Leading Florida Republican says vote for Hillary or don't vote

[csziggy]

An open letter to my fellow Republicans
Mac Stipanovich, Context Florida 1:01 a.m. EDT May 5, 2016

<SNIP>

On a personal level, Trump is a boor, a bully, a carnival barker and an embarrassment. Politically, by intent or instinct, he is a neo-fascist — a nativist, an ultranationalist, a racist, a misogynist, an anti-intellectual, a demagogue and a palingenetic (sorry) authoritarian to whom clings the odor of the political violence he encourages.

He appeals to our fears, preys on our anxieties and exploits our ignorance. A worse candidate to sit in the Oval Office for the next four years cannot be imagined.

And he is our responsibility. We spawned Donald Trump; now we must stop him. We must deny him the presidency by not voting in the presidential election at all or voting for Hillary Clinton if conscience permits.

<SNIP>

A drop of a few percentage points in the Republican vote for Trump will be enough, which is why the pressure to conform, to toe the party line, will be enormous. We cannot depend on our elected leaders to lead us. They, for the most part, will fold like cheap lawn chairs, cowed by fear and fueled by ambition.

MUCH more: http://www.tallahassee.com/story/news/politics/2016/05/04/mac-stipanovich-open-letter-my-fellow-republicans/32600059/

John “Mac” Stipanovich is a Republican lawyer and lobbyist who served as Gov. Bob Martinez’s chief of staff. Column courtesy of Context Florida.

[HooptieWagon]

1. From a strategic point of view, a GOP punt makes sense.

If a Democrat is elected, they can try again in 4 years rather than 8. They can also divert resources into down-ticket races, though suggesting Republican voters not vote defeats that action.

[Albertoo]

2. It deserves a bit more credit than that

Not all Republicans are scheming monsters.
A good many won't support Trump just because he's not fit for the job of US President.

[HooptieWagon]

3. That's not stopped them from supporting...

...Sarah Palin, Rick Scott, Scott Walker, Marco Rubio, Ben Carson, Carly Fiorino, Michele Bachman, Carnival Cruz, and on and on. In fact, most of Republican 'leaders' are unfit to hold office by any reasonable standards not involving Kool-aid.

[Albertoo]

4. Aw, c'mon

You probably know as well as I do R's come in different sizes and shapes.
For quite a few, the likes of Bachmann, Palin, Carson and Cruz are embarrassments.
I can see Russia from my window. Who wouldn't cringe?