"I'm sorry, I like George Bush...I don't want to talk about it."

[ZombieNixon]

I'm hearing this more and more, and not just something like this, but the above sentence verbatim. I live in Republicanhellville, NM, and it seems that people have no reason to stick up for Shrubby-boy anymore. They just feel they have to do it for some reason, but can't justify it.

Other recent quotes I've heard from Republicans:

"We really need some better Republicans. I try to stick up for George Bush, but he makes too many mistakes."

"I voted for him, but he really is a dumbass."

:shrug:

[neuvocat]

1. So you have to apologize for liking somone, huh?

That sounds like a spouse trying to salvage a bad marriage.

[lancdem]

2. I love the dumbass line

LOL

[politicaholic]

3. "I mean, what if he WAS appointed by God. I don't want to go to hell...

just because I didn't vote for him."

[RawMaterials]

21. If he was appointed by the devil ,

then you would go to hell for making that vote.

I don't think God would approve of the killing of so many Iraq children.
Over 51% of the Iraq population was under the age of 18.

[nadinbrzezinski]

4. Hmm giving more credence to the abused wife theory

I ain't kidding you

[ZombieNixon]

5. No kidding

I can change, baby, I can change.

[Sapphire Blue]

16. An excellent article on the abused wife theory

The Politics of Victimization

(Mel Gilles, who has worked for many years as an advocate for victims of domestic abuse, draws some parallels between her work and the reaction of many Democrats to the election.-- Mathew Gross)

Watch Dan Rather apologize for not getting his facts straight, humiliated before the eyes of America, voluntarily undermining his credibility and career of over thirty years. Observe Donna Brazille squirm as she is ridiculed by Bay Buchanan, and pronounced irrelevant and nearly non-existent. Listen as Donna and Nancy Pelosi and Senator Charles Schumer take to the airwaves saying that they have to go back to the drawing board and learn from their mistakes and try to be better, more likable, more appealing, have a stronger message, speak to morality. Watch them awkwardly quote the bible, trying to speak the new language of America. Surf the blogs, and read the comments of dismayed, discombobulated, confused individuals trying to figure out what they did wrong. Hear the cacophony of voices, crying out, ?Why did they beat me??

And then ask anyone who has ever worked in a domestic violence shelter if they have heard this before.

They will tell you, every single day.

The answer is quite simple. They beat us because they are abusers. We can call it hate. We can call it fear. We can say it is unfair. But we are looped into the cycle of violence, and we need to start calling the dominating side what they are: abusive. And we need to recognize that we are the victims of verbal, mental, and even, in the case of Iraq, physical violence.

Continued @ http://www.mathewgross.com/archives/003075.htm

[Left Is Write]

6. I've heard similar remarks many times.

Even during the campaign. "I'm voting for Bush. I have my reasons." But they wouldn't give the reasons. Or they said the reasons were "personal."

Actual answers in debates about the candidates included, "Yes, I like Bush. I just do. I don't have to explain why."

[knitter4democracy]

9. I heard that, too, when I did phone banking.

I usually probed a bit further and found that they were fundies or evangelicals. That's when I took the gloves off. :evilgrin: Having been an evangelical, I know their language. Made at least a couple think.

[Poiuyt]

13. What do you say to the evangelicals?

[knitter4democracy]

31. See post below, but to sum it up:

Remind them of the two greatest commandments. That always makes them think. Gently ask them who our neighbors are today. Remind them of what Jesus said about what to do when we're hated and persecuted (hint: it's not bomb the hell out of them), and tell them to read the Epistle of St. James and the Gospels again.

[lildreamer316]

25. Yes; please do educate us!

I would really like to know what is an educated comeback to their way of seeing things; not being up on my bible (but I swear I am trying!)Do please share a little...thanks!

[knitter4democracy]

30. Well, you have to start out slow. They don't trust any of us.

They've been told not to over and over again by people they trust about other things.

I usually started out by telling them that I was a Christian too and asking what church they went to. That almost always threw them off guard. After they told me, if I wasn't familiar with it, I would ask if it was non-denom, Pentecostal, Evangelical or whatever. That gets them talking about their church--something they like to do. It also gives you hints as to where to take it next.

At some point, they'd ask what church I go to, and I would always tell them that I used to be Nazarene, went to a Nazarene college but later converted to the Eastern Orthodox Church. Yeah, that throws them, as they usually don't know what that is. I assured them that it's not Catholic (you'd be amazed how many really hate the Catholic Church), that we have a lot of the same issues with the Catholics that they do and have for longer. If they were still talking to me at that point, I'd move into politics.

