That Rumbling Sound You Hear Is The Republican Base Fracturing Apart--My Red Neighbor Turned Purple

[DonRedwood]

In the 12 years I've lived here I've had a lot of conversations about politics with my Republican Neighbor. She's a nice lady who has worked at the polling places since I was a kid. She's a very knowledgeable red Republican.

I said something to her about gay marriage and how a new change in tax law was helping gay couples all over the country...except in the states with Domestic Partnership instead of marriage. My partner and I find ourselves paying a huge amount of taxes on health care because we have a DP.

She said to me: "I just never thought of all that. In my day everything you heard about homosexuals was terrible. But my friends know about you (meaning her friends know she has homosexual neighbors!) and they've asked me about you guys and all I can say is this."

(and I'll do my best to quote her but let's say it is a loose quotation since I didn't write it down right away)

"You are the neighbors who always check on me. When it snows you are the one who shovels my driveway. You always make sure I'm OK in bad weather. Do you think anyone else does? (and she looked up and down the block). Gay doesn't matter, good people are good people. That's what I tell my friends."

And she looked at me with her beautiful twinkly blue eyes, and she smiled at me with the sweetest smile, and she showed me that she is proud of herself for being smart enough to learn from the situation, and not from what others tell her to think. It was an important moment for her to tell me that.

And an important moment for me.

And a reminder to us all. People learn from our actions. People learn from our compassion. And, mostly, people learn from our kindness.

And then she said something I think you all will like to hear. She shook her head and got a worried look. "I don't understand my party right now. I just don't feel the same way as they do." And then that worried look turned to disgust and she shook her head again. She told me she doesn't understand the Tea Party.

I told her, "There's room for you in my party!" and gave her a big smile.

She gave me a smile, laughed a few times and went back to her raking. She didn't say she wasn't going to vote Republican. But if gay marriage comes up again, I think we'd have her vote. And she is clearly upset with the Tea Party. So, I think I'll call her purple. Whatever she is, she is an example of how Republicans are starting to feel pushed away by their party.

This new Republican Party is starting to break apart at the base ladies and gentlemen. When dyed-in-the-red-wool Republicans are disgusted and feeling out-of-place, then the damage must be significant and deep. They are losing the social issues of hate that used to keep them strong.

And it has all been self-inflicted. That's the true beauty of it all. Sweetly orchestrated by President Obama, of course, but the damage to the Republican Party has been mostly done by the Republican Party.

They have gone from "Don't burn that bridge til you cross it" to "don't burn that bridge while you are standing on it." It's like watching someone punching themselves in the face. And, hold on, the Monday news cycle is starting up, and Senator Cruz will step up to the mic and punch himself in the face a few more times. And then mini-Paul will give himself a roundhouse punch to the face, and then that wingnut lady that Minnesota keeps sending us will slap herself a few times. Self-inflicted political suicides, one right after another.

The Republican Brand is taking a beating this week. That's for sure. They are losing their social issues, they are chasing off the elderly and the women. Imagine what is happening with the Independents.

Happy Monday People.

[Iwillnevergiveup]

1. Lovely, lovely post, DonRedwood

"Self-inflicted political suicides" says it all, but let's hope no innocent victims will find themselves in the fallout of this disaster.

K&R

[DonRedwood]

21. There are already tons of innocent victims.

and there will be more.

[Bluenorthwest]

2. Happy Monday? Happy Mondays!

[DonRedwood]

3. :0) Hadn't heard that for a while!

thanks!

[Fantastic Anarchist]

65. Blast from the past.

You're twistin' my mellon, man.

[elleng]

4. THANKS!

[Gothmog]

5. Outstanding post

Thanks for sharing

[frog64]

81. outstanding post

Amen, fellow Texan!

[G_j]

6. thank you

for sharing that!

[mcar]

7. Nice

[nadinbrzezinski]

8. Off the damn record I have heard

Local republican pols express similar thoughts...of course off the damn record.

[DonRedwood]

13. I'm kind of at the point where I only listen to Bernie Sanders

At least he'll go on record.

[nadinbrzezinski]

16. I understand a local mayor not going on record

With this, given the makeup of the voter base of that particular city.

The policies are not what the crazies want. But he is, like many in the party, distressed at where it is going. Not viable is something that crosses lips more and more often.

