Rightie brother-in-law says he'll vote Democratic

[Opusnone]

if they provide a sound universal health care plan. I know, not a big deal, but a huge move to the center for a RABID know-it-all rightie. This guy is my holiday opponent in often heated family political discussions.

Just for info's sake, I bought him a copies of Zinn's People's History of the United States and Richard Clarke's Against All Enemies.
Both are great books and may have helped turn him back to the center after being further to the right than Goebbels.

Health care, alternative energy, education, and REAL national security are the important issues, not gay marriage, flag-burning, video games or boobs.

Pay attention, Dem operatives!

[unblock]

1. right on! absolutely!

wait.... boobs aren't important?

:shrug:

:evilgrin:

[Richardo]

2. Do not minimize this. The first vote for the other party is a threshhold..

...event. I grew up in a Republican family and my first vote for a Democrat (Clinton) was not a trivial effort.*

You really have to nurture the one's who are disillussioned. I think Zinn may be a little much for the guy at this point, but Clarke, O'Neill and John Dean all have critical books out and, most importantly, they are lifelong, or formerly high-level Republicans.

*I've gotten MUCH better at it.

[wryter2000]

9. Richardo!

You were a...gasp...Republican? My smelling salts, please. :evilgrin:

[Richardo]

10. In high school, I actually wrote a paper for AP English defending Nixon.

Got an A-, too, from a 'liberal' teacher. For taking and defending a contrary viewpoint.

[wryter2000]

11. I loved Eisenhower

Still do. I was too young to be either a Republican or a Democrat then.

[jedr]

3. The only way to get repubs to jump the fence;

Is to show confident leadership and offer some choices that are workable. Few people have any confidence in the Bush administration but what have the "inside the belt" Dem's done to show any leadership. I , myself, would vote for a trained monkey rather than what the republican party has become, but I'm; Jefferson Democrat. Look for both Repubs and Dem's who show these traits to win the elections this fall.

[zbdent]

4. Bet you $10 that he'll never consider anything that Dems come up

with as "sound" - no matter how sound it truly is . . . he'll still have that nagging doubt . . .

[BurgherHoldtheLies]

5. The chant I'm hearing from moderate Republicans..."Murtha, Murtha, Murtha"

They WANT to see strong leadership from the Democratic party and every single one of them that I know supports the clear, concise and consistent voice that John Murtha offers.

[jedr]

8. that's who I was thinking of when I posted #3;

Dean, Conyers, Murtha... they all believe in what they are doing and have thought out there positions well enough to handle the critics. We need a Harry Truman who will "stay in the kitchen". I look for many repubs to dis' Bush and come out on welfare reform, middle class tax cuts , health care and with a little pro-gun for good measure. Repub or Dem, I feel this issues will win an election.

[sandnsea]

6. They're always rational, UNTIL

campaign season. Then they slop up the Republican swill because they're chickenshits who can't stand up against the ridicule dished out by their own party.

[LiberalEsto]

7. Just remove the "over 65" requirement in Medicare

so it applies to everyone. That's the best idea I've heard yet. Someone was talking about this on Al Franken's show a day or two ago. And then just pump in the billions the Chimp wants to spend in Iraq.

[calimary]

13. Truly! Every time I hear any stories or complaints or commentaries about

the budget deficit, I always wish people would hear me yelling:

I KNOW WHERE WE CAN FIND 100,000-dollars-A-MINUTE!!!! Or four billion PER WEEK!

Simple!

Just stop the fucking war, bring everybody home, and divert all that war spending to needs HERE - like universal health care! I don't care how you do it. Just say we won and bring everybody home! Declare victory and withdraw! Why not? This whole abysmal mess started with a lie. Who says it can't be ended with one?

[ChipsAhoy]

12. I need help in this category

The majority of my relatives lean toward the right side. (no idea why!) It seems like a constant battle with them sometimes when the subject of politics comes up. I haven't backed down yet, but sometimes I get so tired of it.

[Ikonoklast]

14. What is that keeps them thinking that way?

Many are single-issue voters. Is it abortion, guns, etc.? Or just the idea of big government? There are plenty of arguments than can be used to de-fuse what they feel are 'conservative' issues.

[ChipsAhoy]

16. It's the military.

They think we don't support them and then they go along with all the other Repub agenda/issues. But, their first love is the war. I don't understand, I was brought up in the same family, but have very different opinions.

Thank you for asking.

PS - Also, I come from a "hunting" family, gun rights, etc. That's another big deal. *sigh* But, I'm a girl and hunting makes me sick.

[Mr Rabble]

17. Bush wants their guns.

Remember, after Katrina Bush's stormtroopers were taking ALL guns from people in NOLA. This was the only time I can ever remember that the 2nd Amendment has been blantantly violated- and it was done by Bush.

[ChipsAhoy]

18. No I never heard that

I'd love to get some more info on that one. Google, google, google.

Thanks for the heads up!!!

[Vickers]

15. "if they provide a sound universal health care plan"

Yes, I really look for the Dems, whos have ZERO POWER in any part of government, to plan and implement a "sound :eyes: universal health plan."

I talked with my RW mom for MONTHS prior to the 2004 election, and she indicated she was going to vote Democratic, but when I called her the following day she said she voted for Bush because she "just can't trust Kerry." :puke:

I never believe these "I'm gonna vote Dem" statements, especially when they leave some wiggle room. From now on I say, "You tell me afterwards that you voted Democratic, then I'll believe you."