Create new account | My Profile | My Account | My Bookmarks | My Inbox | Help | Log in

Google search

Advanced search

HomeLatest ThreadsGreatest ThreadsForums & GroupsMy SubscriptionsMy Posts
DU Home » Latest Threads » Forums & Groups » Main » General Discussion (Forum) » I Guess I'm A Democrat No...

Sun Jan 26, 2020, 03:38 PM

Star Member Roland99 (53,046 posts)

I Guess I'm A Democrat Now: I'm leaving the Republican Party -- here's why you should too

From a hometown article....

https://www.leoweekly.com/2020/01/guess-im-democrat-now-im-leaving-republican-party-heres/

...

But, I’m not politically apathetic. I was a door knocker for a Republican congresswoman. I interned for the GOP get out the vote effort in 2004. I had a leadership position in College Republicans. More recently, as a lawyer and political consultant, I helped elect numerous Republicans in four states while flipping the State House in one and the State Senate in another.

On paper, I’m that “five for five” primary voter that steadfast party loyalist politics is built on — and I’m leaving the Republican Party.

That discrepancy, between paper and reality, is just one of those contradictions that defines modern American life.

I’m a well-educated, straight, white man from one of the whitest and politically reddest states in the country. I regularly (OK, semi-regularly) attend church. My wife is one of our deacons. I’m a small business owner who, without exaggeration, would likely have to close our business upon the passage of progressive policies.

...



Btw. Not me.

I had my awakening in late 2003

21 replies, 2132 views

Thread infoBookmark this threadTrash this thread

Reply to this thread

Back to top Alert abuse

Always highlight: 10 newest replies | Replies posted after I mark a forum
Replies to this discussion thread
Arrow 21 replies Author Time Post
Reply I Guess I'm A Democrat Now: I'm leaving the Republican Party -- here's why you should too (Original post)
 Roland99 Jan 2020 OP
LineReply We're glad for you awakening.
 Vogon_Glory Jan 2020 #1
LineReply "I'm uncomfortable, but I'm OK," he writes.
 CrispyQ Jan 2020 #2
LineLineReply If we don't WIN against the pukes none of your post even matters. nt
 UniteFightBack Jan 2020 #10
LineLineLineNew Reply Disaffected repubs should vote democratic and not join our party.
 CrispyQ Jan 2020 #15
LineLineLineLineNew Reply Let's just get through tomorrow OK???
 UniteFightBack Jan 2020 #16
LineLineLineLineLineNew Reply The GOP has been playing the long game since the early 80s
 CrispyQ Jan 2020 #17
LineReply You would likely appeal to fellow republicans elsewhere
 Under The Radar Jan 2020 #3
LineLineReply Not me. It's a hometown article I thought was of interest here
 Roland99 Jan 2020 #4
LineLineLineReply That explains it
 Under The Radar Jan 2020 #5
LineReply interesting
 stopdiggin Jan 2020 #6
LineLineNew Reply If your business model requires you to discriminate or to cheat or harass your employees ...
 eppur_se_muova Jan 2020 #12
LineReply I looked him up, and there is indeed somebody by that name that is what he says he is
 DFW Jan 2020 #7
LineReply your "former" party has been un-American for decades
 SlogginThroughIt Jan 2020 #8
LineLineNew Reply THANK YOU
 Skittles Jan 2020 #21
LineReply He's not a Democrat
 Leith Jan 2020 #9
LineLineNew Reply Who knows. Maybe sets in motion a sea change for him
 Roland99 Jan 2020 #13
LineReply Haven't voted Repub in years...
 Wounded Bear Jan 2020 #11
LineNew Reply What kind of business does this guy run?
 Merlot Jan 2020 #14
LineLineNew Reply My friend's husband is a home builder in Pennsylvania
 phylny Jan 2020 #19
LineNew Reply Rec this amazing Op-ed
 FakeNoose Jan 2020 #18
LineNew Reply As long as he votes Democratic, I could care less if his Republican tendencies enter into our party
 Mr. Ected Jan 2020 #20

Response to Roland99 (Original post)

Sun Jan 26, 2020, 03:47 PM

Star Member Vogon_Glory (8,696 posts)

1. We're glad for you awakening.

Welcome to the Democratic Party. Let us unite to save the country.

