I just shut down a Repuke...

[youthere]

I'm a very non-confrontational person, but I just went head to head with a repuke in town, not 20 minutes ago. I had dropped the kids off at school and I stopped at the gas station/convenience store/deli in town to get gas and grab a cup of coffee (like I do every day). There's an older fellow who is there every day,who has been driving my husband and I crazy trying to get him to join the VFW (we both were in the service, me Coast Guard, and him USMC-Gulf War veteran). Anyway, I'm filling my cup of coffee and he comes over and hands me a magazine with all these papers stuffed in it, and says "Here, you and Mr.Youthere might want to take a look at this". It's a copy of "The Rifleman" so I said "Is that put out by the NRA?" (knowing full well it is) and he says "Yeah." so I hand it back to him and say "no thank you". I said it with a big smile and I was not rude at all. Here's the conversation that followed:
Him: Oh you're anti-guns
Me: (laugh) No. We're very much pro-guns...we're Anti-NRA.
Him: Well you know that Obama is going to double the cost of guns and ammo!
Me: Oh please, how does Obama have that authority?
Him: Well, he's going to raise taxes on them!
Me: First of all, the President doesn't have that authority, and even if there WERE a bill introduced to congress, the Republicans and plenty of pro-gun Democrats would fight it. You're buying into fear tactics, and campaign rhetoric. The fact that they say the same about EVERY Democrat EVERY election should tip you off that it isn't true. Not only that, I HARDLY think that with the current problems this country is facing that the price of guns and ammunition is even in the first 1000 priority items.
Him: Well that's what Hitler did! He raised the prices on that stuff!
(I know..big eye roll here)
Me: Hitler? Hitler was a fascist. McCain and Palin are on the trail calling him a socialist. I really wish you guys would get your smears straight, Is Obama a fascist, or a socialist? Because he can't be both.
Him: (walking away mumbling) you just can't talk to Democrats! (then he went and sat down in one of the booths in the corner)

I was so proud of myself! I am the QUEEN of thinking of the perfect thing to say AFTER the fact (think George Costanza 'jerk store'), and FOR ONCE I was actually on my game. But the best part was when I went to pay for my stuff and I noticed that the girl had only rung up my gas, so I said "Did you get my coffee" and she smiled big and said "No, your coffee is on me this morning."

[YOY]

1. Pwned.

You should have said on the parting shot "You can talk to us. Just you just have to actually know what you are talking about!"

That Hitler comparison is really getting sick.

[youthere]

30. Oh I love that line!

Now I'll spend the rest of the campaign hoping to get into it with him again so I can use it!

[KitSileya]

41. Or even,

you can talk to us, but you've got to be willing to listen to our responses!

[YOY]

45. Far more true than they will ever know.

It must be hard living in constant f***ing denial for them. I know it's hard to admit you made a mistake but this is beyond the pale.

[KitSileya]

82. it's pretty scary to see this as a part of the American psyche.

This unwillingness to listen, this inability to hold two thoughts at the same time. While there's been a sizeable portion of the American people who've been against this demagoguery since it began, one must admit that it found a home in a large number of people. It's pretty scary for the rest of the world, to be honest, to see such a powerful nation purport to be open, tolerant, democratic, yet at the same time have a large number of citizens who would like nothing better than to bomb both backwards theocratic nations like Iran and liberal, democratic nations like France back to the stone age. And not be willing to discuss with and listen to the rest of the world. At least with China et al, we know where we stand, they're progressing. The US has been backsliding for a while now.

[Xenotime]

65. I thought * was hitler?

[TheCowsCameHome]

2. Sounds like he was "shot down" in grand style - nice job!

Now enjoy your coffee................

[youthere]

4. I'm sipping it slowly in victory...

It's decaf..I gave up caffeine awhile ago...but it's the best damn cup of decaf I've ever had!

[VWolf]

26. One response I give sometimes:

"You listen to Rush?" (They almost always respond yes)

"Have you ever considered that you're being lied to? Do you know how many millions he makes? Do you think if he really believed what he was saying, they'd need to pay him that much? Do you think a millionaire talk-show host really cares about the average Joe?"

[youthere]

27. That's a good line of argument...

and OF COURSE he listens to Rush. It's the ONLY talk radio around here.

[dgibby]

50. Not to mention the fact that he comes from a VERY

prominent, very wealthy family of LAWYERS?

[Arger68]

3. The thing with ammo prices is, they've about doubled since

we went into Iraq. Funny how the NRA never mentions that!

