I had brunch with a Republican friend today.

[smirkymonkey]

First of all, he is more of a traditional "Charlie Baker" Republican and not a rabid, racist, hateful Donald Trump Republican. We rarely talk politics since he knows I am a Democrat and he respects that and vice versa. However we managed to get on the topic of Trump today and he admitted that he couldn't stand the guy or the sight of him, the sound of his voice, etc.

He seemed to despise him as much as any Democrat I know. I'm not sure why he is a Republican except that I suppose he was raised that way and always has been one, but he definitely hates Trump. I didn't ask him how he would vote, but it would not surprise me if he either didn't vote at all or voted for a Dem just to go against Trump. He is not someone who likes controversy or likes to argue. He can't stand what Trump is doing to this country.

I am hoping that there are a lot more sensible Republicans out there like him who just can't bear to bring themselves to vote for Trump in good conscience.

Just thought I would share that to let you know that not all Republicans are in the Trump camp.

[Laura PourMeADrink]

1. Yes. Encounter people like him here in TX too. We could definitely

capture their vote with a more moderate candidate.

[not_the_one]

23. a "moderate" candidate who will consider compromise on just about ANYTHING

to prove they are not a RABID LEFTY? (as designated by the right, the media, and our own in-house cowards)

If not ANYTHING, which democratic tenets ARE up for consideration for compromise?

Healthcare and college costs? (current HOT issues, but the only real issue is how to achieve them, which we can decide together) Choice or marriage equality? (hot issues, but NOT up for discussion)

Or is it GUNS?

The only real issue is guns. So we just allow NOTHING to be done... Despite support by 80 to 90% of the people for something to be done, republicans are still in control of that issue... because we are cowards. Well, Beto isn't.

We need to TAKE and OWN the word "progress". Nothing remains static, all things progress. The key is to guide progress for the benefit of all.

We are not going to get any supporters of the turd, or the gun humpers, to vote democratic. But we CAN take control of the narrative and explain exactly what we stand for. If the party apparatus can't do that, with all the "ammunition" we have been given to do just that, we are doomed. The only thing worse is if THAT is what the party apparatus wants.

Hopefully all of our possible candidates will make it clear that we are NOT the party of cowards, no matter what the party leaders want.

Are we so scared of the treasonous, traitorous bastard turd that we surrender before we even vote?

It is time to shit, or get off the pot. We are NOT going to have a second chance. After this election, I have no intention of being party to electing a democratic version of a republican.

I hope that we win, but we are going to need to be able to PROVE we won.

If we don't win because the party didn't do what needed to be done, we will have witnessed the destruction of the democratic party, and the failure of the great democratic experiment.

[Laura PourMeADrink]

42. Agree with all. But it's a thing - get rid of trump by

electing a mod to garner maximum votes- especially disheartened repukes ..TO WIN, to beat him. And everything else falls in place. Put every single Dem candidate in the cabinet. We will restore order to our country and then rock forward.

[azureblue]

62. my two cents on disillusioned Repubs

They will not vote for president if Don runs again. But there is a lot of things that can happen between now and then and my guess is that Don do something truly outrageous like trying to start a war, but COngress and the military will refuse to go along with it. Don will throw a tantrum and attempt to by pass or ignore the law, and fail. He will then turn his attention and ire towards any GOPer who tries to run against him. This will finally ruin the Republican party with infighting and internal smear attacks. And drive even more repubs to not voting. One can hope..

[TryLogic]

63. I'm for the best candidate. As in best future president! That's how democracy should work...

Political scheming gives me a pain, and often backfires.

(I would be happy if both Biden and Bernie retired.)
Biden is kind of a rabid centrist and Bernie invites ignorant accusations associated with "socialism".)

[soldierant]

69. I'm for whatever will push Republicans to stay home.

If enough of them simply do not vote, it will be a good thing, not only at the Presidential level, but also at the Senatorial/Congressional levels, the Gubernatorial level (not that all governor elections are in presidential years of course), and possibly even at the State-legislature level. And we really need all the gains we can make in all of those areas. Particularly in a Census year, which precedes redistricting.

[Texin]

71. I heard plenty such rethugs prior to 2016. Yet he won. I don't suspect any different this time.

They'll gut it up and vote rethug, like or not. I never actually met a reformed rethug. They talk about it, but never change their ways.

