[Hoot Gibson]

I have not voted for a Democrat since I cast a protest vote against tax and spender Hal Rogers many years ago and I don't plan on ever voting for another Democrat for the duration of my time on planet Earth. However, I dislike Donald Trump and the more I see and hear the man speak, the less he impresses me. I will support almost any Republican who decides to run against him in the primaries in 2026.

I supported most of what Trump did during his four years in office because he is infinitely better than any Democrat who might be elected. If Tulsi Gabbard were not a Democrat, then I would probably support her over Trump but her party affiliation is a disqualifier. Manchin does not impress me at all. He, like Trump, is a political opportunist whose promises change depending on the audience.

As for a true conservative not having a chance to become president, I disagree. Trump narrowly defeated two of the weakest opponents in American history. (Mondale, McGovern, and Dukakis were all stronger candidates, IMO, than either Hillary or Biden.) In the past, when Republicans have faced weak candidates like Hillary and Biden, the results have been Republican landslides. Trump is not a strong presidential candidate and he was not a great president. Sure, he looks good compared to the most corrupt and incompetent Democrats in history, but who wouldn't? Democrats are scraping the bottom of the barrel for presidential candidates but Republicans don't have to do the same.