-—As a former democrat (thanks to Mr. Trump)
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That’s where I’m at. I was a Reagan Dem, then voted for “read my lips”, then Perot, then never again voted until this year. Trump brought me back to voting. I would have never even found FR it wasn’t for following an article about Trump.
I would have never thought to go R because they were so anti-union (I’m a union pipefitter), but my party has done nothing for the unions I work with for the last 20 years except bring in illegals to take those jobs (the Republican party is the same thing, they want to export jobs, the dems want to import cheap labor), tell me I’m a homophobe, a sexist, a racist, or whatever.
When your own party is attacking you, you feel helpless. Trump (like Reagan) makes me feel like he will make a difference, that America IS great (no matter what the politicians tell you), and that I shouldn’t feel guilty for being a white male who has worked his whole life.
I didn’t care about politics until Trump, because it seems the hippies called the shots, and the Republicans just rubber stamped everything they did (only paying lip service and grumbling about it to raise money).
So, this year, for the first time in since Perot, I’m voting. I grabbed an R primary ballot, so now I’m on the R voter roll (which is not a prudent thing to do as a union contractor who works Chicagoland), and so have many of my fellow pipefitters and plumbers.
Thanks for sharing your story.
Mine is I’m going to turn 56 a week from today and registered as a democrat in high school in 1978. I had been a democrat until March when I changed so I could vote for Mr. Trump in Maryland’s primary April 26. No other republican, not even Reagan compelled me to take such a step.
I have voted in every General Election except the last one—and after what Mittens has done against Trump—I am so glad that I never actually cast a ballot for him. BTW, I had followed both of his campaigns (stretching over 8 years). I am appalled at how he has acted recently!!!
My first political heroes as a young girl were JFK and Hubert Humphrey. BTW, I was born on JFK’s 43rd birthday and always have taken pride in that fact.
I kind of like Nixon. Incidentally, as a child, I was invited to a wedding for a daughter of a lawyer friend of my parents, with whom they attended Baltimore Colts football games . . . At that wedding, Nixon’s first VP Spiro Agnew (former Governor of my state) literally picked me up in his arms. I must have been about 7 years old and wish I could really remember that and appreciate it.
I also liked Ford and knew enough at age 16 to warm my family and others NOT to vote for Carter.
In 1980, my first eligible election, I initially supported John Anderson’s independent bit—but finally voted for Reagan.
In 1984, I volunteered for Gary Hart and was devastated when he lost the nomination to Mondale. Even Nancy Reagan told Newsweek that she worried that Hart might be a threat to Reagan’s reelection. I ultimately voted for Reagan a second time. ***When scandal derailed Hart in 1987, I was shattered. I pulled myself together enough to vote for Bush (although I really was more impressed by Quayle). In 1992, I voted for Bush/Quayle again. However, my first choice was Paul Tsongas, who actually did win Maryland’s democrat primary. In 1996, I admired Steve Forbes but voted for Bill Clinton in November.
In 2000, I voted for Gore/Lieberman (more so for Lieberman)
Then, in NOvember of 2002, Hart hinted to David Brinkley that he might make a comeback. ***It was at this point, that I taught myself how to use a computer to follow his campaign. When he never mounted any effort, I latched onto Howard Dean for about six months. Come November, I reluctantly voted for George W. Bush if only to keep that traitor John Kerry out!
Then came the time I wasted on Mittens starting in early 2007. I voted for Obama in November 2008. Obama’s stories about his mother dying from Ovarian cancer and struggling with insurance forms in her hospital room persuaded me—and I have benefited from the ACA, having Medicaid for the last 3 years (the first health coverage in my life).
And, in 2012, for the first time, I skipped the General Election for two reasons. One, I had just lost my mother in early October to dementia and a fractured leg at age 88. And, two, after Romney’s great performance in the first debate, I wasn’t motivated all that much by his lackluster effort.
Now, I eagerly look forward to voting for Mr. Trump this November! He is OUR LAST HOPE TO SAVE ANY SEMBLANCE OF SOVEREIGNTY AND FREEDOM!!!