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I'm an ex-Republican. I've voted Republican or Libertarian my whole life. This November I will be voting Democratic for the first time, and for many of the above reasons.
"You wanted smaller government - B*sh tripled it."
Like many Republicans, I've always been leary of "social programs", viewing them largely as welfare that I don't get to benefit from. But the Republican party has demonstrated that they are equally as willing to blow billions to benefit rich people. I figure if we are going to have a government blowing billions, let's help the little guys, not the fat cats. I'm not interested in blowing billions on policing the world's hell holes. I'd rather thave socialized medicine or social security.
"You wanted to cut social programs -- your congress created "No child left behind" and a huge medicare giveaway for drug companies (which will cost $1 trillion over 40 years)."
See above. Many Republicans are now seeing that the social welfare we wanted to avoid has instead gone to corporate welfare and imperialism. We'd rather spend money on America and Americans.
"You wanted to end "Nation Building" -- you're building 2 nations (albeit very very slowly) Iraq and Afghanistan"
Again, this isn't lost on many of us (ex)Republicans. Even the pro-war republicans wanted to /bomb/ Iraq and Afghanistan - not police them perpetually for trillions of dollars and thousands of lives.
"You wanted to chase bin Laden down (we all did) -- Rumsfailed disbanded the team assigned to look for him months ago."
Even the most die-hard Republican is having a hard time clinging to the original reasons given for this war. It was all crap and only the most deluded or embarrased cling to rationalizations. Most Americans now know this war was crap - hence the low approval ratings.
"You believe, like Reagan, that the 'government which governs best is the government which governs least' -- but your government is bigger and more totalitarian than ever."
We see it. Even the pro-war Republicans want war that penalizes our /enemies/ not our own people and our own liberties.
"You hate Iraqis -- your party spends mega tax dollars on them."
Ding!
"You hate Democrats"
Not anymore.
Voted Bush in '04 - Republican no more.
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