Talk to the Republicans you know as we get closer to the election.

[MineralMan]

Seriously. Not the rabid right-wingers. Just those Republicans who are otherwise reasonable people.

Don't argue with them. Just have conversations with them. Ask them about Trump and how they feel about him. Don't argue for Hillary. Just get them talking. Get them to tell you what they're thinking about November. Don't make it a long discussion. Just chat about it a little bit.

If they bring up Hillary, talk about her experience and mention something positive that will resonate with your acquaintance. If they bring up some "scandal," don't argue about it. Use the, "Well, I've never met a perfect candidate" line. Try to turn the conversation back to Trump. Ask them why they think he should be President.

Just have a conversation. Odds are you won't change their minds, but, if they're moderates, you just might make them question the reasons they're thinking about voting for Trump. Let them change their own minds.

A lot of Republicans who are closer to the center of the political spectrum are going to flip their vote this year. They need to think about it, though. You never know what will cause them to decide to mark the box next to Hillary's name. Maybe it's the Khan family. Maybe it's Trump's arrogance. You just never know.

But, have a conversation. Not an argument. Not a sales pitch. Just a conversation. Don't tell them how they should vote. Let them make the decision. But have the conversation.

[reign88]

1. I think

a lot of Republican's won't vote for Trump, but it will be the rare birds that actually vote for Hillary. Sure, you'll find one in ten thousand if you're lucky, but it's sort of like a Bernie supporter switching to Trump. Very, very rare.

Still, them not voting is all it will take. Low voter turnout is doom for Republicans, not that it much matters at this point anyway. Trump is a walking talking catastrophe of a candidate.

[MineralMan]

3. I think it's a lot more than one in ten thousand.

More like one in 20-50, really, among moderate Republicans. That's worth trying for, if it doesn't require much work or nasty arguments. I don't do political arguments face-to-face with people I know. That never works toward a good end, frankly.

Hell, if just a couple percent of Republicans switch their vote, we'll win in a landslide. It's worth the effort.

I think you're overestimating the percentage that will stick with Trump, no matter what. I think there are lots of people who are questioning that. Whether they leave that ballot line unmarked or vote for Hillary, we win. I'm for that.

[reign88]

16. Hillary will win

Of that I have no doubt. I just think it's more likely Republicans will sit this one out due to being disillusioned vs actually voting for Hillary. They might go Libertarian too, which is mathematically the same as sitting it out as far as a Hillary win is concerned.

She's got this in the bag, she could do absolutely nothing the rest of the way and still win. At this point barring a major October surprise, Trump would have to be incredible in the debates to have a shot.

[randr]

2. I have told my few conservative friends

who do not support Trump but are unwilling vote for Hillary and still feel obligated to vote Republican, that they have the opportunity to finally isolate the racist hate filled crowd of would be Americans who have been hiding under the Republican banner for a long time. Vote for Hillary in protest or do not vote at all.

[MineralMan]

4. I'm really not talking to those I consider to be

conservative Republicans. I don't waste my time with them. I'm just talking about those closer to the center. I don't talk to right-wingers at all, generally, and never about politics. It's a waste of energy.

Not every person who normally votes Republican is a right-winger. Many, many Republican voters are decent people who are capable of changing their minds. If I can help them do that without fighting with them, then I'm happy to try. I don't fight with people. That's not worthwhile.

[randr]

7. It is mostly unavoidable in my line of work

My wife works as an ER nurse and she says most everyone who comes in lately want to talk politics as well. She has told me of some rather civil discussions she has had of late.

[MineralMan]

10. Yes. I understand that.

Avoiding bitter conflicts is one of my priorities. I won't participate in senseless arguments. There are dozens of ways of shifting away from those, and I take them as soon as things begin to get tense. I see no value in bickering.

I'm 71 years old, now. I don't engage in things that raise my blood pressure any longer, and that has been a positive change. I'd rather make someone laugh than make someone angry. So, I keep political discussions in person at a reasonable level, always. I can't control what others do, but I can control what I do, so I'm usually able to scale down any movement toward an angry discussion. If not, I can walk away from it.

[randr]

15. We are alike in many ways

Getting wiser

[PasadenaTrudy]

5. I'm happy to report

I don't know any. Honestly, I don't!

[MineralMan]

8. Well, that's nice.

My circle of acquaintances, neighbors, family members and others is fairly broad, though. I do know some people who call themselves Republicans. I have a row of campaign yard signs in my front yard, and I talk to neighbors all the time. They sometimes mention those yard signs, so I have a chance for a conversation. My family has some Republicans in it, too, and my circle of social acquaintances and business contacts also includes some.

They all know I'm a Democrat. We have conversations sometimes. I avoid heated arguments about politics in my real life, but I don't shy away from talking about politics at all. People who know me know I won't argue about the topic, but they also know where I stand and how I feel. Not every political discussion has to be contentious. Sometimes people just talk about elections in a normal voice and share their opinions. That's a normal sort of thing.

I have very strong political views, but I'm not a contentious person. I prefer conversation to argument in all cases. If an argument develops, I'll scale it back and move on to some other topic. That's why I have friends and acquaintances, not enemies. I'll listen to people's thoughts about politics and add my own, but I won't ever go on the attack or on the defensive in conversation.

I believe that discussion and a polite demeanor accomplishes more than bickering. I'm funny that way, I guess.

[PasadenaTrudy]

11. I'm an introvert

and pretty reclusive. Only a hand full of friends. I like it that way. Not a fan of people in general

[MineralMan]

14. Everyone approaches social interactions differently.

No problem.

[guillaumeb]

6. Recommended.

I had breakfast with a group of fellow co-worker retirees.

Two who both expressed support for Trump are now expressing significant reservations because of the Khan family incident and the follow up attacks by Trump. (One of the two is an ex-POW and both are veterans.)

For the ex-POW, I also brought up the John McCain "hero" incident.

[MineralMan]

12. Absolutely. I know a lot of people who are veterans, too.

I know families of people who are serving or of veterans, too. None admire Trumps positions on those things. It's an easy entry into a discussion about the upcoming election. As a veteran myself, it's an easy topic to get started.

[Yonnie3]

9. I have had such a conversation.

The gentleman, a staunch Republican, I speak with is in denial. He says that Trump and Clinton will not be the candidates in November and has been saying this for a while.

He is a decent man, active in charities and the community. For example, he organized a group of trumpet players (including himself) to play taps live at veteran's funerals when he heard that a recording was being used. I doubt that he can rationalize Trump's war with Khizr Khan.

I don't think he could bring himself to vote for Ms. Clinton as he has internalized all the right wing media coverage of her through the years.

It must really suck to be him right now (said with sympathy).

[MineralMan]

13. Yes, it's tough for people like him, I'm sure.

There's no reason to push the point in such cases. It does no good, anyhow. But, it's certainly OK to let him express his concerns, and I'm sure he has them. Anyone who is concerned about veterans and similar topics has them this year.

But, he'll discover that the candidates will be Trump and Clinton. He'll have to make his own decision on that. I wouldn't push him on it, in any way. He'll figure it out for himself, no doubt, one way or another.