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I can agree to disagree with Tom on this; "anyone to stop Trump" is a defensible position. What I will never stop pushing back on is the view in some quarters that "whatabout Trump" means 1) the Democrat gets a pass from criticism and/or 2) you can vote D & not own what they do.
2. If we give Democrats a pass on the theory that Trump is bad, we end up right back with the logic of Flight 93.
3. I'm proud I opposed Trump in the 2016 primary. Right thing to do. I stand by my view that, based on the available evidence at the time, voting 3d party in 2016 was the right choice, as well. (Given a do-over, I'd write in instead of McMullin, however).
4. Every election, even with recurring candidates, is a new choice: new record in office, new opponents. I publicly committed in Nov. 2016 not to decide on 2020 until at least after the midterms. I remain, for now, undecided. I plan to stay undecided until the primaries end.
5. We've learned more in 2 1/2 yrs about Trump's record in office; we've learned nothing new about his character. 2020 brings a different D (still undecided), different landscape in Congress, the courts, foreign affairs.
6. Any vote cast for Trump is a moral compromise. Any vote cast for anyone is, really, but especially Trump. Any election is a binary choice, and only in extreme cases does one find the sidelines the moral high ground. So, none of this is easy.
7. I am, of course, naturally a partisan R & not ashamed of that (I'll vote straight-ticket R in 2020 below Trump, as usual, barring something really bizarre). It has not been easy or comfortable standing outside that for three years. It will be harder, if I do, in 2020.
8. I'm not going to judge conservative friends who have made their minds up already, pro-Trump, 3d party, whatever. But I intend to vote against Trump in the primary, wait & see who the Ds nominate. I frankly think that's the right place to be. Make them earn it.
9. Wherever I come out in 2020, I'm roughly 100% certain to regret it & get a metric ton of grief for it. But, of course, that comes with the territory. All I know for sure, looking over the field, is that I'm not voting D. I can't compromise *everything* I believe in.
10. When Trump is gone - maybe in 2021, maybe in 2025, maybe even in 2019 - it will still matter whether the rest of our political class (D & R) is responsible, honest, decent, respectful of our American system. Trump can't destroy those things. We can, by our reactions to him.
11. There are serious arguments for conservatives supporting Trump in 2020. There remain serious reasons to think him still so unfit for the job that none of those arguments overcome them. Another year's worth of record in office is worth watching before deciding.
12. In the meantime, we have an election to hold, just as we did in 1968 or 1940 or 1864 or 1812. Make these people, all of them, justify our support. And when it's over, your friends & neighbors are still your friends & neighbors. Because this is still America.
