Republicans used to be respectable. There's still a few respectable figures in Congress and the Senate but even they have to follow the abhorrently partisanship, otherwise they aren't getting reelected.
The republican base has turned on its head and has been massively radicalized.
So if you "come out" as a republican, today, in this climate, then you're outright saying you agree with this radicalization. (Regardless of whether you do agree)
I know a lot of republicans who don't agree with it and, right now, there isn't really a party for them. So they still call themselves republicans and either lie to themselves to deal with their choice (or ignore the bad news), or they fall into the constant propaganda. I've seen several end up converting to Democrats (or at least strongly consider it).
Theory: I suspect the US, after all these decades, is finally correcting back towards a less right-shifted spectrum. As the current GOP moves to the extreme-right, non-extremists shift left and, if they end up democrats, there will probably be a split of the "Liberal" party and the "Democratic" party. This would mirror the more European models.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Republican_Party_(United_State...
And why exactly do you claim that? How is it relevant? I'm answering a completely different question, about "coming out" as republican.
The press and Trump are basically at war with one another. I can't see how you can claim they're both hard right. All the mainstream press (aside from Fox) endorsed Clinton.
He has chosen to go to war with the press. To shut out reporters from the press corps. To viciously and regularly attack various media.
You are slowly approaching a Russian-like regime where, if an outlet is not to the president's liking, it gets shut out entirely. It's blatant, and most republicans refuse to acknowledge it (all the while claiming they're pro free speech etc).
Will you personally also be OK with that when it happens, since "well at least the democrats won't be in control anymore"?
I'm scared for your country. Seeing the effect of propaganda after-the-fact in countries like Russia, North Korea, China, and many other dictatorships... it's one thing. Seeing it happen live, that's just out of this world for me.
It is possible to endorse Clinton without being a puppet for some DNC controlled leftist conspiracy, especially when the only other option vocally denounces you as a puppet for some DNC controlled leftist conspiracy. Why would anyone but Fox News support Trump in that case?
That being said, media "endorsing" candidates is a practice that should probably be ended anyway. But it's still worth pointing out that endorsing a candidate is not necessarily the same as agreeing to take orders from that candidate's party.
As you say, both parties are often corrupt, the reps tend to be the family values party so you actually hear about it when they have a problem in that area. It's expected in the democrat world and nobody cares, plus they own the media almost wholly so it's not really reported much.
I say this as neither a Republican or Democrat. Both sides are equally foolish.
In the liberal bubble that is the Bay area. There's tech industry outside of that bubble, throughout the Midwest, in cities like Austin. SF isn't the only place people are writing software.
Indeed it's quite rare. Look at how the few Republican supporting tech leaders get crucified (ex: Thiel). Most people don't want do deal with that and even fewer have the financial resources to risk being blackballed.
> Thank God votes are secret, still.
Damn straight. Though it does make it awkward trying to explain the concept of a silent majority in the midst of raving leftists.