[dixiegrrrrl]

55. FWIW.....

Disapproval of congressional Republicans’ budget wrangling after a weeklong shutdown has shot up to 70 percent,
with 51 percent disapproving “strongly,” according to a new Washington Post-ABC News poll.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/the-fix/wp/2013/10/07/republican-disapproval-grows-in-budget-battle-post-abc-poll-finds/

[roguevalley]

67. does anyone know what and who the

national write your congressman group is?

nwyc.com

They are enrolling people around my town.

[IrishAyes]

85. I was stunned when MO state rep Craig Redmon bucked his party and voted against overriding

Nixon's veto of the bill that would've increased corporate welfare at the expense of the poor. I don't know if he grew a little conscience at last or if it will last, but I was pleasantly surprised. Fortunately Nixon's veto stood. Barely.

[StrictlyRockers]

9. Good to know.

Anecdotes like this give me some hope. Let's see what happens next November...

[DonRedwood]

24. Makes me wish it was next october alaready!

[progressoid]

10. People are finally seeing through that "family values", "moral majority" bullshit.

Lets hope they also start to see the other horrors the GOP has inflicted on America.

[DonRedwood]

26. Family Values.... ugh... sad when the enemy brands words that belong to all of us

I have values and a family as well....

[progressoid]

27. Absolutely.

Especially sad when their "values" are greed, hate and hypocrisy.

[DonRedwood]

28. Please don't leave out "inflicting needless pain"

[calimary]

39. Don't forget "mean-spirited" and "selfish" either!

[DonRedwood]

50. I fear we could go on all day....

[hopemountain]

76. yes, the mean spirited and the

hard hearted

[eridani]

80. "Family values" means that only their families have value--yours don't n/t

[redstatebluegirl]

11. Wonderful story!

What my mom used to say is you change people one at a time through personal contact. She used to go door to door for the party and for causes she believed in. I went with her, she was always nice, sweet and cordial. She never got nasty and I watched some people warm and change.

She said fliers don't do it, mailings don't do it calls don't do it. It is harder for them to hate you and what you stand for if you are standing in front of them with a smile and good nature.

I need to remember this I keep getting more angry which makes arguing useless.

[DonRedwood]

29. Democrats need to come out of the closet! :0)

[TinkerTot55]

62. Heh!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Thanks for my chuckle of the day.
Love you, Don.
You ( and your lovely husband ) can come be my neighbors any day!!!!

[DonRedwood]

64. Thanks kindly and a BIG welcome to DU!!

[CrispyQ]

12. Post of the day!

This especially:

And a reminder to us all. People learn from our actions. People learn from our compassion. And, mostly, people learn from our kindness.

[MineralMan]

14. Converting folks, one at a time.

[KT2000]

15. Love - Love this!

and you are so right. Our actions count for everything.
My sister had a mantra for her career: People may not remember what you say, and people may not remember what you do, but they will ALWAYS remember how you made them feel!
You have the gift!

[DonRedwood]

43. I like that mantra!

And thank you for the kind words!

[Duer 157099]

17. Stories like this make me question the gerrymander issue (re taking back the House)

I know that the "common wisdom" is that the House is safely GOP due to gerrymandered districts, but what is actually happening within those districts? These stories have to be happening there as well.

I'm hopeful

[nadinbrzezinski]

18. Polls last week have out the house very much in play

Mind you, not hyper gerrymandered districts. But one poll, forgive me, my memory is shot this morning as to actual district, per ptt was a +12 district. That is almost not competitive. Why the number stuck, alas not the district.

Daryll Issa's, he could kill a young boy he still get elected. The district internals are that bad.

[DonRedwood]

36. gerrymandering proves our point almost!

They can barely win WITH all the cheating! Imagine what would happen if they played an honest game!

[Rozlee]

87. I'm not hopeful.

I live in Boerne, TX, and I'm a constituent of damn Ted Cruz and Lamar Smith. I'm stuck here because my husband has sick family members nearby who need us and this place is teabagger hell. But, who knows? I have a large Hispanic family mostly in San Antone and several rural towns scattered all over the state. And with the exception of one sister, we're all Democrats. Give us another 10-15 years and we might tilt the state blue in national elections. The depressing thing is that we might not have much luck with the state lege. They'll probably stay red for the foreseeable future.

[jeanne43]

19. Thank you for posting this!!

So nice to hear good news.
Hoping these positive thoughts and feelings continue to grow.

[DonRedwood]

42. My best to you and WELCOME to DU jeanne43 :0)

[IdaBriggs]

20. Great Post! Thank you for sharing! Kick & Rec. (nt)

[MoonRiver]

22. Beautiful story! Good people do tend to see the light.

And thank you for looking out for your sweet neighbor!

