As Libertarian for well over 30 years, I have been abandoned by the GOP, not the other way around.
When the GOP wanted the Patriot Act, and the donkeys said it would infringe on our civil liberties, I sad the danger to our Republic was great enough that I should support it. Fast forward to today, and how many terrorists have been charged, vs. how many drug dealers? The last time I looked it was being used against every two-bit drug dealer and very few terrorists. You won't get my support on that one again.
I don't see the GOP controlling redistribution, I see them increasing it.
While the donkeys are more corrupt than the GOP, I don't see the GOP taking a stand.
What happened with Willian Jefferson? How is it possible that a GOP administration had videotape of him taking bribes, had recovered the marked money from his freezer, and still didn't have the stones to indict him before he could be re-elected? The only conclusion I can reach is that he has a lot of dirt on the GOP and out of self-preservation they are letting him off.
I used to vote GOP because I felt that my vote could count, I had a chance to elect a friend & ally. Well, my friends and allies have betrayed me. Will I vote for a donkey? Absolutely not, but I am going to vote for a real Libertarian, not a false friend.
Well then, Dave, consider yourself "abandoned."
Ask me if I care.
How can a party that isn't the Libertarian party--and doesn't share the values of the Libertarian party, thank God-- "abandon" the voters of another political persuasion?