A Conservative Republican Explains Why He Will Vote for Harris and Walz

[Valletta]

Donald Trump has moved really far to the right. The traditional or conventional, and historical Republican party has been overshadowed by his anti-establishment, isolationist approach to politics.

This became clear very early on with Donald Trump's criticism of historically well respected Republican figures, such as John McCain, Mit Romney, and even George W. Bush.

Trump had a longstanding feud with John McCain, criticizing his military service (and his credibility as a former veteran and POW) and opposing some of his policy positions, especially McCain’s vote against repealing the Affordable Care Act.

Trump has repeatedly criticized Romney, especially after Romney became one of the few Republicans to vote for Trump's impeachment in 2020. Romney has been vocal about his opposition to Trump’s behavior and policies.

Trump has criticized the former president Bush's decision to invade Iraq and his handling of the war on terror, often blaming Bush for long-term consequences in the Middle East.

Donald Trump has criticised each of the above, despite these being traditionally well respected Republican leaders.

McCain is not respected in many circles. The fact that he was a POW kept being used as an excuse. When he came back he fooled around after he found out his wife was partially paralyzed and ending up re-marrying a rich girl. He was a member of the infamous Keating Five and his actions toward POW/MIA families were despicable.

 

[Job 33:6]

McCain is not respected in many circles. The fact that he was a POW kept being used as an excuse. When he came back he fooled around after he found out his wife was partially paralyzed and ending up re-marrying a rich girl. He was a member of the infamous Keating Five and his actions toward POW/MIA families were despicable.

And all the other Republicans Donald Trump has criticized?

Donald Trump is essentially rogue in terms of the traditional Republican Party. Even criticizing Bush for the invasion of Iraq, a position that historically has had significant support from the Republican party.

Donald Trump really is more of an independent than he is Republican. He is much more isolationist, which is something very different than the traditional Republican approach. Trump is very anti establishment.

He is very opposed to free trade policies which were long supported by Republicans.

Trump of course is very aggressive in verbally attacking others. Which, is above and beyond anything seen by more recent Republican candidates.

Trump is very anti-media. Continued rhetoric about "fake news" for example.

Trump has moved much further to the right, essentially off the grid, than traditional Republicans. And this has essentially divided the Republican party.

Think about historical American culture with relation to the cold war, and opposition to communism. Rocky Balboa, the space race, cold wars in Afghanistan, and Vietnam. The Olympics rivalry with russia. Reagan and Nixon, well opposed to communism.

What about Trump? He's having brunch with North Korean dictator, Kim Jung un. He's going out on dates with Putin, who's trying to revive the Soviet Union in opposition to our European allies.

It couldn't get any more different than traditional Republican positions.

 

[QvQ]

Donald Trump is essentially rogue in terms of the traditional Republican Party.

Everyone goes on about "Trump said."
Here are some things that Trump has said:
1: The goal of American Foreign Policy is Peace
2: Tariffs will stop dumping (unfair trade practices) by foreign countries.
3: People have a right to what they have earned (Social Security, taxes)
4: The economy is bad (inflation 25% - 2024, interest on national debt over 1T)
5: America First (we can't support the entire world with money and we can't police it with arms)
6: Abortion is a States Right (let people vote)
Those are policy positions.
Trump said all those things.

Biden speaks nicey nice in public but he, allegedly ,called a foreign leader a SOB in private

 

[Job 33:6]

Everyone goes on about "Trump said."
Here are some things that Trump has said:
1: The goal of American Foreign Policy is Peace

I don't know what world history courses you've taken, but abandoning allies to the crushing weight of North Korean and Russian combined arms, both of which are threatening the use of nuclear weapons, in combination with Iran whom additionally celebrates "death to America" on an annual basis, is not conducive to "peace".

 

[Job 33:6]

And I'll just reiterate:

And all the other Republicans Donald Trump has criticized?

Donald Trump is essentially rogue in terms of the traditional Republican Party. Even criticizing Bush for the invasion of Iraq, a position that historically has had significant support from the Republican party.

Donald Trump really is more of an independent than he is Republican. He is much more isolationist, which is something very different than the traditional Republican approach. Trump is very anti establishment.

He is very opposed to free trade policies which were long supported by Republicans.

Trump of course is very aggressive in verbally attacking others. Which, is above and beyond anything seen by more recent Republican candidates.

