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An Olive Branch to Trump Supporters: My Foolish Voting History
I’m a committed #NeverTrumper but, more importantly, a servant of Christ who believes in treating my neighbor as I would myself. That principle applies especially to contentious times such these on the Center Right. Before I condemn anyone else, I have my own — sometimes laughable — presidential voting history to remind me that I have absolutely no cause to even think about chucking a single stone at anyone here on Ricochet for making a different decision this time around than I have.
I wasn’t old enough to vote for Ronald Reagan, so the 1988 race the first presidential election I voted in. I supported Pat Robertson in the primary. (I told you I had no cause to even touch that first stone, so just start laughing now. I’ll wait). I was fine with George H. W. Bush getting the nod and voted for him, thinking I’d get Ronald Reagan’s third term. I was wrong, but he wasn’t Michael Dukakis, though he was — and is — a stand-up guy with an impressive military record.
The 1992 election was easy because there wasn’t a credible primary challenger besides Pat Buchanan, and even young, dimwitted Publius knew that Buchanan was a terrible idea. I vote for George H. W. Bush and still remember that awful night in my apartment, watching the returns and learning that Bill Clinton had won. I was never even remotely tempted to vote for Ross Perot.
Having learned nothing from the past two election cycles, I supported Alan Keyes in the 1996 GOP primary. (Just mock me now and be done with it. Again, I’ll wait.) You might see a pattern at this point: Throw some Judeo-Christian philosophy at me and talk about the Founding Fathers and I’m yours. I’m not sure whether Keyes was the biggest nut job of e cycle or me, and leave the question in your capable hands. I voted for Bob Dole, though I wasn’t happy about it. He was certainly better than Clinton and the allure of Perot still eluded me.
I left the GOP before the next presidential election cycle because I had seen more than enough evidence that the 1994 “GOP Revolution” was a fraud. They voted on the Contract with America items … and then got down to the business of expanding the size and scope of government, just a bit slower than the last bunch, while selling-out to stay in office.
In the 2000 general election, I voted for George W. Bush, thinking he could very well be another Reagan. (Yet another another excellent Publius talking mocking point. Please, please laugh at me). I was wrong, but don’t regret that vote a bit, given that the alternative was to put Al Gore in the Oval Office. Like his father, Dubya is a fine man and — again, like his father — a brave and a good leader. He didn’t see combat, but flying military jets isn’t safe or easy.
The 2004 election? Bush, easy. No way I wanted John Kerry messing around with Iraq, and only a fool would put John Kerry in charge of foreign policy (a point now proven beyond question). I didn’t like Bush’s domestic policy much, but I admired how he took a serious shot at Social Security reform. He was still a brave and decent fellow. I didn’t — and don’t — regret voting for him a second time.
The 2008 election? You rotten Republicans! Senator John McCain? Seriously!? Sure, only a fool would consider someone like Alan Keyes a good choice (I hear laughter again), but you had plenty of other options. Initially, I said I would not vote for McCain based on his politics and antics during the GOP debates. But going into that last weekend before the election, I decided that the cold, hard reality was that one of two people were going to be the next president and that I should choose. So I voted for McCain because the thought of Obama was horrifying and McCain was certainly qualified for the office.
By the 2012 election cycle, I’d been so beaten down by the GOP Lucy-with-the-football routine with classical liberals that I actually liked Mitt Romney, even if I had no illusions about him. So, fine, Mitt is some sort of RINO squish — Who loves you Rob Long? We do! — but his entire career was one story of success at fixing things after another, and noting’s more broken than the United States’s federal government. So, not only did I vote for the man, I donated to his campaign. I regret nothing and I’d do it all again.
The 2016 election? You rotten Republicans, again! You had a bunch of magnificent, demonstrably conservative candidates who have proven they can win tough elections … and you pick Donald Trump!? At least McCain was minimally qualified.
I’m not a huge Ted Cruz guy, but I gave money to him late in his doomed campaign, hoping there was a chance that the GOP would come to its senses at the convention. (Why did you stop laughing at me? Didn’t you see this was coming? I’ll wait again.) Of course, Cruz got annihilated by over five million votes.
So, I’m done. #NeverTrump. Ever.
