Honest view from my Republican husband on primary and beyond.

[phylny]

My wonderful husband is dismayed that the Republican party has left him. He voted for President Obama twice in a row.

So we have a primary in Virginia and will be out of the country Tuesday. I voted absentee on Monday, he voted yesterday. I asked how it went.

"Well, they asked me if I wanted a Republican ballot or Democratic ballot and I asked for Republican. Then I looked at the list of names and gave it back and asked for a Democratic ballot. I voted for Bernie. I know him. I like him" (from me listening to Thom Hartmann and brunch with Bernie when we're traveling in the car).

I said that I was glad to hear it, because I voted for Bernie, too. Then he said this:

"If it's between Hillary and Trump, though, I'm voting for Trump."

Me: stunned. How can you even think of doing that?

"I just don't like the Clintons anymore."

Now, I think if it ends up being Hillary and Trump, I can work on him, because he's a reasonable guy, but I thought his insight was interesting.

[Adrahil]

1. Divorce is the answer....

Only a raving idiot would vote for Trump.

[krawhitham]

3. yep

[grossproffit]

6. Or a shallow grave.

[phylny]

125. Heh. The body is pretty big,

but the ocean is bigger

No, I'm going to keep him. He's evolving and learning. I have no doubt he'll come around.

[MaggieD]

9. +1

i don't believe we have enough raving lunatics in the country to elect that idiot president. At least not yet.

[tblue37]

21. I didn't believe Reagan or W could get in, either. Now, I realize W didn't actually win, but

if the vote had not been so close, they couldn't have stolen it. I am sure rigged votes cut into Obama's margins, too, but he had a big enough landslide to prevent a loss. I believe we won several close downticket races that went to the GOP, though.

But my point is that if Reagan could win outright and W could get close enough to steal (and Arnold could win in Dem leaning California), then we absolutely cannot trust US voters not to elect Trump outright or at least get him close enough to enable a stolen election.

[MaggieD]

28. W got in because of the extreme left

And that egocentric idiot, Nader. Let's not repeat history.

[Adrahil]

35. But point that out and watch some here go nuts.... NT

[AlbertCat]

37. W got in because of the extreme left

No...


W got in because of a rigged election and the Supreme Court.

[packman]

50. Don't forget brother Jeb , then gov. of Florida

and the hanging chads

[AlbertCat]

51. the hanging chads

I never got that at all!

If the chad is hanging... doesn't that mean they punched it? What's the prob?

[Lorien]

132. Exactly. And Dems keep losing because of egocentric idiots in THE DLC

who are corrupt and solidly right wing. "Given a Republican and a Democratic who acts like a Republican...", well, you know the rest.

[forjusticethunders]

53. Bush won because of the 200,000 registered Conservadems in Florida

who voted for Bush.

fixed that for you

[MaggieD]

61. You are mistaken

We will always have people that registered years prior but have changed their ideology over time. You'd know that if you'd ever phone banked or canvassed with dem registration lists.

That's a constant and happens in every election. The 97k extremists on the left who voted for Nader were the deciding factor there. Not your typical registered as a Dem long ago but have voted for the GOP types for years.

[A Simple Game]

85. According to you Nader stole the election and yet history shows us that Gore did win.

So just what did Nader steal and who did he steal it from? Please realize what it means to know history so we don't repeat it. The Supreme Court stole the election, not Nader. The Republicans want people to believe that Nader stole the election because the truth points to their allies on the Supreme Court, why do some of you still play into their hand?

Or is it all an excuse to do some liberal bashing?

[MaggieD]

87. It's part of the historial record at this point

Here is a good summary:

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/eric-zuesse/ralph-nader-was-indispens_b_4235065.html

[A Simple Game]

90. At this point in time it's well known that Gore got more votes in Florida. Nader stole nothing.

Please quit pushing that Republican meme, or do you just like any excuse to bash liberals?

[MaggieD]

92. No, sorry

Whether Gore or Bush got 600 more or less votes in FL isn't the issue. Especially when 97K voted for Nader in FL.

NH would have put Gore over the top as well. As the article states. You really should have read it, but I suppose it's easier to close your eyes to reality. The problem with denying history is that you can't learn from it when you do that.

[A Simple Game]

95. Did you read what you wrote before you hit post? Who got the most votes isn't the issue?

What is the issue then? How would you have our elections decided? You want to limit who can run for President don't you? Or do you want to prevent those left leaning voters from voting? Or both? You do a lot of complaining but just what is your proposed solution?

