Do you have friends who are Republicans?

If so, how do you reconcile your feelings from politics and personal with those people?

I was thinking about this the other day. I was having a political conversation with a friend who WAS (and hadn't change parties, as far as I know) a Democrat and she acted like she didn't like what I was saying about this administration...she kept her mouth shut and didn't have any remarks to add. I found it strangely odd, to say the least and I'm thinking she has decided, for financial reasons, she LIKES the shrub. I find THAT reprehensible. Her husband is an attorney and I'm positive he benefited greatly from the shrub's tax cut. These are people who paid $200,000.00 CASH for a house. More money than I will ever have or see, that's for sure. So, I KNOW they made out well financially with the tax cut. I find the fact that people who already have a lot of money, making even more from the shrub, is repulsive. Having ENOUGH money is never ENOUGH. How do YOU DUers reconcile this stuff in your mind? Then throw in the fact that if you support the shrub, you support the destruction of Medicare, destruction of our education system, poor people getting poorer, no compassion for the homeless and hungry in our country ,illegal wars, world domination, stealing oil, killing innocent people, the Patriot Act and I just don't know how I can compromise my principles on these important issues. Doesn't supporting the shrub, show that you support all the BAD things this administration stands for? How can you/we be TRUE friends with Republicans? I'm truly torn...I really detest this administration. If one is a Republican, they must believe in the right wing agenda, right? I got the strange feeling from my friend that she had changed her feelings about this administration and it makes me ill. What are your feelings on this? Does it matter to you if a friend is Republican? If so, I understand. If not, why not? Personal-political......it's still the same person...still the same repugnant political stance and hateful feelings for the less fortunate of our country. Doesn't your politics speak to who you are as a person?

in fact, I just officially registered a democrat August 15th. I was a registered republican since 1988.

Eyes and mind open.

to DU and the Democratic party!:bounce:

:hi:

Just 20 more converts and toasters for everyone! :bounce:

But, hey, they're my idiots. Seriously, I don't think I could ever be friends with someone who thinks Tom Delay is a really sensible guy. But then again, I could never be friends with someone who thinks Ralph Nader is, like, the genuine article. Niether of those world view twains could ever meet with mine. But within the scope of argument, why not?

Bush flushed me out of the Republican party, too! A little over a year ago.

...in college, when I was involved with campus politics, some of my freinds and folks I got along with socially where Republicans, or conservatives. Kind of odd, that. I hung out with the "liberals" too, but also got along with the right.....this was back in the 1970s and very early 80s....(same in high school...some good freinds where actually born again xtians).

At work all my coworkers are GOP, but I get along with them on work related stuff and social banter and things....we avoid talking politics.

Bush is friends with Putin...

What's your point. Both appear to be of the fascist persuasion. Putin went from Communism to Fascism while Bush* went from democracy to fascim. Both birds of a feather though.

are Republican. I deal with it by not talking much about politics...mainly to save me the frustration.

who are actually nice people, if not misguided. And, they are people who would benefit from Democratic ideas and yet they stubbornly cling to everything Rush tells them. I have learned to clench my fists and keep my mouth shut when the conversation veers into politics. I listen and keep my opinions to myself because it would be like hitting my head against concrete to try to change their minds.

Ive known quite a few fundamentalists and born agains (some quite strict) and they are more or less pretty decent and nice folks.

I dont agree with their religion or politics, but they are not reallly not like the fanatical stereotype one associates with that movement.

He is kind of apathetic though, he isn't a political junkie. He was raised in a Republican household, he likes President Bush. We tend to not talk about politics, because sometimes it can lead to arguments.

I have another one too, but he has a few issues he differs from the right wingnuts, he believes in environmental protectionism, he thinks Reagan's plan of deficits was correct at the time, but that Bush's plan is wrong because of the timing. He is against Bush.

not a one....thank goodness!