[CaliforniaPeggy]

23. Thank you for this wonderful story, my dear DonRedwood!

I'm lovin' it!

And what a great use of the Titanic smiley...

[DonRedwood]

46. Sometimes a well-placed smiley says it all!!!

[calimary]

25. GOOD STUFF, DonRedwood!!! As usual!

I always enjoy your posts, but this one is particularly tasty! I LOVE your characterization of teabagger ted stepping up to the microphones and punching himself in the face. It'd probably improve his looks if he did that for real. He is one UGLY mutha (but then again, I don't know what's uglier - his face in and of itself, OR the ideas in the "thinking" behind it).

[DonRedwood]

51. most kind calimary

and you, of course, make me think of squid. But in a very tasty way. :0)

[calimary]

63. And you, in turn, take "killing 'em with kindness" to a whole new level, DonRedwood!

[tofuandbeer]

30. Remember how shell shocked the GOP loooked after the last election...

and they said they needed to take a serious look at the party.
Is this destruction of the U.S. what they meant?

[yellerpup]

31. Lovely message filled with hope.

And all you had to do was be yourself.

[BelgianMadCow]

32. "And, mostly, people learn from our kindness."

Word!

A beautiful post.

I always think of other people - whatever their beliefs - they are somehow trying to get by, and very likely trying to give their children the best they can.

[LongTomH]

33. Happy Monday, my friend!

[Jack Rabbit]

34. K/R

[mgardener]

35. Thanks

For being good neighbors. For being people who care despite party lines.

You do more good with kindness then with talking. People always remember kind acts

[mountain grammy]

37. Happy Monday to you too, DonRedwood

We sure would be happy and proud to have you for aneighbor. We had a gay couple for neighbors 20 years ago and they were the best. My husband lost every bit of the homophobia he was still holding on to and, I'm happy to say, never got it back.

[Rambis]

38. I think you underestimate the bonding properties of KKKrazy Glue (nm)

[secondwind]

40. what a lovely post! you have a great neighbor

[Ikonoklast]

41. Not to change the subject, but...

The gay couple that lives around the corner from me is really starting to piss me off.

Those two are always working out in their yard, they got that place looking like the eighteenth green at Augusta.

Now, I was pretty competitive with my neighbors; Tito, next door, the guy is a professional groundskeeper and is always trying to one-up me every week, and Bill the retired guy across the street that has nothing better to do than plant flowers like a Dutchman, but ever since those two young whippersnappers moved into the neighborhood when they bought that foreclosure and fixed it all up we all now have a common enemy.

Oh, they aren't fooling me none with their friendly waves and offerings of a cold beer...even though I never turn down a free beer, I know Tom and Greg have it in for the rest of us.



Give your neighbor a hug for me, Don.

One at a time, we are winning.

One at a time.

[LittleGirl]

44. lol

that's funny!

[DonRedwood]

47. I KNOW WHAT YOU MEAN!

We have gay neighbors a few houses down and those %&$*# beat me with Halloween decorations! Being the first up with decorations was MY thing on this block!!

Grrrrrrr....

makes me want to go put up my Christmas lights.

[Ikonoklast]

49. Please, for the love of all things that are good and holy on this planet...

Don't do this, I beg of you.

Christmas Decorations Arms Races are a blight on all of humanity.

Don't be "That Guy".







And if Tom and Greg give out better candy than I do this year, I swear I'll TP their house.

[DonRedwood]

53. well...i kind of cheat

I put up lights on halloween day along my path because it is kind of dark...but then I leave them up and use them to brighten the path at night.

ahem.

[Ikonoklast]

54. You aren't fooling anyone with that tactic.

You *are* That Guy.

[DonRedwood]

56. I think electric lights are one of man's most beautiful creations

Can a man be faulted for that?

[Ikonoklast]

57. That's it, I'm going to Costco and buying out the entire stock of TP.

It's on, ohh, it is sooooo on.

[AllyCat]

82. You two are cracking me up!!

And now, I am digging through the basement for Halloween decorations...time to keep up with the Jones'.

[IrishAyes]

86. Now that's the kind of neighborhood war we all need!

[Treant]

88. That's you?

Our names aren't Tom or Greg, but the yard does look like the 18th green. Half our neighbors don't talk to us due to the lawn and gardens. I was unaware it's a contest.

