Texas GOP operative switches parties and becomes a Democrat.

[RandySF]

Link to tweet

?s=20

Patrick Svitek
@PatrickSvitek
A Texas Republican operative announces he's switching sides, saying the GOP is "tearing apart the fabric of this nation, and I will no longer stand by in support of its ideology or its candidates" -->
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[MagickMuffin]

1. As long as he doesn't run for office as a Democratic candidate

then I'm fine with him helping us out here in Texas and beyond.

[Mike 03]

2. Exactly. I'm having trust issues lately. nt

[dubyadiprecession]

3. Yes, usually converts turn independent.

That’s a major ideology shift to make.
I expect he will probably run for office as a Democrat sooner than later, because of which way the wind is blowing.

[Scarsdale]

7. Too little, too late.

Does he see more opportunity for himself as a (D)?

[thucythucy]

12. Reading the whole thread, it sounds like

he has had a genuine epiphany.

It's not just that he understands, as we all have for decades, that the GOP is a completely hypocritical and thoroughly corrupt pox on the nation. He seems also to be saying that the core positions of the Democratic Party are actually more in tune with what he's believed all along.

I wonder how many "life-long conservatives" and Republicans have continued their allegiance out of a basic misunderstanding of what the Democratic Party truly stands for. How many have simply accepted all the straw men thrown up by the GOP bubble as fact, but because of the their mendacity of Trump & co. have started actually to look at liberal, progressive Democratic ideas and realized, "Hey, these people actually make a lot of sense."

Of course it could be, as you say, that he has his finger in the air and knows which way the wind is blowing.

Only time will tell. But for now I'll take him and others at their word, and welcome any and all support in the cause of removing Trump and his ilk from power.

[PatrickforO]

17. A pox on the nation. I haven't heard the word pox used in that context in some time.

Yes, the Republican party is a pox on this nation, a pox on everyone in the world, and a pox on the world itself.

[catbyte]

8. Did you read his full statement? It was a full-throated renouncement of the gop.

Edited to add his statement:

[Soph0571]

18. Yep that was my first thought n/t

[UpInArms]

4. The original thread

https://threadreaderapp.com/thread/1294343183804006405.html

Edited for a better link

[cayugafalls]

5. Kick and Rec...

[catbyte]

6. That was quite a statement. We need to welcome people like Mr. DuBois.

[Pobeka]

9. +1 n/t

[Mr.Bill]

10. So he was okay with everything up until now?

[thucythucy]

15. It sounds like this has been brewing inside him for quite some time.

It's difficult for anyone to admit that their whole political life has been a lie, that everything he thought he knew was wrong.

Better he comes to us now than doggedly refuses, out of pride or stubbornness, to admit his grievous mistake in following the GOP up till now.

[kimbutgar]

11. Also he can not have any access to Democratic voting records or files in Texas.

Nice words but he’ll have to prove himself reliable.

[erronis]

13. "Operatives" have been tearing apart the fabric of the US under the guise of the GOP since Nixon

Operatives are just parasites looking for a way to score, to make big bucks.

Ethics and morality and "the right thing" are not part of their portfolios. They would never choose a "hill to die on" - they'd run away to find easier pickings.

Let's trust people who show real spine in the beginning, rather than growing a new one when their current cause is dying.

[gratuitous]

14. A couple of thoughts

First, I hope this guy doesn't think that by switching sides he'll automatically be granted the same trust and deference he may have enjoyed on the Republican side. If he doesn't mind working his way up from the bottom rung, great. Welcome to the fight.

Second, it's defections like this that are an indicator of where the smart money thinks things are going. As Captain Reynaud told Rick in Casablanca, the winning side pays you much better.

[zentrum]

16. Are you listening Susan?

[judesedit]

19. Hopefully, these are his honest sentiments and he's not working his way in

to sabotage democrats. Unfortunately, you can't be too sure. It's Texas and he's a Republican. What took so long?

[Ruby the Liberal]

20. Think of how much fun all this will be

when the never-Trumpers (who set this up over the last 30 years) start working their policy preferences from within "the big tent".

I greatly appreciate each and every one of them working their asses off this year, but I hold no illusions. They may be mortified about where their actions led the nation, but haven't changed one whit about their desire to have the hand of the free market smack everyone down.

Their penance needs to be a thank you, followed by "now STFU and let us fix this".

[Cha]

21. Kick!