I don’t see a poll option, so I guess I’ll do it manually:
For me:
I’ll bite:
Democrat, specifically Yellow-Dog Democrat (for those of you playing along at home, I would vote for a yellow dog before a Republican)
Liberal
I’m on the left side of the Democrats and tend to vote on scientific/environmental/ social progress planks.
Canada, where I also vote, has a more left leaning and more nuanced system. Some say all of Canada’s politics would fit within the US Democratic party. In Canada I fall on the line between the Liberal Party and the NDP or Greens.
Ex-Republican who defected when Cheney and company made it plain that they were out to turn the country into a banana republic.
I’m generally extremely liberal on social matters, conservative to middle-of-the-road on economic matters, and a homicidal psychopath on foreign affairs.
The older I get, the more liberal I get. Shit, I voted for Nixon! Now, I consider Obama dangerously centrist.
I’m a libertarian conservative, I guess. I’m for lower taxes, legalized marijuana, gay marriage, abortions (although I would hope adoption would be a woman’s first choice, I’m certainly not going to prevent her from having an abortion) and less federal gov’t involvement. I’m for legal immigration, border patrol, and standing up to our enemies. And Obama scares the crap out of me, so I guess that makes me racist.
Make of that what you will.
1. Which political group do you most identify with? Republican, Democrat, Independent, or Other?
I’m a registered Democrat and on the whole, I identify with them most closely. My Poli Sci professor once decided that I’m what gets categorized as a “Clinton Democrat”- educated, socially liberal, economically conservative, willing to forgo economic conservative to help people, blah blah.
2. Would you describe your political ideals as: Mostly Conservative, Mostly Liberal, or Other?
Mostly liberal- civil rights and everything under that umbrella (gay rights, women’s rights, etc.) mean the world to me. That said, I’m pro military and feel we tax the rich excessively. Corporations, though, need to be reigned in, imho.
3. Any comment to clarify your responses above?
I’m from Bakersfield, California. My professor liked to say that among political scientists, the central valley of California is a weird political anomoly in itself- a bunch of uneducated, blue collar workers who are as far right as you can get. While that’s not as unique in the last few years, it’s been like that here since the town was founded, fueled by Dust Bowl era biases, etc.
My point is: I’m weird in a weird place.
I make of it that you’re peachy keen…except the Obama part. I don’t presume racism, but why would he scare you? Don’t grok.
As for me–
I’m an independent, but I register Democratic for political expediency. I’d call myself a Social Democrat, but this freakin’ country doesn’t have the sense to have that as a party option yet. I had to seriously think hard about voting for Obama in the primaries-- had I voted my conscience rather than my sense of practicality, I’d have voted for Kucinich in the primaries. I hold extremely liberal political views.
I feel that Communism, as described by Marx, would have worked in a non-authoritarian environment such as, say, the United States. I don’t see the downside to sharing. I think that western European governments, especially Scandinavia and France, have it just about right apart from the fact that they are terribly naive about defending themselves from forces bent on conquest. Ah, D’Angelines… gotta love 'em.
1. Which political group do you most identify with? Republican, Democrat, Independent, or Other?
A Republican. I’m unhappy with my party and if they keep going down the road they’re on I might re-register as an independent. But then again I’m kind of lazy so I might just stay a Republican and just bitch and moan about them, it’s easier that way. 
2. Would you describe your political ideals as: Mostly Conservative, Mostly Liberal, or Other?
Moderately conservative. For example, I’m pro life but I don’t really care if gay people marry or adopt children.
I’m a registered Independent, my politics are (at this point in my life) very centrist. I favor policies that are advanced by both parties and some that are seemingly in conflict with each other. In other words, I’m pretty much a political enigma, which makes for fun threads on the SDMB when people try to beat on me for being a Republican. It’s a far cry from where I used to be, that’s for certain.