[Laura PourMeADrink]

99. Agree...but how do we get them to stay home?

[soldierant]

105. If only I knew!

[Laura PourMeADrink]

106. Start a Facebook post..with wrong day. I KNOW

we go high and would never do that!!!

[DownriverDem]

56. Exactly why

I support Biden running with a strong, progressive, Dem woman. I wish folks understood election tactics. It's not who I like or who you like. It's who can win the Electoral College which is state by state.

[Laura PourMeADrink]

59. I don't get it either. Seems like such a no-brainer. If we had any other opponent

it might be different. But we don't - we have a highly volatile monster who our own party may or may not tarnish with impeachment. So, we have to figure out SOME way to stop him. Since we haven't stopped the Russian hack probability either. So, basically all we can do is pick the Dem who has the best chance of beating him and hope for the best.

[Green Line]

64. I don't get it either

Everyone talks like this is a popular vote election. They like this plan or that plan, the only plan anyone should be concerned with is beating Trump.

[Kurt V.]

2. then they should change camps. i live in trump country. my peers respect me bc i don't give an inch

[Laura PourMeADrink]

44. I am now in red country too. People don't give

a shit about the world outside their circle. They never research or learn or synthesize information. I would recommend just forgetting about all of them. Unless you have the time and resources like Beto did to visit every county in TX and really talk to people without demeaning them.

[certainot]

73. those are talk radio states and there won't be any real progress with them until the left and dems

challenge it and destroy that talk radio monopoly. any time democrats or liberals or environmentalists get close to messaging progress, and usually it's by accident, the think tank hacks yawn, devise a countering PR campaign of distortions or lies or distraction and feed it to the pertinent radio stations, and all the progress goes out the window.

[Laura PourMeADrink]

76. very true. Or someone like Beto who had the time and energy to go and actually

listen to people, without calling them crazy deplorables. Without trashing trump. He simply appealed to the core values that they probably had forgotten about with all the hate spew.

I also think a HUGE factor is Facebook, or as the liberal guys on Austin KLBJ call it, Mombook. Facebook is how the low-info's communicate trash with lightening speed, spread exponentially throughout their communities. I saw it happen with Beto. Cruz stayed low until toward the end. then all they did was start the process by shipping horrible negative ads through FB. Beto, who was rising, plateaued.

The guys on KLBJ are actually pretty wise. They said you don't have to have ANY policies or fancy plans. All you have to do is NOT BE TRUMP. And exemplify that. I tend to agree with that.

[Kurt V.]

79. You're new to the experience then? I'm not. these ppl will engage. i flip one or two a year. which

means more than that down the hierarchical chain.

[Laura PourMeADrink]

101. That's great. You must be in a more worldly educated red

area? I am not. The topics of healthcare and the supreme Court and abuse of presidential power NEVER come up. They mostly talk about other people..what they bought or what they were wearing or what their kids did or didn't do. The men are separate. There is no mingling and conversation. They gather in a men's group and chew and spit and talk about guns and tell racial and gay jokes.

[Stuart G]

3. I think you got an example of 20 percent of the Republicans out there.

3/4 will not abandon Trump. But 20 to 25 percent will. They will not vote, vote for the Democratic candidate, or vote for the Independent. This person represents the intelligent side of the Republican party. They will do what is correct no matter what. Kind of like "patriotism".

[empedocles]

15. With more trump deterioration in polls, conduct, we could see some cultural shifting.

Real patriotism, Russia/trump problems, triple bottom line considerations, etc. - just not want to be associated with trump.

[Vdizzle]

34. Intelligent side of the Republicans?

There is no such thing. If a republican becomes informed and less ignorant, and possesses intelligence, they become a democratic voter. The exception being the intelligent narcissist that lacks empathy... that person becomes a Republican activist, columnist, contributor, etc...

An intelligent, empathetic person could never be a republican. The philosophies repel one another (conservatism vs. intelligence and empathy).

[Ztolkins]

35. This attitude is what is part of our problem

Republican leaders don't always speak for all of the Republican general public. All comments like this do is deepen the division's between us.

