I was born into the Democratic Party. My grandparents were all of the old school, Jewish immigrant, closer to Socialist group. My Mom recalls being sent to a camp run by Workmen's Circle -- that told me everything.
My Dad, though politically incorrect like I am, was solidly Dem. Republicans were for war mongers and country club elites. We were neither. My Mom? She volunteered for the Atlantic Democratic Club -- the solidly Blue bloc of voters from the retirement condos of Delray Beach. And when I registered to vote in July of 1979 -- there was no issue for me -- Dem all the way.
It's funny, though. My first presidential election, I voted independent. Jimmy Carter was an awful president, and living in Miami, I watched as Castro had his way with him during the Mariel Boat Lift. I couldn't vote for the guy we college kids called Ray-gun, so I voted for John Anderson. Of course, Reagan won and it was morning in America, according to him.
Florida had amazing Dem politicians back then. Dante Fascell and Bill Lehman and Claude Pepper were among the most powerful Congressmen -- they brought pork to Miami like they were hog butchers -- Metrorail before it was needed, new highways to the Keys, amazing construction projects.
Dems were centrist and allied with my feelings. I LOVED Dollar Bill Clinton, and couldn't care less what he did with interns of age. Obama -- kind of cool that we elected a Black president, but I was always leery of him and his friendship with the anti semitic Farrahkan types from Chicago.
Later, I joked with friends who pointed out that as a rich white guy, I ought to vote GOP. Nah, I said, again politically incorrectly -- there's the issue of fags and fetuses. I was pro-gay rights and pro- choice, and so much of the GOP was opposing these issues.
I could in no way support Trump --I was shocked the very qualified HRC lost to him, and relieved when the kindly old codger Biden beat him in '20. But the Dems sang -- hard. First, we were supposed to accept that the obviously declining Biden was fine -- until he clearly wasn't -- acting like the guys at a nursing home while debating Trump. And then, the lightweight Harris was foisted on us without a real convention.
Meanwhile -- there was pandering to The Squad, who scare me more than ultra conservatives. And Harris's comical campaign seemed to say "We're smart, America, you're idiots -- you CAN'T vote for Trump," until a majority of Americans did -- caring more about the economy and the border than they did about letting trans folks get surgery in the military.
Well, yesterday I made the move that's been coming -- I switched out of the Dems, to "No Party." I can't imagine becoming a Republican, but the Dems have left me behind. When I literally had to hold my nose when I voted for Harris -- I knew it was time to go. I looked skyward and asked my Mom for forgiveness -- to her, Republicans were Fascists. But times have changed.
I came home nicely buzzed and full from dinner with Joelle and Kenny and Paul and Patricia. We ate at a place in the Grove that serves one entree: veal Milanese. It was delicious.
I took a pic of my new information receipt, and sent it to Rabbi Yossi -- like most of his black hat brethren, solidly GOP forever. I said "Look -- a partial conversion. But I'm stopping before the second Bris." He texted back "Did your neighbors come out of shiva yet?" We were making fun of the limo Liberal gay neighbors who are acting like the Trump victory is akin to the end of the world. I responded that shiva must be over, due to the lesbian activity again occurring at the house -- with an admonishment to His Holiness to not engage me after vodka.
So that's it. Wifey remains a Dem. My votes will probably remain the same, though I can't vote in primaries for Dem candidates anymore. That's ok, they tend to be a confederacy of dunces, anyway.
Since I'm off FaceBook (tm) this blog is my only outlet for political jabs. I'm sure my quiver will be full.
But unless and until the Donkeys come back to reality -- adios. It's been a multi-generational ride.
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