Any Big Brawls Or Arguments Over TG Dinner?

[BearClaws]

I got into it big time last year over Thanksgiving dinner.
I had a mixed gathering of friends and family over for Thanksgiving dinner and my wife who is fairly politically ignorant, touched off a political debate from hell with some freeper relatives.
Hell, my wife started it and she ended up being pissed at me!
Just about ruined the entire evening!
I still haven't spoken with the shrublovers!
Anyone here have a similar experience?

[Winamericaback]

1. It started

But I nipped it in the bud. Mt freeper Father in law was starting to quote a certain poll. I asked him if this was the same poll that he said proved that all polling was innacurate, he looked at me and didn't say another word.

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

2. No

but then it was a neighborhood dinner and everyone there is a liberal. We discussed the absurdity of the local election, when the poll people asked for photo ids from folks they'd known for ten to twenty years. We also applauded the stunning defeat of the Repuke candidate for sheriff. I found out that around $40,000 was spent on his campaign by Winthrop Rockefeller, who tried to get Repukes elected sheriff in every county in AR. I figured the guy got defeated because he promised to personally visit everyone every six months (talk about Big Brother!) but I found out another reason: he'd just bought land here with no livable house on it, and was campaigning from a local B&B. Folks around here don't like outlanders coming in and trying to take power.

[Cleita]

3. Nope. Relative known as One for posting purposes, started in on F9-11.

I asked him if he had seen it because the movie he described was a different one than the one I saw. When One admitted that he hadn't seen it nor would he, I offered to lend him my copy, but he declined. So I then said I didn't care to discuss a movie that I had seen with someone who hadn't seen it so I think we shouldn't talk about it. That ended that discussion.

Next somehow, the Bushes came up. Same One got argumentive when I started reciting the BushCo crimes. Challenged again, I told him he should read Kitty Kelley's biography. But, Kitty is a gossiper said One. Again I asked him if he had read the book and I would be happy to lend him my copy. If he found anything that he could prove were lies in the book he could then talk about it.

Conversation then turned to football and nothing else. Damn, today I thank all DUers who kept me informed about these matters.

[cally]

4. Not one word about the election, Iraq, or politics was spoken

I think everyone decided that it would get ugly if they mentioned anything about * so noone did. They are all Republicans. We did have a huge discussion about religion but that was mostly civil. I also didn't get much involved it that discussion. I'm actually impressed at my family. Most years they bring up politics and we have an argument. I think everyone knows I'm way too upset and to just not mention it this year is best.

[Dorian Gray]

5. No arguments....

Just friendly family loving! :) Which is my favorite part of Thanksgiving. (And there were people of all political spectrums there! But we focused more on pop culture and football. We all agree that we hate Star Jones and all talk of her wedding. Oh, and basketball brawls are a bad thing, but fun to watch on television. That's about as in depth that we got.

[Lydia Leftcoast]

6. We're all Democrats except for my Republican brother

My one cousin, who tends to run off at the mouth, said some things that I'm pretty sure would have set my brother off, but fortunately, he chose to ignore her.

If he had started something, I was ready with my line of "Whatever happens in the next four years is your fault, not mine, so we'll just see," but I didn't need it.

For someone whose candidate won, he seemed remarkably unhappy, though.

Oh, and his wife mentioned that he watches Fox News all the time. I guess he's been assimilated to the Borg.

[Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin]

7. No

But my Log Cabin Republican brother didn't show up. Heard that he was upset that Christine Gregoire is requesting a manual recount in the Washington state governer's race.

[Algorem]

8. had to beat down my grandma with a drumstick

she said Cheney's "intriguing"

[kurtyboy]

9. To my surprise---NUTHIN'!

My brothers and sisters are a mixed bag politically--or so I thought. When politics came up early in the afternoon my Burn-Again sister said, "I heard on the news this morning that we ought to keep politics out of Thanksgiving conversations."

I replied, "What else do you hear on the news that makes sense? More about the Scott Peterson case?"

To my surprise, she joined into a rant about how crappy the news is, and what a shame it is that real stories--like more than 100 marines and soldiers killed in Iraq this month--don't get reported. I asked if she voted for Bush.

"No!" She explained that this war is not Christian, and good Christians shouldn't support it. I could not believe she felt this way--and I have to assume that her whole church must have had that same conversation because she trusts in the opinions she hears there so much.

My brother, whose job depends on a local Navy installation, and who lives in a community in virtual lockstep in support of the adminstration was also a Kerry voter. The whole damned room, all 16 voters, were not-in-support of Bush. They actually thought about issues instead of listening to talking points.

I came home tonight, for the first time in weeks, genuinely thankful about something. It feels good to have a glimmer of hope....

[Hello_Kitty]

13. I think more gatherings like that will convince more people

That this thing was stolen.

[deerhead]

17. Same for me

My family, the Kansas rock-ribbed Republicans, all voted Kerry this year. I can remember my sister sorrowfully shaking her head over my support of McGovern, and now she's a certified Bush-hater. It's the first time ever we've been united politically. The big issue for them was when the Fundamentalists took over the state Republican party. They think they're nuts and don't want anything to do with them. They don't like anyone telling them how to live their lives.

And don't get them started on Sam Brownback...

[karlrschneider]

10. I invented a "cold" & didn't attend any gatherings.

Stayed home by my lonesome and had a great holiday! :D

[FlaGranny]

11. Not me. After dinner with

the family we all sat around and ridiculed Bush* for a while and made fun of the stupid things he says. We had a particularly good laugh about the "gynecologist love" one.

[TexasChick]

12. Nope. Nothing what I expected! Spent the day and evening in

Longview, Texas at my parents' house along with my twin, my aunt and uncle with their older son, Randy. Keep in mind my aunt and uncle are fundies and avid Chimp lovers. They absolutely know how much I despise the Chimp and I am Christian, but am not a fundie. I made a few cracks at the Chimp, but my aunt is a fun loving woman and she just laughed it off. She actually talked with me about my severe disliking for the Chimp and we exchanged email addresses. I am going to be emailing to talk more in depth about how I feel betrayed by this administration and why I feel the Chimp is NO Christian!

(Sigh) I asked her how could she stand the Chimp. At first mentioning "Chimp", she didn't know who I was talking about until I explained it to her. She doesn't care what we Dems call him. She just says "I like him". Bleahh!!! (Keep in mind this fine woman met the Chimp before and had pictures taken. She has them hanging in her house!) But, me, my twin, my mom and my aunt played Phase 10 for the rest of the day! We laughed and had a great time! Overall, I'd say it was very pleasant and not uncomfortable like I thought!

In fact, I wind up mentioning more of the Chimp than she did! I feel really dumb now, but hey, I can't stand the guy and can't keep my mouth shut until it's time for the SS to haul me away to one of those FEMA camps for reprogramming!

[SillyGoose]

14. Nope, not yet

but my Freeper sister arrives this weekend .... I imagine my Dad and I will go rounds with her as usual.

[Pluvious]

15. Ouch, I don't feel so bad

Having such opposing views with one's spouse must really be a challenge - good luck mate !

My Tale of Turkey Table Talk:
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=104x2752779

[nostamj]

16. my bush lovin aunt was home sick

so, chimpy had no defenders. political talk was limited and subdued. but, had she been there....

no question there would have been gloating.

glad it didn't happen. listening to children laughing is much preferable!