[Vdizzle]

36. But is my comment incorrect?

I wouldn’t say my opinion is a bug, but rather a feature. I have no tolerance for the kind of conservative that brought about the monstrosity we have in charge. None at all. And I will not apologize for my lack of tolerance. That time passed with the 2016 election shenanigans and the treatment of our judiciary - which will endure through our children’s lifetimes.

[Ztolkins]

50. I don't know. I think there's plenty of blame to go around.

Clinton's triangulation. Democratic leaders skittishness to act like actual Democrats. I'm sure I could find something about Obama that he only went halfway on but I don't really want to because I'm kind of a fan. anyhow I'm not equating these to working with Russians or anything like that. I'm just saying we need to find allies where we can. I'll take Nicole Wallace, Steve Schmidt any day of the week if my allies are going to act like that guy who responded to Beto on CNN by worrying about what the people at gun rallies were going to say about mandatory buybacks. And there's still got to be everyday Republicans out there like them too.

[stopdiggin]

58. how about Rs that were (and remain) AGAINST Trump?

are they allowed to be "intelligent" Republicans? You'll never find me supporting the conservative crowd (especially the social conservatives) -- but I don't think they're all fans of Trump style government. This guy horrifies a LOT of people -- and NO, all of them won't suddenly register as Dems. But they might stay with us long enough to sweep out McConnell and some of the rest of the trash!

[OnDoutside]

52. You're right, but they still reliably vote Republican.

[smirkymonkey]

77. I think there are some republicans, especially New England republicans, who are reluctant

to leave a party that they have always been a member of (most of them being fiscal conservatives), but do not at all identify with the Trump/Tea-Party lunatic fringe of the party. One of my brothers also still considers himself to be a republican (Military officer) but he can't stand Trump either.

[BigmanPigman]

4. It is our task to get them to vote Dem instead of not voting at all.

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

5. But not voting at all is still better than voting for Trump.

[BigmanPigman]

6. True.

[Sherman A1]

20. Not voting at all I believe to be the superior choice

If they simply don't go to the polls a lot of down ticket races are affected. If they go and just skip the top of the ticket I believe they will likely vote for the GOP candidates in the down ticket races.

[Patterson]

28. Very good point.

[FM123]

30. Yes!

[herding cats]

46. I was about to say this above when I saw your reply.

Let them stay home. It's much better than a one off vote for a Dem on the ticket. Let them pout and bemoan the direction their party has gone and sit home punishing the GOP for abandoning them. 👍

[doc03]

9. That statement by Beto sure won't help IMO. There are

some that would support a moderate Democrat but some of the gun humpers will stick with Repubilans for that issue alone.

[BigmanPigman]

12. Which statement?

[leftieNanner]

13. At the last debate he declared

That as President, he was prepared to confiscate all AR style weapons to get them off the streets.

The idea isn't bad, but his wording was unfortunate. Talking about buy-backs is different from talking about confiscation.

That was why he had that message tweeted at him from that Texas representative that Twitter actually deleted.

[doc03]

17. Yep that one. I know many that don't have such weapons

but still they were turned off with the confiscation. They picture the feds breaking their door down and taking their guns. Not a wise thing to say.

[FoxNewsSucks]

32. Beto's complete speech makes perfect sense,

it's just unfortunate that he gave rightwing crackpots a perfectly-packaged "Hell yes we're coming for your guns!!" soundbite. Because that's about all the corporate media plays.

I don't see how anyone could listen to the whole commentary and not agree with it.

[doc03]

37. It doesn't matter what he said in any speech they

aren't going to read it or hear it. He gave the Republicans the perfect sound bite. That's what the Republicans think now the Democrats are going to confiscate their guns. I live in Trump land here the morning after the debate that was the only thing they remember. Fox News told them.

[redstateblues]

48. Beto did not help us get rid of Trump with his "confiscate" jargon

[herding cats]

47. Unless he's on the ticket (extremely unlikely) it means nothing.

Give our base some read meat once in a while too, ok? Fuck tippy toeing around what we want and need to hear all the damn time. . He's a safe messenger in this case.

[mopinko]

57. eggzactly. this is the glory of a deep bench. we get to play good cop, bad cop.

which is a game that almost always works.

