How Many Of You Know GOPs Who Won't Vote GWB In '04?

[K8-EEE]

I do!! I personally know 4 people and that's not all -- they are the only people I know that even voted for him last time.

They all say they thought he was a centrist and feel betrayed. Some variation of that. Out of the 4, only one is voting Dem -- she has voted Dem in the past.

Two for 3rd party candidates -- one not voting.

Another friend said people at her work had made similar comments. Admittedly, I live in liberal place (L.A.) where even GOP try to come off not too right wing, I am curious if anybody else knows any GWB ship-jumpers.

Truthfully, most people I talk to are so disgusted with him. Then I look at all these polls about how great he is, I'm like...do they just make it up or what?

[Hippo_Tron]

1. I have some Republican friends who aren't totally hopeless...

Their position right now is that GWB is FAR from perfect but better than any of the democratic candidates. I'm hoping that they might change their views in the general election.

[Lorien]

54. I've said it before and I'll say it again

the DVD/video "uncovered" seems to have a powerful effect on the repugs who watch it. Get it for those you know who seem to be waivering at moveon.org.

My mechanic, a lifelong repug, says he feels totally betrayed by Bush* (and Jeb). He WILL NOT be voting for either again, and favors Dean for his fiscal conservatism in the coming election.

[Arugula Latte]

55. I watched it this weekend w/ bro. in law

He voted for the Squatter in '00. He doesn't say much about politics, but my sister-in-law confided that he regrets voting for the A-hole and won't repeat that mistake. I keep stressing Bush's shoddy record on small business, since that appeals to his own self-interest.

[Leilani]

2. People are undecided

I think it depends on who the Dems nominate.

The repugs who don't like Bush may stay home.

[Serenity-NOW]

3. I know several and they are tossed about voting

For more fun and games remind them about the jan 12-13 Mexico Summit.
Freepers need to know- so they can protest.

Washington Post-
President Bush will propose protections for the Social Security taxes paid by the workers who would come into the country under massive changes to immigration laws he plans to announce on Wednesday, Republican officials said Saturday.

Bush's plan would make it possible for such workers from Mexico and perhaps other countries to collect retirement benefits without being penalized by their home countries for the years they spent working in the United States, the officials said.

Officials began releasing details of Bush's plan shortly before Christmas ...

Fox said last month that the two countries are working on agreements to allow Mexicans "to go and come each year as many times as they want, without problems, and so that they can work with documents in the United States."

Bush's plans, many of which are similar to ideas endorsed by the Democratic presidential candidates in their platforms and debates, would be the most broad changes to immigration law since a bill signed by President Ronald Reagan in 1986...

...in trying to persuade conservative lawmakers to back the package, the administration will contend that it reflects Republican values by rewarding work. The administration will also argue that the plan would enhance national security by making it more likely that immigrants with tips about terrorism would cooperate with authorities, because they would not fear deportation.

[Melodybe]

4. I know like 20 and i live in MS

There still are those that like him, but the only repugs here that are still on his side and the ones with money.

[rfranklin]

8. So, the rationale is that Mexicans with Social Security will...

protect us from Arabs hijacking airplanes by giving us "tips?"

Yep, that makes sense to me.

[radfringe]

5. of those that would admit to voting for Bush* the first time

around 5 among my co-workers

[rfranklin]

9. My business partner voted for Bush...

She had tough times as a Eastern European immigrant to this country and resents the black people who benefited from affirmative action when she was in college. She bought the whole Clinton-Gore package of smears and fabrications. She was probably told by the Catholic Church to vote for Bush because of abortion.

She was shaking her head over the Mad Cow incident but when I told her that voting Republican was the cause of it, her response was 'would the Democrats do better?" I said yes, that they had tried to introduce legislation for more inspections and the Republicans killed it. For a moment, a very brief moment, she was taken aback. Then, she shook it off and dismissed the whole argument.

You cannot change faith. It is believing in the face of a lack of evidence--or a mountain of evidence to the contrary.

[seventhson]

6. one brother, lifelong repug

voting Dean

[Dr.Phool]

7. several

I know several personally, and I work a few hours every Monday at our local Dem HQ. I usually answer the phones, and call back people who contacted the office over the week-end. A majority of them are Republicans, who are disgusted, and want to help defeat shrub.

Even my father, who's never seen a Democrat he liked, is talking about voting for Gephardt. Now, if I can just flip him over to Dean...:evilgrin:

[Q3JR4]

10. I was in a gay chat room

today talking to other guys when this (probably) conservative sends me a personal message. He was enraged at my bio line because he didn't think that I should be making a statement to the effect that * would reinstate the draft. It took about three hours and more than once he made disparaging comments about the "Liberal scum who wanted to leave Iraqians to fend for themselves." To that fire I added no fuel and kept up with the logic of my arguments.

