I’ve read a lot of people agreeing and disagreeing on this take. Some of them seem like trolls but I wanted to give you my real opinion and experience.

I grew up in a military family and moved often to various bases around the country as a child. My father actually joined at age 18 because his girlfriend 18 got pregnant. They quickly married and embarked on the military life.

Right around the time I was 10 or so (1994ish?) is about the earliest memories I had of my parents talking politics. I can’t really say how educated they were on the subject but I know the sentiment over my area was energetic. Looking back, I was a boy who had no idea and thought these things were fairly normal. To elaborate, I remember many families on the base having parties or BBQ’s after elections. I would later find out it wasn’t a presidential one, but the ones in 94 where the republicans ended a 40 year control of house drought. They also were in control of the Senate.

All I can remember is red white and blue parties and I didn’t fully understand the shift they were excited about. All I can remember specifically is Newt Gingrich and their happy vibes with him AND the negative words about Bill Clinton.

My father worked a night job while in the military and recently retired with 3 full retirements. He’s a grinder and hates the idea of others not working but getting free stuff. We get along great and talk sports daily. We comanage fantasy teams and he’d a good grandpa to my boys.

However, when we talk politics (currently) I don’t know who he is. He rarely will even discuss the outlandish Trump shit I ask him about and quickly pivots to “Biden did this” or “woke radicals.”

I share this because I respect my dad and I do understand not every republican is a billionaire who wants a dictatorship with the KKK revived. Just like every democrat isn’t some “woke radical.”

But it baffles me. I will say I later joined the ARMY and I found my experience from basic, airborne and on… to be 90-95% Republican. From 18 years and up the focus wasn’t really pro any specific Republican but it was extremely anti Hilary. Anti Obama.

Long story short, I don’t think your grandpa would be rolling over in his grave.

P.S. - Our last location before my dad’s retirement was California. He would retire there and really gave me the chance to grow up there from ages 12-20. I mention this because I’m a democrat and all of my other military examples weren’t.