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First-time reader (I got here via a link elsewhere). You properly say something I've been saying: If you "can't" (or can't bring yourself to) vote Blue, then just don't vote. Dems should mount a campaign saying as much. "Can't vote for a liberal? Hate Democrats? Okay, whatever. Then just stay home. It will help keep America in business."

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Terrific essay Billy. I’d say you have the situation pretty surrounded. I can only “Like” your post once but wish I could award bonus points for style:

+1 for the “civic gender” construct.

+1 for the hat-tip to Eric Hoffer.

+1 for the Faulkner quote.

+1 for the “murder-suicide” analogy.

In lieu of extra points I will pledge my support. Meanwhile, be careful when someone hands you a beverage lest you wind up paraphrasing the last words of Socrates, “Wait – I drank WHAT?!?”

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"the basic, flawed, aspirational, pretty successful 250-year American experiment"

The success of the experiment is we got a result. What that result actually is remains obscure, but there's plenty political analysts 'round these parts who will resolve the confusions...

Nice post, by the way...

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This election has become a national psycho-drama as MAGA Fluids likely hold the key to electoral victory. A close finish will give the MAGA Fanatics leverage to go bananas. A solid defeat of DJT is the best result, but that will require MAGA Fluids to step up and vote for Harris. (Not to worry - we still have secret balloting. Mum's the word.)

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I can't imagine an easier choice. Repeat offenders (and certainly dictators) tend to get more extreme and cruel towards their own end of life, because "Na mij de zondvloed", Dutch for "After me, the deluge". Trump's playbook is there for all of us to see and anyone close to MAGA voting for this refuses to learn from history. If you're older and have kids, I dare you to vote for them, and set aside your misguided fury and loyalty, for their future.

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Anyone not vocally non-maga at this point is part of the problem. Kamala , of course.

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I will be voting for Harris, but man, she doesn't make it easy.

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It’s unfair and uncharitable for you to get picked on here Scott, by me or anyone, for openly doing the right thing. So wanna be clear about that. Not what I’m intending to do. But this article is about the MAGA civil war, not really the election, as I explicitly stated. So it’s kinda renounce MAGA or not. It shouldn’t be hard for Americans to do that, in my view. Nothing about Kamala should make that hard. So just wanted to explain my somewhat dismissive reaction to you doing the right thing.

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Then I guess you’re not MAGA or MAGA Fluid and I’m not talking to you. You’re welcome to comment of course. I find the choice ridiculously easy. I’m sure if it was me running it would be hard for you too

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I mean what was an easier choice? Obama v. McCain?

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