2016 Postmortem
Related: About this forumRecent conversation with a Republican friend:
He drops in from time to time to talk politics. He's voting for Romney.
Me: So, Joe, how much money did you lose out of your retirement accounts under Bush in 2008 in the stock market crash?
Him: Um, well I lost a lot.
Me: Well, how much, give me a percentage...30%, 40%?
Him: Yeah, about that, but the market's made it all back.
Me: Really? And who was President when that happened?
No response...I sure hope he's thinking about this.
CaliforniaPeggy
(149,297 posts)He is so heavily invested in his right-wing ideology that it would be impossible to turn away from it.
It's a shame, too.
Raven
(13,872 posts)CaliforniaPeggy
(149,297 posts)Response to Raven (Original post)
KatyAnn This message was self-deleted by its author.
LiberalFighter
(50,490 posts)Too bad we couldn't come up with a way to compute where they should be if Republicans didn't screw things up.
spooky3
(34,302 posts)The stock market has historically returned ~ 8% per year. So it should have nearly doubled while Bush was Pres. Instead it was ~ flat.
proud patriot
(100,700 posts)yes yes you do
Raven
(13,872 posts)definately won't be rocking if these two imbecils get into office!
ailsagirl
(22,837 posts)But who knows? Maybe you'll convert him.
ellisonz
(27,709 posts)laserhaas
(7,805 posts)They don't care that I'm a victim.
It doesn't matter that Romney is lying about leaving Bain Capital to avoid fraud issues.
All my "former" friends and many of my family - hate that arrogant Obama who is going to declare himself King.
Better to have a crooked Mitt Romney who knows how to corrupt the federal system of justice
Then the half breed, dark skin bleeding heart liberal.
ailsagirl
(22,837 posts)I feel for you. Fortunately, I don't know any righties, nor do I have any in my family. I'm fortunate.
Hang in there. You know the truth.
progressivebydesign
(19,458 posts)I can't imagine how messed up it would be. The only people that were even slightly republican, who married into the family, are now solid Dems.
Kath1
(4,309 posts)I have some right-wingers in my family as well. We don't discuss politics that much. Surprisingly, you can get through to some people. Former Bush and McCain woman I know had a conversion after her recent divorce. She got away from hubby's radio programs and Faux News, started reading and checking out progressive websites. She is now 100% for Obama, mainly because of women's health issues. I'll be meeting up with her at the "We Are Women" rally in DC on Saturday. At age 51 she is very excited about taking part in a protest rally for the first time. Better late than never!
Auntie Bush
(17,528 posts)All my siblings and spouses are Republican...except one brother-in-law.
Thank God all my kids and spouses are Democrats.`
Last summer the Dem B-i-l was reading an article that told some of the disturbing things rethugs are doing or have done. My sister was shocked over and over and horrified many times. To make a long story short...When we finished she announced she was a Republican and always would be. I couldn't believe it...thought we had converted her. No such luck. Everything went in one ear and out the other bypassing the brain. I'm afraid she represents many ReThugs. Their whole identity is being a Repub and ones identity is hard to change ...no matter what. (It's like changing a hair do that you've had for 30 years. If you change it...it's no longer you.)
Cha
(295,899 posts)is cutting off their collective nose to spite their collective face. They can't smell willard's stench.
Curmudgeoness
(18,219 posts)That was my conversation with a Republican today.....that was HIS comment. I was trying to give concrete, reasonable arguments and questions. And this is what I got.
Lucky you---you just got no response.
bhikkhu
(10,708 posts)when he heard in a closed-door meeting during the collapse with the fed chairman how Goldman and Sachs was one of the few still safely positioned; then went out and immediately sold down his portfolio and bought GS.
I doubt that Ryan lost much in the stock market crash, but just imagine how much better the information he can get if he's in the White House!
That's where I'd go with that conversation too. Reminder that these folks are looking out for #1 and not for us...
