Fall of 1986, 7th grade, when my public school tried to force a unanimous mock vote for a crooked rodent for Governor. Although still a liberal then, I campaigned for the Republican on a “good government” platform, to the chagrin of the principal. Moved right gradually, but was a Republican from that point on.
Officially became a Conservative who could distinguish between Republicans committed to the cause vs. RINOs committed to helping themselves and Democrats in 1998 when I cast a protest vote for a pro-Constitutional DINO candidate for Governor over our ethically-challenged RINO incumbent. Have been a Conservative first, Republican second ever since. Quite alarmed at the prospect that next year may be the first election in which I will not vote for our nominee for President if they put up a liberal RINO.
dang....i figured you for elephants on your pampers
Well, they sent me to Tennessee’s Boy’s State when I was 16 and actually got “dog catcher” because they didn’t like my laughing at how seriously the other boys kissed ass and lied. Made my little speech about integrity and how people respond better to the truth, which went over like a lead balloon. They were grooming dirtbags, in my opinion. That’s when I learned I wasn’t a professional politician.
It was a few years later when at MTSU a Vietnam veteran jerked me up by the collar of my Army jacket and said “If you weren’t a kid I’d tear your face off like I should tear the Rangers patch off that coat”. I had no idea that “colors” should never be worn by the undeserving, and the fault there was the person selling the jacket failing to remove the patch. That’s when I learned I wasn’t a hippie liberal. That also motivated me to join the service. Thank you, angry veteran, wherever you are.
In the service under the Gipper while helping him win the Cold War: being a Republican not only meant being right; it helped save the world as we knew it.
Then the Pubbies went aimless while Prom King Clinton took the stage. I hung with the Libertarians for a bit but eventually figured out they were proposing a template that most humans can’t live up to. Oh, and too many whine and cheesy people.
Eventually it struck me that it’s far better to be a conservative first and a party adherent second (if at all). So now I take endless abuse from party-over-all Republicans on a website that’s purportedly about conservatism. If I didn’t get so much static from the usual suspects I’d start worrying.