And I don't want any either. I've got a brother in law whom I think is a closet repug, and I like him because he's good to my sister, but he's not what I'd call a friend.

... and I value the relationships. Some I can discuss politics with, some I avoid to keep the peace.

I used to many years ago while living in Wyoming, but that was a different age and political differences didn't mean you might end up being turned in to Homeland Security as a "terraist".

I cannot be friends with a Republican. I don't have enough in common with Republicans to be friendly with them.

There are members of my family who are Republican, but you can't choose your family.

One who's an elderly Catholic woman who votes Republican mostly because of abortion, but who also loves to argue so it works out great. Another who has just always voted Republican but is really more of a conservative union Democrat and doesn't know it yet. We're hitting him with how terrible Bush is to unions.

And some others that are more acquaintances that I just don't talk politics with. Unless they talk about O'Reilly or Hannity, then I come unglued and tell them they may as well just let the sewer run right into the living room as to listen to those two. They always laugh and then I never hear those two names again!

Our flavor of repub at least.
To their defense: as conservative voters go they're extremely liberal...

This is a common response from pukes: Socially I'm more of a democrat, but fiscally I'm republican. Which means: I want those tax cuts, no matter how much of a deficit it leaves future generations, or how many social programs they have to cut.

It's a bullshit response and I reject this kind of thinking. I have no republican friends, because they are hypocrits.

Most of them know precisely where I stand and we may kid each other about politics but it never gets nasty. We respect each other and occasionally try to change each other's minds. But most of my friends are just like me -- stubborn and committed to their beliefs.

Some of the co-workers (and playmates!) I most respected were Repubs, but the only time it got in the way was during the FL recount. One typical freeper hothead type shouting people down all the time and practically came to fist a cuffs one day. :eyes:

For the most part Dems and Reps could disagree agreeably.

Company went belly up and now I really miss the guys. (sniff!);(

The person who will take care of my children if something were to happen to me, a lifelong and dear friend, is a..., is a...., (I can't bear to say it)....republican. But something is going on, it is called deep disillusionment with a twist of disgust. Two years ago there were a couple of real shouting matches over Chimpy and for a long time just avoided discussing politics, but it has been awhile and I sense that there will be one less vote for him in 2004.

are Republican or Independent, very few hard core Dems. Upper-middle class neighborhood north of Dallas.

You up in Plano or further out to Frisco?

North, near Frisco :) And you?

Off 75 and Northwest Highway. :) Born and raised in the metroplex.

One thinks Bush is in trouble if no WMDs are found. Another is staying pro-Bush because she doesn't like all those "handouts" we Dems supposedly give everyone. (She doesn't count the robber barons of the GOP who steal more money in a day than welfare "hands out" in a year.)

Some GOP I know are definitely lower pay white males. It doesn't take a rocket scientist to see why they are GOP. I wouldn't call them close friends, but they are an OK sort. I respect them, but feel like they are really suckers. They have a tough life right now, and Bush makes suckers of them to add insult to injury. (I think I'm starting to persuade them of this to some extent too.)

A couple of my good friends are Texas GOP and they think they are Sam Houston -- both of them. One started to have a drawl far, far too soon after leaving the midwest. (I hate the way he now says "impordant" and other such Phil Gramm twang. He's still a great guy though.)

Yep, my partner and I both have some relatives who are Repubs because they identify the GOP as the "God, guns and guts" crowd. Since they think we as Amurikans are God's chosen (and thereby annointed with the most holy right to launch pre-emptive smiting of blasphemers and unbelievers both at home and abroad), George Bush is their next best thing to the Second Coming. Their loyalty to him and the GOP has more to do with "faith" than logic or facts; ie, the reality of rising unemployment, soaring national debt and the outright pack of lies that led us to Iraq mean nothing to them. Just as reams of scientific evidence cannot turn them from their adherence to creationism over evolution, no amount of hard evidence can shake their loyalty to the evangelical right-wing of the GOP because they simply BELIEVE. Presenting them with facts is merely a test of that faith.

