Local opinion: What's a thoughtful Republican to do?

“What’s a thoughtful Republican to do?” asked our dinner companion. Two long-time Independents were dining with two long-time traditional Republicans. All of us were bemoaning the state of our country today — the political divisions, loss of civility, gun violence, backsliding on women’s health, and genuine fears for the future of our democracy. Our companion shook his head and repeated the existential query, “What’s a thoughtful Republican to do?”

Since that dinner, I’ve pondered the question nearly every day. With the Trump juggernaut having plowed through Iowa, what’s next? What should a traditional Republican who values limited government, fiscal conservatism, individual liberty, the rule of law and a strong national defense do in the age of a MAGA-tized Republican Party?

Option No. 1 is the path of least resistance. Stick your head in the sand and hope it all goes away. When you can’t stomach candidates on either the left or the right, duck out of the way and leave MAGAs and DEMOs to duke it out on their own.

The problem with Option No. 1 is that deep in your gut, you know you’re not doing the right thing. In the worst-case scenario, if Trump returned to power he would probably go after not only the leftist “vermin,” but very likely “thoughtful Republicans,” too.

Option No. 2 is to ignore the primaries and wait until November. Then cast your vote for a Libertarian, Green or No Labels candidate or a write-in alternative. This way, you’ll have done your civic duty, participated in democracy, and made your voice heard.

The problem with Option No. 2 is it allows Trump and the MAGA-controlled Republican apparatus to continue spreading election lies, undermining social institutions, fomenting culture wars, claiming immigrants “poison” our blood, and promoting fascist nationalism. Throwing away your vote on third-party choices does nothing to actually stop Trump.

Option No. 3 is to go full gonzo activist. Dive into the fray. Strategize. Organize. Mobilize. Make a serious attempt to wrest back control of the Republican Party from the MAGAs and get it back to traditional conservative roots.

The problem with Option No. 3 is that Trump and his MAGA followers violently tore down the guardrails of civil society on Jan. 6, 2021. They don’t plan to go quietly into the night. That’s why retiring Senator Mitt Romney admits in his book to paying $5,000 a day for private security to protect his family from the supporters of Trump. Who wants to face Trump followers’ trolling, flaming, swatting, doxing and cyberbullying when it does nothing to get rid of Trump?

Option No. 4. For the upcoming election, hold your nose and vote for Biden and Democrats up and down the ballot. Console yourself knowing that you’re only doing it this once to ensure a landslide that will wipe out Trump and election-denying MAGAs. As Liz Cheney, former US Representative from Wyoming and Vice Chair of the House Select Committee on the January 6 Attack, said in a recent television interview, “There are some conservatives who are trying to make this claim that somehow Biden is a bigger risk than Trump. My view is, I disagree with a lot of Joe Biden’s policies. We can survive bad policies. We cannot survive torching the Constitution.”

Similarly, Rep. Adam Kinzinger (R-Ill.), who served on the House committee that investigated Jan. 6, said on CNN, “I think it’s highly likely that it’s gonna be Biden against Trump. And in that case, there is no question who I would support. I believe in America way more than I believe in the Republican Party.”

So, back to our dinner companion’s query, “What’s a thoughtful Republican to do?” For now, I think the answer is to vote for Democrats in order to save democracy. After that, there will be time to resurrect the Grand Old Party.