I have been a registered Republican since 1983 but like you bailed on the national party in 2008-2010 time frame. It took every thing I had in me to vote for McCain, I loathed that lying, backstabbing SOB and had Palin not been on the ticket I was voting third party. I held my nose and voted for those two douche bags they nominated in 12. I voted for one of my senators, Rand Paul but stopped voting in 2010 for my representative and the other scumbag McConnell.
I remain registered as a Republican for local and state party primary races but at the national level I consider myself a conservative independent. I have no intentions of ever voting again for another establishment Republican for president. The FR establishment cadre will castigate me for not voting for any candidate with an R in front of their name and claim I support the Democrats. But seriously, this same establishment knows the noodle wristed pusscakes they nominate are despised by the parties base and they nominate and run them anyway knowing they lose votes so who really supports the Democrats here.
At this point the Republican Party is little more than a Little Me-Me version of the Democrat Party. I’m done with them.
Well said👍