In reading my analyses of the candidates and their running mates, here’s what you should know about me as a source (and as a moderator of discussions on topics here, should there be skirmishes):

I don’t think either party is the devil. Both believe they are doing what’s right for the people. Sometimes that turns out well for the people, sometimes not.

When I hear the word “change” my expectation is a departure from the politics of that candidate’s party.

I’m a small business owner. That means I’m skeptical of promises, because I’ve heard them from employees, clients and suppliers for over a decade, and seldom have those promises been kept. I prefer to take past performance and extrapolate it forward to determine whether someone can do a job.

That’s why I like governors as presidents. There’s not another job in politics to better prepare a person for running the whole show than running a smaller version of the whole show. Since no governors are running (for president), out of the gate I’m less enthused about my choices.

If you’ve never voted outside of your party of preference for the office of President, you really aren’t an Independent.

I’ve voted Republican for President in 4 of the 5 elections I was eligible to vote. Stated another way, I’ve voted outside my party of preference on one occasion when voting for President.

“Party blindness” is repulsive to me, whether it comes from the left or the right. Actually, it bugs me more when it comes from the right. I’m weird that way.

I believe in a woman’s right to choose. If you knew a few of the details of my past, you would know it would be hypocritical of me to believe otherwise.

I grew up in a family of Republicans. I don’t know if I’d consider them party blind, but let’s just say their eyeglass prescription is in the 4+ range. As the black sheep of the family I’m divergent from their opinions, but I still have their DNA coursing through my veins.

I married a Democrat. In every election except one (the one I broke party lines for), we’ve canceled out each other’s vote.

I don’t like unions. Issues that are somehow tied to unions will usually end with me siding opposite them. If issues like that come up, it will take extra effort on my part to remain neutral.

The people that abuse the welfare system have tainted my opinion of government assistance. This one’s a hard one for me, because I’m also a small business owner fighting through a shit-packed economy, and it’s entirely possible that if we have a bad year or two we could be needing that same assistance.

There’s probably more I’m secretly holding back, just to draw you in with my seemingly honest self-appraisal in the hopes that I can trick you into believing something you would otherwise never consider. I’m an evil genius that way. Either that or you’re paranoid. You pick.

One other thing you should know - civil discourse on the issues is the expectation.