Trump is very anti-media. Continued rhetoric about "fake news" for example.

Trump has moved much further to the right, essentially off the grid, than traditional Republicans. And this has essentially divided the Republican party.

Think about historical American culture with relation to the cold war, and opposition to communism. Rocky Balboa, the space race, cold wars in Afghanistan, and Vietnam. The Olympics rivalry with russia. Reagan and Nixon, well opposed to communism.

What about Trump? He's having brunch with North Korean dictator, Kim Jung un. He's going out on dates with Putin, who's trying to revive the Soviet Union in opposition to our European allies.

It couldn't get any more different the traditional Republican positions.

Letting rogue and rebellious pseudo nuclear communist dictatorships such as North Korea, Russia, and Iran, run all over Europe, is not the Republican party I grew up with. Going out on a lunch date with Kim Jung Un like he's going to change North Korean stance on America.

 

[QvQ]

And all the other Republicans Donald Trump has criticized?

Donald Trump is essentially rogue in terms of the traditional Republican Party. Even criticizing Bush for the invasion of Iraq, a position that historically has had significant support from the Republican party.

Donald Trump really is more of an independent than he is Republican. He is much more isolationist, which is something very different than the traditional Republican approach. Trump is very anti establishment.

He is very opposed to free trade policies which were long supported by Republicans.

Trump of course is very aggressive in verbally attacking others. Which, is above and beyond anything seen by more recent Republican candidates.

Trump is very anti-media. Continued rhetoric about "fake news" for example.

Trump has moved much further to the right, essentially off the grid, than traditional Republicans. And this has essentially divided the Republican party.

Think about historical American culture with relation to the cold war, and opposition to communism. Rocky Balboa, the space race, cold wars in Afghanistan, and Vietnam. The Olympics rivalry with russia. Reagan and Nixon, well opposed to communism.

What about Trump? He's having brunch with North Korean dictator, Kim Jung un. He's going out on dates with Putin, who's trying to revive the Soviet Union in opposition to our European allies.

It couldn't get any more different the traditional Republican positions.

Letting rogue and rebellious pseudo nuclear communist dictatorships such as North Korea, Russia, and Iran, run all over Europe, is not the Republican party I grew up with.

I have read your post which you posted twice.
Now read what I say:

1) Vietnam/Iraq/Afghanistan lost the Republicans many voters.
2) Clinton's NAFTA, free trade lost the Democrats many voters
3) 2008 Tea Party were fiscally conservative from both parties
4) All 3 of above are socially conservative.

That is why I say I am a Democrat voting for a Democrat endorsed by a Democrat
Therefore:
I am a Registered Republican voting for Trump who was endorsed by RFK
So you are right. The New Republican Party (Trump) is not your daddies Republican Party (Bush Cheney)

 

[Job 33:6]

I have read your post which you posted twice.
Now read what I say:

1) Vietnam/Iraq/Afghanistan lost the Republicans many voters.
2) Clinton's NAFTA, free trade lost the Democrats many voters
3) 2008 Tea Party were fiscally conservative from both parties
4) All 3 of above are socially conservative.

That is why I say I am a Democrat voting for a Democrat endorsed by a Democrat
Therefore:
I am a Registered Republican voting for Trump who was endorsed by RFK
So you are right. The New Republican Party (Trump) is not your daddies Republican Party (Bush Cheney)

And in response, I'm saying, that's a problem.

Especially in terms of foreign policy. The isolationist approach, and "Ukraine can figure it out on their own" or down talking NATO and our European allies, that's a problem.

Being friendly with Putin and Kim Jung Un, as they basically conduct illegal land grabs, threatening to use nuclear weapons against our European allies, is an issue.

The Iraq war eventually grew unfavorable with respect to how long the US participated. But the reality is that, again, we had a crazy dictator, Saddam Hussain, invading our middle eastern allies.

And same with Afghanistan. Yes, it was very unpopular in its later years. But let's face it, Al qaida, ISIS and Osama bin Laden are no where near as threatening now as they once were.

Just because people don't like war, doesn't mean that non-intervention is the better choice for peace. Look at the US in WW2.

That's precisely why, as Republicans, we should be hesitant to simply jump on board with Donald Trump. He's far off to the right. He isn't doing our party any good, he's just breaking our party apart.

And walking away from our European allies right in the middle of the largest war in Europe since WW2, is not the solution.

