“I left the R party around 2003. “
I left this year. Corrupt to the core.
I have to admit that it took me a few years to not still see myself as a republican. But it’s been over 20 years now, so I’m over it.
I see the two parties as playing “good cop, bad cop” with us. and which one you see as the good cop is the one that seems to align with your values. Trump was a breath of fresh air. And it all started when he simply DID what other presidents said they would do - but never did - move the embassy to Jerusalem.
They all lied about that, and so much more. Every single one of them. Oh sure, they all had excuses, but the real reason was either greed or cowardice. Or both.
I trust a man who gained his wealth by building things way more than someone who gained their wealth in a career of politics.
The Republican party of today is far better than the Republican party of four years ago. And the Republican party of four years ago was far better than the 2017 Republican party (Remember Paul Ryan?). It still has a ways to go, but we never would have gotten this far if we had abandoned the party. If you’re not in the party, then you give up your vote and you allow the establishment to dictate the party’s direction.
If there was a viable alternative to the GOP that was more attuned to the party’s base, I’d support it. But unless and until that happens, remaining registered as a Republican gives you more influence than you’ll have by simply checking out.