Independent
Lefty
Libertarian on social issues (including gun rights)
Borderline Commie on economic issues
In a parliamentary system I’d identify with a party like the labor, green or socialist party. However since we have a 2 party system I identify with the democratic party. But I identify with the progressive wing of the democratic party (the congressional progressive caucus over the blue dogs, for example)
moderately liberal. I guess I consider ‘radical’ to be the point where ideology trumps pragmatism and you reject or support ideas w/o examining them and thinking them through. If conservatives have good ideas that will make the country better, I’d support them. But by and large they do not seem to. I have no idea where the concept of the GOP as ‘the party of ideas’ came from. It is now the party of protofascist, superstitious, anti-intellectual religious fanatics. The only thing I’m conservative on is some parts of foreign policy. International death squads made up of delta force and DEVGRU operators? Have at it.
Nope.
I can’t remember the last time I belonged to a political party. I guess that makes me an Independent.
Mostly liberal. I’ve been called a socialist.
I’m pro-choice, in favour of gays being able to marry, moderately anti-capital punishment, I want science and critical thinking to be taught in schools – and religion specifically declared not to be science, better access to higher education, and most of all single-payer health care. But keep your hands off of the Second Amendment.
Which political group do you most identify with? Republican, Democrat, Independent, or Other?
Registered Democrat, but these days consider myself an Independant
Would you describe your political ideals as: Mostly Conservative, Mostly Liberal, or Other?
Mostly Liberal
Any comment to clarify your responses above?
I want universal health care, marriage for gay citizens, religion out of the government.
Oh, and I like guns.
None.
Libertarian. Paleolibertarian to be more specific.
I have been everything. When I was in college I was extremely left-wing/liberal. After college I did a 180 and became a right-wing conservative. I am now a libertarian. I believe most liberals are fascists and only want to have power and control over you. I believe most conservatives are fascists and only want to have power and control over you. Libertarianism is the only political belief that does not desire power and control over people.
Democratic, 2) Liberal
Really want to vote for the best candidate, but have been appalled by every Republican presidential candidate since Nixon. Afraid Crafter Man is right about who wants to have power and control over you, but feel obligated to use my vote to influence the balance between the candidates likliest to win. Feel progressive, but want to progress thoughtfully and slowly because I also value the predictability and stability our current system provides. Dread religion and its influence and wish the federal government made no laws concerning anything that tends to establish any religions, but am left wondering what exactly the Constitution says on the subject. Think no government should be involved in marriage, for instance, leaving the sacred entirely in the hands of churches, but think governments should provide to all who want them civil unions to establish civil law around unions. Pro gay rights, pro free speech. Think the Second Amendment guarantees the gun nuts most of the things they say it does, but really wish we could amend the Constitution to undo the Second Amendment. Spent the Bush years ashamed of my country and donated heavily to the Obama campaign, but don’t like pledging loyalty to anybody.
1.) Republican
2.) Conservative
3.) Christian, 95% anti-abortion, right-wing libertarian, a little too much to the left to be a Bircher though.
I consider myself a firm Republican although not as conservative as say Rush Limbaugh or Sarah Palin but still to the right of John McCain.
Conservative populist. I am socially conservative, foreign policy hawk, but moderate possibly borderline liberal on economic issues. I supported a form of the Stimulus Plan though not UHC.
I think my politics represents my generation that is the Millenial Generation who like the Greatest Generation will in the future become a visionary generation that will save the world and unite the nation.
Millenials are the most liberal age group out there. I am also a millenial (I am one of the oldest though).
In 2004 millenials supported democratic candidates by about a 10 point margin. By 2006 it was 22 points. By 2008 it was 34 points.
Obama won in 2008 with about a 9 million vote majority. Despite people under 30 only making up about 17% of the electorate, that group gave Obama a 7 million vote majority. So 1/6 of the nation (millenials) gave Obama 80% of his popular vote majority.
As far as young people ‘always’ being liberal (which is usually a retort to this), that isn’t always true. Youth in 1980 and 1984 were conservative and wanted Reagan over Carter or Mondale.
I don’t think the GOP can win youth votes. Polls show young people tend to be more socially liberal, pro-science, pro-environment and pro-government intervention. The GOP is mostly a party of older voters 50+. There is a generation gap.