After about three hours and constant pointing to the PNAC website, I was able to get him to see things from my perspective. He is now a firm believer that * will reinstate the draft and based on that he plans not to vote for the commander and thief during the next election season (young enough to be a draftee himself).

It's a given that he doesn't wish to support the Dem. nominee, but he refuses to vote for a president who is being led around by the nose by PNAC.

:bounce:

[jonoboy]

21. my gay friend is a Repub..very depressing, can't understand why

[Arugula Latte]

56. Gays who vote Repub...

It's the chickens voting for Colonel Sanders...Don't get it...Never will...

[Racenut20]

11. The grounded Mexican Airline flight

Looks a lot like a setup for the new immigration bill to me. Now all the Mexicans that cross the border will give us tips on terra.

[Nlighten1]

12. My parents won't vote for him.

They always vote Repub too but they said Bush is not getting their vote next time.

[Cooley Hurd]

13. Several - and they're hardcore repugs (not swing voters)...

...including my brother, a card-carrying NRA member and county repug official. That's why I'm dumbfounded to hear anyone say "any" Dem candidate (translation: Howard Dean) is "unelectable" against Bush. He's turning off the swing voters as well as much of his base. I'll be shocked if he gets even 40% of the popular vote in November...

[laruemtt]

14. my sister.

she's already apologized for voting for * in 2000 - very gratifying!

[barbaraann]

15. Four I can think of right now for sure.

And not one Gore voter who will vote for Bush.

[DrBB]

16. Depends who the Dem is

Had a talk with my GOParents over Thanksgiving. They don't like Bush and his crew. But they don't like Dean, for one set of reasons (mostly gut-feeling), and they don't like the rest of the Dems for another (they all seem like standard-issue Dems to them). With the exception of Clark. They like what they've seen of Clark, despite the fact that he's to the left on a lot of issues.

Looks to me like the candidate's going to be Dean or Clark.

Hopefully if it's Dean (or one of the others), they'll just stay home--or maybe by then he'll have had a chance to persuade 'em, though that seems unlikely knowing them.

They could pull the lever for Clark, as things stand now.

on edit: great thread topic, by the way. One of the most interesting I've seen recently. Hope it thrives.

[Wink]

17. Just one

And he was a hard core Bush ass smoocher. The O.T. legislation did him in. He was just so happy with his extra couple of hundred bucks from Bush's tax cut (and he never did understand when I explained that he was gonna get screwed out of that money due to the budget cuts this meant to the states, who would have to raise state and local taxes). But when he figured out how much money in O.T. he was gonna lose because of Bush, man he flipped so fast I literally couldn't believe it. So you see, greed is what GOPers are all about.

[are_we_united_yet]

18. Unfortunately

not enough of us

[dusty64]

19. I think I've convinced at

least a handful. Gonna keep trying.

[4dsc]

20. My father, a life long republican

will not vote for dubya because of the war with Iraq..

He will for Dean though..

[goddess40]

22. Green switch

My cousin who voted for Nadar now says he will never do that again. He was one of those who thought Gore was going to win so he wasted his vote on Nadar. Now he KNOWS Bush must be stopped so he will vote for "anyone who isn't Bush" or Green.

[cthrumatrix]

23. I know many people that are tired of his deception....he is not focusing o

what their needs are (medicare reform is a farce)...tax rebates were a sham and the economy (job wise) sucks...alot of people who voted for him openly talk about the BS terra alerts and will be looking for "choices" from the dems.

[Skittles]

24. my boyfriend's father

is absolutely disgusted with Bush

[alcuno]

25. Not GOP's, but Independents who went "astray" in the 2000 election

Mom voted for * in Florida
Dad voted for Nader in Florida

I have managed to refrain from blaming them for the destruction of the country. Mom and Dad won't vote for * but are prone to "wildcard" voting.

[Hamlette]

26. One

he's a major fund raiser for Clark in Paris. Go figure.

[One Taste]

27. I know one..

she says she wants to vote democrat to get shrub out of office, but will find it VERY hard to stomach voting for dean because of the media's portrayal of dean as a wild liberal. She is 82 years old, a life long republican. I'll be working on her for the next 8 months to sure up her vote.

[ElsewheresDaughter]

28. i personally know 9 from Houston who will NOT again vote for the chimp!

