@jcboy,
no, I am not a Republican. Let me educate you on my voting.
My vote goes to the candidate I feel is best qualified for the tasks which they will be facing. The decision is made according to all their merits and their lackings. Sometimes the recipient is Democrat, sometimes they are Republican and sometimes from the Independent line or the Conservative line or even the Liberal line. My votes are not based on a party, and neither do I vote straight down just one line.
My Presidential voting history is as follows:
1972- I only know I did not vote for Nixon.
1976-Primary, I was supporting Frank Church (Dem), in the main election I was for Carter.
1980-My vote went to John B. Anderson, a Republican running as an Independent. It was disappointment in Carter and distrust of Reagan which brought about the vote.
1984-Voted for Mondale
1988-Voted for Dukakis
1992-Voted for Clinton
1996-I did not make a selection for President, as Clinton angered me, especially due to his signing of the welfare reform law. Dole didn't strike me as the right person for the job.
2000 and 2004-Voted both times for George W. Bush. I felt, and still do,that he was the better option.
2008-I was in the beginning phase of a medical crisis and from August of 2008 to March of 2009 things were rather blurry. I don't believe I voted that round.
2012-I may have voted for Obama, I know that I did not for for Romney
So, aso you can see, I am not a Republican although I can vote for them
My party afillation has been Conservative until 1980 when I re-registered and signed in as a Democrat. That (the Democrat) is what I have remained. However, as indicated the idea of voting all on one ticket makes little sense to me if the candidate listed is not good for the constituents.