My solution? When it was verified that Gore got more votes the Supreme Court should have been impeached or their decision nullified at the least, they probably should have been impeached even before it was verified.

Not a solution? Limiting who can run or as Republican want, limiting who can vote.

[MaggieD]

96. Yes, I did read what you wrote

But arguing over who got 600 more or less votes is irrelevant and defies common sense when 97K mostly liberal idiots voted for Nader.

[A Simple Game]

97. Yet you still offer no solution other than to call liberals names. So one more time,

what is your solution?

[skepticscott]

107. There is no "solution" to 2000

But there is a lesson. One which I doubt has been learned, though.

[sunnystarr]

140. I believe that was due to the Butterfly Ballot in Palm Beach County

Even Nader said those weren't his votes.

[Lorien]

134. Wrong. I was there.

I watched as cops in a minority district pulled every trick they could think of to stop black and Hispanic citizens from voting. They wrongfully told them that they had come to the wrong poling place, the shut polls early, they physically intimidated them (getting right up in old lady's faces and saying "What you gonna do when your boy loses? You gonna CRY when you boy losses??&quot putting blockcades around the polls, pulling over church buses full of voters and telling them that they must unload if they didn't have a taxi license...and on and on. It was outright theft and fraud; NEVER FORGET!

[beltanefauve]

111. Geez, not this again

[LiberalAndProud]

112. Your data may be flawed.

Although the Washington Post has posited your position, the data can be assessed differently (and perhaps more honestly.)

In Florida, CNN’s exit polling showed Nader taking the same amount of votes from both Republicans and Democrats: 1 percent. Nader also took 4 percent of the independent vote. At the same time, 13 percent of registered Democrats voted for Bush!

http://disinfo.com/2010/11/debunked-the-myth-that-ralph-nader-cost-al-gore-the-2000-election/

I'm more apt to blame the Bush defectors. But that may be my bias.



P.S. I voted for Gore.

[Adrahil]

34. At least those guys had actually been governors...

... and on their worst days, they weren't the openly bigoted, vulgar man that Trump is. Their bigotry was always more private.

[Nonhlanhla]

121. Bush won in 2004 because he got just enough

of the racial/ethnic minority vote to get him over the edge (22% of "nonwhites, including Hispanics," - Gallup's category - compared to 14% for McCain in 2008 and 18% for Romney in 2012). The number was lower in 2000 (17%, but there was an additional 3% minority vote for Nader, for a total 20% away from Gore), and that was also a dubious result, as we all know. Bush was the last Republican who could still build a fairly multicultural coalition. I'm not in the least blaming minority voters for Bush, of course: the majority of white voters voted for the Republican in all these races, and have been the reason for both Bush's victories. My point is that, assuming current white voting patterns stay the same, given the changing demographics of the country, it is impossible to win the presidency without winning around 20% (probably higher by now) of the minority vote. Bush was the last GOP candidate that managed to build a slightly more multicultural coalition.

Demographics have changed even more since then to favor Democrats (why do you think the GOP is trying so hard to disenfranchise minority voters), and there's no way that Trump will get enough minorities. All the Dem nominee would have to do is to run ad after ad with his racist remarks. I'm sure he will get some, but not 20%.

It's theoretically possible that Trump might get enough whites to make up the deficit, but I doubt it. I also think some "moderate" Republicans will vote against Trump, so it would balance out anyway.

In short, I'm cautiously optimistic that this is quite different from Reagan or Bush. This is my own amateur analysis based on Gallup's numbers (see link). I'm sure there are far more sophisticated analyses out there.

http://www.gallup.com/poll/139880/election-polls-presidential-vote-groups.aspx

[NurseJackie]

25. I couldn't survive in a politically mixed-marriage. I often wonder ...

... how couples like James Carville and Mary Matalin make it work. (Good sex?)

[rurallib]

31. thanks for a visual that will haunt me all day

[BlueMTexpat]

32. This ...

[Adrahil]

36. I don't get it either.

I can't even be friends with right wing nuts. I manage civil, casual friendships with a few center-right folks because we have some other common interest.

[phylny]

57. Yes, it's good ;)

But we've been married 35 years, and when my husband started down the road of being a Republican, it was a totally different party.

As I said, he voted for Obama and really likes him, so I think he *thinks* he's a Republican, but he knows logically they're a bunch of crackpots.

