where are the sane and compassionate Republicans? have they all abandoned the party?

Abandoned by the party, arguably.

I suppose the logical thing for me to do is to become more politically active but my argument against Trump, Cruz, et al is really nothing more than "is that seriously what you believe? What is wrong with you?" and I can't see that doing any good.

I had soft corn tacos for lunch. Street taco level, so decent comfort food. The woman I went with, started at ST about 6 months after I did. Back in our 20s, we & another woman who started at the same time I did used to go out to dinner pretty much every Tuesday. Then lives got more complicated, there were husbands and then children and moves and that pretty much ended during our 30s. Other woman is in VA now, distance worker, but Ilana reached out and we're trying to do lunch once a month or so. Catch up, bitch about work, reconnect. It's nice.

And I spent the afternoon helping plan my supervisor's retirement party and gift. Standard gift of her favorite Hubble image, signed by everyone, but we're also making an autographed quilt (I say we, really, a quilt making coworker) using a Michigan star pattern- where she's from originally-using celestial fabrics. And I had the idea to use cafepress to make some custom buttons with Hubble and Kepler stuff with her years of service because she has this flannel "office coat" which has the pins and buttons from every mission and event she's been party to. Which is a lot. She's not a big stuff person, very pragmatic, but she can tell you about every one of those pins.

I'm actually pretty maudlin about her retirement. She's been a big inspiration and mentor to me. And she's fiercely protective of us.

Those both sound swell, the lunch and the retirement party plans. What good ideas.

Those sound like lovely and heartfelt gifts, sarameg

I both can't believe that Trump will be elected, and do believe that if he is, someone will try to take him out.

my argument against Trump, Cruz, et al is really nothing more than "is that seriously what you believe? What is wrong with you?" and I can't see that doing any good.

My is mostly speechless disbelief and fury. The meme comparing Trump to Hitler is so clear, and why so many people can't see that is terrifying to me.

and do believe that if he is, someone will try to take him out.

But the ones who like him are the violent ones with guns. The ones who despise and fear him are generally law-abiding pacifists.

If he's elected, taking him out is risky, depending on what kind of lunatic he chooses as VP. Then there's the speaker of the house after that, and that's nothing good either.

I think I feel like someone out there is going to snap, I guess. Maybe I'm afraid it would be me?

I know, Amy. His political strategy is classic Fascism, but saying that sounds like Godwin's Law hyperbole.

I guess the thing to work for is voter turnout. I don't know how to do that, either, but maybe I can learn.

Just to be clear, it's a real lizard-brain reaction to the whole possibility. I want, like, Mom to put her foot down and just end this whole mess, and things to be sensible again.