Comet86

I'm gonna get real with you for a moment... Ever since Sunday, I've had this gnawing in the pit of my stomach. A sense of loss. For a time, I had felt like someone spoke for me. That my values finally had a substantial voice in the public forum. I saw a chance, however unlikely, that a principled conservative just might win the white house. It hasn't happened in a generation. And for my entire adult life, I've just gone through the political motions. I've voted faithfully for the GOP candidate we were given. But never one I was excited about. I never donated. Never got super involved. Not until my governor, Ron DeSantis, announced his candidacy. Then everything changed. I thought... could it really happen? Could we FINALLY see real, conservative leadership turn this country around? Could the seemingly inevitable decline of America be reversed? Hope is a dangerous, powerful thing. I dared to hope, and then I started to dream. And the more I listened to him speak, the more I dreamed of what America could be, again. Donald Trump speaks of making American great again. DeSantis showed us how. Not just how to revive economic prosperity, but how to restore the moral, spiritual, & cultural fabric of American greatness. You see, DeSantis not only kindled that dream in so many, he gave principled conservatism a real voice. As the GOP has shifted left year after year, and "conservative" media pushes compromised candidates on us cycle after cycle, many of us have felt abandoned. And when DeSantis rose up as a viable GOP candidate, I donated for the first time in my life. I devoted hundreds of hours to advancing his message, trying to show the possibilities of a brighter future. Not for pay, just for hope. I wanted to show as many people as possible that he is far & away the best candidate to lead us forward. And when he suspended his campaign & endorsed Trump, I felt a bit lost. I was not surprised, but I was disappointed. I hoped it would play out differently. And I believe the GOP has missed the best chance we've had since Reagan to actually restore the Republic. But I'm also reminded that even Reagan didn't win his first try. And it looks like once again the GOP is not ready for a return to true conservatism. Not yet. And while my hope might be deferred, which does indeed make the heart sick, it is not lost. I will continue to look to the future... with hope. And because of this man, I have found my own voice. I will continue to speak out & advocate for a return to conservative values to the best of my ability. And for that, I am grateful. Thank you @RonDeSantis.