[youthere]

7. Ooh maybe I should find some literature on that and print it off for HIM.

I love it!

[conscious evolution]

57. Everything with copper in it

has gone up in price.
After all,thats what shell casings and cartridges are made of.

I would like to see the NRA set up a branch in Iraq.I would bet that the Iraqis would love someone to support them in personal gun ownership.

[blue sky at night]

5. great job....

I am not willing to go there anymore, I won't waste the breath.

edited to add:


CHange, HOpe, OBama.....!

[youthere]

23. thanks! It felt great.

[Sebass1271]

6. good job!!!

I like the "is he a socialist or facists? because he can't be both!!

Bravo!!:applause:

[youthere]

9. You could actually SEE how he knew there was no answer to that...

his mouth opened and shut and he just grumbled how you "couldn't talk to democrats."

[gollygee]

8. I like the exchange, but a gov't can be fascist and socialist.

Fascism is about terror, censorship, control - that sort of thing. That can happen regardless of whether a country is capitalist, socialist, etc.

[YOY]

15. You are confusing "Totalitarian" for "Fascist" I think.

Economic systems are implied in Fascism. They seriously jive with those in socialism.

What you describe is a "Totalitarian Socialist" state.

[youthere]

17. You're right...

but I think the degree of socialism they are accusing Obama of, and the comparison to Hitler's kind of fascism sort of cancel each other out.

[hootinholler]

46. Sorry, but a government cannot be fascist and socialist at the same time.

Fascism, according to the person who coined the term, Mussolini, is the merger of government and business. He said it could also be called corporatism.

For me the deciding factor in any given action by government as to which it is, fascist or socialist, is who benefits? If it is corporations, then it is a fascist act. If it is the people, then it is socialist.

None of this has to do with authoritarian regimes, which can be either fascist or socialist, or even communist for that matter, and is what you refer to in how you describe fascism.

What the republicans have brought to the US is a sort of friendly fascism rather than the totalitarian ones of WWII.

-Hoot

[Not Sure]

89. Not to rain on your parade, but

according to wikipedia:

"Some critics equate too much corporate power and influence with fascism. Often they cite a quote claimed to be from Mussolini: "Fascism should more properly be called corporatism because it is the merger of state and corporate power." Several variations of the alleged quote exist. However no text written by Mussolini has yet been found with any variation of the alleged quote."

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Corporatism

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fascism

That being said, I agree with the spirit of your post and also concluded years ago that the Neo-Conservative movement and subsequent takeover of the Republican party left the United States in a state of hyper-corporatism fueled in part by blind patriotism. It's unacceptable no matter what the words used to describe it.

I'm also glad to hear that the OP called out the old Kool-Aid drinking codger. Good on ya!

[GDAEx2]

10. Go You!

That wasn't hard was it?
They used to rely on foisting their opinions on the rest without resistance.
Change IS a-comin!
:toast:

[OneGrassRoot]

11. Woohoo!!!! I'm like you, I always think of the perfect thing to say...

AFTER I walk away.

YOU DONE GOOD!!!! ;)

[youthere]

13. Oh thank you...

I'll be riding this high all day!

[StopTheNeoCons]

12. Great post, great job staying on point

[youthere]

14. Thank you!

[KharmaTrain]

16. The "Golden Silence"

Bravo!!

:applause:

There's nothing finer to start the day than shooting down a repugnican...or finish the day for that matter.

My fun is what I call the "Golden Silence"...it the moment when you hit them right between the eyes with their own hypocrisy. There's that moment where the world stops as the wingnut's hard drive stalls and they try to figure out what to do next. Most times it's a talking point or grade-school insult and name-calling.

For too long these asshats had gotten away with intimidating and spewing their bullshit...it's a great feeling when I read of stories like yours.

Cheers...

:applause:

[youthere]

20. The "Golden Silence"... I like that...

I'm glad I have a name for it now.

[SmokingJacket]

42. Woops

posted in wrong place

[VWolf]

18. I'm the same way

I always think of the best responses after the fact.

This year is different, however. I've been able to shut down a few righties with relative ease. I think it's because I'm both more informed and more passionate this year. Not sure if I've been able to change any votes, but it sure feels good.

[youthere]

21. I think it helps that their arguments are so lame.

That they are easily shut down. And they aren't just lame...they are usually repetitive, although, this is the first time I've heard the gun and ammunition price argument.

[VWolf]

28. Never heard the gun/ammo argument either

but yes, it's just as stupid as the others! :)

[formercia]

36. One dollar per round tax is what the sporting goods sales person

at Wally World told me.