I almost always got them thinking about it when I shared how the abortion rate went down during the nineties and has gone up since, drastically so here in Michigan. I told them how I am against abortion (I am, but I don't shove that on anyone else), but I'm more upset that we aren't fostering a pro-life community. They'd ask what I meant by that, and I would explain that a woman without health insurance or a job she can even take any time off of just can't have a baby. How can we say we're pro-life if we aren't supporting the choice for life? It's easy to point fingers and throw stones, but it's the harder, more Christian thing to do to support and help.

If they started getting judgemental, that's when I'd throw the Bible at them. I'd ask them what Jesus said the two greatest commandments are. (They always know them, but they have a hard time putting them into practice.) I'd ask them if they understood why Jesus picked a Samaritan for the story to explain who our neighbors are. If not, I'd go into it a bit. I'd ask them who are our neighbors today? It's not just the little babies. Sometimes, they'd hang up on me at this point, but I had a couple who stayed with me.

At this point, the couple who kept talking brought up gays. Wow. I'd never heard such filth and hatred, and it really blew me away at the time. I asked them if they really thought that Jesus hated anyone he died for that much. That usually shut them up. Then I'd go further and explain just how hard it is for them to be parents, how hard it can be to get and keep jobs, and again, I would ask them if Jesus thought they were our neighbors or not, reminding them that the Jews thought the Samaritans were horrible sinners who were going to burn in hell, too. That shut them up at that point.

I always ended it by reminding them to read the Epistle of St. James (a mind-blowing experience, and often ignored by those churches almost entirely) and re-read the Gospels before making their decision to vote. I actually changed one woman's vote right then and there.

It can be done. We can talk to them, but it helps to know their language and symbols.

[lildreamer316]

40. WOW

(excuse the language) Damn girl you go. Thank you for the detailed explination;I will read up and remember!

[knitter4democracy]

46. Um. Thanks!

I didn't think it was all that much, but I guess it was time to write it all down. Thanks for making my day!

[tridim]

7. My Bush voting parents do that

In 5 years they have yet to give me a solid reason why they voted for Bush, let alone why they vote Republican. Now they have this rule that I can't talk politics with them. Actually they just can't defend their man and their vote. As far as I'm concerned, I win the debate.

[CornField]

8. At least I have something in common with them

I'm also sorry that they like Bush*

[gratuitous]

10. Well, heaven forbid you actually THINK about something!

Even during the worst days of the Clinton administration (And doesn't it seem quaint that the biggest worry for Republicans was Clinton getting a hummer?), I could still articulate why I supported Clinton even while advocating all kinds of things he could do better.

But Bush supporters are the battered spouses of the body politic. "I don't care what you think! I love him and I'm going to stay with him!"

[WLKjr]

11. You get what you vote for

is what I have been telling people bitching about how things are going. I have done it at work, school, and out in public. I hope the asshats that voted for him hear me too.

[Poiuyt]

12. They like him for irrational reasons

Therefor, rational reasoning won't work with them. It's like a bad relationship. A woman can't say why she still loves the man who beats her.

PS - I don't know what kind of irrational reasoning would work.

[Robeysays]

14. I live in Arizona

and so far have converted 3 thats right three repub friends since the election, and all the people who had "viva bush, w04" stikers on there car have pulled them off in shame or disbelief, some times when you ask them why they voted for him they kinda change the subject realy fast. its quite entertaining. <(spelling)? all i know they're gonna have a hard time winning Miracopa county in the next few years, dems all ready control the north(flagstaff) and south(tuscon) metro areas, and are about to loose the pheoinx area.

[ZombieNixon]

17. "are about to loose the pheoinx area."

Dems or Repugs?

Welcome to DU, BTW! :hi:

[JimmyJazz]

18. Hello and Welcome to DU!

BTW - there is a spell check feature.

:hi: :hi: :hi: :hi:

[newyawker99]

29. Hi Robeysays!!

Welcome to DU!! :toast:

[Hardrada]

15. I'm sorry, I like vampires. I, I just

don't wanna talk about it.

[MADem]

19. I don't really care if they decide to vote for Democrats

...if they just stay home, that will do it.

Self induced voter suppression....yeah, that's the ticket!!!!