Bradical79
(4,490 posts)And my Republican friend has been convinced to just not vote at all. So I guess that's 1.5 wins on my home front
dsteve01
(312 posts)sinked the hook in a little better.
Could've hitched on a, "Republicans don't have a coherent tax policy," or "Hey, you heard of this guy named, Mittens, Yeah, Mittens, he's a guy who has paid no taxes for his entire life."
Something to make him work his Republican officials, for you.
just1voice
(1,362 posts)I don't have any GOPigs as friends, never will. Maybe you could explain how the current president is responsible for 30 to 40% gains in the markets too. Was it bailing out criminal banks? Is it refusing to prosecute a single one for things such as real estate fraud, investment fraud, libor rigging, muni bond rigging, derivatives fraud, etc...
A great read is almost anything from Matt Taibbi, he explains the massive corruption really well which, is the reason why the markets are up from their 2008 lows -- pure corruption.
bayareaboy
(793 posts)Most of my life. I really don't see Repubs often. But soon I am probably doing a transition to Auburn. It is a great little town in the Mother Lode. It is by and large Repugs with lots of Tea-Baggers thrown in.
I don't like the idea but it is a good deal cheaper and I like the mountains more than traffic jams.
Hell maybe I can convert some of those folks I know they won't change me.
proud patriot
(100,700 posts)I've lived in the bay area my whole life , the cons are quiet here .
I love hearing stories like this one. So sad that these people are so brainwashed by RW hate radio and Fox news that facts mean nothing at all to them. When I hear people complain about Obama's spending I always ask about the cost Bush's Iraq war in terms of money and ruined lives. The response is usually silence.
mojo2012
(290 posts)This is the future for our kids and grandkids that Ryan touts??? You are correct, Dem or Rep, the effect will be the same. Under the Romney-Ryan budget, remember Medicaid will be turned over to the states and all federal funding ceases which means less money for the states to spread out to those who need it. Even if anyone 55 or above supposedly will still be on the traditional Medicare program, the fact is that once Medicare runs out for this age group and they are forced into Medicaid and coverage for it lessens (under the Romney-Ryan budget) for nursing home care, guess who has to pick up the rest of it if they need to stay in the nursing home? Their children, that is if they can afford it. So the over 55 can be severely affected. Those under 55 get a double whammy...help pay for the elder parent in a nursing home AND lose their own Medicare (probably SS in the future) as we know it today. The children of the top 1% will probably never have to face this growing issue since they will be able to afford anything that comes their way, especially since the Romney-Ryan plan will protect the rich with lower taxes.
I hope those under 55 whose thoughts for Medicare and SS are far away, consider this possible scenario should Romney win this election. What happens to the 80-year old mother, father, etc. who is currently in a nursing home, exhausted their Medicare benefits, is on Medicaid, their Medicaid coverage is lowered, and their children can't afford to make up the difference? What then? It doesn't matter if you are a Dem or Rep anymore does it? The only difference is that the Rep who voted for the Romney-Ryan ticket shouldn't be allowed to complain since that's who they wanted for the future of our country.
I know I and my siblings can't afford to pick up the difference in the cost of nursing home care and the Medicaid payment. From experience, nursing home care can run between $6,000-$9,000 PER MONTH. No one should be forced to make such a decision on the care of their parent.
Raven
(13,872 posts)Amonester
(11,541 posts)What if an "unstable" under 55 "gun owner" would suddenly "hate-flip" and ... (O.M.G.)
How MORE DANGEROUS these GOP hacks DIVIDE-AND-CONQUER-FOR-PERSONAL-GAIN can be? It should be ILLEGAL!
Kalidurga
(14,177 posts)Ask him how he feels about Ryan's insider trading problem.
lastlib
(22,978 posts)Better to refer to him as a "Republican acquaintance."
Rosa Luxemburg
(28,627 posts)I think we need to emphasize this "look who lost you your retirement" and "look who has got it back for you"