I'm close friends with someone who has always considered himself a republican. But he hates Trump. There's a difference between being Republican and being MAGA.
Much to my dismay, he did not vote. He regrets not voting for Kamala Harris now (though living in Florida ofc not like it makes a difference). He didn't think things would be as bad as they are.
You said they were republican, not just a conservative.
I feel a little bit for the ‘traditional’ republican who didn’t want any part of Trump, but the reality is, the Republican Party has been fully hijacked. There’s no “never Trump” wing anymore, all the dissenters have either retired, or been voted out(Romney, Cheney, Kinzinger, etc)
Yeah he considers himself a republican. But if you're a republican and the Republican party goes MAGA, do you stop being Republican just because you hate Trump/MAGA? At some point, I suppose... But right now he's more of a disenfranchised Republican I think. To the point where I'm hoping this midterms I can convince him to vote democrat (though he's in a pretty deep red county, I think), but him begrudgingly voting democrat doesn't make him a democrat (unfortunately).
Over the years of arguing with him he has also become more moderate on some stuff.
If you are willing to throw away 40 years of friendship because someone put a circle next to an R or D, then that’s on you. That is in no way normal or healthy. That line of thinking is why we’re in the mess we’re in and trying to further ostracize one group is just going to lead to further division and chaos.
Have the day you deserve. Hope you never find yourself on the other side of a family who’s voting for people trying to pass laws to erase your rights & existence.
Id be willing to let that "friend" fail if they refused to acknowledge their folly and legit apologize for supporting a regime that has destroyed the lives of millions. Until then, they can rot and I wouldnt care how many decades is between us; hell, Ive cut family for less.
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u/gnufoot 5h ago
I'm close friends with someone who has always considered himself a republican. But he hates Trump. There's a difference between being Republican and being MAGA.