Having said that, I *will* vote for the Democratic nominee, and I suspect with more information, he will as well.

[NurseJackie]

59. Oh dear! Heavens no... I wasn't going there!

My apologies for not being clearer. It's none of my business, and I wasn't asking or presuming anything about you and your spouse. I was poking fun at the Carville/Matalin couple.



Sorry again.

[phylny]

98. No need to apologize!

I'm pretty fun loving and wasn't offended at all

[phylny]

56. Divorce isn't financially an option.

However, a diving accident in the Caribbean isn't out of the question.

[Adrahil]

108. I like the cut of your jib! ;) NT

[In_The_Wind]

80. Seriously ...

1:17 PM
Automated Message
AUTOMATED MESSAGE: Results of your Jury Service
Mail Message
On Sat Feb 27, 2016, 10:09 AM an alert was sent on the following post:

Divorce is the answer....
http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1251&pid=1352207

REASON FOR ALERT

This post is disruptive, hurtful, rude, insensitive, over-the-top, or otherwise inappropriate.

ALERTER'S COMMENTS

How rude. You're writing about a DUers spouse, suggesting divorce and then calling him an idiot? Way over the top.

You served on a randomly-selected Jury of DU members which reviewed this post. The review was completed at Sat Feb 27, 2016, 10:17 AM, and the Jury voted 0-7 to LEAVE IT.

Juror #1 voted to LEAVE IT ALONE
Explanation: Oh, grow up. Don't you know a joke when you see one?

Juror #2 voted to LEAVE IT ALONE
Explanation: No explanation given

Juror #3 voted to LEAVE IT ALONE
Explanation: Oh Please. Waste of everyone's time

Juror #4 voted to LEAVE IT ALONE
Explanation: Tell him/her you think he/she is rude. Don't alert.

Juror #5 voted to LEAVE IT ALONE
Explanation: I am assuming sarcasm. But it is a tough choice.

Juror #6 voted to LEAVE IT ALONE
Explanation: It was meant to be funny. The alerter is feeling a little too PC this morning.

Juror #7 voted to LEAVE IT ALONE
Explanation: What a fucking stupid alert. It was a joke FFS.... good grief....

Thank you very much for participating in our Jury system, and we hope you will be able to participate again in the future.

[phylny]

99. Wow, sorry someone alerted.

Last edited Sat Feb 27, 2016, 07:24 PM - Edit history (1)

I took the post in the spirit of fun. Glad it wasn't hidden.

And I'm a woman named Phyl, not a man named Phil.

[In_The_Wind]

110. At this point - 1 DUer can't alert for the next 24 hours. 7 of us agree with you.

I was juror #1.

[phylny]

114. Good decision.

[sufrommich]

2. The only people who have nothing to fear from a Trump presidency

are white men. Everybody else would be fucked.

[dchill]

13. A lot of us white men disagree with your statement.

[sufrommich]

15. What does that mean? nt

[dchill]

19. Trump presidency=we're ALL screwed.

[sufrommich]

22. Got it.nt

[malthaussen]

20. Shouldn't be too hard to parse.

There are plenty of white men who fear a Trump presidency as much as anyone else.

-- Mal

[dchill]

24. Thanks. Most of us white men..

Care about people who are not.

[AlbertCat]

39. What does that mean?

It means your clueless statement reflects the arrogance of your candidate.

[sufrommich]

74. I think I'll just chalk your insulting,childish response

to sour grapes.

[AlbertCat]

119. to sour grapes.

You do that, dear.

Meanwhile keep arrogantly insulting all white men. They're all the same anyway! Right?

[tazkcmo]

54. What?

I'm a "white men" so will you please tell me how I'm going to benefit from his term in office should he win?

[grossproffit]

4. Okay.

[kstewart33]

5. Your hubby is an interesting guy.

Very open to different opinions and thinking. I bet you both have interesting conversations (!).

[phylny]

126. We do.

He eventually listens to reason. As I said, he voted for Obama twice, Bill Clinton once. He comes from a long line of Republicans, but I have no doubt that during our very interesting conversations, I will be able to convince him to vote Democratic in the presidential election.

[gwheezie]

7. Wow, just the opposite with my parents

GOP for decades but voted for Obama in 12. Mom and dad both said they'd vote for Hillary rather than trump but if it was Sanders they'd vote for trump.
I think both Hillary and Bernie may be able to get GOP votes but I'm more concerned dems come out to vote.

