All across this country people who voted Republican their whole lives are trying to figure out

[mahina]

Last edited Tue Nov 29, 2022, 01:40 AM - Edit history (2)

What is next. They are thinking about us and thinking about the nutballs, measuring us v them to figure out where to make their home.

We’ve been told for a really long time there’s no point talking to people who are past persuading. there was a time that that made sense to me too but it doesn’t anymore.

With the head full of lies they’ve been told about us for the last several years and making these decisions with that information largely. One thing you can do to help us is to be kind and hold a space for them. None of us are right all the time. We’ve all made mistakes and almost all of us deserve forgiveness. Try not to rub it in if you can. Try to make space for civil discussion and help them find common ground.

On my part I think it will help me to think about where the wingers went way off the rails as far as our values as Americans. I’ll start there.

[czarjak]

1. Fuck my feelings?

Being right means never having to say you're sorry. But fuck theirs. Every time.

[GoodRaisin]

2. Who? Why? What am I?

That is what people who have voted Republican should be asking themselves.

[usedtobedemgurl]

3. Off the rails?

I do not want to pinpoint that, there are so many times. The first would maybe be when t came down the escalator. I can get on board and start there. Let’s see what that conversation may look like……

Me: so what about t’s racism about Me Ivan’s made you feel this was the guy for you?

Them: (after wiping drool from their face) well, he seems down to earth and tells the truth.

Me: the truth that one whole race is coming here and raping and murdering our citizens? (She says horrified)

Them: prove that is not true!

Me: I cannot prove negative, as such, but if you research…..

Them: you cannot prove it, because you know it is true. You liberals are weak on crime. T wanted to build a wall and protect us. More than Biden ever did.

Me: so, despite everything, you still stand by him? Even with all your doubts?

Them: as you have thought for years, we like the party because they allow us to be racist. You will not allow us to be racist. Your kind hold us in check.

Me: is there anything I can do to convince you? A lot of us have grown scared of where you stand. I have locks on my front and back gate, because you folks come across as scary. This is no way to live.

Them: sure, you can kill all Mexicans or take them all into your tiny little city.

Me: so, besides liking what he has to say, it reinforces the beliefs you have already formed?

Them: yes. You cannot change me. You want me to go to a reeducation camp. You are evil.

Me: *walks off and bangs head against a nice hard wall*. Cause it is more productive.

Please note they have been brainwashed. They think we are evil. It started back with newt g. Before him, our representatives lived close together. They talked and went out to dinner together. Newt reformed all that and made rules so their side would not talk to ours. You see, it is so much easier to be rude and pull off shenanigans when you don’t go out for dinner and drinks with them afterwards. When you are friends and/or strong acquaintances, you don’t call people to the carpet for stuff they did not even do. Fast forward to all these years later. They found that so effective in fighting democrats, they decided to convince the other side, who were regular citizens, not to talk to us, because we are crazy, or we want to harm the country. For years, they have been spoon-fed how bad we are. If it worked well within government, it worked fantastically within the confines of our society.

As one older lady who watched Fox said, it is on the tv and the tv does not lie. *THAT* is what you are up against.

This post was going to be longer. With other items besides just the escalator, but no one will read this much, so I will not add more. I want to know how you found out about all these folks who are on the edge. Can you provide a link, please? Maybe I am Googling the wrong words. Trying to figure out who these people are. The news is reporting about. It may give me hope. There is a reason people in cults need to be deprogrammed. I do not have the professional tools to overcome that. If the news article just says these folks want to be communicated with and doubt their alliance to republicans, that is super. I am really interested in reading a study (not personal opinion) these people are looking for outreach and a way out.

[kentuck]

11. Yea, I don't know that many Republicans would consider themselves "off the rail"...

Just my opinion.

[usedtobedemgurl]

13. Agreed. That is why I chose that particular phrase.....

From the op.

