(1/) My usual preface: I'm an independent who has voted Republican probably 3/4 of the time, and my overall interest in politics normally registers just above zero.
Well, not this year. Like everyone else, it has my attention. And I am utterly appalled by the Republican Party.

(2/) How can any politician who cares about anything other than his or her own political future continue to support this Presidential administration after all we've seen? The answer is, of course, they can't.

(3/) Prediction: as it becomes more apparent the Trump ship is indeed sinking, watch Congress Republicans begin to distance themselves from him. (It seems as though it's already starting, with McConnell dissing White House Covid protocols.) Yep: the rats will jump overboard.

(4/) But anyone who truly cares about the Republican party had better want Trump out of office, or the party will be damaged beyond repair.
Don't get me wrong -- personally, I couldn't care less about the Republican party per se, or the Democratic party for that matter.

(5/) See, I want politicians who put country over party. America belongs to all of us --- Republicans, Democrats, Libertarians, independents, Black, white, Latinx and every other culture, Christians, Muslims, druids, straight, gay, trans, Yankee fans, whatever.

(6/) I'm tired of worrying about what people think when I fly my American flag. I love that flag and what it's *supposed* to represent. No, it doesn't mean I support Trump. (How could I, when there is so much evidence he cheats at golf?)

(7/) It means I support the ideals of America. Ideals, as I recently heard @Lin_Manuel say, that we fell short of the minute we wrote them down more than 200 years ago.

(8/) Yes, you can kneel in front of that flag and continue doing so until we meet those ideals. Until equality truly exists. (And no: I don't believe anyone who kneels is disrespecting our military and that for which they've so valiantly fought.)

(9/) And if you're planning to come at me with examples of Democrats' malfeasance, save it. I know it exists. I also believe it's a drop in the bucket compared with the Trumpical Storm we've seen over the past four years.

(10/) None of this is going to get any better until ALL of us -- not just politicians -- put country over party. Republicans aren't the enemy. Democrats aren't the enemy. *Partisanship* is the enemy.

(11/) We have to work together. Alas, it's a longshot, but I believe we're likelier to work together with Biden as President.

(12/) Bottom line: get out and vote.