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This clip made me reflect on my journey as a “conservative Republican,” whatever that means these days. Sorry for the length. https://twitter.com/stevekornacki/status/1294256755166326786
I was born in 1983 and raised in extremely rural CT. A few stoplights, dirt roads, my junior high and high school were (are!) surrounded by a beautiful brook and rolling cow pastures.
My first memory of politics is one of my first vivid memories on this earth, coincidently.
My first memory of politics is one of my first vivid memories on this earth, coincidently.
I was sitting on my father’s lap, an eminently decent man and an Army vet, as he watched the 1988 presidential returns come across our tiny, black and white, 6 inch antenna television/radio in our kitchen.
I looked up and asked, “is who we want to win, winning?”
I looked up and asked, “is who we want to win, winning?”
He looked at me, smiled wide, and replied, “yes.”
When HW lost in ‘92, I remember my mother saying she thought he should/would win because he was “a decent man.” I swear, I’ve talked to her about this statement many times since, starting way before Trump came down the escalator.
When HW lost in ‘92, I remember my mother saying she thought he should/would win because he was “a decent man.” I swear, I’ve talked to her about this statement many times since, starting way before Trump came down the escalator.
In ‘96, I was such a little shit that I told my 8th grade Social Studies teacher that if my group randomly drew Perot or Clinton from the hat, I refuse to debate on their behalf because I wouldn’t mean it.
I don’t know if it was coincidence or coercion, but we drew Dole.
I don’t know if it was coincidence or coercion, but we drew Dole.
You see, my maternal grandfather loved Dole and despised Clinton, who had dodged the draft, lied and cheated, and said he “loathed the military.”
Like Dole, my Papa earned a Purple Heart on an Italian hillside, only he lost the use of the opposite arm as Dole.
I revere him.
Like Dole, my Papa earned a Purple Heart on an Italian hillside, only he lost the use of the opposite arm as Dole.
I revere him.
I was delighted when W won the recount in 2000.
I was eligible to vote in ‘04, and I wore a suit to the polls to vote W.
I wore it on Inauguration Day, and when friends and strangers at an adjacent city bar asked me why, I’d proudly troll, “because it’s Inauguration Day.”
I was eligible to vote in ‘04, and I wore a suit to the polls to vote W.
I wore it on Inauguration Day, and when friends and strangers at an adjacent city bar asked me why, I’d proudly troll, “because it’s Inauguration Day.”
I joined the Army shortly after, and during my first deployment to Iraq, the GOP got shellacked in the ‘06 midterms. That made sense to me, and I had bigger things to worry about anyway.
Obama won during my 2nd deployment, and I’ll never forget the scene at the chow hall that day.
Scores of my fellow soldiers, mostly persons of color (and DADT gays I knew personally), looking at the big screens in awe, smiling, crying, embracing.
I am moved by it to this day.
Scores of my fellow soldiers, mostly persons of color (and DADT gays I knew personally), looking at the big screens in awe, smiling, crying, embracing.
I am moved by it to this day.
Quick aside: John McCain is my favorite elected official of my lifetime. I revere him like I revere my grandfather. I still grieve their passings.
McCain knew that President Obama loved this country. He knew it of Obama’s VP, Joe Biden, firsthand through genuine friendship.
McCain knew that President Obama loved this country. He knew it of Obama’s VP, Joe Biden, firsthand through genuine friendship.
So I could never equate Obama, this clearly decent man, with the dismantling of America. Sorry not sorry.
But I was more than critical of Obamacare, the scope of the bailouts, EO’s, his naive “reset” with Putin, etc.
No indulging in BS culture wars, but I supported Mitt in ‘12.
But I was more than critical of Obamacare, the scope of the bailouts, EO’s, his naive “reset” with Putin, etc.
No indulging in BS culture wars, but I supported Mitt in ‘12.
I was thrilled when the GOP retook the Senate in 2014, as I was when they took the House back in 2010.
I supported Rubio in the 2016 primaries (
) and when it was down to Trump and Cruz, I desperately hoped for Ted to come from behind and win somehow ().
I supported Rubio in the 2016 primaries (
) and when it was down to Trump and Cruz, I desperately hoped for Ted to come from behind and win somehow ().
Like my mother in ‘92, I naively thought people would value decency and reject lying, corruption, and repugnant treatment of women.
