Extremely well stated Bruce. I can attest to similar reactions from Republican voters where I live.
The GOP establishment has repeatedly argued that we should vote for their big government moderate, temporarily advocating conservative positions, because he is not the Democrat candidate. Now the Trump campaign is arguing that we should vote for a man with a long history supporting Democrats and liberal positions and no discernible concern about big government, who is temporarily advocating a few conservative positions, because he is not the Democrat candidate. At least the GOP establishment didn’t actively insult us and behave in a way that would make us ashamed to vote for their moderate candidate.
Trump and his campaign continue to alienate many of the voters they will need, but since their campaign is purely an expression of belligerent attitude they can’t dial it back.
Neither Romney nor McCain was my dream candidate. I voted for them because they were the best alternative available the general election, and because they made efforts to try to pull us conservatives together. But Trump....
I don't yet know if I can vote for him, and I'm virtually begging people to dial it back a bit and not be so "us v. them.". And instead, what I hear in response is " screw you, we don't want your stinking votes anyway.". It's a mob mentality, and I don't know if I want to have a hand in electing that.
I've never seen anything like it -deliberate alienation of potential supporters.
......”the Trump campaign is arguing that we should vote for a man with a long history supporting Democrats and liberal positions and no discernible concern about big government, who is temporarily advocating a few conservative positions, because he is not the Democrat candidate”.....
Well that’s just it....it’s as if voting in a Democratic race overall as his leanings are liberal for the most part. Thus who will he appoint would seem to be likewise a risk people are more than willing to take.