My letter to organizations to get them to sign on to a letter resisting a move to rescind the NEA’s charter mentioned something that I am often very happy to say – I have been on the floor of the Indiana State Republican Convention.
Although that was 23 years ago, and my political beliefs have shifted – maybe – there was a time where I was a proud member of the vast right-wing conspiracy.
“When” is the operative word. Today’s Grand Old Party isn’t what it used to be. This is not the party of Johnson, Reagan, Nixon, or even Bush (or Little Bush). This is a perverted version of what the Party was – just think, our current figurehead is an alleged sex criminal, demagogue, and tyrant.
And the other former presidents don’t want to associate with him, either. Have you seen the TikToks of Clinton and W. Bush busting each others’ chops? Or the ones where Obama is included? Where is Trump? He’s not there. At all. Not invited, ‘bro.
This is not the party of limited government. This is not the party that most people think they’re voting for. Yes, it may say “Republican”, but that’s because the truth is way too long to print on the ballot.
They are Republicans in Name Only – and that is to say that the Democrats don’t want them, either.
I don’t want to be associated with anyone who identifies as this brand of Republican. So, for the most part, I hang out with Democrats. But, I’m still a fiscal conservative and a social liberal.
But there is one thing I’d like to say – I’d much rather be the conservative in a room of liberals than a conservative in a room full of “conservatives”. I have found that I identify more with the Democrats these days than the “Republicans”. My current social company accepts me for who I am. At no time have I been threatened to be expelled from the ISTA for being a conservative. To the contrary.
So, if there are old-school Republicans looking for a return of bipartisanship, understanding, and tolerance, I’ll be over here with the Democrats, trying to figure out how we can get these RINOs out once and for all.