kind of twinge at knowing you're pissed all over those responsible for winning the right for people like me to go to the same schools as people like you. They've earned my respect, and frankly, they should have earned yours as well.

The Republican party is responsible for, oh, say, ending slavery, hmmm, what else.... oh right! Women's suffrage (and don't you call yourself a feminist?).

I'm not saying you should go out and hug a Republican. I am saying that the Republican party has only, in recent times, become the thing which you hate so much. Historically the party platform pushed a lot of controversial legislation which reflects ideals and beliefs that you yourself profess to hold.

Teddy Roosevelt, though not quite the stature of Lincoln, was a top flight president (even after one has taken into account his blackmarks for his panama hijinks). As Arya mentioned Eisenhower was also decent. Not great, but decent.

*seeing this after my comment* TR was a good man, and did start out as a Republican with his reforms. When he left the Republican party, so did I:). Of course, I can't say that I agree with the Democrats after Carter. They say they champion things I believe in, yet they seem to just continue to toady themselves to the highest bidder like the Republicans.

Liberal isn't a dirty word, and neither is conservative. What is dirty is a lack of morality (not religious morality, but a sense of common decency). Those that rule must follow and apply The Golden Rule to their every decision. Otherwise, the nation will crumble from decay within, like tree rot.

I think they gotcha, Davy. You may just have to concede the point.

I was also reminded by your question of Jefferson and Adams hashing out the balance between states' rights and the needs of the republic. Not totally pertinent, but that's where my train of thought went. Opposition seems to have been built into our political process for good reasons.

Well don't mind me. I am in an odd mood today. Ironically, over having been proven right about something.

And no, I do not concede that the Republicans, particularly as a party, were even slightly instrumental in Civil Rights. In fact, they did, and do, bitterly oppose that noble cause.

This is flat out wrong, and can be dispelled by any history book covering the US voting practices from the 1870's to the 1950's.

See, I think Ted Rex was a good Republican too. Ted Roosevelt ended child labor, institutued proper work days, and demanded that we preserve the world around us. Not so bad for a Republican. The poll is thus invalid for me:).

Now that's what I call a one sided poll. Heh.

I really only voted the way I did because I'm feeling snarky towards Bush and the whole party right now... I'm not too excited about our Dem. choices either. None of them want to explain how they will pay for stuff. *sigh*