I just had to practice a little "Tough bush Love" on a bush voter

[Moonbeam_Starlight]

Yeah, I call it "tough bush love." It goes like this: you voted for that immoral murderous bastard? You voted for people and policies that hurt my family and all of us? I don't have time for you. Sad, but a harsh new reality bush voters will have to deal with.

So I had the first "would you do me a favor?" phone call tonight. Asked me to check to see if there are any job openings with my employer and wants to know if I can update her resume. Seems the job she just got a few months ago (that I helped her find, wrote her resume, and gave her a recommendation for) is being eliminated now, too (was laid off a year ago from a major airline after 20 years of being with them).

I said no can do, sorry. She was perplexed. I explained the whole thing. I also explained I am busy helping my laid off friend who voted for Kerry. She voted for someone who would have helped us all, and got laid off just last week. There are only so many hours in a week, and if I have to choose, I'll choose the Kerry voter to help.

It's harsh, that is very true. I told her I wish it didn't have to be like this, but I have thought long and hard about it, and it does.

She didn't have much to say except "ok" and we got off the phone. Somehow I don't think she'll be calling me anymore, and that's ok.

What was that about bush being a uniter and not a divider? He's right. I'm uniting with all my fellow Kerry voters to help THEM. God knows we're going to need it. bush voters? You're on your own. Take your own advice and pull yourself up by your bootstraps. Or go to those faith-based charities (where are they, anyway? I haven't seen a lot about that, even here) and see if they will help. bush said they would, and you believe him, right?

Right?

[GOPisEvil]

1. Oh yeah...I was going to e-mail my resume for your advice.

I still need to do that.

[Moonbeam_Starlight]

2. Yeah you do.

I'll PM you my real email address.

[GOPisEvil]

4. Okie doke.

Thanks. :yourock:

[Nikepallas]

3. Good for you. I hope your talk opens her eyes.

[Moonbeam_Starlight]

20. I doubt it will.

I'm sure I'm being called all kinds of names right now. But I had noticed a pattern in which she only called on me when she wanted something from me, which isn't much of a friendship anyway.

[Nikepallas]

34. True that is not a friendship BUT hopefully something good will come

of it.

[PassingFair]

49. Hey,

that IS the typical freeper definition of a friendship. My husband has a freeper friend (since grade school). In our 40's now, and STILL this guy calls whenever he needs help. Or, sprightly dinner conversation. After I nearly decked the guys uncle one night, they decided they didn't need my "sprightly-ness" anymore.
They still call for help. Go figure...

[IdaBriggs]

5. Yeah! You, go, girl! :) nt

[Rabrrrrrr]

6. Oh, man, you taught her a GOOD lesson indeed!!

And if anyone flames you for it, let me say in advance they're fucked.

i don't think that what you did was cruel at all - sometimes it's important to let the kid burn his hand on the oven before they'll learn that, yeah, they really shouldn't touch it.

I applaud you!

[Moonbeam_Starlight]

13. Yep, that's called

natural consequences or logical consequences.

I don't want to be her bush enabler. LOL!

[SaintAnne]

7. ouch

that must have hurt! you's evil, but I like that.

[Moonbeam_Starlight]

8. You know

I just want to say that while I was telling her, I really did feel badly about it. Democrats have plenty of heart, after all, that's why most of us ARE Democrats.

But this is someone who said she likes the fact that we are killing Iraqis, because it makes her "feel better" about September 11th. She doesn't give a shit that they had nothing to do with it, it makes her feel better.

I just cannot interact with someone so craven, I really can't.

[FizzFuzz]

24. whew, that IS more than I can fathom..

that attitude of hers I mean.

I typed my other reply before seeing this--now I'm even MORE supportive of what you did, if that's possible. I would have wanted to yell at ya if you HADN'T cut her off!

(I always like your posts too, btw. Gee so many people whose viewpoints I admire here, but if I went around saying it all the time to every one, I'd sound like a mush head. :D)

[Moonbeam_Starlight]

26. LOL

Me too, there are so many people here I LOVE to read, you among them.