Conversely, we also have a few very good friends who are rabidly Repuke -- very-well educated, income in six figures. They are political conservatives in the true sense of the word and unlike the evangelicals, understand quite well what the GOP is about and STILL fully support its platform, especially on economic issues.

In other words, we don't talk politics with any friends or relatives who are Repubs. It's the only way. (grin)

how can you be friends with someone you don't respect? :shrug:

Who has the courage of their convictions and is a good person a hell of a lot more than I would respect some jackass who judges people by party affiliation.

how can someone be a republican and be a good person, truly, from the heart? Is that really possible? That party represents everything bad in our country today. Is it ok to be greedy? Is it ok to have hatred for people who are less fortunate than they are? Is it ok to think homeless people are homeless just because their lazy? Is it ok to think our elderly should have saved for retirement instead of counting on SS and Medicare? Is it ok to think all people on welfare are there because they are lazy or just want a handout? Is it ok to take a tax cut when our country is suffering from overcrowded schools and no state funding? I mean, what makes a republican a GOOD person? I REALLY don't get it. "WHAT" is GOOD about them? Deep in the soul GOOD.

That you think all Republicans are like that? You sit there quoting radical right wing propaganda as if it is the mainstream Republican view? Do you actually think the GOP is monolithic and that all Republicans speak with the same mind? Because, you know, that is what the radical right-wingers say about Dems. They say all Dems are commies or welfare queens or soft on terrorism or traitors or whatever. How can you claim to be any better when you are acting exactly like the people you claim to despise?

My brother-in-law is totally Republican. He used to do Civil War reenactment, and you bet your ass he played a Confederate soldier. He hates Clinton and thinks the Kennedys are the worst people ever produced by this country. His face turns red if he even tries to discuss Hillary. He is also an atheist who volunteers at a local soup kitchen and gives to charity. He recycles and does volunteer conservationist work. He wrks hard for a living and takes nothing for granted. He never hesitates to help a stranger.

I'll put him up as a good person against the likes of you any day.

and you're my hero :eyes:


:puke:

ALL Dems are welfare queens...or "whatever". The points I made ARE republican positions. Tell me, please, WHAT are the "mainstream conservative" positions on the points I made? Instead of insulting me for asking a legitimate question, answer my question. What EXACTLY are the "mainstream conservative" political positions on...welfare, medicare, SS, homelessness, illegal wars, world domination, religion in schools, the 10 commandments on courthouse property, the PNAC, the tax cuts...everything. I have always gotten the same answer on those issues from any republican I have ever debated. Tell me, please, tell me how the "mainstream republicans feel about those issues. Maybe you could try to do it without being so hateful.

No rational thought will ever change their minds. I've dealt with the same type of bullshit you're dealing with right now, and the best course I've taken is just putting those people on ignore.

hates the Clintons and the Kennedys more than people who are currently tearing apart the US constitution and because he is an "atheist", volunteers at soup kitchens and gves to charity he is a good man? Nonsense.

"I'll put him up as a good person against the likes of you any day"

isn't judgmental? You are being judgmental because you perceive in_cog_ni_to as being judgmental. You just took your own point and hung yourself with it.

Did you possibly consider that this person is actually seeking an answer? Hell, I'd like one, too. I don't think there are any Democrats in this county. And my family are exactly what in_cog_ni_to described. On the other hand, I know some Republicans who aren't quite as repulsive. I myself was a Republican a little over a year ago, until I fully saw what my family's values were all about. And yes, they believe all that in_cog_ni_to listed and more. And I have to deal with them every single day of my life.

The less repulsive Republicans are the ones who are simply ignorant or brainwashed...or the ones who will actually let you discuss your opinions and not interrupt you in mid-sentence.

doesn't like Georgy Boy much anymore. The other couple doesn't talk a lot about it, so I'm not sure. Some of the pugs I work with are repulsive, but we can work well together. I prefer not to spend any social time with them after what happened in 2000. I really don't want to be friends with pugs because basically if they support dishonesty it's just too much for me to be able to overlook. Also, their values are too far off the mark for me. They pretty much only value $$$ over people!