[mahina]

17. LBefore the obviously staged escalator ride there were the lies about President Obama.

Didn’t matter how many classmates came out and said yes we knew him. Didn’t matter that I personally knew him and Noelani school before we went to Punahou. Ugh, that disgusting liar and all his harm caused 💧😡

[orleans]

4. i'm not as nice as you

i have zero interest in helping them find common ground

but, honestly, i don't deal with them anyway. my limited group of fb friends are all dems and/or liberals. my extremely limited in-person social circle & family: dems.

my all-dem circle is not just a coincidence. i blocked or unfriended the others on fb. my attitude is simple: fuck them.

[Hekate]

5. Mahalo, Mahina. You make a good point.

🌺🌺🌺

[mahina]

16. Thank you sis

[BWdem4life]

6. I have been wrong

But I have not been inhumane.

[ZonkerHarris]

7. All across this country people who voted Republican their whole lives...

will continue to vote Republican

[Skittles]

8. yup

that is pretty much what I see

[usedtobedemgurl]

9. I totally agree. nt

[mahina]

14. God I hope not

Would we of the Dems went nuts?

[usedtobedemgurl]

10. Not sure if you read my rather long reply, so...

I will ask, in this reply, for a frame of reference. Where did you read repubs are wanting to make a choice? I have not seen or read this anywhere. I have repub friends on tv and not a single one are expressing being torn between a gaggle of lunatics and the sane, adult party. I would sincerely like to read the article, or watch the programs where it was said. Could you please supply a link/links? Thanks. The way they’ve acted, I have not seen/heard any of them being unsure. Most would vote for t again.

[mahina]

15. Folks I know

One told the money hustlers never to call him again.

What is my uncle, who got to the right with gun rights oh no but was horrified that Trump won the 2016 primary end votes with us now

Who are the people I’ve known that we never spoke of politics, weird for me, but out of politeness for different kinds of relationships neighbors and stuff, and they’ve let me know. I did read your post above but I was in the middle of an absurd argument. Usually I just walk but not this time

[Conjuay]

12. return to sender

message undeliverable as addressed

[ratchiweenie]

18. Republicans stand for racism and white supremacy. I make it

plain to any Republicans I know that I now consider them racists and white supremacists and that I tell everyone I know that they are racists and white supremacists. They can deny it all they want but I point out that that is what the party stands for and as far as I'm concerned, if they support the party, then they have to accept the labels that go along with it. Amazing how many think they can claim not to support racism. If you press them on it, they are going to either have to admit it or start thinking of finding another party to back. We have to ostracize them in order for them to change.

[mahina]

19. How often does that get you really talking?

[ratchiweenie]

23. Actually you'd be surprised how much people want to talk about it and

try to defend themselves as non-racist and not white supremacists. They really do care that people believe that about them. So I just point out that they are fooling themselves. Either they support racists or they don't. There's no in between and they should just fess up to who they really are. It especially bothers them that I tell others that I consider them racists and hypocrites. I don't really care if it hurts their feelings but in fact, it does get them talking.

[durablend]

20. The ones around here aren't figuring anything out

Other than "HOW DO WE KEEP THOSE DEMS FROM CHEATING AGAIN?"

[mahina]

21. It's crazy how dedicated hate radio has been to indoctrinating them.

We need to counter that one at a time.

I’m not homeless we turn back from the brink. We won the last election by a hair in key races.

If their opinion was grounded in fact it would be a different thing but it’s gone again falsehood almost always. Should we instead just let that stand and wait for the next worst outcome?

[mahina]

22. Duplicate

[Just A Box Of Rain]

24. I like the way you think.

Predictably, your reasoning is getting a negative response here on DU, but if we can't engage with people who have made political mistakes and are now dismayed and looking for a new political home in a fashion that is civil and empathetic--without straying from out values or excusing Trumpism--then we have little hope of forming a solid majority.

I think you are on the right track here and I hope my post will make you feel less alone.

[mahina]

25. Thanks man. I don't feel alone but appreciate the good word.

We aren’t going to get anywhere without many of us working one by one.

Starting with the most absurd first, challenges picking out which is the most absurd. Prove they are being lied to. Ask why would Fox and Tucker et al do that. Prove a few and build from there.

Nobody wants to be a sucker soon proof with these lies they were taking advantage of. It’s not their fault they believed these things ( is it though?) eases that

In any case what matters now is they stop giving away their minds and our futures to these monsters.