I have to admit, the evil side of me wants to put up a sign that says, "You're welcome for the property value increase."

[Spitfire of ATJ]

45. You think that's something?

Think of all the Country Western fans out the the Republicans kicked to the curb when they ran Romney.

We need to get Willie Nelson to remind them that Farm Aid was a LIBERAL idea.

[judesedit]

48. Just wait until the rw's constituents apply to the ACA/Obamacare & see how much they like it.

I hope they get so excited they can't help but tell all their friends and those friends tell their friends and so on and so on. And in the instances where the states that didn't sign on to extend Medicaid, I hope the government comes up with something better to give those most unfortunate Americans the healthcare coverage they need, maybe at zero cost to them. I'm sure that would be applauded by many Americans...and many doctors who are truly in it to heal the sick.

[Squinch]

52. Dear Don,

It's not that she turned purple, it's that you showed her the difference between a world where people care for their neighbors, and a world where they don't.

YOU changed her mind by caring for her.

She is lucky to have you as a neighbor.

Mwah! to you.

[trof]

58. Well, THAT brought a tear to my eye. Happy Monday indeed.

Great story.

[Laelth]

59. I hear it, and it is happening.

And they know it. Problem is, they might decide to take us all down with them.

These are "interesting" times, and that's not a good thing.

-Laelth

[nobodyspecial]

60. good people are good people. That's what I tell my friends.

That's the bottom line. And people are seeing the GOP's true colors. They are NOT good people. As a party, they are selfish assholes who do not take care of their neighbors.

[Enthusiast]

61. K&R. Happy Monday backatcha.........nt

[arthritisR_US]

66. No matter the age, we learn by example. You and your

husband are indeed good examples in teaching her what it is to be decent human beings and it isn't based on gender, race or sexual orientation.

Edited for auto correct into incorrect.

[gollygee]

68. I always love reading your posts

they make me feel better about the world.

[malaise]

69. Another lovely post

Rec

[zentrum]

70. You represent the essence of

....being in a civilization.

[Kennah]

71. Totally awesome story!

[DeSwiss]

72. Thank you.

[NBachers]

73. Ya know what, Don? I like your neighbor.

It's leaf-raking time again, isn't it?

[gopiscrap]

74. Excellent

[DonCoquixote]

75. I hate to rain on parades

But please do not forget one thing; while many GOP types will see the error of their ways, they will run right back to them at a monent's notice, the way an ex smoker can relapse. Also do not forget the Media are doing a lot to make sure both sides get blame.

[hopemountain]

77. ain't it the truth! nt

but, i am still rooting for kindness.

[Rhiannon12866]

78. K&R! Thank you so much for sharing this...

What a heartwarming story. And I think I have something in my eye...

[Auntie Bush]

79. You guys are the nicest people.

Unfortunately I don't know any gentlemen that nice! Keep working on your blue eyed neighbor.

[Liberalynn]

83. My sister told me in our nightly conversation

that my cousin who has been posting tea bagger memes on FB for a long time now actually posted a meme from the Left saying that Boner needs to step out of the way and let the House vote on the clean CR and debt ceiling.

She just became eligible for SS a few months ago due to her age and is working part time. Guess she's scared now, (welcome to the club) but my sympathies are limited. She wanted the tea pukers, she spread their vile rhetoric, so she's got know right now to come crying to anyone that they bit her in the ass.

Plus I am sure her seeing the light is only temporary but I guess it is slightly better than nothing.

I've been pretty much avoiding FB because of my RW family members.

[IrishAyes]

84. Excellent! You have a happy week yourself; you've earned it.

[markpkessinger]

89. Thank you for a beautiful posr!

And as for the fracturing GOP base, it has been a long time coming. For 30+ years now, Republican orthodoxy has been defined by an ever-increasing number of ideological litmus tests. I mean, up to a point, sure, a party has to decide what it stands for and what it doesn't (ideally, probably less by way of litmus tests than by agreement on general principles). But the GOP has continually heaped new ideological litmus tests upon old ones. The temptation is understandable enough: for a time, as indeed we have seen, these tests can create a party unity that can be quite a formidable political force. But it's like a drug: the wave(s) of early political success achieved by such enforced party unity can create the impression that one can continue to do more of the same, achieving ever greater success. But at a certain point, it becomes self-defeating -- eventually the circles becomes so tightly drawn that any advantage created by this political unity is offset by the number of people you have excluded from your circle. Seems to me there's a moral in that story for any political party in any time.