Reasonable answers to ALMOST all those questions???????????????
Meet me on the Flame board Rocket-boy!
;-)

In the broad spectrum of the left I'm probably somewhere in the middle.
Like a lot people I don't accept willy-nilly all points of the left, nor reject all points of the right.
Personally, I don't think that makes me exceptional. Call me part of the mostly silent majority on the left. ;-)

What may make me slightly exceptional is I actually think about issues and try to come to my own answer.
Much the way most of the other bleeding-heart libs on the Zone do. There are many millions more out there too.
Ya never know - they may just be the ones who actually bother to vote.

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As to the "affirmative action" argument: you can watch for improving numbers, but how do you tell that the numbers were "too low" in the first place? ;)

Compare the percentages in the overall population to the percentages in your particualr group.
That does not mean you have to match (that would be your quota). It does probably mean you have to do better.

As for opposing religion in government, ........
Heck, remember JFK? His being Catholic was actually a big deal at one time. Carter was indeed an observant Christian. I wonder why religious Democrats are okay, but a religious Republican is Torquemada unless proven otherwise?
I think that proves there is hypocrisy on both sides of the aisle. You bash the other other side with whatever you can get away with, or whatever you think may appeal to your constiuents.
Think you'll get more votes by being religious? Wear your religion on your sleeve.
Think you'll get more votes by rarely mentioning your faith? Then don't say anything. (But make sure you are photographed at least once a year in church to be safe)
Think you'll get more votes by subtly or openly criticing your opponents religion? "Did I mention my opponent works on Christmas day.......?" "How dare you bring religion into government by mentioning God!"