I No Longer Recognize My Party

[BrotherIvan]

15. At first glance, I would think so as well

But then again, it could be the reason the party has moved so far to the right.

And fair enough, if Democrats can say they were "fooled" into voting for Reagan because of the hostage crisis or the energy crisis (or some other revenge against Carter because he was "weak" and we need a cowboy!), were they fooled into voting for him twice? Did they vote for W. twice because these people certainly did. They're only on "our side" *now*.

And while it has a whiff of the whole the sinner repents kind of thing, which is often beguiling, it does make one wonder what kind of person who lived through the Reagan and Bush eras self-identifies as a Republican. Did they turn a blind eye to all the suffering their ideology caused? Have they only seen the error of their ways once it has personally touched them? Have they lost their jobs, gone bankrupt from healthcare expenses, had their homes foreclosed? I have a suspicion that is the case because every person I have ever met that chooses to be a Republican has been politically very classist, fairly racist, tribal and selfish. Until their lifestyle is affected, they have no compassion nor mercy. That's why they're Republicans in the first place.

If they are now on our side have they also changed to a liberal ideology? While I'm only coming out of the shadows and commenting, I have been reading this blog for a long time. And the former Republicans on this very site are here chastising liberals for their "purity" here every day. I'm not sure Democrats want or need any more.