"I used to be a hippie liberal as well. My first vote for President was in 1972 at the tender age of 19, I voted McGovern."
I hear ya there, though I voted for President Nixon in '72. Only Democrat I have ever voted for was Jimmy Carter and I was so embarrassed of my vote by 1980 that I actively campaigned for Reagan and have been in the GOP camp ever since.
This article expresses my feelings to a 'T'.