 

[JulieB67]

And there was a short guard waving people toward the Capitol.

That's why I'm hoping all this will eventually come out.

 

[Job 33:6]

And in response, I'm saying, that's a problem.

Especially in terms of foreign policy. The isolationist approach, and "Ukraine can figure it out on their own" or down talking NATO and our European allies, that's a problem.

Being friendly with Putin and Kim Jung Un, as they basically conduct illegal land grabs, threatening to use nuclear weapons against our European allies, is an issue.

The Iraq war eventually grew unfavorable with respect to how long the US participated. But the reality is that, again, we had a crazy dictator, Saddam Hussain, invading our middle eastern allies.

And same with Afghanistan. Yes, it was very unpopular in its later years. But let's face it, Al qaida, ISIS and Osama bin Laden are no where near as threatening now as they once were.

Just because people don't like war, doesn't mean that non-intervention is the better choice for peace. Look at the US in WW2.

That's precisely why, as Republicans, we should be hesitant to simply jump on board with Donald Trump. He's far off to the right. He isn't doing our party any good, he's just breaking our party apart.

And walking away from our European allies right in the middle of the largest war in Europe since WW2, is not the solution.

And Trump is not "the new Republican party". He's a 1-off rogue actor that has temporarily assumed a position of influence among the Republican party.

We are better off not voting for him this election, in anticipation of the return of traditional Republican positions, next election.

 

[QvQ]

That's precisely why, as Republicans, we should be hesitant to simply jump on board with Donald Trump. He's far off to the right. He isn't doing our party any good, he's just breaking our party apart.

The party was broken apart by support for the military industrial complex and free trade.
Now the base of the Republican Party is Blue Collar Workers
I explained how that happened
And how is that "not doing our party any good?"

 

[Job 33:6]

The party was broken apart by support for the military industrial complex and free trade.
Now the base of the Republican Party is Blue Collar Workers
I explained how that happened
And how is that "not doing our party any good?"

Being there for your allies when they're under attack or threat by nuclear dictators, is not "military industrial complex".

Invading Afghanistan and destroying Osama bin ladin and al queda after 9/11 is not "military industrial complex".

Destroying ISIS, radical Muslims burning American flags, is not "military industrial complex".

Supporting NATO and our European allies, against rogue dictators illegally annexing land and threatening to invade NATO nations, is not "military industrial complex".

It's called "girding your loins" and doing what you have to do.

What you don't want to do, is to sit back, and to allow these rogue enemies, radical Muslims, nuclear dictators, etc. to simply run free, doing whatever they want to do.

Isolationism/pacifism, is not the solution. And in Europe, again, it's the biggest war in Europe since WW2. Our European allies, our best allies on earth, are in danger. And any Republican, no, any American, would be a fool, to think that abandoning them, or cutting funding for Ukraine, is a good idea.

Remember, in case anyone forgot, Iran aka "death to America" is arming Russia with thousands upon thousands of drones and long ranged missiles. North Korea, the nation that has threatened the US with nuclear weapons countless times, rogue North Korea, is arming Russia with millions of artillery shells and now soldiers too. And Russia, a nation we never ended our cold war with...

They are teaming up and threatening our greatest allies on earth.

And what is Trump's response?

"It's Ukraine's fault, let's cut our funding and support, and NATO isn't worth protecting anyway."

Oh well, we don't like having a "military industrial complex".

Ok, well, can we worry about adjusting military industrial complex after people stop trying to destroy us? Rather than right in the middle of the greatest warning Europe since WW2?

 

[rturner76]

Ridiculous. If he is voting the democratic tickets he is liberal or moderate.

Or he's a Republican who cares about the democratic process. Trump has proved that he is not.

 

[QvQ]

Isolationism/pacifism, is not the solution.

This Country has been at war for my entire life.
Except when Trump was President

 

[Job 33:6]

This Country has been at war for my entire life.
Except when Trump was President

Maybe you aren't aware of how many wars the US is actively engaged in?

Non-intervention is not the solution. And WW2 is the perfect example of this.

That doesn't mean that we need to go around invading any nation we have a problem with. But it does mean that we need to be there, in a deterrence role, for our allies. Especially when they need us most. And that's now. Today.

 

[QvQ]

But it does mean that we need to be there, in a deterrence role, for our allies.

Then Trump must have had the "deterrence" magic wand because we did not have to intervene materially, not even once during his administration.

