Do you have any Republican friends?

[Lone_Wolf_Moderate]

Poll question: Do you have any Republican friends?

I do, and they are my very best friends. We don't talk politics much, but they are moderate on social issues, and conservative on fiscal and national security issues. They'll most likely back Bush, but it's no big deal to them that I'll vote for Kerry. Anyway, what say you?

[southernleftylady]

1. My hubby is a rightie. But im starting to wear him down ;) n/t

[NMDemDist2]

3. keep at him hon, my hubby voted repub and then perot

till he met me and voted for the Big Dog in 96 and hasn't looked back :)

[southernleftylady]

7. well..

he doesnt vote so im not that worried lol now if he voted I would hound him till the sun went down lol

[NMDemDist2]

10. hehehe yes, there is that

my hubby voted in every election, but I have saved him from the dark side.

Well actually he says his party has been hijacked and he hates what passes for the Republicans nowadays.

[Kimber Scott]

13. My husband's a Republican, too.

He tells me he's a moderate. He says "they're all bad." I told him that's not good enough, that's a cop-out - pick a side. He's leaning my way. He even went to a Clark rally with me once.

[flamingyouth]

2. Yes, I have one

He isn't speaking to me now - since I asked for contributions to defeat Bush* in my husband's obit. I guess you learn who your friends really are.:eyes:

[NMDemDist2]

6. how are you holding up FY? I have been thinking of you

and sending anonymous good energy to you :)

[flamingyouth]

11. I'm doing okay, thanks

Thanks for thinking of me. The anonymous good energy has been a great thing - I really appreciate it. :hug:

[NMDemDist2]

18. good, take care of yourself

:hug:

[ibegurpard]

4. Acquaintances? yes . Family? yes.

Friends? no. I don't CHOOSE to associate at a level that I would call "friend" with someone whose values are so polarly opposed to my own.

[bearfan454]

5. I used to

But he and I got into so many discussions that I had to cut him off as a friend. Sad but true.

[CShine]

8. Hate to put it this way, but if you don't have any repuke friends then....

....you're a close-minded loser.

[ithinkmyliverhurts]

9. Yes, and I love them dearly.

And we talk aggressively about everything. We play poker, I take their money, I talk shit, and we ARGUE, fight, hurl mean, nasty epithets at one another, and then we go home to our families.

None of us are rich; some of us contribute to campaigns (Damn you, D.K.!); but none of us are "players." At then end of the day, we all know that the one tool we have is our vote.

By the way, in 2000 I went all in one a hand, but my all in was on the vote: if I won, they had to vote Gore; if they won, I had to vote Bush. Full House, baby. They voted Gore; I voted Nader. Fuck me.

[TexasProgresive]

30. donate those poker winnings to Kerry

That would be a great irony!

[IronLionZion]

12. Most of my friends are extremely Republican

That's what happens when you're from a redneck mountain town. My own father is a Republican (supported Bush41, Dole, Gore).

My 3 roommates now are liberal so it works out.

[Longhorn]

14. I was raised by Republicans

The party has changed and they are much more moderate than the rest of the party but they refuse to change. My mother still blames the University of Texas for warping my mind -- she was still referring to it as my "college rebellion" until I pointed out to her that I was in my 30's (at the time) and wasn't it possible that by that point in my life, I was thinking for myself? She actually shut up and never brought it up again!

[amazona]

35. my parents were GOP in my childhood but not any more!

They liked Nixon and Ford OK which seems kind of strange in retrospect but Reagan was too much to swallow and they've drifted leftward ever since.

[NMDemDist2]

15. I have a few, we have agreed to disagree and don't discuss

current events

[durutti]

16. I'm sure I do.

I just can't think of any at the moment. A lot of people I just don't discuss politics with.

[The_Casual_Observer]

17. No

Life is too short to spend it in the company of dumb-shits.

[name not needed]

19. No.

I prefer not hanging around with dumbasses.

