The following letter by a “lifelong registered Republican voter” appeared in my newspaper’s Letters to the Editors. I agree with what is said by someone who is as disillusioned and concerned as I am about the direction of the Republican party. It was under a banner of “GOP Censorship.”
“I’m a lifelong registered Republican voter disturbed by the GOP’s elitist push for censorship. From the manufactured outrage over Critical Race Theory to tortured justifications for unconstitutional voter suppression legislation, Republican conservatives are showing themselves to be thin-skinned, intolerant and frankly ignorant about the basic ideas of what makes America great.
This reflexive obedience to elite authoritarianism by millions of Christian Republican conservatives didn’t start with the Trump administration. Sadly, it doesn’t look as it will end with it, either. The majority of patriotic Americans must stand vigil against this tide or repression and fear.”
I will leave his name off, but he does include it. This may be a letter you could share with your Republican friends seeking their input. If it will do any good, you could say the person who posted this letter and agreed with its findings is a former Republican and independent voter, who left over thirteen years ago over concerns on the GOP stance on climate change, gun control and truthfulness.
musingsofanoldfart 
I don’t have any rep friends. Good letter though.
Holly, I agree. As for the friends, some of our fellow bloggers have outspoken relatives or friends who just do not want to listen to the truth. They have been told that those folks (in this case RINOs) are lying by former president and his sycophants, so they do not have to listen. It is truly an amazing con job. Keith
Watching our democracy being destroyed has left me no choice but to disconnect from those seeking to hasten our destruction. Good article Keith.
I fully understand. I have tried to ignore what the former president is saying. It is hard, but usually I just read the reaction to it, as he drones with the same old BS which is not in the same bailiwick as the truth. Keith
More disturbing is the large percentage who follow him like Hitler Youth.
Holly, that was the point made by General Mark Milley, the Chair of the Joint Chiefs of Staff under the former president. Keith
The problem appears to be though, for every educated man like you and this letter writer leaving with some degree of disgust. There’s a group of master manipulators convincing the rank and file that everything they do is necessary because of the machinations of the Liberal Federal Government spending all their money on Immigrants. The trigger word for a people used to hearing about how put upon they are.
Hugs
David, your comment ties into the response I just wrote to Holly. It is one of the most amazing con jobs I have ever witnessed. The folks telling the real truths should not be listened to as they either don’t like the former president, out to get the former president, are Democrats, are the biased media or are RINOs per the comments of these manipulators, as you call them. Keith
This letter-writer is obviously a well-educated man and one who thinks for himself rather than simply following the pack. An excellent letter that gives me hope that maybe, just maybe there are enough sensible Republicans to make a difference. I will likely re-blog this a bit later this evening … though I have few Republican readers, I do have a few and perhaps it will have some effect … I like to think so, anyway.
Thanks Jill. I agree with this being an intelligent person. I think the more Republicans who see this the better. Maybe one of your other readers know a relative or friend who might find this informational, knowing that the more intense MAGA folks are likely not influencable. Thanks for sharing it. Keith
I have a number of family members and friends who are Republicans, though only one or two who are diehard, radical repubs. Yep, let’s hope this man’s views spread far and wide!
Reblogged this on Filosofa's Word and commented:
We often make the mistake of categorizing people by their religion or political affiliation, and I’m as guilty as the next person. But our friend Keith has posted a letter to the editor that appeared in his local paper by a lifelong Republican, that makes so much sense, that shows us not every Republican is willing to follow their leaders off of a steep cliff. It is my hope that there are many more Republicans who feel this way and aren’t afraid to say so! Thank you, Keith, for sharing this!
Thanks for the reblog Jill. I hope other Republicans take a peek at the letter.
My pleasure, Keith! I hope so, too!
Pingback: A Republican voter sent the following letter to the editor | Filosofa’s Word | Ramblings of an Occupy Liberal
Tell the truth, Keith, the Letter to the Editor was you.
Rawgod, while I do love the letter and agree with its sentiment, it was not me. I am a former Republican (and Democrat) and now Independent, having left the GOP about thirteen years ago, so I would not call myself a lifelong Republican. Keith
Ah, but at one time you told us you were, once you grew out of your teenage years. But that letter sounds exactly like things you have said in the past, more than once. So, if you did not write it, well and good. There is at least one more person in America who can see that they have been hoodwinked. I do hope there are more.