[TheBlackAdder]

27. Sanders is like Shirley Chisholm in a way, "Unbought and Unbossed!"

.


After studying politics for many years, and a returning poli-sci continuing ed student...

Shirley Chisholm is my favorite politician!


.

[elljay]

46. I remember when she ran for President

I was 13 and really bummed that I couldn't vote for her! I have clear memories of our mock election in Junior high. Only 3 kids in my class voted for McGovern, the rest for Nixon. I remember lecturing then about this thing called Watergate that they would be hearing about soon....

[gwheezie]

52. A great woman

She started my involvement in activism.

[dchill]

8. If it ends up being Hillary and Trump...

I'm writing in Bernie Sanders. Word.

[grossproffit]

11. How would you feel about people writing in Hillary if Bernie is the nominee?

[dchill]

16. It's a free country?

[jtuck004]

38. The reason people write in is because they feel they aren't being represented by people who are

sure that they are.

Perhaps they feel, like the writer,

“The most monstrous monster is the monster with noble feelings”

― Fyodor Dostoyevsky

[grossproffit]

63. A write-in for me would equate voting for Trump. Not happening.

[jtuck004]

79. In all likelihood, if you spell it correctly, it won't be. It appears his supporters are really bad

at English.

But I get the multiple meanings of what you said. We do the math differently.

[cantbeserious]

10. IMHO - A Vote For HRC In The Primary Is A Vote For Trump In The General Election

eom

[Adrahil]

14. And I feel teh sme way about Bernie. There ya go. NT

[dchill]

18. +1. I'm with you, cantbeserious

[Stallion]

48. But That's Just-Like-Your Opinion-Man

nm

[cantbeserious]

77. All Polling Seems To Indicate That The Conjecture Has Merit

eom

[Stallion]

88. Laughably Incorrect-Clinton Has Won 16 out of last 18 Polls Against Trump

and one of those was a Fox News poll which subsequently found that Clinton leads +5. Trump also has numerous Unfavorable Ratings approaching and in some exceeding 60%

[cantbeserious]

93. Your Opinion Only - Others See The World Differently

eom

[Stallion]

94. The Fact About the Polls I Cited is NOT an Opinion

Your opinion(" All Polling Seems To Indicate That The Conjecture Has Merit&quot has no factual basis

[cantbeserious]

137. Your Opinion Only - Others See The World Much, Much Differently

The Decline and Fall of Hillary Clinton

http://www.democraticunderground.com/12511359554#post12

[Lorien]

135. Yep. Voting for Hillary is just handing it to Trump

she's done.

[cantbeserious]

136. The Decline and Fall of Hillary Clinton

http://www.democraticunderground.com/12511359554#post12

[LexVegas]

12. Cool story, bro. nt

[DemocratSinceBirth]

17. You should make him read the Greek satire, Lysistrata./nt

[azurnoir]

81. What about Chi-Raq same story just updated

[DemocratSinceBirth]

83. The movie had its moments.

The OP should withhold intimate companionship from her husband until he agrees not to vote for Donald Trunp.

[azurnoir]

84. No one knows what goes on in the booth so it''s a useless endeavor

[DemocratSinceBirth]

86. True.

At least she can get him to stop saying he will support Trump in her presence...

Trump is an odious , racist, sexist, nativist, xenophoboic, anti-semitic, and homophobic bigot. The thought of him occupying Abraham Lincoln's chair is chilling.

[grossproffit]

23. I may have to do an OP about my husband.

He was interested in Trump in the beginning, but that quickly changed after his Muslim comments and never ending misogyny. My husband is Lebanese and some assume that he's Muslim. So, he knows all about discrimination. He's now moved to Hillary, but he won't vote for Bernie. It's still early.

It's a good thing that he stopped supporting Trump because I was already starting to think where I was going to start digging.

[Mufaddal]

26. Your husband hit upon the reality that Clinton diehards refuse to acknowledge

But that all of the primary candidates in 2008 were happy to point out: Hillary is unelectable because half the country simply won't vote for her and don't like her.

Now, some of that anti-Clinton animus is justified, and a lot of it is unjustified, but right or wrong, it's reality. Independents (those people you need in order to really win an election) and swing voters, as well as a chunk of Republicans, will vote for Bernie over Trump. They will not vote for Hillary over Trump, and perhaps any other Republican, because at that point they aren't voting for a candidate, they are voting against a candidate (or equal parts for/against, anyway).

