I sent the McCain oppo file to a RW friend of mine

[reflection]

who on occasion can be intellectually honest. He had not seen it before, and as we were going over it, he was amazed (and also looked to be getting physically ill) at Romney's ever-evolving positions on just about every important issue.

We talked about that and about the fact that he is nothing more than a slash-and-burn corporatist, sucking the profit out of companies and leaving misery in his wake.

I said, "There's a word for an organism that constantly evolves to suit its own needs, has no purpose other that to survive and grow, and is indifferent about the residual effects it leaves in its wake. Oh yeah, it's a VIRUS."

All he could come back with was a weak, "anybody but Obama."

Normally I'd say I won the battle and lost the war here, but I was never going to win that war. They'll vote for him no matter what happens between now and November. I am done trying to convince these folks. My capture rate is probably 1 out of 50. That may be more of an indictment of my skills of persuasion than their intractable, willful ignorance, but I think my time will be better spent convincing like-minded friends to not stay home, to get off the couch, and to fight complacency and apathy. If you can't beat 'em, offset 'em.

[Jackpine Radical]

1. You can't attack unreason with reason.

They're coming from a gut-level, predetermined stance & will do whatever mental gymnastics are required to cling to it.

[lunatica]

2. They could get so depressed that they'll stay home on election day

I find that to be a distinct possibility. Because they'll know Romney is rotten to the core. Many of them will end up loving their country more than their party in the end.

[lindysalsagal]

3. I was able to turn my repub parents. You have to drip drip drip a little at a time and sit back and

wait. They don't come around exactly when you want them to. But eventually many people catch on that they're liars and regular middle class people are getting screwed.

I'm sure your attempts have helped keep people home from the election, and that's all we need.

[reflection]

4. You're probably right about turning people slowly

Looking back, I was able to convert my wife, who leaned fairly to the right. After the birth of our two daughters, I started pointing to several instances in which the Republicans wanted to control and demean women. Over time, she realized she didn't want our children to grow up in a country awash in legalized misogyny. I guess I need to identify the hot buttons for each person individually and not give up.

Thanks for the thoughts and advice, I was becoming a bit discouraged.