“There once was a time in American history – in fact perhaps for the bulk of it..”
When America was still America. You could still have democrat friends and lovers.
Twice I voted for democrats. In 1984 for senator from Illinois I voted for Paul Simon (D) over Charles Percy (R), Percy had become a terrible RINO. Had voted for the cursed Gun Control Act of 1968 and had been pimping gun control ever since. Also, authored 55 mph speed limit. A thorough prick. Simon was somewhat unknown to me but I took a chance. Turned out to also be a prick. Simon won. Both of these worthies are long since croaked.
In 1998 I voted for Glenn Poshard (D) for Illinois governor over George Ryan (R). Ryan had promise but fell in with ultra corrupt “combine” the filthy Chicago controlled unholy alliance between democrats and republicans. As incumbent Lt. Gov., Ryan had spearheaded a push to ban “assault” weapons. Even went so far as to borrow full autos from Indiana State Police to make a TV ad on the dangers of semis! Poshard on the other hand was from southern Illinois, much more conservative and staunchly against gun control. Naturally, his own party and the “combine” went against him. He lost. Ryan went on as governor to ban capital punishment among other things. Also, went on to prison for 6 years due to filthy corruption.
I can give you a pass on Simon since it was before the internet made it easy to look up voting records. But if you had you would have noticed that as awful Percy was (American Conservative Union lifetime rating 30% same as IL Dem Senator Dixon at the time, 50% for 1984) Simon was a hardcore leftist (ACU lifetime at the time, 6%) not to mention wanted Bob Byrd back as a Majority Leader. I remember fondly how my late grandma detested that bow-tied freak. Basically it was just like Mark Kirk vs. Suckworth except Simon could walk and wasn’t pregnant with a change of life baby.
I was a just a wee HS freshman in 1998 but I recall being glad Poshard won the rat nomination, my libtard teacher was only “reluctantly” supporting him over Ryan and I recall a young Black student parroting his mother in decrying how shocking it was that the man opposed abortion! How uncivilized!
Of course I had no idea what RINO Disaster Ryan would be or I would likely backed Poshard. Redistricting however would have given me serious pause as the Governor elected that year was gonna preside over it and the GOP taking back the State House to enable full control was a district possibility. Alas while Ryan won the rats kept the State House in both 1998 and 2000 and won redistricting by drawing a name out of a hat, there may never be a Republican legislature here again.