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Farewell, GOP
I joined the GOP when I turned 18, just weeks after Ronald Reagan’s re-election. Since I was unable to vote in that race, I accompanied one of my conservative friends to the polling place as a kind of silent vote. I had become a big Reagan fan in high school and began learning more about conservatism through Goldwater, various books on the Cold War, and National Review. (That made me quite the hit with the ladies, as you might imagine.)
These early studies of policy, patriotism, and civic virtue led me to enlist in the US Navy and, once I got to college, challenge my ex-hippie professors. For years I voted along party lines, donated to Republican candidates, and volunteered for their campaigns. I was proud to belong to the party of Abraham Lincoln, Calvin Coolidge, and, of course, Ronaldus Magnus. Even when Bush Sr. raised taxes, some GOP congressman floated bizarre conspiracy theories about Clinton, and Tom DeLay’s House spent us into oblivion, I still identified with the party’s higher ideals. Limited government. Peace through strength. Personal freedom.
Nominees like Bob Dole, John McCain, and Mitt Romney were all way down on my list of preferred primary candidates. (Both Bushes were as well, come to think of it.) But considering the odious Democrats running against them, I voted for the half-a-loaf GOP standard bearer.
But today, after an acrimonious intraparty trench war, I see the GOP as defined less by Reagan and more by Trump. Obviously, a large number of his voters agree. I don’t need to bore you with a catalog of Trump’s personal and policy failures. What’s most distasteful is his contempt for the history and underlying structures of our republic. Ignoring the Constitution while promising easy fixes by a strongman. The majoritarian rule of the “democratic” mob. The base appeals to tribalism.
So the night of the Indiana primary, when Ted Cruz suspended his campaign and Trump’s nomination gained nearly unstoppable momentum, I wondered if the GOP represented me any longer. I obviously was out-of-step with the plurality of its voters and directly opposed to the party’s new leader. I considered waiting until Trump’s nomination was official at the convention, but figured that would merely add two months to the grieving process. Why draw out the disappointment when I could just pull off the Band-Aid and get it over with?
One person changing his party affiliation will make few if any waves among the cubicles at the RNC. But if thousands made a similar decision, I figured it would send a message to Reince Priebus, et al. Maybe over the next month, we’ll see how the party rolls changed.
So, as of Tuesday, May 3, I am an independent voter. I no longer feel the need to champion the GOP’s myriad flawed candidates or spin their horrible decisions once elected. And, although it was rather sad to leave the party of my youth, it’s liberating not to be burdened with their metric ton of bad decisions.
Has anyone else here left the GOP and, if so, why?
Published in Politics
I agree that the party leadership who disregarded their base put the wheels in motion for this – but I cannot understand the ‘cure’. Trump can only be understood in context of “burn it down”. He is a distructer, not a bright, new direction for people looking to reclaim liberty.
I’ve been a member of the Tea Party since Doug Hoffman. Remember him? It’s not just people who support McConnell who is doing this. I tried to stop McConnell from being reelected by backing current Governor, Matt Bevin. Do you know who was against men and women like me, in support of McConnell? Donald Trump.
Who helped save Harry Reid from the Tea Party? Donald Trump did. Who helped Thad Cochran against the Tea Party? Trump. Who supported Hillary Clinton against Rick Lazio? Trump. Who helped Clinton against John Spencer? Trump again.
So frankly save it, with this idea that only “establishment” people are against Trump. Men and women like me have been fighting against this conman for going on twenty years, before the Trumpkins hit their knees and kissed his ring.
If you are interested, and I don’t mean to hijack this comment thread, I have posted my own explanation. It is currently on the member feed.
Dude, stuff on the member feed is ephemeral, please include a link.
http://ricochet.com/humpty-dumpty-a-postmortem-of-the-shattered-gop/
Thanks Rick
Tyler, did you see that Trump appointed a white nationalist as his delegate in California? Read the WaPo article below. The money quote comes at the end, from the pale genius himself. And remember, in Trump World, this is a brand enhancer:
Johnson also now finds it easier to be himself: “For many, many years, when I would say these things, other white people would call me names: ‘Oh, you’re a hatemonger, you’re a Nazi, you’re like Hitler,’ ” he confessed. “Now they come in and say, ‘Oh, you’re like Donald Trump.’ “
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/the-fix/wp/2016/05/10/donald-trumps-delegate-ineptitude-stumbles-into-white-nationalism/
You better update your profile because it says you are a displaced Floridian. Yes, I was stalking you.
I’m not technically there yet! Updating my profile will be a luxury I cannot allow myself until I am actually, for really real there for good.
I was very upset to have to surrender my Florida driver’s license a few years ago because I was forced to get a MD one when my husband retired, so that’s another thing I’m looking forward to. (Admittedly part of the reason I was upset was because I renewed over the internet and my picture was really old.)
What is it about Florida that makes you want to live there?
I’m a homebody, and it’s home. We’re moving to the panhandle, but I love the rural North Central part with all of the spanish moss draped oak trees and the beautiful, clear springs that are all over the place, and the short winters and hot weather.
And coming from Maryland, I love the lower taxes and cost of living. Besides, being a Gator fan I could never quite get onboard with the whole “Fear the turtle” thing (Maryland Terrapins).
I live in northwest Washington, and can’t really imagine living any place else. But I’ve got a cousin living in Key West, and the photos she posts make me jealous.
My daughter moved to Whidbey Island with her Navy husband. They are getting a divorce, but she loves it out there so much she wants to stay. I visited her a couple of years ago and it is very beautiful, but the mild summers would really be difficult for me.
You get used to it. I can’t imagine living somewhere there are no mountains. Sorry to hear about your daughter.