Reply to this post

Back to top Alert abuse Link here Permalink

Response to Roland99 (Original post)

Sun Jan 26, 2020, 03:51 PM

Star Member CrispyQ (33,869 posts)

2. "I'm uncomfortable, but I'm OK," he writes.

I'm more uncomfortable with him being in our party than he is.

Leaving the GOP is easy.

But, what do you do when you agree with one party’s premises while abhorring their conclusions? When the other isn’t premised on much of anything? If you don’t want to end up independently irrelevant, where do you go?

Someday the Democratic Party might split, and we’ll see the rise of a moderate/centrist party focused on practical solutions to everyday problems instead of using them to pursue a broad ideological agenda. It can be home to independents as well as disaffected Ds and Rs.

Until then, whether I’ve intentionally chosen them or not — I guess these are my people now.


Great. Not. I realize this is just one man's conjecture, but what do we do when the Nicolle Wallace's of the GOP all join our party and take it even further to the right, at a time when I think a lot of people would like to see the Democratic Party go more to the left? I predicted this would happen as the Republican Party continues it's hard right trajectory, and here we are.

Reply to this post

Back to top Alert abuse Link here Permalink

Response to CrispyQ (Reply #2)

Sun Jan 26, 2020, 05:28 PM

UniteFightBack (8,231 posts)

10. If we don't WIN against the pukes none of your post even matters. nt

 

Reply to this post

Back to top Alert abuse Link here Permalink

Response to UniteFightBack (Reply #10)

Sun Jan 26, 2020, 06:15 PM

Star Member CrispyQ (33,869 posts)

15. Disaffected repubs should vote democratic and not join our party.

They should fix their party or form their own new third party, but instead they will infiltrate our party, pull it even further to the right, and we will end up with a right and far right two party system. And if the author is right that the dem party will split, the left will wither and die. At least that's what my crystal ball shows.

Reply to this post

Back to top Alert abuse Link here Permalink

Response to CrispyQ (Reply #15)

Sun Jan 26, 2020, 06:17 PM

UniteFightBack (8,231 posts)

16. Let's just get through tomorrow OK???

 

Reply to this post

Back to top Alert abuse Link here Permalink

Response to UniteFightBack (Reply #16)

Sun Jan 26, 2020, 06:26 PM

Star Member CrispyQ (33,869 posts)

17. The GOP has been playing the long game since the early 80s

and have almost accomplished one party rule while the dems have largely been in reactive mode. We could have used a little more foresight and strategy, IMO.

But getting through tomorrow is always a priority!

Reply to this post

Back to top Alert abuse Link here Permalink

Response to Roland99 (Original post)

Sun Jan 26, 2020, 03:58 PM

Under The Radar (3,373 posts)

3. You would likely appeal to fellow republicans elsewhere

I doubt that many other republicans are on this site so they aren’t likely going to read your post. Frankly I am surprised that even you would be here being a conservative. Either way, happy to see an enlightening change.
Make your post on Brietbart and then let us know how that goes. We’re pulling for you.

Reply to this post

Back to top Alert abuse Link here Permalink

Response to Under The Radar (Reply #3)

Sun Jan 26, 2020, 03:59 PM

Star Member Roland99 (53,046 posts)

4. Not me. It's a hometown article I thought was of interest here

Reply to this post

Back to top Alert abuse Link here Permalink

Response to Roland99 (Reply #4)

Sun Jan 26, 2020, 04:04 PM

Under The Radar (3,373 posts)

5. That explains it

👍

Reply to this post

Back to top Alert abuse Link here Permalink

Response to Roland99 (Original post)

Sun Jan 26, 2020, 04:16 PM

stopdiggin (8,262 posts)

6. interesting

I’m a small business owner who, without exaggeration, would likely have to close our business upon the passage of progressive policies.

Examples? Is it M4A, or LGBT protections, that are going to send your "business" into a downward spiral? See, you might not be a Republican any more .. but I don't know if I can see you as any kind of Democrat. But I'll encourage you to keep working on it!

Reply to this post

Back to top Alert abuse Link here Permalink

Response to stopdiggin (Reply #6)

Sun Jan 26, 2020, 05:33 PM

Star Member eppur_se_muova (35,251 posts)

12. If your business model requires you to discriminate or to cheat or harass your employees ...

... or not pay your share of taxes, you should be forced out of business. That's not wrong and it's not unfair -- but Repugs who aren't allowed to play Robber Barons think they're being victimized.

