I am non-affiliated, but usually register Dem so I have a voice in the primaries. I've never voted Republican, but I've never been enamored of the Democratic Party either, particularly since 1984 when, to my mind, they became Republican themselves.
How can I possibly equate the Dems with the GOP, you ask? To quote one of Louis L'Amour's characters: "If I take a man's money, I ride for the brand." Well, the Dems threw their lot in with corporate America that year and have fed there ever since.
So, two parties, neither of which work for working stiffs like me. One party pretends to be for us, but the words are hollow and false when measured against the decline of "the American Dream." Seems a lot of Americans felt the same, and the ranks of Indie voters grew and grew until they outnumbered the membership of the establishment parties.
Along comes a complete political outsider who makes it to the general election. Americans have never seen one of those in my lifetime.
The GOP went berserk when he won their nomination. "The Party is broken!"
The Dems went berserk when he won the presidency. "The Party is broken!"
Neither is "broken" - they are exactly what they are, and have been, for decades.
What's different is, Americans didn't have have to pick between them.
I was not surprised at the result.
"But he's so horrible!"
Like we haven't heard that before, either?
America's political parties aren't broken. They are what they are.
To me, that just means deaf and uncaring.
Too bad history put a person like Trump in that moment.
Too bad that moment was ever allowed to happen.