I am the Forgotten Voter.  It’s mostly my fault because I do not live on the extreme of either party and I am not a diehard groupie of any of the presidential candidates or president for that matter.

In fact, as my wife will attest, I am quite boring.  I have this quaint notion that our elected leaders should actually govern the nation and not focus on gamesmanship or obsess about destroying or obstructing the other party.

The Republicans game plan during President Obama’s reign was to obstruct him and the Democrats are returning the favor during President Trump’s term.  Although turnabout is considered fair play in some games, it pretty much stinks when you expect elected leaders to actually do something.

I have my opinions but they are only my opinions and I know it’s impossible to change the mind of a person that is emotionally invested in a belief.  This is common sense, or in my view, uncommon sense in today’s world where if we do not agree on a topic we must be enemies. 

That is just stupid. I do not agree with a lot of people at my job but that does not mean I try to undermine my colleagues.  It means I need to figure out a way to get the job done so the business can advance.

I expect our elected leaders to do whatever needs to be done to advance our nation forward not tirelessly work to undermine their colleagues.  I enjoy a good debate of ideas and policies but not a character assassination solely based on being in the other party. 

President Trump has changed the dynamic of politicking.  He plays to his base.  If he can get his base to turnout in the “right” states than he wins re-election.  That means he is immune to the typical political tricks of his opponents who have tried every trick in their arsenal and still can’t figure out why he has not succumbed to the pressure.

Likewise, the Democrats are only interested in motivating their base to turnout for the election.  And that’s why I am a forgotten voter.  I’m not President’s Trump base.  I’m not an extreme Left Wing zealot.  I’m one of those independent voters that likes to think I’m moderate.  Spoiler alert:  Neither party cares about the moderate voter. 

It seems that President Trump is betting on the moderate voter preferring his success on the economy over the extreme views of the Democrats like the Green New Deal, Medicare for all, and any other socialist program they can conjure.  He figures most swing voters will see through the charade of impeachment and vote for him.

My vote will go to the candidate I feel will get things done.  Right now I see Democrats getting nothing done other than attacking this president because they don’t like him.  And they call him the bully.

I do not like him and am hoping the Democrats can find a moderate candidate that can convince me they can do a better job than President Trump.  At this point, I doubt there is anyone in the group of 20 plus Democratic hopefuls that can convince me of anything other than they are not Trump.  It didn’t work for Hillary Clinton and it will not work again.

They need to remember the Forgotten Voter if they have any prayer of success in 2020.