My reply was: I guess they're trying to make sure only rich people can afford ammunition. It's the poor people they worry about. You sure it's not the republicans that don't want poor people to buy ammunition?

He looked confused for a few seconds, mumbled something and walked off.

[Not Sure]

90. Hell yes!

That's exactly the response to that argument. The dumbass had to think about it. You penetrated a chink in the armor. Not an easy task with the brainwashed.

[formercia]

98. Dumbfuckistanians

God help us.

[peace13]

19. Way to go! : ) n/t

[SammyWinstonJack]

22. "you just can't talk to Democrats!" I feel the same way about republicans! And he showed that too

be the case. :evilgrin:

[youthere]

24. Except I would say "You just can't talk FACTS to republicans"....

because they don't want to hear it!

[SammyWinstonJack]

31. Indeed! And he sure wasn't in the mood for facts, was he?

[Brewman_Jax]

25. Well done!

I've found asking the RW idiots when they say something REALLY stupid, "Really? Where'd you hear that?" and I've never gotten an answer.

[youthere]

29. They never have a reliable source, do they?

SOME PEOPLE have said...:eyes:

[Roland99]

32. suh-WEET!!!

:)

[gratefultobelib]

33. I'm so jealous of your ease with the comebacks! I can NEVER think that

fast on my feet when confronting the idiots, even when I'm canvassing. I'll try and memorize your words!

[youthere]

61. I usually can't either...

this was a real triumph for me.

[Terran]

34. I've overheard a 'low information' voter here in my town

refer to Obama as a "fascist communist". It wasn't a setting where it would have been appropriate for me to butt in, but I so wanted to tell this guy, "Uh, you can't be *both* a fascist and a communist, any more than you can be both a Democrat and a Republican. Do you even know what fascism stands for??" (apparently not).

Good job on your conversation!

[unpossibles]

35. excellent responses!

Btw, the thing about Hitler and taking away guns - it's not really true entirely anyway.

http://www.straightdope.com/columns/read/1791/did-hitler-ban-gun-ownership

Great comeback though.

[youthere]

62. That's good info...

I think I'll print that out and keep a copy handy in case he approaches me again.

[mimitabby]

37. amazing!

in situations like that i just fumble. Good job!

[youthere]

63. I usually do too..

and then I spend the next hour going "DOH! I SHOULD have said____________!"

[mgc1961]

38. For folks like that guy at the gas station...

...when prices go down it's a flag waiving American good. Any price rise in their favorite toys, regardless of circumstances, is evidence of Socialists, Nazis, environmentalists, femininists, Democrats, liberals, Satan, Commies, etc... at work. In their mind, the whole world is out to get patriots like him and only real Americans stand in the way of the evil New World Order that haunts his every dream.

Here's a clue his kind could use: Every day is a new world order. Make the best of it.

:eyes:

[youthere]

64. The thing of it is...

I know this guy, (it's a small town) and he doesn't even hunt.

[lpbk2713]

39. Call the owner of the gas station/store.

Ask them if they approve of political campaigning on their premises. It looks like this guy is just waiting for people to come in so that he can preach his political views to them. Tell them what you think about it.

[wtmusic]

40. I love stories like this

for a few reasons, but mostly because these are opportunities to change peoples' minds.

Opinions are seldom changed by logic, but often by being disgraced or embarrassed. People get tired of it and throw in the towel. You have this guy half way there. :thumbsup:

[youthere]

66. I hope he was embarrassed...

he should be, going around spouting baseless crap like that.

[OHDEM]

43. Great work!

When Obama said, "ENOUGH!" it inspired many of us to confront the lies and bullying we've been dealing with for years.

Also, a hearty THANK YOU SO MUCH! to you and hubby for your service.

[SmokingJacket]

44. Beautiful!

And thanks for doing it so nicely.

[youthere]

67. Thank you!

[wryter2000]

47. Yay for you

And yay for the lady who bought your coffee. That guy has probably driven her nuts, and she can't say anything.

[youthere]

69. It's a small town where everyone knows everyone...

I'm sure he's pissed off more than a few in there.

[PVnRT]

48. It's amazing how many people believe whatever the NRA says

I heard it constantly from the NRAophile in the office at the last site I worked at. The funny thing is that most of them insist on calling themselves "independent voters."

