Dear Republicans, Where have you gone?

I feel like I need to make a plea to the Republican Party (mostly the crew that supports our current President), so I speak to you all directly. What exactly is your fascination with President Donald Trump? Have you experienced what I (& most of America) have? These last four years have been the most depressing and exhausting times politically for our country. The divisiveness of the parties has become more prevalent and it doesn’t appear to be an end. It doesn’t help that we have a President who tries to incite confusion and hatred as a way to display his control. When did Trump become the representation of your party? Have you not seen his lack of respect towards journalists that ask him simple questions? Do you not hear him call a respectable news outlet for over 40 years a “fake news” outlet? Whether you are a fan of CNN or not, you cannot tell me they are making up every single story they broadcast about Donald Trump. Does that mean you will only watch Fox News and nothing else? Wouldn’t you say that’s a little biased? What about when he mimicked a reporter’s disability? Do you have anyone in your life that might have a disability? Would you make fun of them behind their backs? And, what about his ongoing Twitter feed that could probably be a psychological cry for help? How has Twitter not shut down his account with all the fallacies that he retweets? What about how he never completely denounces racism? I am still in shock over his call to the “proud boys” during a recent debate with Joe Biden. I actually didn’t know that the white supremacists were called that, so maybe I have learned something from Trump. A long list of what not to do in conversations. How do you not see what I see? He’s been insolent and obnoxious since he started, yet no one bats an eye. You all just laugh it off and says he “speaks the truth.” Is that your truth now? Has the Republican Party lost the zest it had for the American Dream since the days of Ronald Reagan? It’s like you have become completely brainwashed by his rhetoric and lost track of the fundamental beliefs that you used to preach.

I am not going to say that ALL Republicans support Trump. In fact, I know a person who actually switched from the Republican Party to become Independent when Trump initially ran for President. He just couldn’t support a man who had very little disregard for human decency. Although, there are some Republican people who just support Trump because they simply have no other alternative. He’s the Republican candidate and they don’t want to support a Democrat, so that’s that. Trump supports the Republican mantra of a strong, vital economy and conservative values; like moral universalism, support for Christian values, and limited government interference. So, you don’t want a President or any government leader arbitrarily creating laws to suit his or her own purpose? Let’s look at the word arbitrary in these terms. Isn’t it more along with the terms of being ruled by a king or possibly dictator? Someone with absolute power. America was created because people wanted to break free of the autocratic rules of England. Ponder this, if you will, would you agree that is similar to what the Democrats and Independents want? Allowing gay people to get married, immigrants to become citizens, supporting people of color and not condemning them with hateful slurs, and allowing a woman to make a decision about her own body are all really based on a moral universalism free of judgment. I don’t think any person wants to be told how to live his or her life. In Saudi Arabia, women aren’t allowed to travel alone or really do anything without the consent of a man. No wonder why women want to leave Saudi Arabia. If our biggest concern in America is the debate over wearing a face mask to Stop N’Shop for an hour, while a pandemic lingers, then we really need to re-evaluate our own priorities. The entitlement in America is running rampant and some people use their religious beliefs as a way to excuse their deplorable behavior. Trump walked defiantly across the street from the White House to a Church during a Black Lives Matter protest and held up a Bible for a photo-op. He wanted to demonstrate his “autocratic” dominance as the “law and order” President. I am still surprised that he didn’t catch on fire during that hypocritical gesture of faith. To my Christians reading, you might as well whip out your Bible to check out Matthew 6:5. (“ And when you pray, you must not be like the hypocrites. For they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and at the street corners, that they may be seen by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. “) I have heard some devout Christians say that without morals we will experience a downward spiral in society. Testify!