[TeamPooka]

7. "trump is making all Republicans look racist and bad." is what I say to any I discuss the topic with

[pangaia]

8. That's interesting to hear.

I wonder if he has any idea that trump is just the symptom, that this is what republicanism has been intentionally moving toward for, oh since the 1970s..

That he and the rest are destroying american democracy, destroying the economy, wildlife, national parks, people's healthcare, the pre4sidency, congress, sujpreme court, lower courts, food supply, clean water. everything..
The PLANET !!

They are DESTROYERS!!!

[Joe941]

38. This!

[luvtheGWN]

39. Every time I read about the de-regulations of safe, environmental factors

I think that these are the things that Democrats desperately need to rant and rave about. They need to explain that these regulations make Americans UNSAFE, and that they only benefit corporate interests.

Even though i live in the GWN (your neighbour to the north) I read, hear and watch about how Trump is dismantling everything that Obama, Clinton and even Bush II managed to get passed -- clean water (the MOST important asset to any population), clean air, in fact all the essentials that all of us need, in order to live, to grow and to thrive.

The GOP feast on the fear factor. It's well past time that the Democrats need to do so (about the issues I've mentioned and many more) too.

[Hermit-The-Prog]

54. "DESTROYERS" -- this is why we should not go status quo candidates

People are ready to repair, restore, protect and progress. The time has come to pay attention to the bulk of the electorate, not the small faction that wants moderation. Our turnout could be massive IF we recognize that people are seething for change.

[smirkymonkey]

78. I'm not sure. Like I said, we don't really discuss politics, but he's also a very laid back, low

key type of person. Most republicans I know react violently and angrily the minute they hear you are a Democrat or a Liberal, but he is just kind of one of those "live and let live" kinds of people, so we try to respect that we have political differences and have never gotten into it. Our friendship is mostly based on a similar sense of warped humor.

[real Cannabis calm]

10. K&R I haven't had much success with the few Republicans I know.

One of my neighbors, who is Hispanic, voted for Trump previously. As expected, he said that will not happen in the next election.

[Stuart G]

11. One more point, not really that important,,,,Trump, "doesn't really have a clue"

But, many Republicans know what is about to happen. Some are getting out now, and some will await to rebuild after the storm is over. But Trump is a lying con artist. He will not get reelected. He has proven that to everyone. His lies are so apparent and clear, like drawing that line around "Alabama"
.....And the lies are "stupid" too....Like drawing that line around Alabama.

[leftieNanner]

14. I hope you are right Stuart G

But the Russians (and any other bad actors out there) have had another four years to attack our election systems which have remained unprotected. We must vote in such numbers as to counteract the bad guys.

I believe that if we have a free and fair election, Trump and most Republicans will go down badly.

[TexasBushwhacker]

43. We cannot forget this

Trump was not elected. He was INSTALLED by Putin. We cannot just beat him. Clinton had 3 million more votes. We need to CRUSH him so that no amount of Russian/Republican meddling and suppression can work.

[snowybirdie]

16. Have same type

of friends. Hate what tRump does, but hate liberals more. Won't vote for any Democrat. I find it hard to understand.

[Skittles]

18. they are easily manipulated

they believe all the propaganda

[Ohiogal]

29. My sister hates Trump

but she told me she cannot vote for a Democrat, ever, because she is anti abortion.

I don’t get it, either.

[TexasBushwhacker]

45. The primary reason for abortions is financial

Women who simply cannot afford another mouth to feed. If she's serious about reducing the number of abortions, she should suport free contraception to any woman that wants them and support the party that wants to RAISE WAGES for the poor and middle class and wants mandatory paid maternity leave.

[Ohiogal]

94. I think any woman

who doesn’t want to be pregnant shouldn’t have to be. For whatever reason. And I am sure you agree.

My sis, although a practicing Catholic. thinks birth control is fine, but women should pay for it their own damn selves. We were talking recently about the high cost of healthcare. She said “it’s because of all these people who are on Medicaid and the ones who want to raise the minimum wage! That just passes the cost on to us!” I was doing a mental eye roll and said you mean housekeeping and janitors? She said hospitals employ LOTS of people and everyone wants to make money like a CEO. I said, but you cant live on minimum wage. Plus, if a person makes more money, they can get off of Medicaid, no? She said, well, maybe, but not every job is supposed to pay a living wage!! At this point I just figured it was pointless.