I watched in powerless horror as 99% of my party dutifully supported Trump, and then watched their tribal obligations turn to enthusiasm.
I watched in powerless horror as 99% of my party dutifully supported Trump, and then watched their tribal obligations turn to enthusiasm.
Though I didn’t cast a vote for her (I live in MD) I hoped Hillary would win. Hillary would be better for America, by a mile.
But I also thought her win would snap the GOP out of their disgusting trance and trajectory, and re-examine what makes Republicans special and necessary.
But I also thought her win would snap the GOP out of their disgusting trance and trajectory, and re-examine what makes Republicans special and necessary.
I figured the GOP would expand its congressional majorities in ‘18 and sail a competent, inspiring, unifying candidate into the WH in 2020.
But we know how it all turned out instead.
The GOP shredded every pretense it still (or ever) had principles and the ability to govern.
But we know how it all turned out instead.
The GOP shredded every pretense it still (or ever) had principles and the ability to govern.
Women, immigrant families and principled conservatives are rightly disgusted by the GOP’s wanton sycophancy and casual cruelty, and are flocking to the Dems in droves, probably for the long run.
I am one of them. I’m not a liberal, but what is a liberal? What’s a conservative?
I am one of them. I’m not a liberal, but what is a liberal? What’s a conservative?
I’ve spent years practicing how to hold my nose. I shared a party with Steve King and Michele Bachman, Allen West and Louie Gohmert.
“The Squad” and Liz Warren will be a breeze.
“The Squad” and Liz Warren will be a breeze.
The Democrats advanced a moderate candidate and appear eager to confront despots and empathize with avg people. The GOP is not.
The GOP purges moderates and dissenters. They demand tribal purity while the Dems want a bigger tent.
“Right flank” seems better than “human scum.”
The GOP purges moderates and dissenters. They demand tribal purity while the Dems want a bigger tent.
“Right flank” seems better than “human scum.”
Back to the Elizabeth Dole clip from the 1996 RNC. I was 13 and impressionable. I truly believed the decency angle they strategically peddled because their opponent was a creep.
Now I know it was fake, but I can assure you the value I place on decency and moral courage is not.
Now I know it was fake, but I can assure you the value I place on decency and moral courage is not.
That clip symbolizes the slow ticking time bomb the GOP placed under themselves.
Now we have a repugnant, draft-dodging narcissist (only an inept one this time) proudly nominated by one party, and a decent man of integrity nominated by the other.
The choice for me is simple.
Now we have a repugnant, draft-dodging narcissist (only an inept one this time) proudly nominated by one party, and a decent man of integrity nominated by the other.
The choice for me is simple.
I can vote for Joe and remain true to myself and my principles, calling out the GOP for the frauds that they are, or I can vote for Trump, and make myself into as big a fraud as they are.
But what it all comes down to in the end is even simpler.
But what it all comes down to in the end is even simpler.
Trump and the Republican Party are toxic to the health, safety and wellbeing of our people.
Sure I’m sad the GOP is withering and dying, but I cannot stand the thought of their fate befalling my beloved country more broadly. They’ve done enough damage already.
Sure I’m sad the GOP is withering and dying, but I cannot stand the thought of their fate befalling my beloved country more broadly. They’ve done enough damage already.
Joe and the Dems seem keen to revive competent, empathetic governance as well as our essential goodness, and I aim to help.
It’s what the Reagan’s, the Dole’s, the Bush’s, the McCain’s, the Romney’s claimed they wanted, and what Joe will strive to deliver. Trump is incapable.
It’s what the Reagan’s, the Dole’s, the Bush’s, the McCain’s, the Romney’s claimed they wanted, and what Joe will strive to deliver. Trump is incapable.
epilogue:
I’m humbled and uplifted by the responses.
I’m grateful for those welcoming me.
To be clear, I’ve been doing my best to ardently rebuke him since ‘15 and the GOP ever since they rolled over for him in ‘16.
For me, NeverTrump became “Never GOP for the long haul”
I’m humbled and uplifted by the responses.
I’m grateful for those welcoming me.
To be clear, I’ve been doing my best to ardently rebuke him since ‘15 and the GOP ever since they rolled over for him in ‘16.
For me, NeverTrump became “Never GOP for the long haul”
Please support @RVAT2020 and @ProjectLincoln
Please vote Joe this November and Democrats all the way down your ballot.
Please vote Joe this November and Democrats all the way down your ballot.