OTOH, if the Dems want to pick up some swing states, Bernie is someone who appeals not only to independents, but to a decent portion of Republicans. Some people may want to wave away the fact that he tends to get a sizable chunk of the Republican vote in VT, but I promise that our Republicans are not any less Republican than the rest of the country's.

Bottom line: many diehard Clinton partisans would rather cut off the nose to spite the face.

[saidsimplesimon]

73. Love your sig line, Mufaddal

"Unpledged delegates exist, really, to make sure that party leaders and elected officials don't have to be in a position where they are running against grassroots activists." -Debbie Wasserman-Schultz

[MisterP]

109. "cut off the nose to spite the face" ha! see what you did there!

now use "keep their powder dry"

[kgnu_fan]

29. All my girl friends are for Bernie. And some Republican neighbors say they like Bernie. So

some of the talking points listed here by Hilary camp are not applicable to my local sphere here in Colorado.

[PonyUp]

30. That's what I hear here from some repugs

They will vote for Bernie over anyone on the repug side, unless Hillary is the nominee.

[Owl]

58. That's the same as I hear from from my republican associates at work.

[TheUndecider]

115. I think it goes to Authenticity!

Trump may a bigot but he says what he means
Bernie May bu a Unicorn rancher but he truly believes in his flock

[davidthegnome]

33. Unfortunately, my sister would agree with him.

For her it's Sanders first, Trump second, Clinton never. I can't understand it. Even though I dislike Clinton, I'll vote for her if she wins the primaries because she's a hell of a lot better than Trump.

What I really don't get, is why people can't see that Sanders and Trump are pretty much exact opposites in ideology, in policy, in principle, in pretty much every way that matters. The stupid is kind of scary, especially when it's otherwise intelligent people doing this.

[Kip Humphrey]

40. "Sanders first, Trump second, Clinton never" is what I'm hearing from my REPUGnant relatives too.

[PatrynXX]

43. can't do trump and Clinton never

so it's Sanders first or I'll be writing in the only Liberal running.

[restorefreedom]

70. in my world, there are only even two names mentioned

bernie and trump.

eveyone else running are like he flies at a picnic.

yard signs, no hillary

bumper stickers, bernie, obama, and even one gore!

no clinton

[PatrynXX]

41. not surprised one bit

people don't see to know how hated the Clintons are. you have to go outside your comfortable bubble to figure that out so no she can't win because that will unite certain people against her and it'll be more of a vote against her than a vote for trump. You could elect a wooden stick and people would vote for that over hillary. I'll just write in Bernie's name in. and I'm tired of the BS about oh if I do that this happens I'm not voting for the helll of it.

[artislife]

42. I think there is a very big fight going on

and it isn't Left v Right

It is typical politicians, backroom deals as usual v those aren't in the pockets of Lobbies.

[JoeyT]

44. I've heard that from a lot of people.

They don't like Trump, but they'll vote for anyone to keep Clinton out.

If Clinton takes the primary, her only hope is record turnout for her. Because Republicans are going to have record turnout no matter who they run.

[oldandhappy]

45. I'll hold my nose and vote Clinton in that case.

But I have a lot of sympathy for your husband. Cruz is the one that terrified me. He is vicious. Had a family dinner last night and all of us were talking about leaving the country if Trump wins the general. I was really surprised. I thot I was the only one who would really do that. Hang onto each other. We will get thru this.

[mountain grammy]

47. My registered Republican husband supports Hiilary

But will vote for the Dem nominee.

[Barack_America]

49. Not surprising to me. My Republican mother is either Bernie or no vote.

I think she'd rather lose a limb than vote for Hillary.

[iAZZZo]

55. "I just don't like the Clintons anymore."

Me: stunned. How can you even think of doing that?

"I just don't like the Clintons anymore."

haven't "liked them" for decades: registered democrat and voted democrat first four g.e.'s

'92 was the fifth g.e. ............ knew the following crapola from the vid before the election:

state of arkansas was a 'fiefdom' in the '80's; bill didn't know about that gun/cocaine (oliver north - cia- bill casey - contras) trafficking outta' mena's airport? gmab

[Zen Democrat]

72. So are you saying the Clinton's are CIA? Is that why they are tight with the Bush Crime Family?

[emulatorloo]

60. If your husband thinks Bernie and Trump are the same he needs therapy!

I have faith that you can straighten him out!