[yashuryabetcha]

20. Dammed-Nation!

My mother voted for him cause those stink asswipes fundie tv preachers who give a diseased and dying woman false hope (for a tidy donation of course)made her believe *’s a real Christian. Then with tears in her eyes she couldn’t understand why my brother is returning to Iraq.
My father (they divorced eons ago) won’t tell me why he voted for * ‘cause “I wouldn’t understand� I’m a 44 year old in my 5th year of university. Repeatedly he say’s I just couldn’t comprehend the complexities of the situation. I asked him to tell me just one good thing about his little shrub, and he accused me of calling him ignorant and hasn’t spoken to me since, probably never will. How is his ten year old grandson (my son) supposed to understand why his grandpa won’t see him. Well let me tell you… sadly he does understand. He understands more about politics than a lot of adults out there… smart kid. But it just goes to show how insidiously evil that little shrub is..how he has divided this country. I had several friendships that did not survive this… I can’t stand to be around these ignoramuses in such deep denial. It would be better that they were drug addicts than this; at least you could treat them.

[ZombieNixon]

22. Welcome to DU!

Also, check your Unicode formatting and browser prefs. All your punctuation marks are showing up as Euro signs (€) and trademark symbols.

:hi:

[Bhaisahab]

43. thats a powerful rant...

welcome to DU!

[Bouncy Ball]

23. I hear the same exact thing.

Before the election, they at least offered up SOME vague reason, like "he's a man of God" (oh yeah, and I'm a Martian, don'tcha know?).

Now, it's just shoulder shrugging and not wanting to talk about it.

They know he sucks and he's a festering boil on the butt of humanity.

[elperromagico]

24. Fear of terrorism. Fear of gays. That's what elected Bush.

Rationality damn sure didn't.

[demgrrrll]

26. I think you have a very good point. No one is going to publicly say they

are bigoted and that was why they voted for Bush. I can't imagine having a conversation with someone who would say that they are racist homophobic bigots and that was the major reason they voted for Bush. I think that may be the "I have my reasons". Hell they may not even be aware that is their issue they may just have some vague feeling of discomfort or fear which as assuaged by thinking that some mean ass mofo is going to kick someone's ass or restrict their activities if they scare them. Even if at some gut level they know that Bush is a phony and couldn't even defend himself they would not admit it. Too scary. I was standing on a porch waiting in line for something and three people were going to town ragging on the chimp. Two people were supporters and you could tell they were furious. I felt they were as mad at themselves as they were at them.

[tnlefty]

34. I guess that depends on where you live and/or some other

factors. My spouse and I honestly had many people tell us just how bigoted they are when all of their supposed reasons for voting for Dimson** were stripped away. It never ceased to shock and repulse me that so many were willing to take the country down the path to hell just 'cause they're racist or hate gays or both.

[demgrrrll]

39. Wow that is really amazing. They actually said point blank I am a bigot

or a racist or I hate gays.. those exact words... and that is why I voted for Bush. Stunning.

[shadowknows69]

27. it's denial

they don't want to believe that they were stupid enough to vote for this imbecile.

[Stinky The Clown]

28. They say that because no one likes to openly admit a mistake

[Bluesplayer]

32. Nixon

My mother voted for Nixon twice, but stopped admitting to it in 1975.

[redqueen]

33. Hi Bluesplayer...

Welcome to DU!

:hi:

[Bluesplayer]

36. Thanks

I've been lurking for a while - it's time to vent!

[radwriter0555]

35. "We're liberal democrats and we hate george bush..." was

my reply to some folks from Miny SOH tuh that I ran into... I was explaining we were moving to France... They asked why.

They about choked and died.

[kcwayne]

37. "I can relate to Bush, he speaks from the heart and makes mistakes from

the heart" was the retort I heard from a 20 something year old when I made a comment about Bush being a moron.

I commented that speaking from the heart, where there are no speech centers or thinking ability would explain why the idiot cannot speak coherently about any topic, and cannot even put together a single sentence that has logical consistency or any semblance of grammar.

Hey freeptards, what the fuck does this mean?

"A peance, freeance secure Iraq in the midst of the middle east will have enormous historical impact. GW 'Birdbrain' Bush"

It's your hero, speaking from the heart. Although intelligent people that understand and speak English would suggest that he is speaking with a braing that is 1 millivolt away from slipping into PVS.

[shadowknows69]

42. Jeff Dahmer spoke from the heart

and ate hearts from the heart and....

[Binka]

45. kcwayne LOL DUDE!!!!

A peance a freeance...I wet myself every time I read or hear that quote. Your comments about the heart are a riot! :loveya:

[tinonedown]

38. Where are you hearing this?

I can't find anyone who voted for him, or at least admits to voting for him.

[not fooled]

41. It's the "cheerleader" factor

Although homophobia, racism, and greed account for a lot of * voters, I think that another significant factor is the phony likeability that kkkRove sensed early on.

* does have the ability to project a facsimile of redneck bonhomie that appeals to the naive and gullible. Remember * used to be a cheerleader.

[LynneSin]

44. When Clinton was in the deepest shit for the impeachment...

...I still would find reasons to argue as to why he was a great president.