Getting tired of the whole, "The blind fool Trump supporters are angry, but I am making decisions based on logic & principle." Hooey. For my own part it was a rather grim calculation, as it has been for many others. And for those who have made their decision based 100% over the national question, love of country, and anger at the worst ruling class America has ever had--good for them. We could use more of such sentiment. For such sentiment is what real cultural change is made of.
GOP, outside the base, is the modern, progressive left. They, like many marxist front organizations, put on a mask for their base (Boob Bait for Bubba) and then go about their open borders, "free" trade, cultural marxism, and whatever else their "fiscally conservative, socially liberal" donors tell them they want.
If you want to keep characterizing what I'm saying about the desperate fed up people as calling all of them (you) "stupid" more power to you I guess. That's not what I'm saying. I'm pointing out in the broad sense what an abject cancer the Left has been for America in most things, and in the narrow sense, what a failure the Right has been in opposing the Left to make someone like Trump viable as a candidate.
I won't debate all the other points, but if you're going to characterize free trade as a plank of the Left, you're screwed up politically to the point that I believed we're doomed to be debating at cross-purposes for eternity. Trade protectionism under FDR lengthened the Great Depression 2 to 3 times longer than it needed to be.
And yes, if it comes to Trump or Hillary, I'll hold my nose (tightest I ever have) and will vote for him. For all his faults, I think he kinda-sorta likes America and wants it to succeed, because it means he succeeds. Even if his policies.. whatever those may actually be, will or won't help those ends in the least. I can't say the same for Obama, Hillary, and someone as Leftist as Bernie by definition does not like America, no matter what he says or even if he thinks he does.
If I have to, I'll take the risk that "Trump's failure as POTUS will be pinned on the GOP forever, or a generation.." or whatever it is some are worried about. Despite my desires and ideals, I play Realpolitik even if it means choosing the least evil of the candidates. If the people en masse are choosing these least-evil candidates, trying to stand on principle and "do something about it" is beating back the damn ocean with a spoon. Third Parties, the Libertarians etc. won't actually ever happen at a significant level unless there's a sea-change to make it happen. Some 2% showing for Gary Johnson that's now up to 3% this time around or whatever isn't going to make that happen.
So as always, I'm forced into voting for "less screwed", however I do admit Trump could surprise me. He may govern to the Right, once he has the reins of power, and the explanation that all of his previous Leftist positions and affiliations are all just "playing the game" that he had to do in NYC etc. is true.
The odds are heavy in favor of that not happening, but I guess it's a non-zero chance.