Parental leave is another good one. She said why should people get a long vacation just because they want to have a kid. Then she complained she would have to work extra to make up for the person out on leave. “I hate that phrase ‘It’s for the common good’”! she said.

This is how they think.

[eilen]

104. I run into the same thing where I live and work.

These people really have that Victorian/Gilded Age Dickensian outlook. They are like the people in that British TV series "The Mill."

They are the ones that squeal loudest when they are denied help when they need it not realizing that the system is how they built it.

[Newest Reality]

19. If we are going to transcend the effects of this...

The media and Trump, etc., rely on generalizations. The fact is that generalizations work like the words normal and typical and average. In that case, they tend to be distortions and should only be used as a reference or for the sake of brevity.

So, we can start to pay more attention to generalizations vs. specificity and get a bit ahead of that game. Why? Well, if you did want to have an impact on the "other side" I don't think it would come about from basing your view on exaggerated stereo-type versions of anything. That tends to pump-up and reinforces biases that are often loose abstractions. When our biases get the best of us we then play into a herd instinct game that has gone from a matter of tribal differences to a distortion in the noosphere.

I strongly feel that the "side" that gets that and is able to be cognizant of its own biases and generalizations has a powerful advantage over those who are not even able to consider the scope and impact of reinforcement and how it not only divides a people, but how it clouds our view and encourages us to react emotionally and for the self-interest of feeling right by denigrating our opponents.

I am not criticizing the verbal shots taken, just the sense of catharsis from believing that ad homimum attacks are all that useful or strategic in the long-run. If all we are out for is to take comfort in confirmation bias, we then expend valuable energy and time in a futile act that adds fuel to the fire and we see how that already clouds the vision and destroys the common sense of our opponents. In that case, why be just like them in that respect when we are actually trying to differentiate ourselves in a way that is evident and potent?

[smirkymonkey]

80. We really didn't get into any kind of political discussion, it's just that Trump came up - I'm not

sure why - and he started to tell me how much he couldn't stand the guy. He also has a lot of other views (which I won't get into, because they are personal about him) that are very atypical for the average republican. He is not at all the stereotype. In general, he is anti-religious, anti-authoritarian, irreverant, etc.

I am not sure if you were thinking that I took verbal shots or were just talking about political disagreements in general, however we did not get into a debate or an argument at all. Like with my family, we see preserving the peace as the greater value since we all know that we are not going to change each other's minds. Or at least not with hostility.

I honestly do think there are some "republicans" out there who don't see themselves as part of this current crowd and perhaps don't understand how they enable them. But I don't think they are a complete monolith. Most of them tow the line, but there are outliers.

[Newest Reality]

83. Interesting...

That's a good example of the non-stereotypical.

No, I was just going of on a tangent sparked by your topic. It sounded very civil and I wish more people could get along that way and bear with each other's differences. The tolerance is admirable and actually a good example. The strong division these days is so strong that I wonder if one side even has any good idea of the other in the forest of reactions and emotions.

I would even bet that the atypical republicans you speak of might be less obvious and more candid and may even be becoming more estranged by the changes and radical aspects of the current morphing. It seems that the more aggressive and assertive types might be standing out.

Thanks.

[smirkymonkey]

89. That is what I am hoping.

That there are a lot of these sort of "borderline" republicans out there who aren't really very committed, but they just haven't had (but are getting) the motivation to make that change toward jumping into the other camp.

I do know a lot a "wishy-washy" republicans, especially women at work who hate Trump, but they have just always identified with lower taxes and fiscal conservatism. However, maybe when they see that isn't working out too well for them either, they could possibly be convinced to change their minds. We can't afford to piss ALL these people off. Some of them are salvageable.

[Newest Reality]

95. Thanks for the reports from the "field"

Ah, an ambassador of sorts.

That's a bit refreshing to hear and it also helps me with my own biases of course. They are more fun when you notice the ones you are looking through.

[EveHammond13]

21. Republicans are trained to have hatred and contempt for Democrats

[sharedvalues]

22. He must not watch Fox then.

also time for him to leave the GOP.

Link to tweet

[smirkymonkey]

81. No, he doesn't. Doesn't watch news shows at all.

He's addicted to comedy shows and other things on HBO. He's honestly not a political junkie. I really think he just grew up as a republican and that's how he identifies. If I ever did really get into a serious conversation with him, I think I could probably convince him that he was at the very least an Independent, if not a Democrat.

