I voted FOR Trump, you voted AGAINST Hillary.
There really is a difference.
Yes, there certainly is, both in underplaying the damaging effect of Donald's characteristic unfeeling ungentlemanly rudeness both before, during, and after the 2016 primaries and campaign, and your overstatement of Cruz's perceived lack of forthrightness.
My reluctance to support Trump in the 2016 campaign was based on his very obvious shooting from the hip without concern of who else might be hurt in the process, coupled with the idea that a day later all will be forgotten. You voted for him in spite of this known behavior, and so did I, knowing that Hillary's overall politics was socialistic and freedom-destroying; while Trump's was at least selfshly capitalistic with personal liberty at the core, which he in his lifestyle had explored to the limits, including divorces and extramarital peccadillos. It looks like you voted FOR him, including these characteristics, knowing that they also would affect his politics.
However, in the succeeding four years, I felt that we benefitted from his leadership in several areas, and was convinced to support him and his cohorts in the past campaign.
At this point, I feel robbed by political criminals who made my support in both good will and in cash of no effect, stolen from me by hijacking the elective process.
I don't know what you make of that, but you're a hard marker on one of the few legislators who have continued to back the Trumpists even after the January 6th episode, where he was scheduled as one of the speakers, though in the same day he had to be present in the Senate part of the Capitol to pass on the submission of the Electors' votes.
Politics is a blood sport. You need to accept that reality. “Gentlemen” don’t often succeed in that arena, particularly when those on the other side are as vicious and unprincipled as they have repeatedly demonstrated that they are.
A perfect example of this was Ben Carson’s run.
Trump being what he is, good and bad, got him elected in 2016 against an opponent who greatly underestimated him.
Establishment Republicans see Trump’s election as an aberration of “the way things are supposed to be” caused by the people they allegedly represent throwing an irrational temper tantrum.
Trump was and still is a threat to the political establishment’s ongoing grift, and the judiciary is part of that since they have given themselves the power to reject out of hand any filing that they feel doesn’t meet their stringent standards, especially when they fear that a just decision might upend their safe, comfortable world.
McCain got to play candidate because it was his turn, and the same with Romney. Both played the game by your gentlemanly rules, and lost.
Trump did all the wrong things and broke many of your rules, and won.