Republicans will vote Bush because he's Republican

[MaryH]

That's what my boss said. Thinks Iraq was a mistake but will vote Republican anyway. Bush did well after 9/11 and that's a good enough reason.

But they've been Republican for generations.

[mairceridwen]

1. not ALL of them

Especially those moderates who are concerned with responsible spending. Several moderate republicans I know won't on the basis of spending and gay marriage alone.

[Warpy]

2. Lots of Repuglicans are planning to stay home

or cast a protest vote for Badnarik. They're lifelong party members with a firm sense of belonging and they know Bush is a disaster, but can't bring themselves to vote for any Democrat. They bought the silly lie that Democrats are tax and spendaholics, yet they realize the most profligate SOB in history is their own idiot, following in the footsteps of their last two idiots.

Eventually the reality of their own party's loss of fiscal responsibility may sink in. For now, at least a lot of them aren't going to go in and mindlessly vote a straight GOP ticket.

[Kierkegaard]

3. There's a kernel of truth to that.

Some will vote party line, as they always have, even if * was filmed roasting a live Iraqi child over a blazing rotisserie pit. They are a lost cause.

There are Republicans though, who actually became Republicans because of their belief in the party's values and not because they inherited it from their parents or grand parents. Many of those voters don't see Scrub as a true Republican and might be struggling with the idea of voting for him. Then there are the RINOs who are going to vote their conscience, regardless of the way they identify themselves. I think this group is probably having the hardest time rationalizing a vote for *.

The point is, there are many shades of gray here. From one extreme to the other. There are lost causes, but there are many who are actually taking the time to consider their options more carefully. Some will likely fail miserably.

[Blitzburgh]

5. I will weigh in here

I started a thread a couple of days ago that was titled "Bout time"

I am in every sense of the word a "true" Republican. My beliefs run more to the right than to the left. But, for this election I will break ranks and vote for Senator Kerry.

I made this announcement the other night at a dinner party and was derided for being a "confused conservative". Be that as it may, my conscience is clear and I believe in my heart that a vote for JK is the right thing to do. The evening ended with a wager. If GWB won, I would have to shave my head bald. Likewise for my friend who instigated the wager.

I will honor my end of the deal but at this moment, I believe it may be my friend who will see the benefits of Nair. ;)

All Republicans are not pulling for President Bush. We have been dumbfounded with some of his stupid and bizarre moves since he has been in office.

(What I am about to write may seem very rude and I apologize if it comes across like this. I am trying to make a point from my perspective and nothing else)

If you want to make a strong point to our side, come across rational. People from my party tend to be calm. We don't chant, break stuff, cry, etc. We are furious with the amount of money that is being put into Iraq and Afghanistan. We are furious with GWB for signing legislation allowing 10 million illegal immigrants carte blanche free passes. We a furious with GWB for letting the assault weapon ban expire and so on.

You will find that most of us tend to be open minded and objective. We also realize that this President is one of the poorest choices from our party in a long time. Only Bob Dole could possibly be a worse candidate and he was offered up as a softball for President Clinton to crush.

If Senator Kerry wins this election, I promise I will judge him fairly and openly for the next 4 years. If he does a great job, fine. I will happily vote for him again. If not, I hope to hell we offer a candidate with some common sense and leadership qualities seriously lacking for the past 4 years.

Have faith, we are not all lost.

Mike

[Kierkegaard]

8. Welcome aboard!

Appreciate the words of candor. Here's to you keeping your hair!
:toast:

[madrchsod]

10. you sound like a john anderson republican

or a rational thinking republicans here in illinois. i will respect a republican with princples but the new bunch has none. that is one of the reasons some, but not enough republicans will not vote for bush. it`s interesting that kerry`s stance is more republican than a "socialist" democrat. times have changed in my 40 years of political life.....

[mitchum]

11. Mike, you are a man of honor...

I thank you for both your honesty and your vote for Sen. Kerry. And I am sorry for what has been done to the traditions of your party. And wlcome to DU :)

[Name removed]

14. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[IdaBriggs]

15. YEAH! I LOVE YOU!!! Three Cheers for Integrity & Patriotism!!!

I needed to read your post this morning. Thanks for sharing -- I'm an Independent, and I'm actually VOLUNTEERING for Kerry this year. I've promised everyone that if he doesn't do a good job, I'll be helping to boot his butt out in four years. Fortunately, I'm confident he's going to be a GREAT President. Thanks for coming over -- it took a great deal of courage to stand up that way! YEAH, MIKE!!!

[Blitzburgh]

25. Something I forgot to mention

If my party wants to alienate me for the next 4 years, create a ridiculous witch hunt for President Kerry and filibuster every single thing that he tries to accomplish.

