I was a jerk today.
I was in the Pick and Save grocery store in Menomonee Falls Wi, a "staunch" repub area. I was not in a good mood for several reasons, among them the fact that someone had recently flipped me off after seeing my Obama bumper stickers. Anyway, I have a sticker with a picture of a golden retriever and the words "I ride inside, dogs against Romney.com". Anyway a guy in his 60s, like me, sees it and says "at least Romney didn't eat his dog." Now if I was in my normal mood I would have said something like "people in other parts of the world eat things we would not and vice versa. They are cultural differences. I am glad we have a president who has experienced some of these cultural differences instead of a guy who has lived all his life in his own little restricted cultural bubble." That would have been a rational response to his idiocy. Instead, my response was "fuck you, wanna make something out of it?" I know I was wrong to respond this way and I'm usually not a confrontational person. But I am so sick of repub morons. Will some of the folks at DU at least tell me they know how I might have felt? That way maybe I can stop feeling ashamed of myself.
= new reply since forum marked as read
He got what he deserved.
Good for you!
You are always going to find somebody to condone your debatably extremist thought or actions against republicans. 
People on DU have wished much worse on republicans, including myself. You're entitled to a slip up once in a while. Besides, he was dumb enough to open his mouth first. Don't sweat it.
I want to just scream at the ignorance... I want to yell out my window of the car and call them all ignorant assholes 
but really... trying to actually having a discussion is like talking to a drunk... the irrationality is overwhelming
Sad, but true. You can't reason with a bully.
It would be nice to think that a reasoned response by the OP would have made this person see the light or even think twice about his position. He will never see it from someone from our camp.
This person has "issues." In a society that supposedly values multiple points of view, it is unacceptable to accost a person who is merely expressing his right to free speech.
So mysuzuki2, even if you had managed some restraint, it really wouldn't have accomplished anything. You're right to have been concerned about your response, though. A person should generally try to be reasonable.
Cher
But I wish I had the cojones you did. 
good job !
Seriously, you did fine. No quarter.
overstepping his boundaries, pulling your chain, itching for an argument, and lying to boot. Maybe he'll think twice before opening his great big fat yammer again.
Especially since those morons are everywhere everyday.
Our tolerance levels are going reach new lows as the election gets closer. I'm sick to death of the repugs and can't stand to be around even friends of mine who are so conservative. I try not to let it bother me, but damn....it's hard.
Sorry: I don't care what side of the political divide you are on, you don't get to use physically-challenging language or adopt threatening physical postures toward those who disagree with you, solely on the basis that you are not in a "good mood."
So, yeah: to the extent this anecdote is true, you were a jerk, and should feel ashamed of your behavior.
The replies supporting you in this thread are equally egregious: were the tale reversed, and it was an aggressive Freeper acting this way toward a liberal guy "in his 60s" the screams of "threats" and "assault" and "intimidation" would be non-stop. Really disgraceful that supposed progressives are telling you that you actually did good. 
I was sitting in a parking lot waiting for a friend in front of a Starbucks, when some right winger sees my Obama 12 bumper sticker. My window was down, and I heard him say (just loud enough for me to hear him), "Obama sucks balls". Without even looking to see who it was (or how big he was, or what he looked like), I just stuck my head out of my window and yelled out, "HEY! Go fuck your mom!". It was pretty out of character for me, and he quickly jumped in his truck with his girlfriend and took off.
Not my proudest moment, and even I was sort of shocked at my reaction, but I think I've had it with shit talking RWingers. I'm just DONE with them. So, I was WAY jerkier than you. 
He sounds like the type of puke who is accustomed to insulting strangers and bickering and such. So it's not like you made him cry, lol.
There are days I find it difficult to bite my tongue, as well.
My self-help step, to make it better, is typically to do something unexpectedly nice for someone else who needs it. I figure, karma-tically, it comes out even, if I do something nice. 
" Two things:
1. Piss up a rope and,
2. Eat shit and die
Any questions?"