But the commandment to treat my Trump-voting neighbors as I would like to be treated — and to say nothing of my comically foolish voting history — are fantastic reasons for me to treat others with respect. Look, I’m the guy who, at one point in his life, thought that Pat Robertson and Alan Keyes would make great presidents, and I treated my vote for McCain over Obama as the same sort of horrible “A or B?” decision that’s led many people to support Trump this time around. I get it. I sympathize. I’ve been there.
So, Ricochet, what’s your foolish voting history?
Published in Politics
George “Lyin” Ryan, Illinois Governor 1998 (talked a lot of people into voting for him, still trying to live that down).
Sir, you have no cause to apologize for your choices. There haven’t been good choices for some time now. There rarely have been. Your essay is a sobering reminder.
I hope you won’t mind my adding a personal anecdote of my own. The last time I recall being excited about a presidential election was 1980. My thesis defense was scheduled for Election Day of that year in Boston. In a burst of (possibly ill-advised) optimism, I had already moved to another state to take a job. Consequently, I had to vote by absentee ballot. Imagine the thrill of finding out that even Massachusetts had gone for Reagan. No one expected this, least of all me.
I’ve never had the option of voting for anyone who wasn’t a turd sandwich since I was too young to vote in 1984. Every election of my adult life has been holding my nose because the Democrat was worse. The Democrat is still worse, but the Republican is so bad this time there aren’t enough clothespins and Vick’s Vapor Rub in the world to keep the stench out of my nose.
84-current, all presidential R’s from Viagra Mondale to Maverick John but the only one I liked was the first. I don’t think I’ve ever regretted a vote and I doubt I’ll regret voting for the jerk either. I voted for a known criminal democrat over David Duke.
My first vote for President was 1980. I voted for Carter because he was a born again Christian. So glad no one was coming to me for voting advice.
Please vote for Trump.
Otherwise we get H.R. Clinton. She will keep Team Obama in place. They have been expanding and weaponizing the federal agencies for eight years, and they are very good at it now. With another term they could have us all entirely enslaved.
Ponder Hillary and Team Obama. Consider her judicial nominations. Recognize how Obamacare will be stretched into Hillarycare. Think on how the Justice Department refuses to enforce federal laws they don’t like, but they meddle in state and local affairs when they can help the Progressive Cause. Remember how the IRS targets conservatives and the EPA claims jurisdiction over every puddle. Meditate on ICE, BLM, FCC, NLRB, etc. &tc. under the rule of Team Obama, only with fresh enthusiasm ginned up by a Hillary win.
Then let your fear motivate you to join me. Vote for Trump.
Stop Hillary.
I’ve decided I need to vote for Trump, only because I want Republicans in Washington–most especially in the cabinet.
But it will be a very hard vote for me. I disagree with Trump on all things foreign policy. And it really bothers me when he says negative things about George W. Bush, someone I greatly admire.
My plan is to not watch the convention and not watch the debates, or read the transcripts. If I listen to Trump too much, I’ll never be able to fill in the circle on my ballot. :)
I’ll cast my vote and hang my head in discouragement.
And then I’ll get the president’s email address, and I’ll write every day to protest whatever Hillary or Donald are doing that day. :)
That’s my plan. :)
Good plan.
Not a great plan, but under the circumstances, you are making the best of our awful situation.
I hate modern political debates with the red hot passion of a thousand burning suns. They beclown us all, but I have to admit that Evil Publius sort of likes the idea of watching the Trump v. Hillary debates from a “watch the world burn” type of perspective.
You’re not going to cut my hand off with a light saber or anything, right?
No; I am too bummed over this whole state of affairs, and besides, I am not a Jedi.
But I do think that NeverTrump is tantamount to embracing the Dark Side.
Join the Rabble Alliance.
NeverHillary.
I’ve come to the conclusion that because of our celebrity culture and corrupt media we would get a terrible choice for president. To a lot of people the president is just another celebrity, and considering the fact that the media just puts out “narratives” instead of actually reporting this is why we have the choices we have. Our politics is a reflection of the culture. I am completely never Hillary and want to stop her and her ideologues from further ruining our great nation. I don’t think Trump is a savior of any kind but if he can help destroy the media’s credibility that is enough for me. To be honest I do think the media and their willingness to keep the people in the dark is problem number one
This is pretty much it right here. Look no matter who won the nomination the undertow if you will of this election was preventing Hilldabeast from winning. Now, we could have had some really good Conservative choices who could have also done that, but it is Trump now. The only good thing about Trump is that he isn’t Hill.
