You could have picked my jaw up off the floor

[spinbaby]

While we were visiting my in-laws this afternoon, my 84-year-old, racist, Republican father in-law said, "I'm going to vote for Obama this time. He's done a pretty good job."

[CaliforniaPeggy]

1. I guess you could say that we're never too old to see the light!

Good for him.

I hope there are many more just like him: seeing the light.

[spinbaby]

2. He's a sensible guy

I told him I was proud of him.

[AlbertCat]

16. He's a sensible guy

The GOP just simply doesn't make any sense at all. People resist as long as they can, but sooner or later, they know it.

I used to never vote a straight ticket. But these days it's almost not even worth finding out what the candidates are like. If they are Repugs.... they are useless. So I just vote a straight Dem ticket... even though I still look into candidates. Waddaya gonna do? The GOP is simply nuts.

I remember as a kid and teenager there was this dynamic between the parties. Things seemed to sorta work best with a Liberal Congress and a Conservative Prez (The reverse I don't remember working so well... since Congress makes laws). Perhaps I'm remembering things a little rosy... I was a kid after all. But today... forget the GOP. They're useless... even as a foil.

[Siwsan]

3. Wow - I wish my mother would lose her irrational anti-Obama mindset

She's one of those ueber-catholics who is on a really rabid tear, now. I have no doubt she's firmly in Santorum's camp. She finds it utterly humiliating to have a liberal daughter who actively campaigned for Kerry and Obama.

Admittedly, I get a kick out of driving her around in my car, with the Veterans for Obama bumper sticker.

This is going to be a rough year to get through, no matter who the rethug candidate is.

[socialindependocrat]

4. THANKS! Just what I needed to hear!

I love to hear when a Repub finally gets it and tells someone that they are switching sides!!

Thank you very much for the pick-me-up!!

After all the logic we've thrown at them, you'd think someone would be listening...

[Bluerthanblue]

5. wow... good for him!

I hope he's one of many.

[ProfessionalLeftist]

6. So says my sister and BIL (tea baggers on the dole)

I had the same reaction. They're on SSI now (his) and I think they figured out that any Repuke candidate is out to trash SS, SSI, Medicare, Medicaid, etc. He rails about 'socialism' but they live on "socialist" SSI. In other words, our tax dollars pay to support their tea bagging butts. Anyway, they said they'd vote for Obama this time. Whether they actually do is another story.

[DCKit]

10. Well, if they don't and the Repugs make further gains in the House and Senate...

It could be a matter of months before those SSI checks stop coming.

You need to educate them on (R) policies and the rising stars of the party. Subtly, of course.

[hayrow1]

7. Paul Ryan has given the Repukes one heck of a problem with seniors.

Oddly, only Newt saw the train wreck that will be coming in November.

[GP6971]

8. Then there are those,

Like my great aunt, that wants to die before she reaches 100 in October. She just doesn't want to get that congratulary letter upon reaching 100 from a "....er". Sad indeed, so sad.

[Skittles]

9. I know republicans who won't vote for any of these current repuke clowns

they won't vote for Obama but cannot bring themselves to vote for any repuke currently running

[DCBob]

11. I think its the improving economic numbers.

Its hard to believe the GOP argument that could have done better by doing nothing.

[davidpdx]

12. I would have been laying on the floor passed out if I'd been you

That is a "pretty fucking big deal". Glad to hear it though.

[A Simple Game]

13. Is your father in-law a conservative or a liberal?

Has his political philosophy changed or is it the same?

[grantcart]

14. There are a lot of Republicans who have their beliefs but, they are not stupid.

Just wait until there is a full blown campaign.

[zipplewrath]

15. So

We're seeing moderate republicans and independents saying they'll vote for Obama.
And we're seeing the disaffected left claiming they WON'T vote for Obama.

So the logical conclusion would be?

That Obama has been more appealing to moderate republicans than to the hard leftists?
The hard leftists are more irrational than the moderate republicans?
The moderate republicans are easier to fool?
You can please all the people some of the time, but you can always please a moderate republican?

[Kurmudgeon]

17. The logical conclusion would be Obama is a centrist.

The hard right hates Obama as much as they ever have, I doubt the hard left is any more forgiving.

[saras]

18. He has been a quite successful Republican president.

Framing the debate as between him and a fringe of radical right extremists instead of him and corporations against Americans was an utterly BRILLIANT political move.

[AnneD]

20. And so was Bill Clinton.....

eom.

[DesertFlower]

19. that's great.

[harmonicon]

21. That's nice, but I'm not that surprised.

I remember talking to my (now ex - we broke up before the election) girlfriend's dad about Obama v. McCain. This guy was a Korean War vet and a life-long Republican. He admired McCain but recognized that Obama's policies would be better for him and his family. I don't know who he ended up voting for though. For guys like him, is there even anyone in the Republican party left who they could admire in any way?

[HopeHoops]

22. I bet he's not the only one.