I would not CHOOSE to associate closely with someone whose fundamental beliefs about so many issues differ so greatly from my own.

Me Too

Holidays are hell with me being the lone liberal. My dad was a John Bircher, brothers more conservative, and my sister (get this) is a republican Buddist. I call her a "congenital republican" - a term I use for repukes that are basically apolitical (don't read, dont care ... ) who adopt the repug label and claim it as their political home, because someone they know or respect votes that way, but they haven't a clue about the positions they represent, and would probably be mortified if they did.

Friends ? I have many repug friends - mostly moderate conservatives, many of which are alarmed at what's happening with *.

I have recently ended a friendship with a long time repug, wingnut, 'Coulteresque' friend (30 years) - not because of politics, however that did strain the relationship, because the personality traits that I grew to abhor that ended the friendship are very wingnut in demonstration - selfishness, meanness, narcissist, win at any cost ....etc...

Bottom line - I can't judge a person by their politics - many good folks are republicans and mean well. It can be an indicator though.

and we discuss and cuss politics quite a bit, as well as baseball trivia, fishing tales, etc... Doesn't mean we can't be friends who enjoy each other's company.

I have Republican friends, but honestly, I'm not that close to them. I much closer to my left-wing friends. I respect people more if they are moral, compassionate, intelligent, educated and truly wish for a better world. I don't find those traits in Right Wing people. I'll be friends with Repubs, but I won't get that close to them. And I'm glad I'm engaged to a liberal; I'd never date a Right Winger.

You can't leave your house without running into someone who's a republican. Actually the woman I consider my second mom is a die hard republican with a die hard republican family. But I love them. She doesn't allow us to discus politics or religion. My boyfriend's brother is a die hard republican, although he does think Bush is out of his gord, so we'll keep him. hehe...
And I go to a school where most of the kids are Baptist. I can't leave the parking lot without seeing a sign across the street that says "True freedom is found in Jesus." But that's nothing. Right as the Iraqi conflict was starting, we had a peace rally, wich was turned into a revival by these idiots saying that "True peace is found in Jesus." God, it just makes me hate christians and republicans.
Duckie

Republican. When there is a family gathering and politics come up and a sure to be heated discussion takes root(doesn't take long) my Mom intervenes (she hates *) and says "hush, all of you."

So we don't discuss it openly, to keep the peace. I take it personally that my brothers are not more informed and vote Repug in line with the "angry Southern white male" and bring up Clinton at the first sign of resistance; they take it personally when I criticize their great model of American values, George W. Bush.

I honestly believe they know they are backing the wrong horse, but after all, I am SISTER, and therefore, they must always be smarter than SISTER. :eyes:

she doesn't like anyone who isn't the same color as her (white).

she doesn't like gays.

she and her wealthy husband live on a farm in the middle of nowhere

and are scared to death that the liberals are gonna come take their

guns.

holidays really are not that bad as long as I keep the

conversations short and try to sit in another room with my more

liberal kin.

oh yeah....and when the supreme court appointed the chimp, she called

my mom, who is a lifelong Dem, and proceeded to taunt her with a

childish chant of na na na na na na......and hung up on her.

No fucking way...wouldn't allow it...complete waste of my time...fuck ALL and every single Republican...they are filthy greedy, racsist slime!

As Vaclav Havel once said, "The measure of a person is not how we treat our friends, but how we treat our enemies."

We live one time. To live a life of EXCLUSION (and excluding because of a political party affiliation) seems rather shallow.

It's hard, but it felt shitty excluding so many people from my possible friends list.

