Android is open, the Google apps pack, including the GPS, is licensed on top.

This is no longer the case. None of the new phones use a Verizon ui any longer, the phones aren't locked down, you can use most any bluetooth profile that any other carrier allows. VzNavigator is one thing that you aren't going to get away from without getting one of the android phones, but you're locked into similar things with all carriers. With the Droid and Droid Eris, you get Google Maps navigation (free!) which works very well. Also, if you don't like the phones or apps available, you can use any (unlocked) cdma phone with them. Verizon has been opening up quite a lot in the past few years. Before you start knocking them, do a little research.

And as for GSM being so great, ask a Verizon customer how many dropped calls they've had in the past month, year, two years, what have you. Chances are you'll get an answer of maybe zero to two. Ask an AT&T customer the same question, they've likely lost count. If you're just looking for a SIM-based phone, they are moving to roll out LTE very soon.

He has been a republican for a long time, and the republican party has historically been very pro-liberty, pro-limited government, but that has all changed in the mainstream of the party. There is still a large contingent of libertarian republicans, they just aren't currently the mainstream. See http://www.rlc.org/

Now, I'm not a republican and never have been, I've always been a Libertarian.