[LTR]

29. I post on a small NFL message board

And I posted a scathing anti-Bush screed in response to some freeper saying we should tie up Saddam Hussein in Times Square and let people throw rocks at him.

I said many things, such as questioning why we didn't go after bin Laden with the same zeal as Hussein, since his organization was responsible for 9/11. And about Bush's exploitaion of the tragedy for the sole purpose of stealing oil and sending kids off to fight a war for Bush family pride. And that the Reagan Administration propped up guys like bin Laden and Hussein in the first place. Oh, and I threw just a little PNAC/LIHOP reference just for kicks (not too much - don't want to scare anybody).

Stangely enough, quite a few people agreed with me somewhat. Some of the right-wingers were still pro-war, but many of them agreed with me that Bush is a horrible president. Most of them liked my assessment of how Wesley Clark would make a great president, but were leaning third party, likely Libertarian.

The way I see it, even if conservatives go Lib, it still is one less vote toward Bush.

[watercolors]

30. at least 13 in our family

Family gathering became a political conversion! Totally surprised us at all the negativity toward *. There are 12 grandchildren coming of age for a draft, not very happy parents. Dean seems to impress them the most, Clark also has some of the votes. We did our best to inform them of many things we have bookmarked at DU. We will e-mail them and do our best to make sure that it is ABB. Hopefully it will reach further into each family. Find it hard to believe the polls!

[fishoutawata]

31. I'll be voting for any Democrat on the ballot!

I'm a life long GOP'er too. This site, and this administration have changed my views on the Republican party so much, that they (GOP), have lost my vote at least in the next election.

[barbaraann]

32. Welcome aboard!

We're happy to have you!

:bounce: :hi:

[fishoutawata]

41. Thank you very much. N/M

[Blue Gardener]

35. Welcome to DU!

And on behalf of my 16 year old nephew whom I love dearly, thanks for not backing Bush. My sister is really starting to worry about a draft, I think she'll vote dem this time. My brother already said he will not vote for Bush as he did in 2000.

[fishoutawata]

43. Thank you also...

As a former United States Marine I feel for you and your nephew. I pray that the draft is never reinstated.

[Blue Gardener]

47. My brother is a former Marine also

His son has enlisted in the Marines. He graduates in May and will be going to boot camp in July. As you would imagine, we are all very concerned for him.

[fishoutawata]

53. Please thank him from a former Marine for his future service.

In my humble opinion he chose the right service to enlist in. Do you know by chance what his MOS (job) will be?

[Timefortruth]

39. Welcome to the bright side!

How far right were you?

[fishoutawata]

40. Pretty far right...

I voted for Bush in 2000 but I regret it everyday. Your message title pretty much says it all. I feel like a blindfold has been lifted from my eyes and I can clearly see just how bad the current administration is for this country. I mean PNAC?? come on... :)

[Timefortruth]

44. What made you open to new information?

How do we enlighten more Republicans?

Do you know others who have started seeing the truth?

[fishoutawata]

46. My daughter...

She made me open my eyes. She is only 20 months old but in her almost two years in this world, my views on things have changed. For example when she was born, she had Torticollis which then caused Plagiocephaly (flattening of the head). Being new parents, my wife and I had no idea what was wrong with her. Everyone including my daughters pediatric doctor said everything was fine. My wife did some research on the web and somehow found out about "Early Start" a social program that helped us so much. They sent out a physical therapist to help with her Torticollis and also recommend taking my daughter to a Neurosurgeon for the head flattening. The Neurosurgeon diagnosed her with Plagiocephaly and prescribed a helmet to help round out her head. Early Start was a life saver from the beginning and without them I don't know where we would be. I thank all the tax payers everynight before I go to bed for giving my daughter a normal physical apperence. Sorry for the rambling but to get to the point. Without my daughter's needs I would of never had a first hand experience with a tax dollar funded social program nor would I have opened my eyes to the need for them. This got me thinking about my views on taxes and the social programs that rely on them. I know now that we need them and I feel bad for ever bad mouthing them before. I feel that the Democratic party knows the value of these types of social programs and thus I support the Democrats. There are other issues that I've changed my views on but I'll leave it at that. :)

As far as others that I know who have changed their views on Bush. Yes, I know two others who will be voting for the Democratic candidate to get a fresh start and hopefully a better world view of America.

Oh yeah and PNAC really really scares me. Maybe more Republicans should be made aware of this "Project".

[Timefortruth]

48. Congratulations on your daughters progress!

Is that program still in place where you live?

Have you considered working for the Democratic Party? You have a perspective that could be very valuable. My mother used to say the best Jews are the converts, but I think the principle applies to any thoughtful transformation.