Voting isn’t about moral preening or making yourself feel good about your vote. It’s about making the best decision out of the choices offered. Our choice this year is between a loud mouth and a person dedicated to destroying this country.
Amen, brother.
2000 (first election I could vote in): Considered supporting Gary Bauer in the primary — 18-year-old-Tom was much more of a social conservative voter), but didn’t register in time. Voted W in the general.
2004: W, duh
2008: Probably the only self-identified libertarian who supported McCain. Sure, McCain was awful on several levels, but I was impressed by his advocacy for the Surge and I considered the Iraq War to be the biggest issue. On judges, I thought McCain’s disinterest would lead him to just following whatever the Federalist society would do. Stand by it.
2012: Lord forgive me, I endorsed Jon Huntsman in these very pages (As Jeb Bush might say, “Please laugh”). Given the facts at the time, it seemed smart but wow did he turn out to be a tool.
2016: Walker fan who also wanted to give Perry a second look. After they imploded, I went Rubio with a mix of reluctance and enthusiasm. Now, homeless.
I’ve followed the Buckley Rule – vote for the most conservative candidate WHO CAN WIN! That has meant Republican since I turned of age in 1972. Right now that rule means Trump. Yes, he’s not a pure conservative, maybe not even conservative at all. But he’s more conservative than Hillary, and anybody who thinks otherwise lives in a different reality than me. I suggest that you begin following the rule. By the way, thanks for the olive branch, very much appreciated (No, I mean it!).
I was a Keyes-ster briefly in 96. As I recall there were a number of decent ideological candidates (Gramm and Forbes up as well): people were sure that taking Clinton out was going to be a cakewalk. But that election really cemented in my mind the idea that the GOP was all about picking the next guy in line, no matter how bland (it didn’t seem in hindsight that even Dole was that excited about running).
Very similar to yours (I, too, am an evangelical, born-again Christian). As a liberal college student, and knowing that Carter was a Christian, voted for him in ’80; after Reagan’s victory, wore a black armband to school the next day (like I said, I was a liberal college student.) The worm turned, and, when Reagan launched his 1984 campaign here in Orange County, I was in the front row.
Went door-to-door for Bush 41, but only after supporting Pete du Pont in the primaries. Like you, I was disappointed in Bush’s presidency, and furious (but not surprised) when Perot (proto-Trump) emerged and got the “not-gonna-take-it-anymore” vote.
Like you, voted for and donated to Alan Keyes in 1996, then pulled the lever for Dole, though the outcome was a foregone conclusion. Supported Keyes again in 2000, but Bush 43 grew on me — especially due to his relationship with Marvin Olasky — and waited on pins and needles for the Supreme Court’s decision.
2004 was a no-brainer. Frustrated that Fred Thompson dropped out in ’08, supported Mike Huckabee half-heartedly. Flirted with Michele Bachmann and Rick Perry in ’12, before voting for Rick Santorum. Still thought Romney would win in November (sigh).
This year, was a Rubio man, switched to Cruz after Marco’s withdrawal.
Glad I live in California, so I can vote for notTrump, knowing that it won’t matter.
First presidential election I could vote in was 2012. I supported Newt in the primary (am actually proud of that). And voted for Mitt in the general.
I voted for Aaron Schock twice. That’s an embarrassment.
In 2010, I voted for Mark Kirk…
Common theme? Voting Republican hasn’t mattered at all since 1984. Face it; there is no organized political opposition to the left. They successfully destroyed that with the complicity of the Soviets and the American media.
What we have is an ideologically stultifying standoff, and only a third force stands any chance to break down the status quo.
Enter; Trump.
He is neither left or right, he is a free-lancer, out, perhaps, only for himself. But he is also something better; he is loyal only to himself, hence will, most likely, enhance the power block of neither the Dem’s, who are already powerful in the extreme or the GOP, who, as an opposition force, are entirely worthless.
The good news; the Donald is starting from a standstill, in terms of political alliance. He will, for the most part, be severed from the historical power structure.
