Conversation with Republican this morning.

[AndyA]

They are very unhappy with Bush's announcement of troop escalation. They are concerned about the numbers of dead troops and the cost of the war, which seems to be rising "faster than Superman can fly off a tall building." (That's what they said.)

I responded, "Perhaps if Bush had not shirked his duty and done everything possible to evade serving his country during the Vietnam war, he would be more reluctant to put more of our troops in harm's way.

You can't hold too many of your buddies in your arms while their blood flows out of their bodies without gaining an appreciation for how precious life is. Bush doesn't seem to understand this basic fact."

To which they responded, "He is on a different planet. He isn't a Republican. In fact, I'm not sure what he is, but he does not adhere to any of our values, nor does he appear to be listening to anyone else, either."

I then said, "Well, somebody's telling him how this should be handled. I don't think the man is smart enough to pull off something like this on his own."

The Repug then stated, "It has to be Cheney and all those PNACers. They are controlling this country, and Congress is letting them get away with it."

I corrected them by stating, "The prior Congress has allowed it. Not the current one, they're just getting started."

GOPer: "I think they really need to consider impeachment. Things have spiraled too far out of control now. I voted for Democrats in November, and I fully intend to vote Democratic in 2008 as well. The Democrats seem to represent my values more these days. I just can't understand how this has happened. The last few years have been the worst in recent American history in my opinion."

To which I replied, "You voted for him. You put him in office. Twice."

"I am sorry I did that. I know better now. If I could change my vote, I would."

To which I asked if they planned on voting for Sen. Jim Inhofe again when he's up for reelection in 2008. The response?

"Not on your life. I've had it with the Republicans. I don't consider myself a liberal, but I will say I now lean more progressive than conservative. Some of the "new" conservative values being promoted would take us back to the ice age, or we can all go back to living in caves again. It's 2007, we need to stop pretending we can control everything in everyone's lives. Government needs to spend more time reeling itself in, and let people live their lives without intrusion."

All in all, a good conversation. :) And yet another Republican who has stopped supporting their party. The guy is in his late 50s/early 60s, and has been a lifelong Republican. :)

[helderheid]

1. rec 2!

:kick:

[lancdem]

2. Glad he has seen the light

:thumbsup:

[woodsprite]

3. Nah, * is used to being held while he vomits in the toilet.

Think about it. Poppy is holding him and the world is his toilet.

[billybob537]

4. That's what it took

to nail Nixon, Repukes turned against him in significant numbers to make it clear he would lose.
Bush needs to see this writing on the wall too. Then we could just Hand Cheney over to the justice dept. for Crimes and lying under oath.

[seabeyond]

5. we need to stop pretending we can control everything in everyone's lives

i hope the liberals take note of this because any gains we get, we will lose doing the same as repugs only with liberal issues. america has had enough of the let me tell you how you otta live and if you dont, you will be punished.

[butterfly77]

6. Too little, too late...

[Beam Me Up]

7. This is what I'm hearing from Republicans, too.

A lot of Republicans voted for Democrats this past election for precisely these reasons. They're fed up with this ass-hat of a pResident. They're fed up with this war and its cost in blood and dollars. They recognize that the interests involved are not their interests. Saying "impeachment is off the table" was a psychological blow to quite a few of them. They were very angry about it and felt betrayed by the Democrats before they even took the floor. Politically bad move, IMO. Would have been better to have said nothing at all. Anyway, that's WUTB; now we need to get the Republicans motivated to contact THEIR side of the isle about how they feel about Bush.

[rurallib]

8. Dontchya just wish that everone who voted for W would have

their vote suspended for the next election? Course with electronic voting cons still win some.

[OrangeCountyDemocrat]

9. I Didn't Vote For Him....

Listen to your friend bitch and whine. What a joke!!

The real question is, did he contribute to his being in office? Don't listen to any Bullshit about he voted for him because he was the repub candidate.

The people who should feel shitted on are those who attempted to show what a complete and utter LOSER george is, and it was these IDIOT repubs, supporting their candidate, because he was their candidate.....THEY ARE TO BLAME.

So I would have just said to this person, it's not my fault. I voted for Gore & Kerry, and this THIEF stole both elections and my vote meant nothing to this Dictator.

[SammyWinstonJack]

29. I never voted for him and it's just too bad that those of us who didn't vote for him

have to suffer right along with those who did. I would prefer that those who voted for the little puke, be the only ones to suffer his incompetence. They deserve it, the rest of us and the World does not. They can bitch and whine all they want, but the facts and the results of pinhead's short political life were out there before he was sElected and they did not bother to take notice. So screw their hindsight!

[Strelnikov_]

31. I can pardon a vote for the Maximum Leader in 2000

Some people may have been ready for a change, and they were victims of a bait and switch con, so to speak.

But 2004? If someone couldn't see the direction things were going in by then, they really shouldn't vote in the future, as they are incapable of absorbing information and making sound decisions.

[Ian David]

10. It's unfair to compare the Republickers to cavemen

"Some of the 'new' conservative values being promoted would take us back to the ice age, or we can all go back to living in caves again."



The cavemen gave us fire and civilization.

The Republickers' greatest contribution is "The Do-Not-Call List."

[Arugula Latte]

11. I love this "He's not a Republican" thing they resort to.

Uhhh -- Yes he is. Republicans propped him up, stole the election, worshipped him shamelessly for a few years, did his bidding, helped him plunder the Treasury, and enabled his mass murder of hundreds of thousands of innocent people.

