The pain of being a Democrat in Fort Worth, Texas

[flamin lib]

I was sitting in the waiting room of my dentist, eves dropping on the all woman conversation regarding current government foul ups. The comment was made that perhaps it was time for women to run the country. I chimed in and seconded the motion saying that men seem to have pretty much screwed it up. One woman then says that it would mean that Hillary would probably be the woman and wouldn't that be terrible.

Me: Why do you say that?
Her: Well, it just would, everybody knows that.
Me: Who's everybody and what do they say?
Her: Well, you know . . .
Me: I personally think she would do a great job. Her husband created jobs, balanced the budget, produced a surplus and oversaw 8 years of relative peace and harmony.
Her: You must be a Democrat . . .
Me: Don't misunderstand me, I'm not a bleeding heart liberal, I'm a screamin', flamin' angry liberal.
Her: Well how do you really feel? ;-) At least in America you can say that.
Me: Yeah and I can put a Kerry sticker on my car if I don't mind having it keyed.
Her: Bush is for cutting taxes and stimulating the economy.
Me: Yeah, you probably got a tax rebate of about $1000. But because NCLB has no federal funding your property taxes have gone up at least that much. Because of economic policy the dollar is worth 30% less than it was so you're paying a 30% hidden tax on foreign goods. Gas is now $2.25 a gallon, that's a hidden tax on everything you buy that is transported by truck. God save me from more Republican tax cuts!
Receptionist: Mr Lib, the doctor will see you now.
Me as I walk past Her: Be careful what you ask for, you may get it . . .

[Gildor Inglorion]

1. I feel your pain...it's just as bad here in south Mississippi

if not worse. I've had to quit talking politics for my blood pressure's sake - can't afford to have a stroke in the age of "Compassionate Conservatism." Almost EVERYONE here assumes that if you're white you are: 1) Republican 2) Baptist 3) Racist. It's almost enough to make one yearn for another Repuke-induced Great Depression. These imbeciles deserve to suffer through one!

:puke:

[flamin lib]

5. Yeah, it's the automatic assumption that EVERYBODY in ear

shot is exactly like you----or has the decency not to open their mouth and interrupt your wisdom filled opinion.

[Melodybe]

11. Tell them about the new freedom commission

I'm in MS and that pisses off every republican I know.

[flamin lib]

18. Uh, freedom commission? Clue me in please!

[Melodybe]

19. here is a link to my threads on this

Basically the government screening your children for mental illness and then drugging them WITHOUT parental consent!

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=104x3908489

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=104x3908769

This is a huge deal! Please send it to every repub you know.

[militaryWife]

2. you should try living on a military base

and being a liberal :hide:

Let's just say, sometimes people are not very nice to me.

mw

[flamin lib]

6. I'll never understand why the military is so gung ho

Republican. Just another reason to re-instate the draft. Mix up the political outlook a little.

[RubyDuby in GA]

8. Hi militaryWife

Welcome to DU! :toast:

[militaryWife]

10. thank you

it has been a roller coaster ride. When I first married, I was quite the outspoken critic of all things republican. I was the token liberal at all the parties and never went anywhere socially that I didn't have to defend my position. Luckily, that isn't very hard, right?

But eventually I started to tire of the drama and slowly stopped speaking my mind. I had peace, but no peace-of-mind. During the 2000 election, my husband went out and put a Bush/Cheney sign on our lawn (we lived off post at the time). Well, that did it. I went out and got two Gore/Whatshisface signs and sandwiched him. I realized silence is seen as agreement and I've made the commitment to never be silent again. It is occasionally painful, but not nearly as painful as being intellectually dishonest.

Don't even get me started on visits to the in-laws!

And in all fairness, several of my more vocal adversaries of years back have since softened to me, and regard me highly for articulating my point and making sense.

mw


edit:typo

[RubyDuby in GA]

13. Wow. Good for you!

I just got called "divisive and undermining" in my local paper because of a letter to the editor I wrote about Iraq. Some guy wrote back and called me those things. Luckily, the editor likes me and printed my response that says telling the truth is never divisive or undermining to this country.

