I had a conversion experience in 1994. Up to that time, I had mainly voted democrat. I had voted for John Anderson, Mondale, Dukakis and Clinton. Like most lib voters, I didn't know squat about politics. I only read the occasional smarmy lib column in the paper and believed all the crap liberals believe. I was quite happy when B.J. Clinton was elected in 1992.
By 1994, I was proudly voting a straight 'R' ticket for the first time. I was actually already becoming more conservative before that point. I remember a friend asking me why I was voting for Clinton when I was not a liberal. I was pro-life, pro-death penalty, and generally in disagreement with the 'rats on important matters. As I saw Hillary and the gang try to take over healthcare, I gradually saw the Clintons for the power-hungry frauds they were.
I started reading National Review and Weekly Standard and became a "right-wing extremist". Like most here, I am a political junkie now. I wonder how many conversions like mine have taken place because of "The One". I should think quite a lot.
You are not alone. My personal “right of passage’ Parallels yours, right down to the date. It took Clinton looking me in the eye and lying on the tube. When his B.S. became public knowledge, I, at long last, finally “got it”. These people were about themselves, not our Country.
Combine that, with the understanding The Democratic party of old, is not the same party of today - the “old” has been cooped by the always present communist's.
Unfortunately, and frighteningly, far to many of the old party democrat's are either going along unknowingly or willingly. These close elections, in the face of all the information available to each of us today, is what frightens me - and should frighten each and every one of us. Bad politician's of all parties has always cursed us, but when such a significant number of the electorate willingly drinks the cool-aid - solutions at the ballot box may not come in time.