 

[Job 33:6]

Then Trump must have had the "deterrence" magic wand because we did not have to intervene materially, not even once during his administration.

Iran firing ballistic missiles at our troops in Iraq is hardly "deterrence". Unless you forgot that this happened? And drone strikes on Irans #1 military commander sounds like material intervention to me.

Iran attack: US troops targeted with ballistic missiles

The strikes on two bases in Iraq were retaliation for the US killing of General Qasem Soleimani.

www.bbc.com

Trump also launched missile strikes in Syria as well. Along with numerous ongoing military operations in Iraq, Somalia, Yemen, and more.

North Korea continued to fire ICBMs and hydrogen bomb tests greater than anything in their history under trump.

2017 North Korean nuclear test - Wikipedia

en.m.wikipedia.org

Donald Trump also approved military buildup/sales in Ukraine in anticipation of war with Russia as well.

Trump admin approves new sale of anti-tank weapons to Ukraine

The Trump administration has approved the $39M sale of defensive lethal weapons to Ukraine, according to two U.S. officials and another source familiar with the plan.

abcnews.go.com

"The U.S. has announced it will sell Ukraine 210 Javelin anti-tank missiles and 37 launchers, worth $47 million.

The sale marks a significant increase in U.S. military support for Ukraine — the first lethal weapons sale of its kind since Russian-backed separatists launched a war against the central government in Ukraine's eastern provinces."

Trump is the epitome of military industrial complex, he's a salesman and America sells weapons.

Isn't it interesting that Trump would sell weapons to Ukraine to fight against Russia, and then later blame Ukraine for using those weapons rather than just giving up their land to Russia during the Biden administration?

Maybe you just weren't paying attention to the US arming Ukraine during Trump's administration?

Just because Russia did not invade during Trump's administration, doesn't mean they wouldn't have, had he remained in office. Indeed, both sides had been building up and preparing both before and after Trump's administration, leading up to the invasion.

Nations don't decide to go to war in a single year. They plan for it, years out. And prepare.

But regardless, all this aside, now is not the time, mid-war, to be pulling the rug out from under Ukraine and the rest of our European allies, in the face of threats and an invasion from "death to America" Iran, teaming up with cold war Soviet Putin, and full blown dictator and psychopath "pseudo-god" Kim Jung Un.

Now is not the time to flip the script by giving Europe whiplash where one minute we are supporting Ukraine and the next minute we pull the rug out and the nation collapses. That's just called being "irresponsible" and "unreliable". And Americans appearing to be either of these, in the face of grave danger and threats of the world.

But if Trump wins, that is exactly what will happen. And every other Baltic state, Latvia, Estonia, Lithuania in particular, and Moldova too, will likely crumble under pressure once Russia is finished with Ukraine. Which would be terrible for the EU, it would be terrible for NATO, and it would be terrible for the US economy that is so well integrated with the EU.

 

[Job 33:6]

Iran firing ballistic missiles at our troops in Iraq is hardly "deterrence". Unless you forgot that this happened?

Iran attack: US troops targeted with ballistic missiles

The strikes on two bases in Iraq were retaliation for the US killing of General Qasem Soleimani.

www.bbc.com

Trump also launched missile strikes in Syria as well. Along with numerous ongoing military operations in Iraq, Somalia, Yemen, and more.

North Korea continued to fire ICBMs and hydrogen bomb tests greater than anything in their history under trump.

2017 North Korean nuclear test - Wikipedia

en.m.wikipedia.org

Donald Trump also approved military buildup in Ukraine in anticipation of war with Russia as well.

Trump admin approves new sale of anti-tank weapons to Ukraine

The Trump administration has approved the $39M sale of defensive lethal weapons to Ukraine, according to two U.S. officials and another source familiar with the plan.

abcnews.go.com

Maybe you just weren't paying attention to the US arming Ukraine during Trump's administration?

Just because Russia did not invade during Trump's administration, doesn't mean they wouldn't have, had he remained in office. Indeed, both sides had been building up and preparing both before and after Trump's administration, leading up to the invasion.

Nations don't decide to go to war in a single year. They plan for it, years out. And prepare.

But regardless, all this aside, now is not the time, mid-war, to be pulling the rug out from under Ukraine and the rest of our European allies, in the face of threats and an invasion from "death to America" Iran, teaming up with cold war Soviet Putin, and full blown dictator and psychopath "pseudo-god" Kim Jung Un.

