We have party line ballots too but that doesn't cause me to vote straight ticket. I vote taxpayers party on school administration type races.
A bunch of "blind party loyality over country" people have been on FR cheerleading for everyone to vote "straight ticket Republican" regardless of who the candidate is. It's that kind of thinking that got us Jeffords and almost got Senator Chafee re-elected so he could caucus with the Dems. By blindly voting for ANY "R", all they're doing is using GOP money to electing liberals who with carry out the Democrats agenda.
I voted 90% Republican last week, but I did so because the INDIVIDUAL candiate in EACH race who happened to be better was the Republican. 90% of the time, the Republican IS better, but voters should be educated and informed to know where their candidates stand in every office to determine that.
I have no respect for people who blindly punch "D" or "R" on the ballot and do not give a crap whether the person for each office is honest, qualified, conservative, etc. Straight party voting gives us lying corrupt scumbags like Jim Jeffords (R), George Ryan (R), Robert Toricelli (D), Alan Heveri (D), etc. How did they win? Their voters didn't even notice they were running -- all they cared was whether they had a "D" or "R" next to their name.