I’m from a family of fundamentalist, Southern Christian, Yellow Dog Democrats. My grandfathers and father were way more conservative than most of the crop of Republican candidates we have today. Most of the old Democrat politicians in the South were more conservative than todays Republicans. I registered Republican in the late 70’s but I’m thinking about registering independent soon. The Republicans have abused the loyalty of the rank and file in my opinion.
The question we are faced with is whether or not to try to reform the Republican Party or to abandon it. I submit to you that it is better to reform the Party of Lincoln than to try to start a new one or to try to accomplish anything outside of a political party. That does not mean rolling over for whatever the national party is coming up with, these days. It means actively working for Republicans you support and against Republicans you oppose within the Party.
On election day, though, I am still going to have to run my finger down that (R) column, because the (D) column is always so much worse.
They have indeed but, at least in part, that is caused by SO many republicans and conservatives who think that voting is all there is to the political process. Voting is important to be sure but that act comes at the very end of the process and if that is ALL you do you have not had the effect you otherwise could have had.