General Discussion

... when a lot of families in the Midwest (including mine) considered themselves "proud Republicans." I was never an R and I've never voted R, but I was independent for many years and voted D exclusively.

Rick Steves is a Baby Boomer too, however I don't know where he grew up. The point is that many of us remember when it was respectable to call oneself a "proud Republican." Not any more of course, and not for anyone born after 1980. My son was born in 1970 and he doesn't know anyone his age who votes R.