Thank you.

[FizzFuzz]

39. thank YOU!

thanks Moonbeam, I really appreciate hearing that!

:toast:

[bettyellen]

25. THAT ALONE IS REASON ENOUGH NOT TO.. LIKES THE KILLING???!!!

EXCUSE ME BUT, WTF? ALSO, YOU HELPED HER A FEW MONTHS AGO AND SHE IS BACK FOR MORE.... SHE SOUNDS LIKE A LAZY ASS IF YOU ASK ME!! DO NOT FEEL BAD, SHE DOES NOT HAVE MUCH OF A CONCIENCE HERSELF IT SEEMS.
YOU MIGHT HAVE TOLD HER TO POST HER RESUME WITH THE HERITAGE FOUNDATION OR WHAT WAS THAT OTHER CHRISTIAN GROUP GIVING OUT 6 FIGURE JOBS TO TOTALLY INEXPERIENCED COLLEGE GRADS TO "REBUILD" IRAQ. YIKES.
YOU DID THE RIGHT THING... I KNOW IT'S HARD.

[FizzFuzz]

32. betty YELLEN!

tee hee, I'm sorry, I just couldn't resist the opportunity for a stupid joke! I mean it was right there, waiting, no, begging for someone to run with it...

I hope I am forgiven.

On the other hand, I'll do anything for a laugh.

(I am powerless over shtick and my life has become unmanageable!)

[Moonbeam_Starlight]

37. You are cracking my shit up!

[bettyellen]

38. I know I know, I have an All caps problem. Gotta work on that! Didn't mean

to yell! I don't perceive it as audible. I need to find a typeface that looks all mellow and quiet when you type all caps.
but hey. I've been trawling for a new name, and I like...... hmmm.

[FizzFuzz]

40. LOLOLLLLL!!!!

try the Neil Sedaka font. Melllllooooooooooowwww

[bettyellen]

54. isn't neil sedaka a falsetto? is that really better than my hollah?

i mean, if i'm trying to be mellow. maybe smokey robison's font would be good.
i should ask mr. scorpio? although i don't want my font to be too hoochie either.
oh what to do!

[gaia_gardener]

52. Ooh, that's just awful

I think I would have had to drop her after that conversation.

Gaia

[Moonbeam_Starlight]

56. Well

I can tell you our relationship was NEVER the same after that. The sad thing is, she hardly noticed. My blood ran cold when she said that and I was absolutely floored. I never felt the same about her.

[CAcyclist]

60. OMG

I wouldn't feel sorry for her then! I wouldn't speak to someone who said that - I'd cut them dead.

You are far nicer and more forgiving than I am.

[pk_du]

9. Right!

maybe a few more months of unemployment will help her reflect on the wisdom of her choice on Nov 2nd....when will these sheeple make the connection between lack of jobs and this (Mal)administration

[distantearlywarning]

10. Before Nov. 2, I would have been appalled by this story.

Now I say, good for you for taking the kid gloves off. It's time to stop screwing around with these people. Everybody needs to get tough.

[Moonbeam_Starlight]

12. I would have been, too.

It's not my style and it's not in my nature to just say "no, I'm not helping you."

[kikiek]

11. I'm backing you up 100 pct.

[Cerridwen]

14. Tough love. Tough. Hurts. Necessary. Thanks for sharing.

It's always good to read your posts. Though I don't always chime in.

[Moonbeam_Starlight]

16. Aw, thanks!

I appreciate that.

[Gloria]

15. Did something similar today with a fellow dog walker...

too bad.

[Moonbeam_Starlight]

18. What was it? If you don't mind me asking....

[Gloria]

29. An older woman, bemoaning how people treat animals....I

commented that we have an administration that treats people badly. She revealed that she didn't vote for Kerry..."wasn't sure" about Kerry.