Let’s face it. Trump is an extremely volatile man. He goes from zero to 180mph in ten seconds or less. When he’s in a good mood, he is somewhat approachable and charismatic. I can see why you might actually be drawn into this guy. I remember his days on “The Apprentice.” ( Can’t say that I watched all of them.) In fact, I come from New Jersey and we have plenty of boisterous loud mouths that have run for office Paging Chris Christie. Even I, the bleeding heart liberal, voted for him twice simply because the other person who ran against him wasn’t as appealing. I needed to feel like the governor was someone who spoke to us directly and told us that we’re stupid for staying on a beach during a hurricane. I wanted to know for sure that the the governor is a capable human being. Christie made me feel like he knew what he was doing. Of course, now, I see the error of my ways. But, I digress. I look back on the Presidential race four years ago as the most disgusting display of human behavior by all our candidates — Republicans and Democrats. It was Donald Trump who stood out the most. Towering behind Hillary Clinton during a debate as a display of male dominance. Calling Senator Ted Cruz’s wife “ugly” (and, lo and behold, these two are thick as thieves now. Weak, Ted. Just weak.) Comparing his hand size to the other men on the Republican Party panel as a metaphor for his phallus. So, be honest, is this what your Party stands for now? Dominating women? Calling each other names? Whipping out your penis to show who has the bigger one? When did you lose your way? Ronald Reagan is rolling over in his grave right now. Trust me.

Courtesy of Zazzle

The good ole days of Ronald Reagan. I was a wee little babe at the time, but that doesn’t mean I’m not aware of the legacy of an amazing political powerhouse. He advocated a laissez-faire economic philosophy. He didn’t believe in raising income taxes. He supported free trade. He was against socialized healthcare and felt Social Security should be voluntary, however, he continued to support it and Medicare throughout his terms. Was he a racist? Possibly. Although, he always denied it. He didn’t support any major civil rights movements, but that could also be that old Archie Bunker mentality. Old white men are difficult to budge on any major social viewpoint. He did promise to appoint a woman to the U.S. Supreme Court, which he did with Sandra Day O’Connor. He didn’t believe that the government should run people’s lives. He said that the government isn’t the solution; it’s the problem. Agree with him or not, Reagan was decisive on all matters. Compare this to the man we have in office now and one could say you have all veered haphazardly off the path. It’s either his way or no way. I don’t understand what the appeal of that is. I have had bosses who have micromanaged to the point of pushing people out of the company, and yet the management says that because this person makes the money that it is acceptable. So, then is that what it takes? Just make money and you, too, can treat people however you want? As for his political stances, they appear to change on a whim, and if you look back on his on party affiliations he wasn’t always a Republican. Trump appears to be against free-trade and anti-immigration. Reagan and he could have that racist thing in common if you think about it. As I mentioned previously, he has yet to publicly denounce racism or even admit that we have systemic racism. We all know how he completely dismantled the Affordable Health Care Act, so that is a testament to how he stands on Universal Health Care, however, he has yet to come up with a substantial plan to take its place. Waiting . . . . any day now, buddy.

President Reagan obviously couldn’t voice his disgust every five minutes on Twitter. I would hate to think what his Twitter feed might look like although, I feel, his grammar and spelling would be much better. Trump really doesn’t hide his distaste for anyone. You speak against him and you’ll end up being harassed endlessly. Our country (and the World) is currently suffering from a pandemic, and all Trump does is try to discredit some of the top doctors in the medical field. Dr. Anthony S. Fauci is the top immunologist in the field, and, yet, Donald Trump has the audacity to question him and tells us the wearing mask is unnecessary. In fact, he recently terminated our relationship with the World Health Organization (WHO) because he blamed them for their lack of response to Coronavirus. Wait? What? We have been a part of WHO since 1948 and somehow it completely lost credibility overnight due to Trump’s own wild accusations that were never based in any scientific logic. Really? Ok. Got it. ( What was it I said before about arbitrary government? Hmmmmm . . . . ) Didn’t Trump just fight off COVID-19 recently or did I imagine that? How many events did he go to when he didn’t socially distance nor wear a mask? Let’s be clear, I will never trust a man who tells us that it could be possible to fight off a virus we know nothing about by injecting bleach into our blood or even ingesting it. Could any of you please enlighten me as to what the big deal is in regards to wearing a mask? I don’t understand. It’s not like we’re wearing it all day. It’s mostly in public areas, plus we have to socially distance to stop the spread of an infectious disease. Oh, is this about the arbitrary limited governmental interference deal? In the 1970s, you all didn’t want to wear seatbelts. You bitched and moaned about your rights back then, even though the whole point was to keep you from flying out of the windshield and dying in an accident. So, how is this different? You put on your seatbelt in a car; you save your life. You wear a face mask in a pandemic; you save your life and stop the spread towards others. Seems legit to me. I guess my definition of arbitrary governmental interference is completely different from yours. Like, if you tell me, what I should do with my body if I become pregnant. I was raised Catholic. I was Pro-Life in high school. I became Pro-Choice in college when I realized that I should not infringe my beliefs onto other people. Plus, as far I as know, there is a complete separation of Church and State, or did we forget about that?