Especially after I had made friends with a woman and found out later that she was a die-hard Republican...
I had to wrestle with my thoughts and feelings on this but decided that her very real warmth, love, friendship, and fun were worth much more than her 'Republican' politics.

One day I'll ask her why she is Republican - perhaps because in her house I have seen pictures of her as a little girl with NIXON - her Dad worked in that administration.......

Perhaps just being around me and my friendship will turn her around one day!:evilgrin:

:kick:

DemEx

If one were to look at it strictly from a political perspective, you said it best:

"Perhaps just being around me and my friendship will turn her around one day!"

Well said.

For example,I think that my parents are both liberal Republicans. They support abortion rights and gay rights and oppose the drug war, but they are fiscally more in line with the Republicans. We can have talks about politics without any trouble.

They vote republican and shameless pigs like Bush put through their agenda and ideology...shameless

No excuse for voting republican..slime!!

No fucking way...wouldn't allow it...complete waste of my time...fuck ALL and every single Republican swine...they are filthy greedy, racist slime!

:puke:

ah, how I love punk rock college students :)

It seems there are a lot of people on this board who fit that description.

I wonder if anyone will ever see this post way down here??? Well I have many repuke friends. The only dems I know are in my family.

But they are all either moderate or liberal, as far as Republicanism goes....none of them could be classified as "conservative Republicans."

And one of my best friends is WAY to the left of me - - he's very progressive and leans Green (although he doesn't consider himself a Green).

Incidentally, many of my friends are apolitical.

One thing I've discovered about self-identifying as a moderate Independent is that, often times, liberals and conservatives find me very non-threatening and they're more willing to open up to me than those on the polar extreme from them.

Then again, there are some conservatives who think I'm "too liberal," and some liberals who think I'm "too conservative."

I have a very good friend who is not only a repub but a RW religious fundie. We got to be friends sort of by accident because she was my vet and I had a dog that had diabetes and so we became very good friends during the course of the dog's treatment. We go shopping together, out to lunch, go to amusements parks etc. My friend knows that I am an agnostic Democrat but we get along fine because we do NOT ever discuss religion or politics. We each respect that the other is dedicated to their beliefs and we let it go at that.

And every morning I piss in their coffee.

They all have one of the two characteristics:
1. They are politically apathetic and are Republican just because they grew up that way.
2. They call themselves Republican, but have very little ideologically in common with today's Republican party. My closest Republican friend is pro-choice, anti-death penalty, anti-taxcut, and Bush-hating. How she calls herself a Republican, I don't know.

There is no way I could be friends with a Rush quoting, Coulter reading, Freeper-type person.

left-leaning, at the least.

I have acquaintances who are repigs, but once they make their political leanings known - usually by repeating some anti-Dem/Hillary/Bill/whatever lie that is readily debunked at Snopes - I find that I avoid them in all but the most general settings.

They're sort of like smokers - whom I also seem to avoid without actively trying to avoid.

Just happened last night at a party; old guy said he liked Fox "News" and the commentators, ("reporters" he called them). I disagreed, saying they are biased. I moved out of the discussion and will not approach the man again. He was "friendly" as the party was breaking up. I smiled and moved on. I don't need them as "friends". (re: assholes on Fox and Friends)

though even he and I went through some changes over Clinton..and now Chucklenuts.

He dislikes Chucklenuts, however.

Lost several republican friends...though truly, they never were my friends to begin with...

and you're right...your politics speaks volumns about your character.
....or lack thereof

his white supremacy agenda, which is taboo to discuss. There are a lot of scared white people in this country who are afraid of losing control to the non-white majority horde in the world.

Grabbing up all the resources such as oil, water, etc., gives us the opportunity to stay in power and control and not allow the natural ebb and flow of life and economics to happen. For instance, Arabs have been sitting on oil for thousands of years, and now that it has become an extremely important resource, it's only natural that wealth and properity should begin to flow their way. Not so, says US!

We will not allow this to happen. Especially when we've ticked off these people for the better part of a century and we're afraid of payback.