That's when I told her---"Oh, you could be sure about Kerry, he's a fine man with years of experience on issues." I continued....look at who we've got now...a Sec. of State who has lied which should be great for our international relations; a mess in Iraq, with all our "coalition" pulling out, people killed for oil interests; our economy a mess with huge deficits. I told her she was lucky she had Social Security, but her grandchildren might not be so lucky with what's going on."

She said, "I don't talk politics" and I replied...Well, you should get informed. Americans are uniformed...

And that ended it, I said goodbye and kept walking.

[FizzFuzz]

36. hooray for you!!!!!! I admire people

who can give a good list on short notice like that. I often feel like I'm getting toungue tied, especially when the person says something nebulous like "I wasn't sure about Kerry". I just know I would have wanted to say a millionn things but not been able to pick something concrete to start.

[FizzFuzz]

17. good for you!

I aim to do my best to draw the line too.

I don't have any smirk-ites asking me for favors, but my general courtesy is wearing thin.

I totally support what you did, especially explaining clearly what you're doing and why.

[Gloria]

19. Delete dupe due to bug

[Lindsey]

22. You did the right thing....

n/t

[RetroLounge]

21. I agree with what you did 100%

As a Dem, my first inclination is to help anyone who asks for it.

But I no longer can do that in good faith.

THey are on their own...

RL

[Moonbeam_Starlight]

23. See, that's my problem

I don't turn people away who ask me for help I can reasonably give. I wasn't raised that way. But this wasn't just a vote. And it wasn't just any old election, either.

[yorkiemommie1]

27. good for you!

my litmus test for people is how they voted 11/2/04. for people who voted for * yet again, my disdain is doubled. i've cut quite a few people off already and they know why. these folks kept assuming i was a bushie because i never said anything. well, now they know. and i. do. not. care.

wait til i go to my fundie stepdaughter's house on xmas day wearing my peace symbol pendant. i told my husb. that the first fundie rw remark i hear and i'm leaving. last year, the thing that bothered her husb the most was GAY MARRIAGE. well, they have two boys . let 'em grow up and serve in iraq. we're going to be there long enough.

[Lydia Leftcoast]

48. Better yet, let one of them turn out to be gay

:-)

[PassingFair]

50. Says a LOT, doesn't it Yorkie Mom,

when a PEACE symbol pendant is considered inflammatory!
Agree. Gloves Off.
There's a guy at work, fundie freeper, he's on my own TEAM. And he was SO MEAN to me on Wednesday Nov.3) morning. It also happened to be my birthday, and I had been canvassing all week, every spare minute, and had worked the polls from 6:30 til 8:00.
He started in on me immediately. I tried to ignore him. I can't believe he actually said "Look everyone, she's crying" (I wasn't). Throughout the rest of the week he took every opportunity to dis Kerry and all democrats publically.
He has made a serious enemy in me, and I can say that about no one else. Later that week he needed an extra sale to meet his quota. I had one to give, but I gave him a look that told him not to bother to ask. He acted like I was a snake that had surprised him on a garden tour.
Cheney him. And those like him.

[FizzFuzz]

55. so, a follower of the Lamb of God gets off on you crying.

Other peoples' pain. What a turn on. Sort of like ol' Smirky and his friend, Mr. Torture. "Oh!! Ooo! Please don't kill me! a-HAW-HAW HAW, what a knee-slapper!!!"

:puke:

[PassingFair]

61. He's despicable...

Acts like Mr. Bonhommie! Hail, well meet! What a phony. And I WASN'T crying. I just looked like I hadn't slept and like someone does when their dog dies...

[BrainRants]

28. Tough love is the way

to go. We have a close friend who's also a big Bush supporter. Gay marriage and Abortion were her issues this election, called last week, losing her job on January 1st.

Living in one of those (very) red states, times are going to be tight for her family. Not much sympathy from us blue state types right now. Despite being a close friend, it's time for her and her family to spend a little time on unemployment struggling to make ends meet.

