Recent conversation with a Republican friend:

[Raven]

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]

1. I doubt he could change his mind, my dear Raven...

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]

2. I hope you're feeling better, Peg. n/t :-)

[CaliforniaPeggy]

5. I am, and thanks! n/t :)

[LiberalFighter]

17. Good point.

Too bad we couldn't come up with a way to compute where they should be if Republicans didn't screw things up.

[spooky3]

31. Well, for starters,

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]

4. you rock Raven

yes yes you do

[Raven]

6. Thanks PP! I don't rock like I used to and I

definately won't be rocking if these two imbecils get into office!

[ailsagirl]

7. I don't think they understand logic... or math, for that matter

But who knows? Maybe you'll convert him.

[ellisonz]

8. lol - good job!

[laserhaas]

9. I'm hated by most family & friends for going after Mitt Romney for fraud.

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]

12. That's got to be tough

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]

18. You have my sympathy. I'm blessed with a purely democratic family.. every last one of them.

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]

22. You have my sympathy.

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]

26. I wish I could make a dent like that in my family.

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]

32. It's tragic that their ignorant hatred

is cutting off their collective nose to spite their collective face. They can't smell willard's stench.

[Curmudgeoness]

10. "How can you be so stupid?"

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]

11. You might bring up Ryan's little inside-deal during that whole mess

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!

[caraher]

15. Yep

That's where I'd go with that conversation too. Reminder that these folks are looking out for #1 and not for us...

[Bradical79]

13. my Republican dad is voting for Obama

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]

14. You should have

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]

16. What's it like having a "republican friend"? Superficial as hell?

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]

19. I have lived in the SF bay area ...

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]

20. I hope the transition away from the bay area goes well

I've lived in the bay area my whole life , the cons are quiet here .

[Kath1]

21. LOL!

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]

23. I hope your Republican friend also thinks about this.........

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]

24. Bravo and welcome to DU! :-)

[Amonester]

25. That -55|55+ division done on purpose by Rayn/Robmehood is horrible.

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]

27. Not deep thinkers are they...

Ask him how he feels about Ryan's insider trading problem.

[lastlib]

28. "Republican friend" is an oxymoron...

Better to refer to him as a "Republican acquaintance."

[Rosa Luxemburg]

29. This is a good point

I think we need to emphasize this "look who lost you your retirement" and "look who has got it back for you"

[Laura PourMeADrink]

30. can't believe he made it all back...I still haven't nt