General Discussion

Cracks started in my identification as a Democrat when I saw the way they treated one of our most effective Senators, Senator Al Franken. Senator Al Franken was one of the GOP's worst enemies. He was smart, and he was fearless, and he was a great communicator. The Democratic Party didn't even allow Senator Al Franken to defend himself. Instead, they practically trampled over each other trying to be first in line for the circular firing squad.

Those cracks became massive fissures when the same Democratic leadership threw Biden under the bus. That was the final straw for me.

Who is going to believe a party when they tell you they will fight for you when they won't even fight for their own members? And especially when they won't fight a man who served his party with total dedication his entire political career, despite suffering so much loss in his own life. Not only was Joe Biden a good man, but he was one of the most effective Presidents in modern history. If the Democratic party can't rally around a Democrat like Joe Biden, then they shouldn't expect to be given a pass.

Like you, I will continue to vote for the best candidate, and right now that is the Democratic Party. But if a strong Independent like a younger Bernie Sanders came along, someone who has never wavered in his beliefs even when unpopular, I'd vote for him (or her) over an establishment Democrat in a heartbeat.