Great Article, Matt! Very well done. Maybe you'll open a few minds!

"Republicans are decent, good people, who have gotten involved in politics for the same reasons as many Democrats—to actually try to make the world a better place."

What kind of Republican is this? "Trying to make the world a better place" through government is NOT what Republicanism is all about. That's what Democrats do. The result is, almost inevitably, completely counterproductive (like welfare, for example). The road is hell is paved with good intentions.

What I think Republicans (should) stand for is individual opportunity and responsibility. We think that allowing people the greatest amount of freedom possible from government regulation of lives naturally leads to a better society.

But freedom is the main goal. The making of a better world is just a nice bonus.

"He says R's must address the importance of workforce diversity, and they should highlight retention of essential social services in tight budgetary cycles. Ross also says the GOP must impress on minority voters in Seattle..."

Why don't we just all become Democrats and call ourselves Republicans in Name Only (oh, wait, that's John McCain's gig).

"Impress" minority voters? With what? Supporting the so-called affirmative action and other pernicious, divisive and unjust government policies that favor one group of people another based on skin tone?

I don't think so.

A fascinating article, Matt. On the infrequent occasions when I still attend an official Republican party meeting, I am always disappointed to see so many faces on Social Security, like mine. So I was most interested to read about the opinions and circumstances of the younger people you interviewed.

Most impressive, to me, was Brendan Vaughn, the young man who obviously came of age during the nadir of Seattle's political culture, yet who has not shut down mentally, even though not a Republican. Now there is the future of the Republican party in Seattle, if there is to be one.

If only it were crystal clear to all of us how to cause such people to flourish, there would be fewer divisions among the various factions of the Republican party!

Until that happy epiphany, I shall remain more or less in the same ideological camp as James Na (despite our many disagreements), and a running dog of the Christian right.

As a recent conservative transplant to Seattle I was interested in seeing the political climate up close, no sure what to expect or what to find. Truth be told, your stories of Democrats and Bush-hating sounds no different here than any other part of the country. In my brief experience here (the past month), I've actually found the liberal crowd to be milder than in other areas.

Very much enjoyed your piece, and am very interested to see whether Seattle, like the rest of the country, continues to slowly move to the right end of the political spectrum.

As a recent conservative transplant to Seattle, I was definitely curious on what I would experience when I moved to a blue city. Enjoyed your piece, and in my limited experience here (only a month) the liberal crowd is not nearly as vocal or visible as in other parts of the country.

Will be interesting to see if Seattle continues to swing to the right as the rest of the country has done.

The picture you paint of Seattle Democrats is inaccurate and biased. You take the random comments of a few nutbag extremists and pass it off as the mainstream of progressive politics (notice the lack of sarcastic quotations). Your article is irresponsible and seems to promote a profiling of local Dems as rabid Bush haters with one-track minds. It's hatemongering, and the piece is pure propoganda. The SW should be ashamed of itself for giving such a one-sided smear job such a prominent place in their pages. Journalistic objectivity? I guess that's an outdated concept.

Keep those blinders firmly in place Ted.

As long as you don't poke the local "progressive" beast, it won't turn on you. If you are a conservative, you've have long learned to remain silent just to avoid prolonging the moments of silliness of the local left. Hey, I just put up with another Bush hating moment this past weekend in a social engagement. I just rolled my eyes and moved on. These "people" are hopeless.

The local "progressives" mistake this silence for agreement. I mean the "progressives" just can't be wrong.

James (Na, not Reagan), why are you using the lexicon of the Left? Increasing freedom is making the world better. Freedom is an objective good. Increasing freedom makes the world better.

"Blinders" Gary??

You're just repeating the same talking points Rosenberg uses in this article. Are any disagrement with your worldview automatically "Bush hating moments"? Since when did Republicans get so sensitive? It often appears that neocons are averse to free and open debate, you're either "with" them or "against" them. Their narrow perspective doesn't seem to allow for any grey areas and they react to disagrement with arrogance and aloofness that stifles debate. It's getting old.

Great article. It's nice to see such a thoughtful profile of conservatives.

That being said, I think they key point I drew out of this is that all these up and coming Seattle Repubs are only conservative on fiscal and military issues. On hot button social issues, they tend to be moderate to liberal.

The question I have is this. If the national Republican Party continues its trend of putting anti-abortion, gay and environmental platforms front and center, what will the "blue city conservatives" do?

"I've actually found the liberal crowd to be milder than in other areas."

Where are you from, Berkeley? In all seriousness, give it some time. It will wear on you soon enough.

"James (Na, not Reagan), why are you using the lexicon of the Left? Increasing freedom is making the world better. Freedom is an objective good. Increasing freedom makes the world better."

What lexicon of the Left? You appear confused about Left and Right.

Freedom is great, indeed. But it ain't something you create through government action (except, obviously, in cases where thugs and criminals are using violence to hold people hostage; but even then, it's "restoration" rather than "creation").

