One Former Republican to Others: Vote Democratic

A former Republican friend in Worthington makes the case effectively: "I admire the tenacity and loyalty of my many Republican friends and neighbors. However, I question the understanding of our country's principles by those unable to break a Republican voting habit. Perhaps it is yet another example of the 'unacceptability of unpleasant truth,' Reared Republican, over the years I moved gradually towards the Democrats. My switch began about the time the Republican Party was captured and, I believe, ruined by those now controlling it. Nevertheless, I have regularly voted across party lines. I can see no reason to do so now and every reason not to.

Following is a list of some reasons to vote a straight Democratic ticket at the state and national levels: Bush, Cheney, Rumsfeld, Rove, Rice, Bolton, Bremer, Libby, DeLay, Ney, Abramoff, Reed, Boehner, Robertson, Falwell, Parsley, Coulter, Limbaugh, O'Reilly, Hannity, Taft, Blackwell, Noe, Frist, Hastert, Foley, Cunningham, Santorum, Allen, Harris and Schmidt, to name just a few. Also guilty by association -- despite my voting previously for two -- are Pryce, Tiberi, DeWine, et al.

It can be legitimately claimed that the Democrats do not have entirely clean hands or their act entirely together. However, it is difficult to dispute that the Democrats -- our only reasonable alternative at the moment -- must be given a chance to correct the shameful incompetence, corruption, and arrogance that has become the Republican Party leadership.

Also, historically, the path to successful governance has been political balance. It is sorely lacking at the moment.

So wake up Republicans! I know most of you care and want things to improve. But you're being had and taking the rest of us down with you."