[phylny]

127. He doesn't think they're the same, he just isn't

a Hillary fan, but I, to, think I can straighten him out.

Thanks for the kind words

[Politicub]

62. Uhm, okay

Thank you for sharing that with the group. Sounds like a great guy

[Algernon Moncrieff]

64. I've heard similar views from Independents

I get that there are people out there that don't like the Clintons.

I'd be curious to know if Mike Bloomberg comes in if your husband would consider him.

There are a bunch of factors at play here:

-Despite Trump's bombast and complete lack of tact, he might be the least objectionable of the three GOP frontrunners inasmuch as he's not in the pockets of the Ricketts' or the Kochs, and he's not an ideologue or a theocrat. All three lean fascist.

-Trump has a very high dislikability factor, but he also has entertainment factor. "What will he say next?"

- Only party had gotten a nod for a third term since FDR/Truman, and that was Reagan/H.W. Bush

- Hillary Clinton (who I support) has her share of baggage. Some of it real and some of it more imaginary. You can go back to Whitewater; bring up Vince Foster; the Rose Law firm; her IWR vote; Benghazi; and now her speaking fees.

- But Bernie Sanders has his flaws as well. His main flaw -- the elephant in the room that few at DU will mention -- is his age. He is 74 now, and will be 75 in November. Average life expectancy for men in the US is 76. He's in good health, but the job is a huge stressor. Add to that that I don't think most non partisan independents are ready to vote for a self-proclaimed socialist, and I see issues. Personally, I can't stomach his opposition to the Brady Bill. YMMV.

Mu bottom line has become focus on flipping the Senate.

[Duval]

65. K&R! nt

[JustAMaverick]

66. I could make a strong argument that your Husband is right.

As frightening as that might seem. Let us hope we never get to that place. I won't vote for Hillary, my days of lesser evil is over. Enough is enough....and I know a few million other Bernie supporters that feel the same. Hillary goes against Trump she is going to find herself missing half her "base".

[grossproffit]

68. Welcome to DU!

So many new posters here today.

[LibDemAlways]

67. My Republican sister-in-law hates both Trump and Hillary.

She lives in Vegas, works in the casino business, and was in a meeting With Trump one time. Once was enough. She says he came across as an insufferable prick. Would never vote for him. But she can't stand Hillary either. Thinks she's dishonest and can't be trusted. For now she's for Bernie, but if it comes down to Trump vs Hillary, she'll sit out the general.

Trump v. Hillary would be a wild ride. The ultimate political status quo insider vs. the ultimate brash don't give a damn who he offends political outsider. Both admired by ardent fans. Both hated by millions. It would come down to whether the voters would prefer to embrace the known with a 3rd Clinton term or roll the dice and take their chances.

[Raster]

69. I wager his view is not unique among moderate Dems or Repubs.

[GreenPartyVoter]

71. My conservative hubby likes Bernie. Will vote for Hillary if he has to, EXCEPT if

she is up against Rubio. He said he would have to think long and hard then.

[ChiciB1]

75. My Son Who Rarely Does Research On Candidates Has Told Me

he has decided to support Bernie. And he added he simply can't stand Hillary and said he was sorry he never looked past what a candidate was saying. He told me that what she says in debates and her speeches isn't what he found out from looking closer.

Florida is a closed Primary state and he switched from I to Dem to vote for Bernie. I let my kids make their own decisions but I'm happy to say that my daughter and her husband also switched to vote in the Primary. The want Bernie to win but they think the Democratic Party leaders are trying to make sure he can't get elected.

BUT, what's new about that? Even my grandson came over a couple of days ago and walked in and said "I'm now "Feelin' The Bern!" He raised his hand for a fist pump! My grand daughter has already voted absentee for him. I was worried about my grand son because he said he thought about Trump, so I texted him as a joke and told him I was putting him on ignore.

All of my immediate family live close by and we discuss "some" politics even though in the past they've told me I'm obsessed and it's not healthy for me, they seem to have taken a real interest in this election. But, one by one I CAN say... We're ALL Feelin' The Bern!

I began talking about Bernie back in August when we all vacationed at the Keys. They did say that NOBODY but Hillary will be elected because that's what they heard all the time. Still, they will vote for Bernie despite what the Democrats say about him. They know I'll be leaving the Party if she's elected, but I really have let them make their own decisions.