[fishoutawata]

51. Thank you...

Yes Early Start is still around (I'm in California). My wife to this day still talks to my daughter's original therapist.

I've been considering volunteering my time to the Democratic party just to help get Bush out of office. If you could provide any info on how one volunteers time to help the Democratic party I would be all ears. :)

[Timefortruth]

57. Well, I could put you to work tomorrow if you were here.

but there are geographic obstacles.

What you need to do first, if you haven't already, is register as a Democrat. It doesn't matter much, but I've taken to checking registration to avoid mole problems.

Call your local party, it is likely in the phone book. If not check the State web page for a local link. Attend some meetings and opportunities to volunteer will present themselves.

Alternatively, find a candidate you like. Campaigns are often more open to volunteers and new faces than the party itself. It doesn't have to be Presidential, lower offices need you also, perhaps more so.

Action helps to vent the feelings of helplessness and anger like nothing else. It also may change things.

[fishoutawata]

58. One down (registered as a democrat yesterday) N/M

[Timefortruth]

59. When your card arrives have it framed!

That really is great news!

Where I live we need all the help we can get, but not everywhere is so welcoming. Sometimes institutions are entrenched with the same people, if you find you don't fit fairly early explore alternatives. Time is short, but you can make a difference.

You have done the right thing already. Maybe it will catch on.

[Pontus]

38. You really want Clark commanding the military?

Thak goodness the Brits told him to take a hike when he ordered fire on Russians in Kosovo!

[ThomWV]

49. This Is A Distortion

This is not true. General Clark ordered no such thing. Clark ordered the British commander to take and hold the airfield before the Russians arrived in force.

Thom

[Epoch]

33. I know 5 personally...

Two girls at my college who voted for * swtiched to D to vote against him. They're from MD. My gf's mom is a southern baptist/pro-choice (she's a nurse)/religous/pro-war dem who votes repub. She likes Dean's health care and nursing platform and the fact that he was a doctor. But i think she'll vote for Clark or Geph as well. She's from MD as well.

My gf's uncle and aunt are lifelong military from NH. THey are firmly in the ABB camp now.

We're gonna win. They're not even gonna see us coming at them until it's too late.

Yaron

[waylon]

34. I know 1 but he will write in

He wanted Mcain in 2000, he said he will write him in. I started to argue that its a wasted vote but then I thought about it :)

[bobbieinok]

36. in OK --------- the Bush supporters I know still support him

<He's a christian, a decent man, who's returned honor to the WH>

On a visit to DC, one was so happy that she'd been able to attend the same church Ashcroft attends. Then she thought and said 'Oh, I guess you don't think too highly of him.'

One brother votes republican because of what he sees as very pro-business policies; the other because of something about VN (he served a year there). Both have become very influenced by the years-long, constant barrage that republicans stand for morality and values and that democrats have been engaged in a years-long war to destroy the basis of American society.

This attitude is the desired goal of the subliminal conditioning the American people have been subjected to at least since 1980. For my brothers, it also goes back to the 60s; they totally buy the garbage that the 60s was all sex and drugs. I KNOW the 60s was about the civil rights movement, the liberation of women, and no longer accepting unquestioningly everything the govt says.

Obviously, we rarely discuss politics in my family. Even at Thanksgiving, one brother made a fast reference to how Nixon was more upright and American than Gore because Nixon graciously conceded in 60 rather than subject the country to a month-long upheaval. I tried to set him straight on Nixon in 2000; now, why bother.

[MissB]

37. I know 2 that will admit it

But I haven't asked my other Republican friends.

[adamrsilva]

42. There's rumbling from the right against Bush

but it's most among conservative leaders, and not most of the the rank and file. They're gonna support Bush as long as he waves the flag and uses military strength, as long as he gives them tax cuts, and as long as he opposes abortion and gay marriage.

[SammyWinstonJack]

45. I know of two

They voted for Bush* for Gov and Pres. They will be voting for Gephardt in the primary and they are ABB. :bounce:

[loudnclear]

50. Raising my hand. I know 7 who said they could never vote for Bush...

5 will never do it again, 2 didn't vote for him in the first place.

I also know one Dem who will support or vote for Dean if he get the nomination: Lieberman.

[rbnyc]

52. I do, but only one.

But I only know about 5 republicans anyway. 1 out of 5 isn't bad.

[leftofthedial]

60. I know two Republicans who will not vote for GWB

one of them also didn't vote for Bush in 2000.

Neither will vote for him n 2004. They are disgusted.

They are not freeper, neocon types. They are classic "country-club" conservatives.