The Republican debate is playing in the background as I write this.
If you were to go back and read blog entries from years ago, you would think I were a Republican.
I consider myself an independent voter but the fact is, more times than not, I'll go with the GOP candidate. That's because that candidate will usually align with my views.
But I really do vote for the candidate, not the party, and over the years I have occasionally voted for a Democrat.
I've mellowed a great deal over the years, even since starting this blog. I really can't believe that at one time I thought Sarah Palin was a brilliant pick by John McCain for a running mate.
I would apologize for that but let's just chalk it up to my being so against Barack Obama, that I couldn't see what was as plain as the nose on my face -- that she was in way over her head and McCain got some really bad advice.
On the aforementioned debate airing on my television, there's a reality TV show host, a couple of senators and a governor going at each other, although the governor (John Kasich) is little more than window dressing. And in case you didn't know, the reality TV show is way ahead of the other three.
I write about politics a bit in my weekly column, but almost always from the point of view of an observer. I try hard not to let my opinions show.
But it's a bit different here on my blog and I'll tell you, unequivocally, that I'll not be casting a vote for Donald Trump should he be the Republican nominee. I understand why some people are supporting him (being fed up with establishment Washington) but I cannot, and will not, vote for him. Just can't do it.
I believe the only hope, barring a miracle, for Trump NOT to be the nominee is for him to fall short of getting the required number of delegates prior to the convention, and a deal being made there (a "brokered convention," which has not happened since 1976) to keep Trump out. Of course if that were to happen, Trump would likely launch a third-party effort and the GOP could end up in a shambles.
But what if it's Trump vs. Hillary? What will I do?
I believe you could find a blog entry here where I said something along the lines of pledging to never vote for a Clinton -- "not on this planet" is the terminology I used, I believe.
Will I sit it out? Will I vote for an obscure third-party candidate? Will I -- would I -- gulp, vote for Hillary?
Right now I couldn't tell you.
But I will not vote for Trump.
12 comments:
I think I could have written this post about my voting background and political beliefs.
I have to add that I don't think the 1976 National Convention is considered a brokered convention since Ford won in the first vote. According to Wikipedia, in order to be considered brokered, they must go through the first round of voting with nobody securing the majority of votes and that would make the 1948 National Convention the last Republican brokered convention. I had thought it was 1952 prior to reading Wikipedia but that on the Democratic side.
I'm praying that I don't have to vote between Drumpf (his actual last name) and Clinton. I've never not voted and I really don't want to start now. I have voted third party before and I might do that again provided there was a decent choice out there. If there wasn't, I might still consider voting for Drumpf only as a form of protest against the Republican party and hoping that they might reform themselves so that this might never happen again.
I'm still holding out hope that Cruz, whom I also dislike but not as much as Trump, will do well tomorrow since all four primaries are closed primaries and Cruz has won the most in closed primary states.
Thanks for the clarity on the brokered convention. It's a bit confusing, to say the least, and it will be a nasty fight if it happens. I'm a terrible prognosticator, but I really don't think it will. I think the mainline GOP folks will decide that a Trump candidacy, as distasteful as it may be, will be preferable than a floor fight at the convention that will divide the party. (And the optics would be terrible). I predict Hillary, if she can dodge indictment, will defeat Trump and the Republicans will maintain control of the House and Senate. They will also immediately begin plotting how they'll take back the White House in 2020. But what do I know?!
I think your predictions on the national convention are spot on. However, I'm not so sure that Hillary can defeat Drumpf even if she gets ahead of the email scandal. Whenever the young get out and vote, that candidate seems to win easily. I'm thinking of the first Clinton and Obama. Hillary doesn't seem able to attract the youth that Drumpf does. Voting in the Republican caucus in our state made me feel like an old man and I'm almost mid 40's!
The main fly in the ointment is what happens when a third party candidate jumps in the middle. If Bloomberg runs and I think he will if it is between Hillary and Trump, I would then put the odds on Hillary because the Republican vote would be divided unless Bloomberg could get enough of the votes in the middle of the political spectrum to actually win the electoral vote. Highly doubtful but hopeful that would be the case.
That debate was.... something. Though I am not Republican, last round I found the debates interesting. I could vote for Huntsman, and I wouldn't have been too stressed for Mitt to have become President.
This time? Brrrrr... genuinely disturbed.
Truly, truly a big mess. I cannot vote for Hillary. I cannot vote for Cruz. I thought Rubio might be an option, but I've soured on him, as well. I'm frightened to tell you that some (much?) of what Trump says I agree with. But could I vote for him? *sigh* I just don't know. I guess I keep hoping something miraculous will happen between now and November.
On Super Tuesday I voted in he Democratic Primary only because of one local race I felt very strongly about. Even so, I only voted three races and that didn't include "president" (though I thought about voting Sanders for the sheer novelty of it!)
I agree with things Trump says too but I don't believe everything he says and I don't trust him. Can't vote for Cruz either. I might make history and not vote.
Ugh! Let me put it out there that I am quite liberal on most things, so a GOP vote (especially most recently) isn't even on my radar. But I do feel for the people who are generally republican and have these candidates to contend with. While I disagree with most everything they say (given my views), I am utterly repulsed by their campaigns. And I feel like the ones who were trying to run "decent" adult campaigns have now sunk to this childish level. I believe it's in England where the campaigns are only about 5 weeks longs - I don't know if I can take another 8 months of this.
Such a chaotic mess. Surprisingly enough, if you read my blog, I, too, am an independent. I can't vote in Florida's upcoming primary, and I can't believe what's been going on. I just want to live in a climate of mutual respect, where we are all trying to work together to move the country forward. Now what?
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Donald Trump scares me. He sees himself as pulling in people to the Republican party. I have never seen Republicans so divided. These are truly frightening days in America.
Went to cleaning the kitchen and thinking about being a Republican trying to choose between these candidates. Bob, let me say this: I respect you very greatly. Your willingness to admit when you were wrong always impresses me. You are a very classy soul, my friend. That being said, are you interested in running for office?
Haha -- nope. Don't have the stomach for that, Debby! But thanks for thinking of me!
Don't feel bad Bob, I also to supported Sarah Palin back in August / Sept 2008. Scary to admit :) Trust you are well. Ready for some baseball this year?
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