[vetwife]

24. Yes and it is strained as I am such an activist...

My best friend for over 40 years barely see each other anymore and had our kids together and went through all kinds of Hell together and she was there for me recently when my Mom died ..Yet I haven't seen her since. This Bush thing has strained the relaitonship and I hate him for that..because she changed a lot when he went into office. She supported Dems when they were having a hard time and then her son married a huge Republican supporter (well his mother in law) and I am a huge Democratic supporter and the two of us got so tangled up in a debate and the big mouthed repug backed down. My friend was caught in the middle. But my friend and I won't throw it up but had better remember when her husband needed Veterans Help..It was her dem friend of 40 years who reached out to Sen Cleland, and this organization who paid their way for A Heart operation in Va. and it was this friend who fought the VA daily for 18 months and made sure there was food on the table. Not that republican compassionate conservative. IT was this person who had the political connections to get some things done. I took their plight striaght to the VA headquarters in Washington and sat down with Senator Cleand on more than one occasion in Atlanta. The Democrats did that. What has Bush done? What has the republican party done? Nothing ! She fell into that Fundie trap with her son's Mother in law who wouldn't help a person if they were smothering in a jug. They go to the races. They talk about how bad Clinton was and yet it was under Clinton they have a living, it willbe under Bush they lose it, and I am waiting any minute. I have already told her when she turncoated, I wouldn't help get it back. Wouldn't do anygood anyway under this administration.

She was a repug...then a Dem...Then a McCain person...Then a Bushie.
I am so active and outspoken in this area I have lost friends but there are some compromises I just won't make...Not even for a 40 year old friend. I am too loyal to the truth. I am the same old girl I used to be. When I was fighting for her rights and her husband's rights, that was me. We don't talk politics and here lately we barely talk at all. I love her but her devotion to Bush has driven us apart. She will find that her son's mother in law is a Fair weather Fundie but they do now have a Baby in common. So be it. I just hope she never needs another activist, because most republicans can't get past self to help another person.

[MUSTANG_2004]

36. It's political philosophy, not meanness

"most republicans can't get past self to help another person." I know (and am related to) as many Republicans as Democrats, and can say that political philosophy makes no difference in whether someone wants to help other people. The party difference is more a philosophy in what the government's role should be.

Indeed, of 4 family members who do 10 or more hours a week of volunteer work, 2 voted for Bush in 2000.

[javadu]

20. I Know More Repubs than Dems

I grew up extremely religious and right wing. I love my friends and family immensely and it is often difficult to stand up for my views. One of the positive things about Bush's administration is that he has made it extremely easy for me to win arguments when I get together with my friends and family. :)

The thing that I dislike the most about having so many repub friends is that I am often pessimistic about the outcome of November's elections. I take hear in the polls and by coming to DU, however.

[papercut]

21. No, and I don't want any. n/t

[newyawker99]

32. Hi papercut!!

Welcome to DU!! :toast:

[Sugarbleus]

22. I do have some...

but they rarely want to discuss politics. One in particular keeps complaining about "the people" and how the system is broken and her medicare and all sorts of things but she and her husband demure to ignorance when it comes to talking about what the problem IS.

These are the people that REALLY REALLY need to see F911.

*sigh*

[GreenPartyVoter]

23. Friends and Family. Hubby was one.. is a bit more moderate now.

[Gildor Inglorion]

25. Yes...friends and family, and it breaks my heart

Mostly, I just don't discuss politics with them, but I cannot and will not be silent on the war in Iraq. That's the only advantage I've found to being a Vietnam veteran so far: No one contradicts me when I condemn this stupid f***ing war. Which I do, frequently and loudly.

[vetwife]

26. Welcome Home !

[rhino47]

27. My hubby is a Kerry voting republican

Hes more of an old school republican though.Hes not a wing nut.I think its called a moderate.Hes pro choice.

[necso]

28. "close-minded loser" subthread.

Of the people I would do a (big) favor for or ask one of, without thinking about it, 3 are democrats (2w/1m), 4 are independents (2w/2m) and 1 is a green (m).

I would have no trouble being "friends" with a republican who was a knowledgeable, tolerant, thoughtful person of conscience.