Here in Florida most of us distrust voting because of the machines, but what will be will be. Polls are polls, but we also feel NOW more than ever that the machines have corrupted the process and can be manipulated.

My grandson has a degree in computer programming and engineering and since college is now taking advanced classes. He knows how to manipulate the machines, but we will still vote.

I DO feel that given that DWS is a Representative here and is the head of the DNC that a Hillary win is a foregone conclusion. My trust in our political system has never been so low. Should Bernie win, my faith can be restored. It would be a huge surprise if he does!

Too many people haven't paid attention for so long and can now be easily manipulated because of extreme gullibility. I SO WISH I didn't feel this way because I've been an activist for so long, but I see THIS DEMOCRATIC Party willing to abandon what I once saw them fight and stand for and blatantly work hard AGAINST another candidate is disgusting to me.

And it's not just "deciding" they want who they want, it's legislation that goes against so much that is WRONG for this country. But for this election I MUST fall on my sword if it's not Bernie, simply so Trump isn't elected. It goes against all that I felt Democracy was supposed to be. We have been dismissed as nothing more than "serfs" and fighting against the system is a very HEAVY, HEAVY lift! Now is the time for PEOPLE TO WAKE UP as this opportunity may not come again for a very long time. But, perhaps seeing that some people are now willing to take on current Congress Critters there's a ray of hope to be had. DWS has been Primaried by Tim Canova, a great Progressive and one who's getting a lot of attention, but I do fear that HER MACHINE could do to him what our Democratic Party is doing to Bernie and to ME. He does need $$$ unfortunately, but I will only give to him directly because I don't trust the DNC to be fair in any way!
JMHO!

[Buzz Clik]

76. Err... your husband is no longer a Republican.

Just an observation.

[phylny]

129. Err... I agree

I'm just not telling him quite yet

[ghostsinthemachine]

78. I know a few like this and they think Trump=Reagan

And, as we all know, Reagan was the bestest Prez ever.

[elleng]

82. Interesting. A new 'favorite' of mine:

'If we are going to nominate someone who 50% of our people can't stand,

we are going to lose.'

Marco Rubio

Goes both ways, for BOTH parties.

[skepticscott]

89. The Republican party hasn't left him

They are exactly what they have always been the whole time he was supporting them: racist, bigoted, war-mongering, theocratic, anti-union, anti-tax, anti-poor, anti-immigrant, anti-intellectual, anti-environment, anti-choice, big-business fellating assholes. If he's voted for Republicans or supported the GOP in any way during the last 35 years, he is complicit in what they are and what they do right now. And he will be complicit in what Trump does if he votes for him, or tries to convince others to do so.

And please, don't say that your husband doesn't support any of that, because if he didn't, why would he EVER have voted Republican? That's what they are, and have been since Reagan. The lame justifications for voting Republican of "I'm a fiscal conservative, but a social liberal" or "I believe in limited government" are just so much horseshit, spread to cover far more ugly attitudes. In nowhere but a delusional fantasy world could anyone convince themselves that the Republicans who have championed hideously overblown military spending and warmongering without a way to pay for it, and grotesque intrusions into the private lives of American citizens are the party of fiscal conservatism or limited government.

Sorry if that's harsh, but the Republicans didn't wind up in power by accident. We're having to fight the fights we are today because people like your husband and so many others voted Republican in the 80s and 90s, knowing full well what they were supporting. The effects of that are still screwing up this country and the whole world, and it's time to place blame for it squarely where it belongs: not just not the people doing these things, but the ones who put them where they are. The fact that all of those people are someone's husband, wife, son, daughter, mother, father or friend does not entitle them to absolution.

[phylny]

101. Not harsh.

Your opinion of a man you've never met doesn't bother me at all

[skepticscott]

106. Just as I'm sure

Your husband's opinion of Donald Trump doesn't bother you. Why should it? I'm sure his supporting Trump will be perfectly fine for this country, right? After all, he HAS promised to make America great again, right? Who in their right mind wouldn't be all in for that?

[phylny]

113. Yup. You know it.

[skepticscott]

120. Perfectly understandable

If my spouse were even hinting at voting for Donald Trump, or any Republican, I'd be slamming my head against the wall, too.

[phylny]

122. Yeah no.

That's not why.

[skepticscott]

123. I'm getting what you think is irony

but the irony is really all on you, so please don't imagine for a moment that you're going over my head with cleverness.

[phylny]

124. Well, no irony here.

I'm not trying to go over your head. I honestly don't care about your head.

