What is the best response to a neighbor that is teetering our way?

[kid a]

This guy has had W stickers on his car since 2000 and repug yard signs each election season.

He blew me away last night while we were talking about his new truck. I was just joking around about him putting a new W sticker on his bumper, and he said he was kinda wondering about things and was pissed off. I joked that I had some left over Kerry stickers he could try . . . he wasn't ready for that, but he is definitely teetering.

I didn't want to go heavy on him, but how can I nurture him to some sense and get his vote from Conrad Burns (R) MT in 2006.

[Catch22Dem]

1. You know, someone like that is best left alone for a while

He's gotta be feeling some intense emotion about the man his support helped put into office. I'm sure if he has questions he knows he can come to you. I'd suggest letting him stew for a bit. Seems like you guys have a pretty good relationship. No need to push yet.

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

2. Listen to what he says

He'll tell you what makes him angry and upset with the Repukes. Agree with him and give him more factual information that will show him he has a right to be angry and upset.

[Hoosier]

3. Well...

Ask him if he voted for Dubya 'cause he had an "R" next to his name? Has he ever voted "D"?

To be blunt, if he's never voted D, it's doubtful you'll be able to get him to now. He'll probably just not vote.

[dcfirefighter]

4. If you're in MT

(and i'm spitballing here)
Work the GM seed thing - corporate ownership of plant genetics.
Or the corporate owned groundwater thing.
Or the fake ranch thing.
Or the ANWR thing.
Or the mountaintop mining thing (WV).
Or the glacier thing.
Or the massive giveaways to corporate farms for access to grazing lands - tough to compete against that.

(PS Hoosier - I'd never voted anything but R before 2004)
(Also, I love Bloomington)

[Pam-Moby]

5. I have no idea what the best response would be. ,

We have a guy that lives on our block and has bush sign in his back window of both of his cars and one yard sign still out in his yard. I think he loves Bush. :puke:

[PurityOfEssence]

6. Ask him how he likes paying rich people's taxes for them

Seriously, to swallow the Republican line these days, you really have to believe that the rich are just being absolutely persecuted and cheated. Ask him how all that sits with him.

[blm]

7. Tell him to research what happened in BCCI and connect the dots to 9-11

and Iraq policy.

[Maine-i-acs]

8. "I was behind Bush once, too."

That stops people in their tracks, because I am a vehement anti-bushie now.

But I was once behind him - on 9/12, even though the whole thing smelled dirty starting around 9/13.

The "Patient Justice" speech made me stay behind him.

"Axis of Evil" speech made me say "WTF????"

The "Yellowcake" bit in the SOTU made me say "Whoa, these guys know a lot about Iraq's capabilities" but now I realize it was all cooked up on a bed of lies.


These types of statements tend to make Bushies agree with me, if not, I swing into his screwing of vets, the elderly, the kids; then his corporate cronyism, etc. is just icing on the cake.

[ClassWarrior]

9. Ask him why he supported Bush** - chances are, Bush** hasn't delivered.

NGU.

[Bluerthanblue]

10. ASK him,

what has changed his view, and listen closely-
Then you'll know how to respond, and you can do it with gentle tact-

i hope it is not that his pocketbook is hurting- but if that is his reason, then, you can clearly work with that-

if you have a foot in the door, you can at least be an ear for his frustration- and the truth IS, misery does love company-

Baby steps, but if he's waking up, you can talk gently till he can bear the weight of the ugly truth. No one likes being wrong- but we all are sometimes- the response of those who 'got it right' the first time, can make the difference between them entering into denial, or seeing the light-

good luck!!!

[FightingIrish]

11. Have him read these

http://www.registerguard.com/news/2005/06/26/ed.col.chaney.0626.html
http://www.registerguard.com/news/2005/08/07/b1.ed.col.chaney.0807.html

[niallmac]

12. Very carefully day by day

Get him to say one more word in the sentence: " Republicans are scum sucking pig licking
leeches on the backs of the working middle class."
Each day that he completes another word in the sentence give him a beer. You MUST do this immediately after he says the word and say 'great job, terrific' and so on. Really pour it on each time. If his mind wanders or he looks like he wants to go lay down and listen to Rush Limbaugh don't let him. Show him the ice box of beers. Taste one in front of him. Get his eyes to brighten up and when you have his attention again go for the next word. It's hard work and takes dedication but just think how proud you'll be to show him off to your friends on graduation day!

[mikelewis]

13. Tell him to be proud of being a Republican

Being a Republican is not an evil thing. Being a Republican means you believe in a set of priniciples and ideals that many other Americans believe in. From Lincoln to Eisenhower, there have been Republicans who have exemplified the American Spirit and led this country well. Unfortunately, they are not the Republicans of today. He is probably a Republican cut from that cloth but these people have hijacked his party and distorted his beliefs. Tell him, unless he wants to either become a Democrat or be a part of a party that does this to America, he's going to have to stand up and take back his party. He's going to have to get involved and look for the truth about what's been happening and why. Tell him that just about everything he has been watching on TV or listening to on the radio is but a pinprick compared to the real truth he has yet to see. Tell him, if he truly is a Republican, that his party is in trouble and the people who run it are not working for him. Don't try and turn him Democrat, he'll have to change on his own.

[Vickers]

14. Excellent advice.

:thumbsup::thumbsup::thumbsup::thumbsup::thumbsup::thumbsup::thumbsup::thumbsup::thumbsup::thumbsup:

His party was hijacked, and it ain't his fault.

[ChiciB1]

15. I Think I Would Start Talking About The Economy...

Feel him out about whether his relatives are having a hard time of it, or maybe just suggest in a subtle way how maybe some of "your" relatives have asked you to borrow money. Just be subtle about it.

I know I'm having this difficulty all around me. After you establish a little of this, perhaps you can bring up all the money being spent on trying to Democratize a country that clearly is heading in the direction of doing things "their own way", such as maintaining their religious beliefs WITHOUT Saddam.

But not matter what, don't get HEAVY! I've talked to a few around here who aren't happy about all the money being spent by the Repukes. Some coming right out and saying that they thought Repukes we for "smaller government" and less spending.

But personally, I don't think I would do the Fundamentalist thing because I've seen too many get their hackles up about Chistianinsanity!

Hope this helps. But the pocketbook is where it scrunches!

[Catchawave]

16. I'm surrounded by these "neighbors" :(

Mine have W and "Your mother was Pro-Choice" stickers...sigh. So I just try to keep my sense of humor intact, roll my eyes and move on.

I found out a long time ago, "Minds are like umbrellas, they only work when they open".

So my advice, is too encourage your neighbor to do some homework about the current administration, and write, write, write their representatives about their concerns. It's the American Way. :patriot:

[VADem11]

17. Talk to him more

Ask him to do some research if he can. Continuing open dialogue can do wonders to get him to come back from the dark side. Also, be patient. Convincing some people takes a lot of time.