I Am Done

By William McRight

I had the pleasure of walking to my mailbox yesterday and placing inside it an Atlantic County Board of Elections Voter Declaration Form. On it, a box was marked declaring that I am now unaffiliated to any political party. Now I understand what Reagan meant by, "the party left me." As a conservative member of the Republican Party I have been told to fall in line, grow up, stop being a cry baby because my guy didn't win. I have been called outrageous names (largely on Twitter, so thanks to my FB pals for your decorum..or for unfollowing me..or unfriending me) because I refuse to support the presumptive nominee of the Republican Party.

I am finished with it. I am finished with a party that, while built on things that I still hold dear, nominates a man who cares more about currying favor with voters for a Socialist then about winning me over. I am finished with a party that nominates a man who throughout his life (and still does) referred to conservatives with derision and scorn yet has no "Road to Damascus" story about his conversion to what he calls "common sense conservatism" which as far as I can tell means almost nothing. I am finished with a party that when faced with an opportunity to eliminate the stupidity of Open Primaries squelches debate and derides those voicing opposition. I am finished with this man and his smarmy lackeys gloating over "crushing" opposition to his unseemly candidacy. I am done with the presumptive nominee, the party establishment that is propping him up and their garbage bully operatives who contribute nothing to civil, intelligent discourse. I am done voting for someone who cannot clearly tell me what they are for and that I should support them because of a letter behind their name. Done.

I will vote in November. I will write in who I believe who is the best candidate for leading a nation through the terrible and fearsome time we find ourselves in. I will vote for leaders. I will vote for principles. I will vote for standards. I will vote for who, after thought and consideration, I think is a decent individual trying to do a very difficult job for the right reasons.

I am reminded that Alexander Hamilton said - "If we must have an enemy at the head of Government, let it be one whom we can oppose, and for whom we are not responsible, who will not involve our party in the disgrace of his foolish and bad measures."