i became aware in the mid-2000's because of the implausible 9/11 story and the antics of George Bush, and i was brought into the political realm by the 2008 campaign of the first politician whom i actually believed when he spoke -- Ron Paul (they made a bobblehead doll of him once, but the head didn't move), and now i am a staunch constitutional conservative and i endorse fiscal conservatism and social liberalism (which means i believe the government should stay out of our personal lives).