[yuiyoshida]

24. I would like to imagine a Tsunami of votes...against him..

And as he is DRAGGED out of the office, police from New York State are there with handcuffs to place him in a Helicopter to take him to trial, and eventually prison!

[Duppers]

25. I'm still interested in knowing who they vote for...

And, in turn, who those repubs support in Congress and in their State's legislatures. Is there truly an innocent repub vote?



Disclosure: all but 1 of my relatives are Republicans. Most aren't the crazy type but just the same, they're doing great damage by their choices.

[aeromanKC]

26. Biden 2020

Biden will get the votes from the Middle like this guy. Others, not so much.

[smirkymonkey]

82. I could see him voting for Biden, but honestly we haven't discussed it.

Maybe one of these days I will engage him. Ask him exactly why he identifies as a republican since I can't anything about him that would suggest he was one. To be honest, the first time he told me he was an R I was shocked, because he so does not fit the profile.

[secondwind]

27. Nice to hear!!!

[pnwmom]

31. A friend told me recently that her mother, a Trump voter, loves one of the Dems who's running:

Elizabeth Warren.

So you can never tell.

[AlexSFCA]

33. you found a Biden voter

[smirkymonkey]

84. I hope so!

Look at all the prominent "Republicans" in the media who are violently against Trump and speak out against him every chance they get. Will they vote for him? I doubt it. Have they switched parties, maybe a few of them, but not all. I don't know what is with these people, but there is definitely a contingent of people in the party that despise Trump and what he stands for.

[Poiuyt]

40. There have been a number of prominent conservative writers who have said that

everyone needs to vote for Democrats for many many years, just to cleans out all the vermin from the republican party.

[MustLoveBeagles]

41. I have a Republican friend who hates Trump more than I do

She didn't vote for him in 2016 and won't next year. She's a Biden supporter.

[RhodeIslandOne]

61. Why would she still be a Republican?

The party is now a cult of Trump.

[grantcart]

67. Many remain only for the abortion issue.

[MustLoveBeagles]

97. She's pro choice

She's more of a conservative democrat than a republican these days. She's expressed a desire to switch parties.

[MustLoveBeagles]

96. I don't think she'll be one for much longer

She wants to vote for Joe in the primary.

[bluecollar2]

49. In the end he'll vote for trump... n/t

[a la izquierda]

51. Sounds like my brother in law.

He lives in NJ, so while I’d love for him to vote for a Democrat, our decidedly undemocratic system ensures his presidential vote doesn’t matter (just like mine doesn’t matter in the wasteland of WV). But I know he’ll vote and I’d bet it’s for the Democrats.

[smirkymonkey]

85. That's the thing, in MA, his vote doesn't matter even if he did vote for an R, so I could

easily see him blowing it off.

[Kablooie]

53. He remains a Republican because here's no alternative.

I'm sure he still disagrees with a lot of Dem ideas so won't join the Dem party.
Someone could really make a killing if they started up a new Conservative party with actual conservative values as it's base.
The current Republican party's overall aim is to burn the government to the ground.
thats radical extremism, not conservative at all.

[RandiFan1290]

55. I've never met a republicon that wasn't a racist. nt

[smirkymonkey]

86. I'm pretty sure he isn't, and members of my family aren't.

They may be racist in the sense that they don't see or understand how institutionalized racism works or they don't think that it's as bad as it is, but they aren't actively racist. I have never heard them say anything racist. Most of the things I hear them say (not this friend, but my family) are against "political correctness" and "liberals" - certain things that they think liberals take too far. I don't agree with them, but that is most of what I hear from them.

[RhodeIslandOne]

60. Only fiscal and maybe certain Republicans hung up on foreign relations will not vote for him

Longtime Republican bean counters know that his wild economic polices are even a bridge too far, especially if you don't have millions and billions. And same goes with the instability of his foreign policy.

[dawn5651]

65. i am glad to read that your friend is a thinking republican.

[grantcart]

66. I have Republican relatives that are all consumed with defeating him and

Defeating McConnell as Majority Leader.

They are concerned about. Trump's banality, corruption and racism.