Trump is my guy; he neither smells like a Democrat skunk nor a dead fish Republican.
Could be wrong, he could turn into a left wing or right wing nutcase, but we already have those alternatives in the running.
While we really don’t know what we will get with Trump, we have a pretty good idea what we will get with Clinton. For all those NeverTrumpers please don’t cut off our nose to spite our face.
That Huntsman endorsement was really well written. I’ve endorsed worse for much less substantive reasons so I’d give yourself a break on that one.
I’m an independent, but I really liked Scott Walker and would have voted for him if I had been a member of the GOP. I’m unthrilled with his endorsement of Trump no matter how tepid it is, but I’m hoping he’ll continue seeking higher office once he’s done with his current gig. He’s quite the profile in courage.
By the time Bauer ran, I must have come to my senses after the Keyes and Robertson fiascos because I remember being really turned off by his campaign.
One of my all time favorite GOP debate moments was the one where they tried to trap George W. Bush with the favorite political philosopher question. He responded by answering that Jesus was his favorite philosopher and then gave a pithy statement of faith. I remember Bauer answering after him and desperately sputtering out some Bible verse trying to top Bush and it just falling flat. It was reason 517 what I loved George W. Bush. I didn’t agree with the man on a lot of domestic policy, but he was a decent guy and I don’t regret voting for him twice. Frankly, we would be much better off with W running the show today than President Obama. He put up with so much abuse and had to deal with some much crisis in the world. I hope he’s happy, healthy, and wants for nothing. He’s certainly done his part.
Publius – you think you’ve got a bad history? My first presidential vote was cast for George McGovern! [Well, in retrospect, he was a decent man and served honorably in WWII.] I can’t remember who I voted for in 1976, which may mean I didn’t vote for either candidate. In 1980, it was Robert Anderson. In 1984 I finally saw the light and voted for Reagan. Since then it’s been the Republican candidate, sometimes enthusiastically, sometimes holding my nose. This year, I just don’t know what I’m going to do when I enter the voting booth – except that it won’t be Hillary!
2004- W. No regrets there.
2008- Romney in the primary. McCain in the general.
2012- Romney. The best of a weak field. I think he would have been an excellent president.
2016- Gilmania!
I have a real soft spot for George McGovern. He always struck me as a decent fellow and his war record spoke very well of him. Certainly a courageous man!
I only ever made mistakes in primary voting. I kept the Keyes 2000 sign in my window longer than anyone else in downstate Illinois, I think. My two biggest problems with McCain at the time in 08 were his “let’s be pals” attitude toward Senate Dems, even that pestilential traitor John Kerry who slandered his fellow servicemen, and his unwillingness to talk about his pro-life record. He had a good record with the major orgs but decided not to capitalise on it.
I grew up in Illinois and also voted for Alan Keyes even after most realized he was a bad choice. Keyes is an amazing debater and showed real command of even obscure issues, once upon a time.
He was brought into the state to run against Obama for the Senate seat (04?), it was a bad idea. He got crushed, something like 90% of the vote went to Obama. The campaign was poorly run and never stood a chance. At one point Keyes got into it with a sports radio show host, both yelling at each other.
Don’t feel too bad. You voted for the sensible articulate Keyes. I voted for the one who had had enough politics.
I have a feeling that my worst regret will be 2016. I have not yet decided whether to vote for Trump or sit this one out.
I was also too young to vote for Reagan, alas.
My only non-Republican Presidential vote was for the libertarian in 1992. I was unhappy with George H.W. Bush because he broke his “no new taxes” pledge. My feeling on this one has not yet turned to regret, but it is headed that way. The first Bush was a man of great honor, and did a great job on foreign policy, which was critical due to the collapse of the USSR.
Rumsfeld’s memoir, which I read recently — OK, actually I listened to it — helped me to understand the political maneuvers and realities that led Bush to break his tax pledge. I’m still not happy about it, but I’m more understanding.
Mondale, Dukakis, Geo H W Bush, Dole. Four straight losing picks. Two successful with GW Bush, and then two losers with McCain & Romney. That makes me 2-6 — and 1-7 in the popular vote.
Mondale & Dukakis!?! Yeah. I did it. Did I just lose my subscription?