I know what you mean about being worn down from fighting the good fight, but we still have to do it! It's just easier when you know you're not alone :hi:

[flamin lib]

17. Right on! You go girl! and all those other cliches.

Kinda' tired of being quiet myself. My wife won't take me to company functions anymore. She works in the legal profession in Dallas. Real bunch of right wing nutzoids!

Local Rep Joe Barton comes to our table and smoozes with the true believers. Someone asks him how to be a successful Rep and he says,"Beat Democrats, that's all." So I pipe up and say,"Really, I would have thought it might have to do with governance and representing your constituency." Deer in headlights look and a quick departure.

I don't get invited to those parties anymore . . .

[KitSileya]

3. The four sentences which really sums up party politics in America.

Me: Don't misunderstand me, I'm not a bleeding heart liberal, I'm a screamin', flamin' angry liberal.
Her: Well how do you really feel? ;-) At least in America you can say that.
Me: Yeah and I can put a Kerry sticker on my car if I don't mind having it keyed.

The fundies and neo-cons proudly proclaim the US to be the best country in the world, and claim that it has freedom, but liberals know better.

[flamin lib]

7. There was more to the conversation. One woman spoke with a

very heavy German accent and was a naturalized citizen. She expounded on the freedoms we have here and how she had to show her papers every time she changed province. She was called before I got to the Real ID act. I tell Her that the Republican Congress just passed and the President just signed the Real ID act which is a de-facto national ID which has to be shown to any law enforcement officer at ant time. Further it will be administered by the local DOT, the driver's license department without federal funding, so guess what? Your state taxes go up again.

[Ezlivin]

4. You are not alone

I'm in Keller, just a few miles north of you.

It's lonely here, but at least we had a few Kerry signs in our neighborhood.

I've got a LTTE going in the Startle Gram this week. It's about Senator Granger and her love for weapons but not for veterans.

Hey, we looked behind the curtain at Oz and saw that the wizard was just an ordinary man. Sooner or later the rest of the country will draw back the curtain.

[flamin lib]

9. The curtain is opening. Slowly and with a lot of Rethugs holding

on to the other side, but it's happening.

"Do you think George W. Bush has the same priorities for the country as you have, or not?"

Same # Not the Same # Unsure
% % %
ALL adults 35 61 4
Republicans 75 23 2
Democrats 10 89 1
Independents 28 65 7

The Republicans/Democrats responses prove that we really do live in different universes with different physical attributes.

[stevans_41902]

12. I just love answers like "Well, it just would, everybody knows that."

Most of them have no proof/logic to back their argument so they just say something to make it sound like EVERYONE in the country knows something you don't.

[flamin lib]

15. That's common in really polarized areas. The predominant,

read "Majority", feed off each other and come to the conclusion that EVERYBODY is just like them and anyone else is long ago and far away.

That's why I've decided that if I can I will make my politics known and will back up what I say with reason and proof.

It is incredibly easy. You only have to memorize a few talking points to respond to.

Cuts taxes---no, just moves them around.

Strong on defense---no, enlistment is down and borders are week.

Terra! Terra!---there are 600% more terror attacks on our and our allies interests world wide since Bush came to office.

Dignity to the White House----Puleeze! Porn Movie producer and Mary Carey invited! All because he gave $5000 to Bush's campaign? $5000 is pretty cheap don'cha' think? An active gay male escort as part of the White House press corps?

[Maestro]

14. You did a great job responding.

I just down the road on Highway 287. I empathize completely. Oh and the tax cuts the other person talks about are a bad idea for the economy in the long run and ultimately place more tax burden on the lower and middle classes.

http://www.cbpp.org/6-2-04tax.htm

[flamin lib]

16. It's called the Birth Tax. Every child born today gets a tax

burden of $34,000 with the first breath. Meanwhile we have the Paris Hilton tax cut.

I'm tired of being polite and quiet. No more!

[bluestateguy]

20. That's why I'm leaving Texas

I'll be out in the next 12 months. My Democratic vote is worthless here. I urge all Texas Democrats to move to swing states.

[David Zephyr]

21. You jarred her thought process. That is good.

Liberals have been silent too long. Believe me, she will now know that not "everyone" knows her nonsense.

I speak up every chance I can and it has made a difference in the voting of many Republicans over the years. I know because they tell me...sometimes many years later.

I think you are just great.