Met a Repub at Starbucks today

[LittleClarkie]

He was staring at me. I finally realized he was actually staring at the "Christians for Kerry" button I was wearing. He asked how I thought Kerry was doing. I told him I thought the Dems were more organized this time, and that it was going to take work but it looked pretty good.

He confided that he was leaning Kerry. His concerns were numerous: the war in Iraq, the deficit, outsourcing (he'd been hit personally by that one), privatization of Soc. Sec., Income Tax flat rate that would mean the poor would pay when now they get tax credits for school and rent. He didn't like Cheney and Rumsfeld. He also didn't like that the rich were paying less, and didn't balk when I explained what Kerry wanted to do. He nodded in agreement that the rich should lose some breaks, the middle could stay the same, and the poor could get some breaks so that we could beef the middle back up again.

We talked for a while about what a real Republican was and how Bush wasn't it. This guy was more of a Reagan Republican. Though I didn't agree with Reagan either, at least he was an honest-to-God fiscal conservative. And he had charisma the way Clinton does on our side. I had to admit it messed me up a bit seeing Nancy so broken up at the funeral (hell, I admit it, I'm a sap. I couldn't even stand to see Nixon blubbering over Pat's coffin.)

I think it made him feel better to see my button, and also when I told him he was not the only Republican I knew who was voting Kerry. He said he was not looking forward to the next holiday family get together though. He didn't think they'd react well when they found out who he'd voted for.

It was good to talk to a moderate Republican face to face.

[Quadrajet]

1. That's great news!

It's nice when a person can have a civil conversation about politics, especially with differing viewpoints.

[Clintmax]

2. Sounds like a good discussion!

I've had talks like that with my father recently who has always been (I thought) a staunch Repub. Amazingly enough, he told me he voted for Clinton for his second term, voted for Al Gore in 2000 and wants Kerry in the White House this time! He HATES bushlet with a passion. So I agree that he won't be the only conservative voting for Kerry this time.

As far as everyone finding out how he voted...I would think it's nobody's business. He doesn't have to announce to anyone how he voted.

I wish I could have been there to hear your conversation and participate.

[Dem2theMax]

3. These types of conversations are so good to hear.

And they really have me thinking that there are hundreds of thousands of people out there just like this man. 'Leaning toward Kerry.'

These people have so many doubts about *. They know exactly what they don't like about him and his policies. It's just a matter of putting that mark in front of Kerry with a 'D' next to his name that is the hard part. But I bet that on Nov. 2, a lot of people are going to listen to their guts instead of the repuke talking points and Kerry is going to get a LOT more repuke votes going his way. I just feel it! :bounce:

Then there are the repukes like my Aunt. I send her every factual thing I can find to help her see that * is NOT what this country needs in any way, shape or form. Does it do any good? Nah. She keeps sending me emails praising * and putting Kerry and Edwards down. When Kerry wins, she'll see the light. Right when they put * into that orange jumpsuit and send him over to the Hague. :evilgrin:

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

5. I read

that the core group of Shrub supporters aren't very well informed. They still believe Saddam was responsible for 911, that WMD were found in Iraq, and that the majority of people around the world support Shrub. No kidding. Seems they get their news exclusively from Faux and rw talk radio, and the Bush Administration, which keeps perpetrating these lies among the faithful. Don't know when their eyes will be opened to the truth, but I have a feeling it won't be pretty.

[JohnnyCougar]

4. About that family get together...

you should have told him that he will be proud once Bush is in jail!

[whodiedandmadeUSgod]

6. I have one of those buttons too!

and a bumpersticker.