Reply to this post

Back to top Alert abuse Link here Permalink

Response to Roland99 (Original post)

Sun Jan 26, 2020, 04:17 PM

Star Member DFW (50,587 posts)

7. I looked him up, and there is indeed somebody by that name that is what he says he is

However......NOBODY I have been able to take seriously EVER uses the word "corporatist."

So while I don't discount the possibility that this article might be on the level (after all, I never met the guy, never heard of him before), I won't be waving it in anyone's face, either.

Reply to this post

Back to top Alert abuse Link here Permalink

Response to Roland99 (Original post)

Sun Jan 26, 2020, 04:53 PM

SlogginThroughIt (1,977 posts)

8. your "former" party has been un-American for decades

 

Thanks for waking the fuck up but you don't get a damn trophy for it and all the things that you listed as things that prove your republican worthiness are things that Democratic Americans are as well.


Reply to this post

Back to top Alert abuse Link here Permalink

Response to SlogginThroughIt (Reply #8)

Sun Jan 26, 2020, 07:35 PM

Star Member Skittles (148,577 posts)

21. THANK YOU

sick of these people who excused all KINDS of shit, until the shit hit the fan and they WOKE UP SPLATTERED

Reply to this post

Back to top Alert abuse Link here Permalink

Response to Roland99 (Original post)

Sun Jan 26, 2020, 05:14 PM

Leith (7,655 posts)

9. He's not a Democrat

The article shows his black/white thinking and lack of nuance. He's for the things that rethugs claimed for themselves but never acted on, like hardworking and patriotic. He says that he can't go along with Democratic ideas because he doesn't know wtf they are - only the BS that reichwing radio and TV says about them.

He's a nevertrumper rethug. I will thank him for not trying to yank our party to the reich to suit himself.

Reply to this post

Back to top Alert abuse Link here Permalink

Response to Leith (Reply #9)

Sun Jan 26, 2020, 05:35 PM

Star Member Roland99 (53,046 posts)

13. Who knows. Maybe sets in motion a sea change for him

Reply to this post

Back to top Alert abuse Link here Permalink

Response to Roland99 (Original post)

Sun Jan 26, 2020, 05:29 PM

Star Member Wounded Bear (55,380 posts)

11. Haven't voted Repub in years...

Reply to this post

Back to top Alert abuse Link here Permalink

Response to Roland99 (Original post)

Sun Jan 26, 2020, 05:44 PM

Merlot (9,374 posts)

14. What kind of business does this guy run?

I’m a small business owner who, without exaggeration, would likely have to close our business upon the passage of progressive policies.


Sounds like more republican drama to me.

Reply to this post

Back to top Alert abuse Link here Permalink

Response to Merlot (Reply #14)

Sun Jan 26, 2020, 07:07 PM

Star Member phylny (7,982 posts)

19. My friend's husband is a home builder in Pennsylvania

and that’s what he said would happen to him if Obama won. He would never be able to make a profit and his business would fail.

That was over 12 years ago. He’s still building and selling homes.

Reply to this post

Back to top Alert abuse Link here Permalink

Response to Roland99 (Original post)

Sun Jan 26, 2020, 06:35 PM

Star Member FakeNoose (28,403 posts)

18. Rec this amazing Op-ed

This guy sounds like he's in his mid-30's, and he's just the type of person we need to attract into our Party. This Op-ed it simply awesome!

Thanks for posting this Roland99

Reply to this post

Back to top Alert abuse Link here Permalink

Response to Roland99 (Original post)

Sun Jan 26, 2020, 07:29 PM

Star Member Mr. Ected (9,257 posts)

20. As long as he votes Democratic, I could care less if his Republican tendencies enter into our party

The first thing we need to do is let the Republican Party suffocate itself into extinction.

The next thing we need to do is allow an honest debate of where the line needs to be drawn for each policy decision we face. The Adam Schiffs and Barack Obamas of the world are far more sensible and compelling than their counterparts on the other side of the aisle, so that line would very likely be quite left of center.

Reply to this post

Back to top Alert abuse Link here Permalink

Reply to this thread

General Discussion (Forum)
DU Home | Latest Threads | Greatest Threads | Forums & Groups | My Subscriptions | My Posts

About | Copyright | Privacy | Terms of service | Contact

In Memoriam

© 2001 - 2023 Democratic Underground, LLC. Thank you for visiting.