We obviously don't wish them bad, but deep down inside they'll now be reaping exactly what they've sewn. I suspect there will be many like us sharing this experience and struggling to keep from saying "we told you so".

Hang in there, perhaps they'll see the light.

[OldLeftieLawyer]

30. This is the only occasion on which I'll gladly.....

......... go RIGHT!

You did good.

[Moonbeam_Starlight]

31. LOL

I love your sig. It cracks me up.

[bettyellen]

33. Tell her to join the Army if she "Likes the killing" so darn much!!

Oh that darn staircase wit, I didn't think of that myself on the first reply to you!

[BrainRants]

35. YES!

GREAT advice!

[tk2kewl]

41. I see a lot of "they're on their own" comments here

I say why not. That is what bush is telling all of us. So folks should get used to it.

Health care: on your own
Education: on your own
Unemployed: on your own
Getting old: on your own
Environmental protection: on your own

[Moonbeam_Starlight]

43. Yeah, see, I'm just preparing her

for the inevitable. Which is what you described.

[fugue]

42. I've pretty much cut my sister off

She wouldn't register to vote, let alone vote for Kerry. After all, she doesn't believe in the electoral college system, and she won't abet it unless the need is dire.

I started listing all the reasons the need was dire. Even after "These people lie to start wars!" she shrugged and said, "I just don't agree that it's that important."

I told her I was really disappointed at her lack of social conscience. She got offended and said she wouldn't talk to me until after election day (this was very early October). I told her I wouldn't like her any better then, either.

And so it's been nothing. I'm sure she'll phone the next time she needs help. For twenty years, I've dropped everything to go to her aid when she calls, but this time, I've a different answer.

"I have every confidence in your ability to handle this on your own."

Click.

[Hans Delbrook]

44. Good for you!! - I'm starting the same practice

I had an opportunity to help a family (a grandmother and 3 kids she's raising) experiencing some financial difficulty. I considered buying Xmas presents and food for them (my husband and I "adopt" a family each year through our church and do this). After giving it some consideration (I know that she voted for Bush) - I decided to reserve my charity for an inner city family that at least probably supported Kerry.

[Moonbeam_Starlight]

46. Maybe if more bush voters looked into these

"faith based charities" he touts, they'd find out it's really just the same organizations that have always been around, and they are stretched just as thin as they always have been.

Maybe then they'd have their eyes opened to at least one lie he tells.

I agree--find a family who voted for Kerry. Help them.

[PassingFair]

53. Are we coming up with a new definition for

"The Deserving Poor"?

Hell yes!

[Rumba]

45. Sad but true

Tell her, I hear there are contractors paying top dollar for bodies in a certain occupied mideast country right now.

[Moonbeam_Starlight]

47. Her son will be there soon enough

he is in college on an Army scholarship, so he will owe six years to the Army when he graduates in a year and a half.

Guess where he's going?

[DrZeeLit]

51. It's about boundaries and principles. Good for you!!!

I love your last paragraph.
Thanks. It's great to read what I'm feeling.
Proud of you!

[Moonbeam_Starlight]

59. Thanks

it's good to know other people feel the way I do. A tiny part of me feels REALLY guilty for doing that, but mostly I feel like she made her bed.

[mark414]

57. that took guts

good work

[Moonbeam_Starlight]

58. You said it.

It was **really** hard to actually say it. But I wanted to be honest and not just avoid her. I took a couple of deep breaths first and really got in my mind what I wanted to say.

Ug.

Fortunately that's about the only one (besides one other couple) I have to do that with that I had a previous friendship with. Everyone else (bush voters) will be easier since there wasn't previously a friendship.

The other couple will be easier. I don't know them quite as well. But I'm just waiting for her to contact me about doing something for her, she usually does.

[gmoney]

62. Tell her WalMart is hiring...

Don't think they require a resume... and they're always looking for people slow-witted enough to vote for Bush.

It's interesting to see the "get a job" mentality come home to roost.

[Carson]

63. As a Christian, I cannot fathom your actions, but to each his own. n/t