Nothing pissed me off more than watching my party harass and challenge everything the Clinton administration tried to accomplish. Where the hell did that come from? Not the Republicans that I knew and supported. But, it seemed there was no end in sight of creating controversy for President Clinton. I will not tolerate another GOP (my party) led investigation, unless there is strong and irrefutable proof of aiding and abetting the enemy.

I will admit, as much as I love Branson, MO. it is highly dangerous to me and my business to blatantly challenge anything against President Bush. But, I will not back down nor be embarrassed in my choice. People here are so set in GWBs "hard-work" mantra, everything else is subversion. Spooks me truthfully. And pisses me off by our double standards within the Republican Party. The very things that they went after BC are the same things they give GWB a free pass on.

So, I went on this whole rant simply to say that I will not under ANY circumstances look to hammer John Kerry for every slip up. He will make mistakes, how he handles and corrects the mistakes he made will ultimately determine if I vote for him again. God knows he cannot destroy the image of the Presidency any more than GWB has.

Mike

[noiretextatique]

16. tell me: why did you vote for him in the first place?

perhaps that will help me in talking to some republicans at work. frankly, these folks don't seem "calm" at all to me...they seem defensive and irrational, like they know continuing to support bush is foolish, but they do it anyway out of some misguided beliefs about "lower taxes" and "smaller government."

bush was a sorry candidate in 2000...it surprises me that more republicans didn't jump ship then.

[Occulus]

20. I would tend to agree 100% with you

The people in charge of the show right now aren't what I've grown up associating conservatism with. Conserving means preservation, but how exactly does this administration conserve money? Peace? Our environment? Our educational system?

I could go on and on.

These people, these "neoconservatives" (or, if you like, "neoliberals", since that's what they truly appear to be), have nothing to do with conservatism, and more to do with exercising their power in any way they see fit to further their agenda. As to what that is, exactly, only they seem to truly know.

There is a stark contrast between Republicans I'm perfectly willing to work with, and the group I've described above. You seem to belong to the former; these... people... belong to the latter.

I think you're right; it's perfectly within reach to hammer Bush* on the very issues conservatives hold as their core values. You're also correct in that doing so would appeal to today's Republicans far more effectively than some of our other tactics do.

Welcome to DU! :)

[newyawker99]

26. Hi Blitzburgh!!

Welcome to DU!! :toast:

[tinanator]

27. a self hating Republican

just kidding. Many, many Republicans know better than to back Satan's child for four more wars. It takes a great lack of conscience to support a lying mass murderer, and not all Republicans are so gifted.
-which of course, is not to say the RNC and cohorts wont make every effort, quite possibly succesful, to steal another term...

[MaryH]

29. You sound like the Republicans I Used to Know

My boss and his wife are really nice people - and not religious, either. And not even especially conservative on wedge issues. But they and their family have always been Republican. But I'm sure they will vote Republican.

I also heard one of the far right religious guys say that there is no way he could ever force himself to vote Democrat. I find that rather odd myself. What if the Republican was the anti-christ? Would you still vote for him? Just to be loyal?

I would change votes in a second if I felt the person in my party was a crook or a serious right-winger. But I know what right wingers are capable of - living in the middle of a whole bunch of them myself.

[Toots]

32. Just curious..Do you have anyone in mind that could fit that bill

"If not, I hope to hell we offer a candidate with some common sense and leadership qualities"
I can think of no one at the moment on the Republican side that can measure up to your very basic requirements. If they had common sense they would not be backing Bush* or the programs he has instituted. Leadership qualities...to be a world leader you need to involve the world. The Republican Party of today seems to feel it doesn't need the world community for anything especially guidance. :shrug:

[suegeo]

4. Bush's greatest failure is his greatest success

"Bush did well after 9/11 and that's a good enough reason."

Is it just me, or are 3000 dead people, burning buildings, plane crash craters in Pa., and a smoking Pentagon somewhat symbolic of a COLOSSAL FAILURE? I mean, like a catastrophe on a biblical scale?

Not to mention the death and chaos in Iraq and Afghanistan nor bin Laden.

Your boss is like a woman who repeatedly returns to a guy who beats her.

[MaryH]

7. I think they are just afraid to admit

that Bush is a terrible president.

I don't think they were really crazy about him in 2000. And I know they were not Ashcroft advocates (he's from here - and that's kind of a Missouri embarrasment).

I was not really anti-Bush in 2000. I was particulary fond of Gore and if I had thought the Republicans had a really good canidate I would have crossed over.

I guess it has become old fashioned to want the best person to be the president.

