39/52 - It's time to vote — Immigrant Secrets

Oct 17

Oct 17 39/52 - It's time to vote

Today, I proudly cast my early vote for Kamala Harris. I know that some of my friends will be very glad when I say this will be my last politically oriented post before the election.

One thing that upsets me about this election is the number of friends who would describe themselves as “conservative” and have been taken in by Trump’s snake oil grift. Trump has taken positions that are purely for self-aggrandizement and that can hardly be called “conservative.” So many people I care about have been played and just don’t know it.

All of this would be sad enough on its own. But what makes it scary is that Trump is using this blind faith to stage a coup and overthrow systems and beliefs that have been the core of conservative thought for decades. There is nothing “left” or “right” about this election. It is about one candidate who cares about democracy – even if I disagree with her on many issues – and another eager to embrace autocracy and kleptocracy.

It would be nice to think that the sickness within the Republican party goes away if Trump goes away, and indeed, that wouldn't hurt. But the down-ballot candidates that have been selected by MAGA activists – folks like Mark Robinson and Michelle Morrow – are truly horrendous. And scary.

The only thing I ask my friends considering a vote for Trump is to reflect on all the people you have worked with throughout your career. Then, think about the thousands of former Trump and GOP elected officials who know him better than anyone else. Reflect upon what their opposition says about Trump’s competency. These folks are not "communists," or "socialists," or "the enemy within." They are conservatives who are desperately worried about what a second Trump term means.

The following list of members of the first Trump Administration who oppose his reelection and/or have endorsed Kamala Harrisis is drawn from this Wikipedia article:(https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Republicans_who_oppose_the_Donald_Trump_2024_presidential_campaign),

U.S. vice president

Mike Pence, U.S. Vice President (2017–2021) under Trump, Governor of Indiana (2013–2017), U.S. Representative from IN-06 (2003–2013), U.S. Representative from IN-02 (2001–2003) (will not endorse Trump in general election due to Trump's actions during the January 6 attack, ran against Trump in the Republican primaries)

Cabinet-level officials

John Bolton, U.S. National Security Advisor (2018–2019), Ambassador to the United Nations (2005–2006)
Dan Coats, Director of National Intelligence (2017–2019), U.S. Senator from Indiana (1989–1999; 2011–2017) (endorsed Mike Pence)
Mark Esper, U.S. Secretary of Defense (2019–2020), U.S. Secretary of the Army (2017–2019)
John F. Kelly, White House Chief of Staff (2017–2019), U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security (2017) (Independent)
H. R. McMaster, U.S. National Security Advisor (2017–2018)

Only half of Trump's cabinet officials endorse his 2024 campaign.

White House officials

Ty Cobb, White House Special Counsel (2017–2018), Assistant U.S. Attorney for the District of Maryland in (1981–1986) (would 'vote for Biden')
Alyssa Farah Griffin, White House Director of Strategic Communications (2020), Press Secretary of the U.S. Department of Defense (2019–2020), Press Secretary to the Vice President (2017–2019) and co-host of The View (endorsed Kamala Harris)
Stephanie Grisham, White House Communications Director and White House Press Secretary (2019–2020) (endorsed Kamala Harris)
Cassidy Hutchinson, executive assistant to the White House Chief of Staff (2020–2021) (endorsed Kamala Harris)
Sarah Matthews, Deputy White House Press Secretary (2020–2021) (endorsed Kamala Harris)
Omarosa Manigault Newman, Communications Director of the Office of Public Liaison (2017–2018), reality TV star (endorsed Kamala Harris)
Anthony Scaramucci, White House Communications Director (2017) (endorsed Kamala Harris)
Marc Short, Chief of Staff to the Vice President (2019–2021) (endorsed Mike Pence)

Other executive branch officials

Greg Brower, assistant director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (2017), U.S. Attorney for the District of Nevada (2008–2009) (endorsed Kamala Harris)
James Comey, Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (2013–2017), U.S. Deputy Attorney General (2003–2005), U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York (2002–2003) (endorsed Kamala Harris)
Sofia Kinzinger, Press Secretary U.S. Department of Homeland Security (2020), Strategic Media Director, Office of the U.S. Vice President (2018–2020) (endorsed Kamala Harris)
Andrew McCabe, Deputy (and Acting) Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (2016–2018), (thinks Trump may be a Russian asset)
General Mark Milley, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff (2019–2023)
Elizabeth Neumann, DHS Assistant Secretary for Counterterrorism and Threat Prevention (2018–2020), DHS Deputy Chief of Staff (2017–2018), Homeland Security Council (2003–2006) (endorsed Kamala Harris)
Richard V. Spencer, U.S. Secretary of the Navy (2017–2019)
Miles Taylor, Chief of Staff of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (2019) (endorsed Kamala Harris)
Olivia Troye, Homeland Security and Counterterrorism advisor and lead COVID-19 advisor to the Vice President (2018–2020) (endorsed Kamala Harris)
William H. Webster, Chair of the Homeland Security Advisory Council (2005–2020), Director of Central Intelligence (1987–1991), Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (1978–1987), Judge of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit (1973–1978) (endorsed Kamala Harris)

And that’s just the start. Add to this list…

741 former high-ranking national security officials (endorsed Kamala Harris) (not all are Republican/conservative)
304 alumni for Reagan, Bush, McCain & Romney (endorsed Kamala Harris)
238 former officials and staff for U.S. Presidents George W. Bush (2001–2009) and George H.W. Bush (1989–1993), and U.S. presidential candidates Mitt Romney (2012) and John McCain (2008) (endorsed Kamala Harris)
Over 100 former Republican national security officials (endorsed Kamala Harris)
17 former officials and staff for U.S. President Ronald Reagan (1981–1989) (endorsed Kamala Harris)