Arkansas State senator Hendren leaves GOP

[Arkansas Pilot]

This is very interesting, Jim Hendren is a popular republican politician here in NW Arkansas

https://talkbusiness.net/2021/02/sen-hendren-leaves-gop-for-independent-status-forms-new-common-ground-effort/

[Wawannabe]

1. Great news and (it seems) for great reasons!

K&R!

MORE, please.

(Also snickering cuz he is Gov. Hutchison’s kin)

Edit to add: most of my relatives on dads side are in NWAR and SWMO

[roamer65]

2. Smart man.

[VA_Jill]

3. That's kind of interesting

He needs to contact Evan McMullin and some others. See if they can form a new party. A REAL one. Let the GQPers go the way of the Whigs.

[UpInArms]

4. Hmmmm ....

“Division has been taken to a whole new level. Our political discourse has become boldly ‘us versus them.’ From some quarters it is loudly mean and disrespectful to our country, our traditions, and our fellow citizens. And way too often we seem to be unable to agree on simple facts. I’ve watched a systemic change at the core of our politics that emboldens our worst impulses, the most extreme thinking, disables policymaking, and hurts all of us.

“It would be easy to blame this on one person or a few. But, sadly, it runs more deeply and cuts more broadly than that. Over the course of the 2016 campaign season alone, I heard people demonized as rapists and murderers. I watched the encouragement of the worst voices of racism, nationalism, and violence. And I watched my service, and the service of my fellow soldiers, dishonored with the ridicule of a gold star family whose son had served with distinction,” he added.

Hendren said his breaking point for leaving the party occurred after the Jan. 6 riots at the U.S. Capitol.

“For me, that day was the final straw. I asked myself what in the world I would tell my grandchildren when they asked one day what happened and what did I do about it? At the end of the day, I want to be able to tell my family, my friends, and the people I serve that I did everything I could to do right by them. I want each of you to know that, even though I’m making this decision, I haven’t changed,” he added.

And, then, it goes to the bothsiderism