Government, though generally and broadly representative of the will of the people in a Republic, still suffers from institutional interests of those who run it as well as the whims of the mob, unless specific constitutional guarantees are in place to obstruct "pure" democracy ("two wolves and a sheep deciding what to have for dinner" as the saying goes).

Though we all have to work within political reality, the core goal of the GOP, in domestic policy arena, should be reduction of central government role in daily lives of citizens, i.e. liberty maximization.

Now, has the GOP been good at this? Not really. But it has advocated policies that steal less from me and at slower paces than what the Donkeys (the Jackasses that they are) advocate, so I go with the lesser of the two evils.

For me, at least at this stage of my life, politics is not about "creating good through government action," but limiting the harm by government action on Free Enterprise of Man.

I found your article disappointing. I'd hoped it would mainly be a profile of some Seattle Republicans, and you do say some interesting things about their views and experience as a not-quite-oppressed minority here. But you spend way too much space talking about liberals, considering that you don't interview any.

My politics are liberal, but oddly enough I'm a human being, and I don't recognize myself in your story. I don't know why Ms. Congdon, quoted in your article, blames liberals--people like me--for her being sexually harassed. (?!!) I'm not rude to Republicans when I meet them, I like many Republicans--am even related to some! I don't joke about killing them with golf balls. I don't see why the guy at Caffe Ladro with his bumper stickers is such a burden to your existence, or why you take it personally when people object passionately to Bush and his war in Iraq.

I guess it's all the projection one finds in so much "political" writing these days that has me down. Ann Coulter says she wants to murder me, my mother, and all my aunts and uncles--why? because we're this monolithic thing, "The Liberals." I don't care if she's joking; I don't find it funny when people talk about killing my family! I'm sure there are liberal Seattleites who are just as bad with regard to Republicans, which is regrettable, but has more to do with maturity than with liberalism per se. Your article at least profiles some interesting individuals, but on the whole I think you're treating liberals much as you accuse liberals of treating you, and why should I appreciate that?

Good article. It has even been getting some national play on the net. It is interesting to see some everyday people, not just the extremists the press likes to portray.

Matt,
I'm always pleased to read your blog and your writings. I think one of the most amazing talents you have is the ability to elicit thoughtful comments and stories from your readers - rather than the reactionary blather which is typical of most political writing (or reading, in my case).

One thing I've always stuck to believing is that though discussing these things can be interesting, as soon as emotion enters the mix, you're basically talking to a wall. At that point, you're just not going to convince the other person on the merits of your argument.

That's why it's important to me be well read - so if I'm engaged in a conversation with friends and we discuss something which I can easily explain my political stance or bacgkround on an issue, I do so. Once that's done, once I've said my piece, it's done. No need to press buttons, or try to refute everything the other person says, or even to think up answers for every question they may have. Just say your piece, and be open to questions. If you can't answer them - you have some reading to do; perhaps a little time rethinking what you believe in is warranted as well.

Keep it up Matt!

Most excellent Matt.

I love the 'war stories' and the call to action. The fact that you got the SW to publish it is meaningful in itself.

Great work and congratulations!

Mac, & Brendan, and other kind commenters, thanks!

Honestly, why do Republicans feel that every city and county in this country should belong to them? There are plenty of so called "red" areas to settle in. And, your characterization of most Seattle progressives being crazed and uncivil is unfounded. Simply look at neutral forums on the web, such as Yahoo! message boards, and you'll see how uncivil supposed conservatives can be.

True conservatives want privacy, fiscal responsibility, and smaller government, or so I've read. Yet the neo-cons have promoted the opposite of all three. Unlike Republicans, Democrats, Greens, progressives, liberals, etc. are able to critisize anyone who does wrong, even if they are on our side--something Republicans are unable to do. It's all lockstep, talking points, the Bush-administration-is-beyond-reproach.

Read this article of quotes by prominent Conservatives:

http://www.truthout.org/cgi-bin/artman/exec/view.cgi/22/3843

and tell me if you still think they are more civil than Progressives.

Matt,

The main purpose of this post is to let you know how much I appreciated your article in the "Seattle Weekly." I look at that publication maybe twice a year but how could I resist when there was a cover story on Republicans! I was in awe.

Just to let you know that if you ever do a follow up you can certainly interview me. Right now, I am typing from the Gulag Archipelago, the University of Washington, located in the bowels of the 43rd Legislative District, where I work and call home.

I could give you several examples of ways in which I have been tormented for being a Republican, the most recent the fact that 4-5 guys in my department basically stopped talking to me after the 2004 election. And, this was not in response to my tormenting them, because I hadn't. (Well, I did offer one of them a black armband the day after the election, which he accepted.) They seem unwilling to face the prospect of the same kind of abuse which some of them dole out on a routine basis. You know, I was very sad that Rossi got robbed, but it gives me no limit of pleasure that the Big Guy won.

Anyhow, I have lived in the Seattle area for 15 years. A Utah Republican, it has not been easy.
I am hoping to make some connections with other Republicans because we are nearly extinct in my neck of the woods.

Beth