They worry about climate change.

They doubt that They will vote Republicans for years ahead.

[smirkymonkey]

87. It's good to know that they exist!

Maybe there is some hope after all!

[grantcart]

90. I have a very close relative who was an elected official in a rural area

For 20 years we had a "no politics" rule for our weekly phone call.

Now he eagerly wants to know how "we" are doing.

It's not just Trump he wants Dems to take the Senate

"If the Dems don't win in a landslide in 2020 the Republic is lost."

The only issue that keeps him a Republican is abortion. I truly believe that if somehow abortion was taken out of the equation the Republican Party would collapse.

[smirkymonkey]

93. Abortion and Guns.

If those two issues went away, the Republicans wouldn't stand a chance.

[Beartracks]

68. They shouldn't vote for ANY Republican, not just Trump.

The Republican party covers for Trump, excuses Trump, lets Trump get away with EVERYthing, kowtows to Trump, kisses Trump's proverbial ring, aids and abets Trump, all in all makes Trumpism possible, and is the swamp from which Trump arose.

Refute Trump, refute Republicans. They come as a set.

===========

[olegramps]

70. Sorry, but the three other Republicans have already changed parties.

[Rustyeye77]

72. Maybe he's telling you what you want to hear ??

nt

[smirkymonkey]

88. I don't think so. If he was doing that, he would have told me he was a Democrat.

He really just doesn't seem like a seriously political person. He has a very "live and let live" attitude. He doesn't really take anything very seriously (in a good way). He just likes to see the humor in everything.

[LAS14]

74. If we're ever going to move beyond Trumpism, we have to find more...

... Repubs like these. Eliminating the right is not an option for a Democracy.

[jimlup]

75. I thought they would be there in 2016 but ...

apparently they were not.

Don't count on anything. We have to approach 2020 as if we were at war because essentially we are.

[Joe941]

91. I guarantee you they will vote tRump when they are alone in the poll booth.

Publicly they say one thing but privately they are someone else.

[captain queeg]

92. I have few republicans in my life

A couple coworkers, Two or three family members. I avoid talking politics with them. Some are full blown Trumpers, a couple no longer care for Trump. I just don’t count on them changing their vote. To me they are pretty much a lost cause.

Once in a while I’ll try to step back and understand them but the inescapable fact is they are racist. The irony is I don’t think Trump is as racist as his followers. He’s too self centered. He could give a shit less if you are white or black or brown. No one else matters to him, period. Certainly he takes into account economic status. He has a higher opinion Of wealthy and powerful people and is envious of them. But Trump is all about Trump.

[YOHABLO]

98. It's hard for diehard Republicans to admit that their party is destroying the U.S.

[Aussie105]

100. It must be clear

to the 2016 GOP voters that Trump isn't keeping any of his promises.

That warm, fuzzy feeling they got when Trump promised the impossible, promised to make their lives more meaningful and enriched, must be fading away by now, after all those years.

Ephemeral promises that never materialised.

A general feeling of unease must be spreading through their hearts, that Trump isn't doing it right, that their vote wasn't done right. That they need to reconsider where to put their vote next time.

Here is hoping they turn away from Trump and the GOP in 2020.

One thing is for sure. Trump has shown those who didn't vote last time, that they need to not be so apathetic in future.

I live in hope . . .

[dawg day]

102. They can vote a straight ticket downballot..

And not vote for president. But I bet most will hold their nose and vote Trump. I wonder if they realize trying the GOP close to Trump might doom the party. I hope!

[eilen]

103. I found out someone I work with voted for Trump.

She really believed that Hillary Clinton was a criminal. That kind of blew me away. But it made me think that there were probably a lot of people like her. Still it blows my mind she voted for Trump. She won't vote for him again but at the same time, since she voted for him, she is still somewhat sympathetic because she feels a kind of ownership to her decision. I think she does not want to be ashamed but how can she not be? Another gal at work I am friends with votes entirely on abortion... as in against anyone who is prochoice. It is a religion thing, she is devout Catholic. Not all Trump voters are the stereotypical redneck type.

I often don't know what to say to them and avoid discussing politics. I don't wish to insult them or make them feel I am judging them to be subhuman but at the same time, their choices do cause me to question their intelligence and ethics.