Iran firing ballistic missiles at our troops had been completely unheard of. But it happened under trump.

You know what president that would have never happened under?

George W. Bush. A real Republican.

 

[QvQ]

RFK said the Democrats are for war, big corporation and the military industrial complex.
He also said they were the party of tribalism, orthodoxy and intolerance.
This is why Cheney, the Republican of the old school has joined the Democrats.
RFK is the New Republican. Cheney is the New Democrat.
He said that on a Gutfield interview is you want to read his remarks.

 

[Valletta]

And all the other Republicans Donald Trump has criticized?

Donald Trump is essentially rogue in terms of the traditional Republican Party. Even criticizing Bush for the invasion of Iraq, a position that historically has had significant support from the Republican party.

Donald Trump really is more of an independent than he is Republican. He is much more isolationist, which is something very different than the traditional Republican approach. Trump is very anti establishment.

He is very opposed to free trade policies which were long supported by Republicans.

Trump of course is very aggressive in verbally attacking others. Which, is above and beyond anything seen by more recent Republican candidates.

Trump is very anti-media. Continued rhetoric about "fake news" for example.

Trump has moved much further to the right, essentially off the grid, than traditional Republicans. And this has essentially divided the Republican party.

Think about historical American culture with relation to the cold war, and opposition to communism. Rocky Balboa, the space race, cold wars in Afghanistan, and Vietnam. The Olympics rivalry with russia. Reagan and Nixon, well opposed to communism.

What about Trump? He's having brunch with North Korean dictator, Kim Jung un. He's going out on dates with Putin, who's trying to revive the Soviet Union in opposition to our European allies.

It couldn't get any more different than traditional Republican positions.

Trump's an outsider. McCain was a member of the establishment, as was Bush, as was Cheney.

 

[Job 33:6]

RFK said the Democrats are for war, big corporation and the military industrial complex.
He also said they were the party of tribalism, orthodoxy and intolerance.
This is why Cheney, the Republican of the old school has joined the Democrats.
RFK is the New Republican. Cheney is the New Democrat.
He said that on a Gutfield interview is you want to read his remarks.

Again, you can't go around calling Democrats part of the military industrial complex, while Donald Trump was one of the all time biggest salesman of US weapons during his administration.

https://www.reuters.com/article/world/defying-congress-trump-sets-8-billion-plus-in-weapons-sales-to-saudi-arabia-u-idUSKCN1SU25O/

https://www.cnbc.com/2017/05/20/us-saudi-arabia-seal-weapons-deal-worth-nearly-110-billion-as-trump-begins-visit.html

The battle over Trump’s huge UAE arms deal, explained

Trump wants to send $23 billion in advanced weapons to the Middle Eastern autocracy. Some aim to stop him.

www.vox.com

U.S. Pushes Large Arms Sale to Taiwan, Including Jet Missiles That Can Hit China (Published 2020)

The administration is proposing the packages as President Trump’s strategists try to paint him as being tough on China despite soft actions earlier.

www.nytimes.com

Trump sells Qatar $12 billion of U.S. weapons days after accusing it of funding terrorism

Mere days after accusing Qatar of funding terrorism, President Trump signed off on a $12 billion arms deal with it

www.cbsnews.com

https://www.npr.org/2020/02/25/809368243/trump-ends-india-visit-with-arms-deal-and-press-conference

South Korea, Japan, Poland, Morocco, Egypt etc.

Trump sold billions of dollars in US weapons to practically half of planet earth.

So, to say that Democrats are part of a military industrial complex, but that Trump is somehow not, is a completely backwards understanding of the circumstances.

Donald Trump has made more in weapons sales than any president before him in US history, and made sales greater in monetary value than even Biden in most years of his presidency (and Biden of course is funding Ukraine, so for Trump to still out-sell Biden, is quite incredible). Trump's first year of presidency, he sold more in military weapons than Biden did, in 2023, despite Biden funding Ukraine.

And remember, Donald Trump was selling javelin missile launchers and rockets to Ukraine during his own presidency while Ukraine was fighting Russian separatists.

U.S. arms exports 2024| Statista

The statistic shows total U.S.

www.statista.com

To suggest that Trump is anti-military industrial complex is to have a completely backwards understanding of the circumstances.