Am I going off on a tangent now? Just letting my frustrations get the best of me? These darn woman feelings, right? We’re just temperamental and need guidance. Soooooooo muuuuuccccchhhhh guidance. Maybe all you Trump supporters can help this gal out. I didn’t even want to get into the misogyny that runs rampant in your party lines, but I will. Did I hear one of your own wonderful Senators call out Sen. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez in a derogatory manner? Yes. Yes, I did. Calling a woman a bitch is never ok. Let’s just make that a rule. This kind of goes to that whole basic human decency I was talking about before. President Trump always talks about how much he loves women. How much respect he has for them. Lots of talking going on and not much action in my opinion. Why don’t you back up your words? I already know what you’re going to tell me. I’m just overreacting. My woman feelings are just so overwhelming. Anyway, I’m not a government official telling you what to do. You will respect women. No more arguments. I’m exhausted from men who constantly try to condescend to a woman and restrain her because they feel intimidated. You feel you have to tell a woman what to do with her body because if you don’t she will lead you down the path of destruction? Tempt you with that apple? Sure. Let’s go with that.

Maybe you can also try to explain to me why the promise to build a wall in Mexico turned you on so much. You all preached how you want to protect our borders. I accept that. I would like to protect our borders, too. I would like a fair and balanced immigration process that allows people to come to America — remember how our ancestors came here? Old school through Ellis Island? Probably got a few last names changed as a result since people back then couldn’t really spell Barkitzis (Actual Greek name). Hollywood makes movies about coming to America. We are considered the land of opportunity to other countries who are less fortunate, yet we want to close our borders to them and not provide them with an opportunity to achieve greatness. So, when did the appeal of a wall in Mexico excite you? Trump said he wanted to keep the drug dealers and rapists out. So, you build a wall in Mexico and drugs stop coming in? There’s no more rape? So, only Mexicans do these acts? Have you watched the news lately? I see other people of different races doing these heinous acts yet you still want to say it’s the Mexicans. My line of questioning goes even further. How are you okay with Trump separating children from their parents at the border? Children. Don’t you have children? How would you feel if someone took your child away from you for no apparent reason? Babies were taken from their mothers because the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE ) was enforcing Trump’s “zero-tolerance” policy at our borders. I’m going to repeat for those who can’t hear me in the back — BABIES WERE TAKEN AWAY FROM THEIR MOTHERS! Three years later numerous children have yet to be reunited with their families. Oh. That wouldn’t happen because you’re white and privileged, right? You have money. You live in America. “These people” shouldn’t come to our country since we work hard here. Did you ever think that maybe just maybe they want the same opportunity you have? Get away from the drug dealers and rapists? Save their children from whatever hardships they have faced? No. Protect our borders at all costs. Don’t let them in. We have to protect what’s ours. I learned in Pre-K that sharing is caring.

Not for nothing you leave me feeling exasperated with all your toxic talk. I feel like the Republican Party has become a cesspool of racists and misogynists. I also feel that there are people who are calling themselves a Republican to legitimize their disgraceful beliefs. Again, I will reiterate, it’s not everyone. Take, for example, Maryland Governor Larry Hogan who basically threw away his vote to cast it for the beloved Ronald Reagan. Hogan couldn’t support Trump because of how he handled of the Coronavirus, but he didn’t want to vote for Joe Biden. Sigh . . . I get it. He wants to stay true to his party, but, at least, he admits that the incumbent may not be the perfect Republican choice after all. This is progress. You also have Senator Mitt Romney who claims to have not voted for Donald Trump either. He has actually spoken out against the vile and hate-filled politics. Finally, the voices of reason. I’m also calling out the Democrats who have gone down to Trump’s level to fight dirty. The constant mudslinging and the barrage of insults have to stop. Allegedly, you are all adults. So, act like it. So, Trump supporters, what’s your deal? What is so intoxicating about Donald Trump? Is it that he gives you the chance to become more abhorrent? Does he allow you to feel okay about being a racist? Does he give your permission to be disrespectful towards women? Does he support your beliefs about blacks and immigrants? What is it? Tell me. I’m curious. After all, he definitely isn’t, by definition, a Republican.

Originally published at https://mersuniverse.wordpress.com on October 26, 2020.