[youthere]

70. My stepdad is an NRA zombie...

he's convinced there are these gangs of Democrats-BLACK democrats- that lurk outside his home in the bushes waiting for the chance to break in, wrestle him to the ground and steal his guns, because the NRA TOLD HIM SO. :eyes:

[prayin4rain]

49. Damn! Good job!!! n/t

[treestar]

51. Good for you!

Sounds like you really held your own!

:yourock:

[youthere]

71. I was shaking a little when I left there...

but in a good way, you know?

[dgibby]

52. Most excellent! Congrats!

My favorite techniques/combacks are:
1. Really, prove it.
2. Are you serious? You actually believe that stuff? How sad for you.
3. Call me when your wake up, I'll tell you where your country went!

[ItNerd4life]

53. Congrats! I know how it feels to think of things 20 minutes too late

and when you do it at the right time, it feels so good.

You didn't argue, you just asked questions and challenged his beliefs. You may not realize it, but I bet you made him sit and think about what you said.

[youthere]

72. I hope so.

I don't know why people buy into the lies so easily.

[bertman]

54. "No, your coffee is on me this morning."

That's my favorite part. She's been listening to that old man's crap all this time and couldn't (or wouldn't dare) say anything.

Think she might be an Obama voter? Yeah.

[youthere]

73. I have an Obama/Biden pin on my purse and ..

one time when I was in there she noticed it and said she liked it, so I'm betting she probably is an Obama voter.

[bertman]

84. SWEET. You done good, youthere.

[King Coal]

55. HEY, Youthere, yes, you...... Nice shootin'.

[youthere]

74. Aw...thanks!

:blush:

[nickgutierrez]

56. Well done.

:)

It's always amazing how these so-called conservatives don't have the first damned clue how government actually works.

[youthere]

75. As if...

Obama could just waltz into the oval office and decree that ammo prices should double. :eyes:

[TuxedoKat]

58. Does it feel great when you stand up to their idiotic arguments?

Cheers to you! :)

[youthere]

76. It does...it really really does!

[roguevalley]

59. you are the queen of smart, youthere. HUGS!

[youthere]

77. awww..garsh...thanks!

[BrklynLiberal]

60. What a GREAT story!! It is always wonderful when you come up with the right thing to say

at the right time.
I think it was so cool that the girl at the cash register gave you a coffee on the house..
:thumbsup: :hi:

[youthere]

78. That was extremely cool of her.

[NikolaC]

68. Awesome Response!

I bet he wasn't expecting you today. That oughtta leave him confused for a few days!

[youthere]

80. I hope so. I hope it threw him off guard enough...

that he'll actually do some fact checking.

[Dukkha]

79. actually ammo costs have increased greatly because of the Iraq war

and supplies in .223 rifle ammo have decreased due to the demand for M16 ammo for troops. So If you want cheap ammo don't support two wars at once. I guess the boogey man tax is what the NRA is telling their army of chickenhawks now.

[youthere]

81. I wish I had known that...

it would have been great to be able to throw that at him. My husband hunts, and we like to occasionally target shoot, but I never buy the ammo. That's alright..I'm ready next time some puke gives me that lame argument!

[flpab]

83. Way to go!!

I just got the mail and the NRA rag was in the mailbox, put it in the dog poop bag, put a huge load of crap on it and put it to the curb for garbage pick up. My husband is an NRA member but knows they do this every election. I have totally got them to stop calling the house because I rant at them over their fear tactics. My husband is retired military and collects old guns but doesn't hunt or shoot.

[Blue Gardener]

85. Great Job!

You did good! :yourock:

[noiretextatique]

86. hey youthere

:applause: most excellent smackdown :thumbsup:

[MadMaddie]

87. youthere this is awesome! You did great!

:applause:

[Laelth]

88. Nicely done. n/t

:dem:

-Laelth

[VoodooGuru]

91. Great job!

I'd have said something like, "You mean like how Bush did with gasoline?"

[texpatriot2004]

92. Great job you did. That is awesome. I usually think of the perfect

thing to say afterward too.

[progressoid]

93. And free coffee!

:woohoo:

[barbtries]

94. these are my favorite stories!

way to go.

[Enthusiast]

95. You did very well.

Wingnuts, whaddyagonnado? FWIW, I also sometimes feel like George Costanza. Funny shit.

[PatSeg]

96. That is so cool!

You were flawless!!!

[auburngrad82]

97. I'd be willing to bet that within the first 10 pages there was an ad for Nazi memorabilia

A coworker showed me his Rifleman mags one time. Every issue has an ad for either Nazi memorabilia or Confederate memorabilia within the first 10 pages. Apparently Hitler and insurgents appeal to the NRA.