But all these things went out of fashion in the republican party in the 80s and early 90s. Now it is even worse, now you are an enemy if you are any of these things.

[Soup Bean]

29. I struggle in East Tennessee.

It's my home, my family, my roots. I somehow think differerntly than the rest, and a feel I must hide my true political leanings. I feel drawn to run for county commission or state rep, but my libertarian left leanings would be exposed for the church groups to see. I think I could get elected, but I'm afraid for what they might say about me that would embarass my dear, sweet family, who are the epitome of true, new testament Christians.

I would LOVE to run and debate issues. Iknow them all, and know the answer I would give. I just couldn't win, due mostly to motivated church groups and the local business machine. I would be branded forever in this town, and I'm too young to do that now....Now give me 10 more years...watch out....:)

I think about this a lot. How can I best make an impact in a local, small southern community? How can I help people and make lives better? I want to participate in the process, but the Washington way of doing things has dribbled down to locals, where it's much more dangerous.

Ideas, guys? I swear I was a Baptist Preacher in a previous life...I got a story to tell....just don't think I can pull it off with the kinds of opinions I hold dear.

[RoyGBiv]

31. Not anymore...

At one point in my life, I had several, but over the last few years, we've all gone our separate ways.

Given my interest in history, it's difficult not to make comparisons to the 1850's when good friends started to split and eventually came to blows over the issue of slavery. I've simply lost my ability to ignore the lack of ethics that infects these people, got tired of hearing the snide jokes about "welfare moms" and "bleeding hearts." For a long time, it was all relatively good natured, and I gave as good as I got.

But, in the last few years, it's become personal. I no longer look at our differences as simple disagreements. The snide remarks attack my basic value systems, and I no longer feel as though I should put up with it just in the name of friendship. If a person I know really believes that the poor "deserve to die in their own filth" (an actual quote from a former friend), that gays do not deserve basic civil rights, that protecting our environment is not important, etc., I have no use for this person.

My last Republican friend and I parted ways when I lost my job and applied for unemployment. He made a joke about me being welfare scum, and I asked him to leave my home. That was that. He still e-mails me occasionally, but I don't bother to respond.

[NicRic]

33. My best man !

And a life long friend ,went from living in a storage shed in his moms backyard to owning a sucessful medicial supply company and living in a beautiful custom home in S.Ca. He seems to think the repugs are the only party a "businessman" should belong to .I myself am also self employed and I look at things differantly .I know that my comsumers cant buy my product ,whatever the price may be if they dont have a job. We all know who is better at creating jobs , who is concerned about educating our children better, etc ,etc, I just cant seem to get thru to him that this White House is in the pocket of BIG business, and the people smirk represents are way out of our league in the $ dept. You are talking about billionaires, that care about nothing except how to get their greedy hands on more $ !

[amazona]

34. unfortunately

Sadly one of my closest friends is an extremist, certainly not a "moderate on social issues" or "conservative" on fiscal issues, but a wild-eyed extremist. You just can't reason with him as he is incapable of logical thought. I don't know what caused this, his mom is a good Democrat.

[pdmike]

37. Be Careful With Political Discussions Among Friends

A great post and a great question! I was just talking about this the other day.

Our best friends are a married couple my wife and I met when I was in the army over 40 years ago. After the army, we each went our separate ways but we were reunited in the late 80's and have been closely in touch ever since. We live in separate parts of the country, but go on vacations together, regularly stay in touch via email, etc.

He is a retired army officer and she was raised in the south. Need I say more? OK - one thing more: she thinks Newt Gingrich sitteth on the right hand of God. That should make it pretty clear.

We have discussed politics, of course. And, in so doing, we have learned something. Not a good idea - at least, not when the people doing the discussing are really into their respective, political positions.

Political discussions between otherwise good friends always seem to start out intellectually but inevitably end up emotionally. Political differences can erode friendships very quickly, I am learning.

So if you have friends on the other side, be careful. If you want to keep them as friends, you might want to proceed very cautiously, if at all, with the political discussions.

Maybe concentrate more on religion . . . .

pdmike