[skepticscott]

128. Yes, I see that you're now in "getting the last word in" mode

and have nothing of substance to respond with.

Sorry. Enjoy the election.

[phylny]

130. LOL, yes you're right.

That's my only goal. Because I can't compete with the high level of discourse in your responses.

[longship]

91. My mother was an FDR Democrat; my father was a lifelong Republican.

I would characterize my father as an Eisenhower Republican.

I remember once on voting day, when I was very young, my dad arriving home from work. My mom was busy getting ready for dinner -- Hey! This was the 50's. I wanted my father to do something with me. I don't even remember what it was. I will never forget his words. "Sorry. It's Election Day and I have to go to the polls and cancel your mother's vote." (Probably not an exact quote, except the "cancel your mother's vote" part.)

What is remarkable is that my parents were married for over 50 years. My father died and my mother went three years later, to the day. I cannot remember anything that would be remotely considered a fight in my household. My father was soft spoken, quiet and patient. My mother was loud, energetic, and equally patient.

The ribbing my mom and dad gave each other on Election Day was always good hearted, a kind spirited family joke for all to find amusing, not divide us. They loved each other until their dying days.

Here's the deal. My father despised George HW Bush. He voted for Ross Perot. (Still couldn't vote for a Democrat.)

But I loved my father always. And my rather fiercely partisan FDR Democratic mother did also. I take after my mother, at least politically. My twin sister takes after my father. Oy! We are very close. Hey! We're twins!

I hope this helps.

[Autumn]

100. I hear that a lot. People seem to like Bill but have an excessive dislike of her.

[phylny]

103. I liked Bill until

NAFTA.

[Autumn]

104. The people I know who remember him fondly are not politically inclined but they sure

don't like her at all. A friend says it's because Bill comes across and genuine and she's as phony as can be. They may be on to something there. I supported her to the very end in 2008 but that was before we retired and I had more time to dig into politics.

[phylny]

131. The funny thing is, I don't think she's phony.

I really don't. As I think I said, I'll vote for the Democratic nominee with no reservations, because the thought of a Republican in the Oval Office gives me the chills. I just hope collectively we can beat the other side, because so much is at stake.

[nadinbrzezinski]

102. I wish I could honestly say this surprises me

you might find this interesting

http://www.democraticunderground.com/12511352649

So might your husband

[Blue_In_AK]

105. This doesn't surprise me.

The mood of the country this year seems to be anti-establishment. Hillary is about as "establishment" as one can be. If a person has rebel tendencies and doesn't care too much about ideology, I can easily see that person voting for Trump just to shake things up.

[Jitter65]

116. You call that "insight?" He just doesn't like them anymore.. He must be visiting here. nt

[phylny]

117. Yup and no. Nt

[Kablooie]

118. Even many Democrats don't want another Clinton so I actually think Trump will be our next president.

The DNC has totally blown it by pushing Hillary at the expense of Bernie.
Bernie would have a chance against Trump, I really don't think Hillary does.

Both the DNC and GOP have lost it and America is going to suffer the consequences for decades.
This will be the explosion from the pressure that's been building for decades.
It will blow the country into shards and there's nothing anyone can do about it.

[Barack_America]

133. Enter Bloomberg.

Not sure what it will do, but I feel he's getting in.

[Kablooie]

138. Kinda late but we sure need more options.

[Liberal_Stalwart71]

139. Here's what I don't understand, many on the Sanders' side claim that Hillary is just as bad as

Trump or any other Republican. Your husband is a Republican, so it makes sense that he would vote for the Republican.

Also, I wonder if he's voting for Bernie Sanders in a kind of Operation Chaos--Bernie becomes the nominee because he's easier to beat. I'm hearing that Rush Limbaugh and other Republicans are rooting for Bernie Sanders precisely because he's the less electable candidate on our side. Now, I may or may not agree with that assessment, but I also believe that there's a reason why the Republicans aren't going after Bernie Sanders. If the Republicans are certain that he bests Trump, then why aren't they attacking Bernie?

[phylny]

141. Good thoughts.

I know for me, as I said, I'll happily vote for Hillary. There is a vast difference between her policies and experience compared to anyone on the Republican side.

With regard to his motivation for voting for Betnie, he's very familiar with him, can name his policies, and is comfortable with him as a leader.

And in the end, I imagine my husband will come to his senses as he usually does and vote for the Drmicratic nominee as well.