Kevin_USA

I couldn't disagree more.
The US is a country of immigrants, yet your forefathers and mine could not legally have come to this country under today's rules. Diversity is one of the reasons we are the greatest country in the world and one which people want to immigrate too. We should make it far easier and quicker to legally immigrate to this country. I also see no reason why the work done in Vermont and California could not be outsourced to a private company. Doing so would surely cut the process time by 75%. They should also add a service for expedited applications at a premium, say double the normal fee.
Yes, increase the salary requirements for K-1 Visas to 200% and eliminate co-sponsors (Active military should not be subject to these rules). If you are poor, you need to get better job or better education before you try to raise a family. Countries who routinely threaten the USA should have severe immigrations restrictions. No K-1 / CR-1 Visas for countries like Iran, Iraq, Libya, Syria, Afghanistan, or Pakistan (except for active military).
People who have bona fide skills we need in this country should have a fast track to immigrate here. We should be attracting some of those Chinese engineering students and Filipino nurses. First generation immigrants as a group are the most successful entrepreneurs in America.

I do not think they commonly ask about wedding plans since its a future event. I would suggest being careful about making any definate wedding plans before getting closer to the end of the process, these things have a way of dragging out for months longer than you expect

Where?
Show some courage, I am very curious to your answer.

I couldn't disagree more.
The US is a country of immigrants, yet your forefathers and mine could not legally have come to this country under today's rules. Diversity is one of the reasons we are the greatest country in the world and one which people want to immigrate too. We should make it far easier and quicker to legally immigrate to this country. I also see no reason why the work done in Vermont and California could not be outsourced to a private company. Doing so would surely cut the process time by 75%. They should also add a service for expedited applications at a premium, say double the normal fee.
Yes, increase the salary requirements for K-1 Visas to 200% and eliminate co-sponsors (Active military should not be subject to these rules). If you are poor, you need to get better job or better education before you try to raise a family. Countries who routinely threaten the USA should have severe immigrations restrictions. No K-1 / CR-1 Visas for countries like Iran, Iraq, Libya, Syria, Afghanistan, or Pakistan (except for active military).
People who have bona fide skills we need in this country should have a fast track to immigrate here. We should be attracting some of those Chinese engineering students and Filipino nurses. First generation immigrants as a group are the most successful entrepreneurs in America.

Where?
Show some courage, I am very curious to your answer.

I couldn't disagree more.
The US is a country of immigrants, yet your forefathers and mine could not legally have come to this country under today's rules. Diversity is one of the reasons we are the greatest country in the world and one which people want to immigrate too. We should make it far easier and quicker to legally immigrate to this country. I also see no reason why the work done in Vermont and California could not be outsourced to a private company. Doing so would surely cut the process time by 75%. They should also add a service for expedited applications at a premium, say double the normal fee.
Yes, increase the salary requirements for K-1 Visas to 200% and eliminate co-sponsors (Active military should not be subject to these rules). If you are poor, you need to get better job or better education before you try to raise a family. Countries who routinely threaten the USA should have severe immigrations restrictions. No K-1 / CR-1 Visas for countries like Iran, Iraq, Libya, Syria, Afghanistan, or Pakistan (except for active military).
People who have bona fide skills we need in this country should have a fast track to immigrate here. We should be attracting some of those Chinese engineering students and Filipino nurses. First generation immigrants as a group are the most successful entrepreneurs in America.

You seem to be forgetting planes flying into skyscrapers, people falling from buildings, the invasion of Kuwait, gassing of Kurds, bombings too numerous to count, beheadings of tourists, etc... Civilians die in wars, nearly 50 million in World War II alone. The Taliban, Hamas, Al-Qaeda and other murders do not subscribe to the Geneva Convention so should not be granted those humanitarian standards. They are not U.S. Citizens. they are enemy combatants (i.e. prisoners of war).
Afghanistan declared war on America and we are reacted appropriately. In hindsight, Iraq was a big mistake because now we are faced with the world's number one exporter of terrorism (Iran) trying to become a nuclear power and we do not have the stomach to invade them. It will cost us dearly in the end, probably to the tune of millions of lives at some point.
Sadly, the good people of that region are mostly poor, uneducated, and greatly hindered by their religious/cultural beliefs. I do not see much hope for them any time soon because those in power (mostly religious figures) have too much incentive to keep the people in the stone age.

Interesting, if not somewhat slanted, piece.
I think the issue really derives from a lack of understanding of what 'conservatism' means to the average person. Though it escapes me as to why it is so difficult. I would submit that the typical 'Conservative' believes in the following:
* A smaller federal government with most issues decided at local or state levels.
* A strong national defense.
* A belief in capitalism and the free market.
* Protection of personal freedoms as guaranteed by the Constitution and the associated responsibilities that accompany those rights.
By those standards, I would suggest that the vast majority of Americans are Conservative. Single issues such as Abortion are far more aligned with religious upbringing than political viewpoint. The Republican party has hitched its wagon to Abortion and (to a lesser extent) Immigration; by doing so they will continue to pay heavily for it.
I consider myself to be a staunch conservative. Yet, I am also Pro-Choice and Pro-Open Immigration. As such, and mind you there are many like me, there is no political home for my views. Should the Republican party ever wake up and focus on the fundamental values of the Conservative, they would have the opportunity to make real changes in America.
For the individual issues mentioned in the article and the relevant polling data, I would imagine it is based purely on how the question was asked. "Do you support Social Security?" is a far different question from "Would you pay 10% more taxes to support Social Security?". The Social Security system is broken because it was created at a time when less than 50% of the population even reached the retirement age. So quit asking the question of whether you support it and start asking the question about how you are going to make it work.
Higher Taxes on the Rich? I am fine with but the problem is we spend too much, not that we tax too much. The top 5% of wage earners already pay 58% of the personal income taxes. It should also be noted that many of the super wealthy also contribute large sums to charity. That includes quite a number who have pledge 50% of their wealth to philanthropy (Bill Gates, Mark Zuckerberg, Warren Buffet, and T. Boone Pickens are among just a few). There is no doubt in my mind that a dollar spent on charity is far more effective than a dollar sent to Washington.
As in most things, common sense and moderation should be our watch words. Yes, Capitalism is good; unfettered Capitalism is not. Conversely, Heavy regulation stifles business but no regulation endangers the public. Hard Questions, Hard Answers; answers we will not arrive at by being Democratic or Republican.

If you were married as of 12/31/2011, I assume you could file as Married-Filing Jointly.
Under IRS law, you are considered married for the full year if you are married as of 12/31.