Its like the way I like Kit Bond (a long-tim Republican). I just feel like Kit Bond does what's best for Missouri - not just for the Republicans of Missouri.

[Blitzburgh]

12. Hey there Mary

Fellow Missourian here. (Branson)

We share similar thoughts on this (otherwise we wouldn't be here,eh?)

This will be an interesting election. On one hand, I will proudly vote for John Kerry. On the other, I will vote for Mel Blunt. Issues and character matter. Neither of which I believe President Bush recognize.

[PsN2Wind]

13. Please don't be embarrassed Mary

Anyone could lose an election to a dead guy.

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

6. Ask your boss if he remembers

Eisenhower. Tell him that Ike's son, John Eisenhower, himself a Republican for over 50 years, has said he will vote and support John Kerry because Bush has trashed Republican values. Might make the boss change his mind.

Check this article by Eisenhower at Truthout:

http://www.truthout.org/docs_04/093004U.shtml

[Kahuna]

9. We're courting Independent voters and repubs-lite. No one expects

hard core bushbots to change horses. :shrug:

[Skittles]

17. yes, they put the interests of their party above the interests of America

it's beyond sad and more than a little pathetic

[noiretextatique]

18. i could almost understand it...if their candidate wasn't such an idiot

it's hard for me to believe that anyone really believes that clown is "decisive."

[MallRat]

19. Tell him that Bush is not a Republican.

Bush spends and borrows on behalf of the governement with impunity.

Bush has GROWN the federal government, not made it smaller.

Middle-class families are bearing MORE of the tax burden, not less, and middle-class homeowners in many cities are now paying A HIGHER NET TAX RATE today than they did in 2000, because the government has left the states and towns twisting in the wind.

With the Patriot Act, Bush has eroded our rights to privacy, making government even more intrusive in our lives.

Bush is not a Republican. He is a neoconservative, and that's a completely different animal, undeserving of the support of genuine Republicans.

REAL REPUBLICANS should be voting LIBERTARIAN this year.

-MR

[Yupster]

22. agree Mallrat

I'm going to be interested to see if there is a little bump up in the Libertarian vote this year.

I'm sure that there are many ideaological Republicans who are incensed by where Bush has taken the party. I can't see many of them voting for Kerry though who would be so against their worldview. I wonder if some end up as a protest Libertarian protest vote.

[Yupster]

21. That's why Herbert Hoover won

40 % of the vote in 1932.

A lot of people have a worldview of what government is supposed to be, and they're not going to change it based on a bad candidate or a bad president. They'll vote the party because it represents their worldview, or at least is supposed to.

Look at Bob Dole. Could there have been a worse candidate? Yet he got the vast majority of Republican votes.

The same would go the other way in 1980. Look at Jimmy Carter. Could he have been a worse candidate in 1980? Yet he still got his 40 % of the vote that each party seems to have locked up before the race even starts.

[zmdem]

23. Democrats will vote for Kerry because he's a Democrat

ABB ? Nader isn't Bush, yet most Democrats won't vote for him.

Naturally most people will for their party's candidate

[proud patriot]

24. So nice of them to put party before country

:eyes:

[Disturbed]

28. Bush and Cheney betrayed the Republican Party

No matter who wins the Repub. Party will go through some rough times because it has been hijacked by Neo Fascists and Right Wing so-called Christian Zealots.

[MaryH]

30. That's True

But don't ever underestimate the far right religious folks.

They will never give up. And their goal is control.

The regular Republicans may have to form a new part and start again.

[SHRED]

31. My Repub friend will stay home!

He just won't vote.
Excellent. I hope lots of Pubs feel this way.

[Neecy]

33. here's some Repub feedback...

I've been canvassing in Kansas City for the last couple of weeks, and so far I've encountered around 10 Republicans who are voting for Kerry - just in one neighborhood in South KC.

Yesterday afternoon, someone who wasn't on our list was in her front yard as we walked by, so we waved - she saw our Kerry shirts and almost RAN over to us. Her husband, who was doing lawn work, saw us as well and came over. They blasted Bush, said they were life-long Republicans but voting Kerry, and they asked where they could volunteer to work for JK. These people hated the coWard as much as we do - and they voted for him in 2000. After 4 years, they've had enough.

He's alienated the traditional Republicans, and we CAN win them over. The whacko wing of the party - the fundamentalists who have taken over and now control what was once a great political party - will never loosen their grip on Bush. But the REAL Republicans know a fraud when they see one, and that's what I'm hearing as I pound the sidewalks.

[alcuno]

34. I think a lot of men look at this like sports. They're on Team Republican

Don't they even have some thing where you can be a GOP TEAM Leader? Women have less allegiance to the "team."