[YOY]

12. Bingo!

This is what compasionate conservatism is all about.

[tbyg52]

13. Yep.

Wishing they hadn't voted for Bush is better than still being happy with him, but they *did* vote for him when it was obvious to anyone who was paying attention that he had no concept of the Constitution nor of fiscal responsibility. "Oops" doesn't cut it--he's *their* fault.

[Disturbed]

16. There seems to be a disconnect between being a

Conservative and being a Republican now. The Busholini Regime is not a "conservative" regime if one takes into account what conservative values are stated as being. It seems that fascist is more of an apt description of the Busholini Regime. Most conservatives are not fascists. Busholini and his Criminal Junta have finally been discovered as not following the traditional conservative values after 6 years in power.

There is only one remedy now to save America. Impeachment of Bush and Cheney!

[salin]

20. about a year ago... a rw relative

who was in partisan warrior mode everytime we spoke since about 2000, said to me in a quiet whisper... you know, a lot of republicans and conservatives don't like bush, either ... As if distancing himself from this disaster he could keep holding onto the GOP in general. I found it interesting - as over the past year we haven't had political discussions, but we have had policy discussions- and he is once again a rationale - moderate - person on positions. He had to go through the 'break' phase (as in breaking from identification with the president on a knee-jerk reaction) - before he could free himself enough from rhetoric to begin thinking about policy openly again? Funny thing is while he hasn't said it - given what he said about upcoming elections (last summer) and repubs needing a "wakeup call" and his hope that "voters are paying attention" - that I think he has become and "independent". One more election and I would *bet* he tells me that he officially is "an independent" and "voting for the individual rather than the party". This is bad news for the GOP - as this person, for the past 12 years has been a reflexive loyalist. The more he has started "thinking independently" the more he has been thinking about politics and policy in general - for himself - not based on what some radio talking head has said. Finally.

[Sapere aude]

14. Funny when repubs don't like bush they say he isn't a repub, when they back him they say they are

not a repub. I have a co-worker who is as right wing as a birds right wing yet when I ask him about who he votes for he says he isn't a repub. He backs bush, believes 9/11 is the reason for Iraq war, bush doesnt lie.

[nadinbrzezinski]

15. I hate to say it but I agree with them

Bush is NOT a Republican, he is a Radical...

[Manifestor_of_Light]

21. using the "No true Scotsman" fallacy like some xtians would.....

[tom_paine]

17. I think we won in November by a much larger margin than was reported

I think it's very possible that the various Bushevik vote-stealing mechanisms are there and actually growing stronger, it's just that the Dem victory was so overwhelming, perhaps as much as 62-38% (not the 55-45% in the Senate and the 57-41% in the House that were the "counted" votes.

The Busheviks are hated by so many now, and rightfully so...

[tbyg52]

18. Here's hoping they're hated enough

to overcome the rigging that's going to go on in 2008 unless we bust up all those machines.

[Strelnikov_]

33. Something definitely went on in MT and VA Senate races

The tsunami was just too big.

The 38% in the house elections, as you note, is probably in the ballpark, based on the recent polls for the Maximum Leader (32% dead enders).

That 3% difference in the house (41% to 38%) could have swung a lot of close races to the Reich.

[bigwillq]

19. Did you ask who they will vote for

in Nov. 2008? :shrug:

[RiverStone]

22. Please don't hesitate to invite him to DU!

We will give this rehabilitated Repub lots of kudos!

[Laelth]

23. K&R

Sane Republicans. Such a rare treat!

-Laelth

[orleans]

24. ...all in due time. people are waking up...unfortunately it's so late. n/t

[Seldona]

25. Hell hath no fury like a con scorned.

My sis was hardcore repub. She even got a hand signed letter from Bush thanking her for her work in his first election! Now? Her whole demeanor changes when his name is even mentioned. She is PISSED. The way he has been going they will be lucky if they can get anyone elected in the next 20 years.

Now all we have to do is survive 2 more years.

[fooj]

26. A good friend announced he was changing party affiliation...

I suspected he would switch to Independent but he said he was going Democrat! He told us that the Dem values and ideals are what he wants to be a part of. No argument from me! LOL!

[fudge stripe cookays]

27. They had a guy yesterday afternoon on "All Things Considered"

who voted for him twice, but was incredibly disgusted by the speech, and was talking about how he was now going to teach his children not to take any president for granted, and how the Conservatives had ignored what the "hippies" had tried to tell them during Vietnam. And how had they allowed this to happen again?

He was obviously pretty sad and depressed, but I was yelling at my radio at the top of my lungs. Which must have been frightening for those in the cars around me, since I forgot the windows were cracked. :blush:

[crud76]

28. Now...

Gore '08!

[adigal]

30. My mother said the same thing

That she regrets voting for Bush the second time, and in 2008 she will vote Democratic, unless it is Hillary. In which case, she will probably vote third party. She mentioned Guiliani, until I told her he supported the "surge," so she said she needed to find out more.

Good. The Kool Aid drinkers are even fleeing the republican party. And it happened so fast!

[mnhtnbb]

32. Sounds like he still does not have an appreciation for GOOD government, though.

Reagan did a HUGE disservice to this country with all the government-bashing.

[deaniac21]

34. All republicans are liars. He was probably just trying to tell you what

he thought you wanted to hear.

[ninkasi]

35. Thank you for that story

He's probably one of many who have now woken up from their slumber, and become alarmed at the direction this country is going in. I hope many more will wake up soon, and support impeaching Bush and Cheney. Those two are poison for this country.