Most of my friends (imaginary and real) are relatively liberal. They identify as socially liberal, fiscally conservative-libertarian at heart, but align with democratic candidates on the whole.

After this whirlwind of a primary season, I found politics coming to light within my circle of friends and acquaintances. As a political science major, it was brought up in almost every class. The most crucial conversations, though, happened outside of class. As Clinton racked up more and more delegates, I applauded Sanders’ effort and determination, but saw the writing on the wall. Clinton v. Trump.

This is where the conversations turned.

Me: I’m not the biggest Hillary supporter, but Trump has to lose.

Friend: I hate them both, I’ll vote for a third party.

Me: Woah woah woah.

This continuous conversation left me silent. In a first-past-the-post system that essentially guarantees only two major parties on the grandest scale, voting for a third candidate brings up a sour memory of Nader attaining Florida votes and a run-off nobody expected.

If you like Trump, vote for him. His hair is flouncy and flowy. If you like Hillary, stand with her. However, if you hate them both, voting for anyone but Hillary is a vote for Trump. Trump is going for the anti-establishment frustration, the angered masses who are sick of the establishment telling them how to live. If Hillary brings together the democratic party holistically, she wins. If the party remains divided and democrats vote for Bernie out of spite or a different third party candidate-Trump may win.

Needless to say, my liberal friends were not very happy about this conclusion. They claim it is a ‘principled decision’ that they refuse to vote for someone they hate, even if it is solely to beat the candidate they hate more.

Sanders had a good run. He struck the young millennial heart where it counts -- our smartphones and social media usage. Trump outplayed every major Republican player by saying whatever he wanted, whenever he wanted. Called an idiot by many and a genius by some, nobody can deny he has done what was once deemed impossible. Trump and Palin inspire me to think if I have a reality tv show and a spunky hairstyle-maybe I can be a GOP powerhouse as well. I’ll have to call CBS about a casting call.

#Iguessimwithher

Hillary Clinton has the perseverance of a champion and the tenacity of a ferocious tiger. I have never met Hillary, or a tiger. I think both would terrify me in the best of ways.

Trump is more of a Chihuahua guard dog. At first we all laughed, but that bitch had some sharp teeth and now it matched against a tiger. It’s up to the angry democrats, the frustrated libertarians, the enlightened masses to demand protection. Protection from what exactly-it depends which candidate you vote for. Which animals we pick to protect us says a lot about our fears. Do we want a lap dog trained to bite a predator until it gets scared and runs-or a tiger who’s been fighting its whole life for an opportunity to serve its people?