Me too.. We need them to speak out as well. I was speaking my son’s conversation with a co-worker who is a MAGA fan. His co-worker remains an ardent fan and letters like this don’t stand a chance of seeping through the bubble. Keith
The actions of folk like you Keith and this gentleman keep the candle of Hope glowing.
Like most Brits I never really understood the true doctrinal differences between Republicans and Democrats until 2008’s presidential election and then realised the Republican Party was starting to morph into something unpleasant, but hoped it would be a passing phase. 2016 showed that was a but a hope.
It is hoped there are many Republicans out there who are alarmed and angered at what their ‘GOP’ has become and will bring their own brand of justice to the ballot box.
This feeling is understandable after a year of another hoping I was furious as the mirror image Alternate Right/MAGA the Corbyn Wing of the Labour Party had become and was within in an inch of voting Conservative during the 2017 General Election simply to punish what I saw as a collection of hypercritics and inefficient dreamers (I didn’t care for the Conservatives, but preferred May to Corbyn). I probably would have in 2019 if May had still been leader, but voting for Johnson was impossible.
As we have discussed before the only hope (another one, maybe this will work) for The Republicans and the USA is a take-back by the old school, purging of this rabid wing who have lost all comprehension on how to govern a nation as large and diverse as the USA.
Take Care and best wishes in fighting The Good Fight.
Roger
Roger, back in 2008, the party ran Senator John McCain as their presidential candidate. I considered voting for him as he was more of a maverick. Then, Sarah Palin was forced on him as a VP candidate and his age became an issue, as we could not have her as president. To me, her candidacy was the true beginning of the GOP Populist movement. Then along came the last president.
As for Corbyn, he has always made me cringe a little as does Johnson. Johnson should not be allowed near a leadership position, like the last US president, but the two largest English speaking elected these two very unqualified men. Johnson probably liked having Trump around as it made him look better than he is. Keith
McCain might have shaded it, but he chose Palin who could have ‘had it all’ but opened her mouth. And then, you are quite correct along came to Populists; dignity, intelligence and responsibility were cate aside.
Yes, Corbyn and his followers were the greatest gifts to the Conservatives. A collection of people still in the mindset of the late 1970s- 1980s holding meetings in drafty rented for the night halls making self-aggrandisement speeches about ‘betrayal’ by the leadership and passing motions on obscure subject the voting public had not interest in whatsoever.
And you are quite right about the Johnson/Trump dynamic.
Even in this Johnson hostile household (you do not want to hear Sheila’s exact words on the fellow) we would say ‘Mind you. He’s not as bad as Trump….And that’s saying something’.
These are indeed times that test the Soul.
Roger, I do like the well it could be worse closing paragraph. One of the funniest parts to a movie on the “Brexit” battle noted the pro-leave campaign did not want either Boris or Nigel involved in their planning. They just let them be the loose cannons. Mind you, the two wanted to be involved, but the planners did not want their ilk planning things as they knew it would be more about them than the issue. Keith
Note to Readers: I just forwarded a variation of this letter with a different close and opening to several legislators. Please feel free to adapt as appropriate. The message at the end is we need you to be better than you are doing, so hopefully it will sink in. To be honest, many of them know this already, they are just browbeaten and scared by the former president and his MAGA base.
The following letter by a “lifelong registered Republican voter” appeared in The Charlotte Observer Letters to the Editors. As an independent and former Republican (and Democrat) voter, I agree with what is said by someone who is as disillusioned and concerned as I am about the direction of the Republican party. It was under a banner of “GOP Censorship.”
“I’m a lifelong registered Republican voter disturbed by the GOP’s elitist push for censorship. From the manufactured outrage over Critical Race Theory to tortured justifications for unconstitutional voter suppression legislation, Republican conservatives are showing themselves to be thin-skinned, intolerant and frankly ignorant about the basic ideas of what makes America great.
This reflexive obedience to elite authoritarianism by millions of Christian Republican conservatives didn’t start with the Trump administration. Sadly, it doesn’t look as it will end with it, either. The majority of patriotic Americans must stand vigil against this tide or repression and fear.”
I will leave his name off, but he does include it. Our nation needs a viable Republican party. Right now, the party is sadly and scarily adrift, untethered to truthfulness and lawfulness. That is what I believe and apparently this lifelong registered Republican agrees.