Bush has unabashedly announced to the world that WE are in charge. A lot of white people like that.

Unfortunately, it's difficult to disown family members over their political weaknesses. I just avoid the ones that can't avoid talking religion and politics... for the rest, we just avoid talking religion and politics.

-- Allen

I tolerated gratuitous and ignorant Clinton bashing, but the wholesale destruction of the Consitution, our world standing, the environment and the US economy is too serious to tolerate their bullshit anymore.

I have several Repubican friends with whom relations have been strained, but the remaining ones are those who also can not tolerate George W Shitforbrains.

When in the College Democrats I steered cleer of College Republicans it was just too hard!! Unfortunately couldn't discuss politics with my grandfather, or now my aunt uncle etc... luckily my parents a democrats ...so we gripe and discuss together..... But I have some friends that are hard-core republicans...we don;t talk politics often to keep the peace.... but egg each other on once in a while....

what gets me is the CHristian Democrats and my friends children of missionaries who buy all the Compassionate Conservative crap that you should support the GOP because they are good Christians and are moral...well I hardly think that Jesus would approve of reducing government programs for the poor, drilling in Alaska or going to war ANYWHERE. :eyes:

He's my major advisor at university; I assumed being educated meant one went beyond FAUX news but was surprised to hear him mouthing some standard Repug BS about Iraq and he's said more than once he really does like FAUX news. I just see him as having been fooled and feel kind of sorry for him. I've lost respect for him because he eats up the official line so unquestioningly. I make it a point not to talk politics but have let a few little remarks creep in occasionally--like the fact that USA PATRIOT is a threat to everyone, not "just illegal immigrants" like he thinks. We had a brief discussion in which I said I felt Bush was the biggest liar to hit the planet--he seemed sincerely surprised and interested in my opinion but we didn't pursue it, both of us changed the subject.

.

Got tired of them, tired of their conservative shit

and in comparing their actual personalities I wouldn't trade them in for some of the people I've met at some left-leaning organizations I've volunteered with in the past such as NOW or PFAW.

News Flash....Just because you're a liberal in your beliefs doesn't mean you can't be a cantankerous, selfish, hateful, overbearing ass in all other areas of your life and I've met my share of those at the organizations listed above.

I can't say I have any "republican" friends. I may have a few co-workers to whom I act friendly towards, but definately no friends. They are mostly low wage conservatives/corporate jet conservatives. I can't even bring myself to talk to "them". I just know we could not have a normal public discourse on any subject. They have nothing to say that I find worth wasting my time to listen. The drivel that passes for fact with them is below me. I am a liberal and I am damn proud of it.

Hobo

Peace

Beer - Helping white guys dance since 1862

:beer:

there is only one republican. He fit the stereotype of "republican" the least of us. He is gay, black, and from New Jersey. However, he was a devout member of the Assemblies of God and a student at an A of G university. I think that he was simply socialized to be conservative. PLEASE...do not take this as an attack on Christianity. The fact of the matter is that this university and the denomination is a bastion of conservative ideals.

Both are Air Force (the most laid-back of all the branches) veterans.

He still has security clearance from his DoD contracting days.
She was an at-home mom for 13 years and vehemently opposes vouchers (I keep telling her if she ever wants to run for the school board, I'll manage her campaign).

Neither get involved with partisanship and here's the funny thing: when the whole Iraq thing started heating up, I kept my mouth shut, for the most part, the whole time. Never (okay, rarely) ragged on Bush, whined about the 2000 fiasco, or anything like that in front of them.

I just sit back and wait and let them bring up the stuff - and boy do they! Neither are pleased with the Bush administration. I just sit there quietly going "Mmm hmm. Mmm hmmmm. Do you ever check the BBC site for news?"

My family are all brainless Rush Limbaugh-worshipping troglodytes. You'd have to work hard to find a liberal in my county.

Jesus...I gotta move.