I think Walker and the Teabaggers in Congress have turned my Winger brother.

[charlyvi]

My brother is 64 years old. He wants to retire in September, when he turns 65, because he can't handle his job anymore. He has a very physically demanding job and his joints and muscles have been giving him hell for the last few years. He is, or was, a total right winger. He is a Fox news addict -- it's on continuously at his house. We have had countless arguments over politics. In fact, some of our arguments have become part of family lore.

Tonight I called him and he dropped the bombshell. In spite of Fox news, he is turning against the Repubs. He is stunned that they want to raise the retirement age. He can't believe they want to bust the unions, though I have told him this over the years. He's pissed enough that he thinks he'll probably vote Dem from now on. I was stunned. Not only that he finally sees the GOP for what it is, but he actually told ME that he is pissed at them. In spite of FOX news. I can't believe it.

If Walker and the GOP Congress have repelled my brother, they are in a world of hurt come 2012. I think the working class finally sees through the bs. Finally.

[dhill926]

1. one by one by one......n/t

[peace frog]

47. Drip, drip, drip,,,

as we watch their chances for re-election trickle down the drain.

[Jackpine Radical]

66. Oh, no, that "drip drip" business gives me flashbacks

to the days when we thought the Bushies were going to implode. Remember Fitzmas?

[peace frog]

69. Must have missed that one

or else I blocked it out of memory (sometimes the only way I can remember the Bush years without screaming).

[socialist_n_TN]

2. Geez, I hope this is a trend......

:)

[charlyvi]

4. I would say yes.

You can't believe how hard core winger my brother is, or was. I think he was blinded by all the wedge issue crap. But once it hits his retirement, or his pocketbook, he's coming home.

[socialist_n_TN]

13. Well I had some relatives who voted for Obama in.......

'08 who suprised the HELL out of me by doing so. They were hard core, but Bush was such a disaster they were willing to try ANYTHING else (even a black guy). I guess sometimes the bad guys are SUCH a disaster that anything is better.

[charlyvi]

16. The 2010 GOP is like Bush on steroids. n/t

[TheEuclideanOne]

73. And so is the ignorance of the GOP followers

Only with that level of ignorance (willful or not) can these people take power. Sadly, they have moved to the next phase.... Now the corporations can simply by all of the politicians that they want. Even if a big chunk of the knuckledraggers wake up, the extra money will make up for the difference I am afraid.

[harun]

3. I sure hope people see through the propaganda.

[The Doctor.]

44. They will. Slowly.

[Teaser]

5. " He can't believe they want to bust the unions"

What part of "Hey, we want to bust the unions!" don't people get?

[charlyvi]

8. Really.

It took him since Reagan to finally realize they actually mean what they say. Go figure.

[socialist_n_TN]

17. Well to be fair, I don't think that any of these govs........

when they were candidates put it out there that this was going to be their first priority. Yes, it SHOULD have been implied, but they didn't actually SAY it.

[charlyvi]

20. The cat's out of the bag now.

Big time.

[FormerDittoHead]

25. He must have thought it was those "lazy" unions - not the hard working Republican unions! n/t

[TheEuclideanOne]

72. Interpretation: I thought the actions of my party would fuck over everybody else!

Now, that the assholes that you put into power are doing things that affect you, all of a sudden they are bad people.

[crim son]

6. I am very happy for you and for your brother.

I am sorry it's taken something that might affect him painfully to get him to see the light but if enough of us see it, maybe we can turn it up that much brighter.

[arcane1]

7. Excellent! I hope he turns that into voting booth visits! Federal AND local!!

:toast:

[charlyvi]

9. Oh yes, he's a voter n/t

[femrap]

10. I'm afraid that

fascism will be so deeply entrenched that by 2012, it won't make a difference who is on the ballot....even if there is a ballot.

Your brother better hit the streets now....anger is good. Act on it!

[charlyvi]

11. True

And he's super pissed.

[femrap]

23. You know what.....

remember all the times that Dems have betrayed us? Well, I remember (in particular) 2006 when we took the House AND Senate and then did nothing about Impeachment....or at least retrieving our 'rule of law.' Total BETRAYAL.

I remember Betrayal after Nixon resigned....I still wanted him prosecuted....Alas. Clinton betrayed us over and over (NAFTA, repealing Glass/Steagall, etc.)

This is the FIRST time that Repugnants have felt TRUE BETRAYAL!!!! All of sudden they realize that they have been supporting a Party that really HATES them....hates regular, working people. WOW! Maybe Pandora's Box has opened!!!!

You have made me so happy. The Box is opening. Hit the streets!!!! People Power....TAX THE RICH!!!!!

After all, who really gives a shit if a woman has an abortion??????????? That thought is bouncing around the heads of millions of people who have voted for Repugnants right this very moment!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I'm so glad you shared this story.....because I think it's happening EVERYWHERE.

THE TIDE HAS TURNED......I KNOW IT.

:loveya:

I miss Ms. Richards....she was a heroine of mine. As was Barbara Jordan....another Texan. Why are there good Texan women and no good Texan men?????

[charlyvi]

24. There's Bill Moyers and LBJ. n/t

[femrap]

27. Bill Moyers....is A-OK

I have doubts about LBJ. I loved Lady Bird and her program to 'Make America Beautiful.' Remember that? No littering!!!!

[havbrush]

54. LBJ

LBJ was the president who pushed through and expanded on JFK's programs. He got much social and civil rights legislation through congress. He was a populist from way back in his days representing the people in the Texas hill country. He fought to get running water, electricity and roads to that part of Texas and he was successful. Many people only remember him because of our Viet Nam disaster, forgetting that he was lied to by the generals, as we all were, who told him that we winnning.

[demwing]

51. "no good Texan men"???

C'mon DU dudes from the great state, are you gonna let that stand? ;)

[femrap]

57. Hightower.....is he from Texas?

He's a good guy.

[demwing]

65. how about Joel Burns?

Texas Progressive Alliance's "Texan of the Year, 2010"

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2010/12/30/932457/-Texas-Progressive-Alliance-Texan-of-the-Year-2010

[stevietheman]

58. That same fear was expressed for 2008, and it didn't happen. n/t

n/t

[quakerboy]

80. It didnt?

[Quixote1818]

12. The Reagan Democrats are dropping like flies. nt

[charlyvi]

14. I thnk they finally realize the working people are not welcome in the GOP n/t

[peace frog]

62. Their *votes* are welcome

but after getting elected, GOPers don't want to hear, see, taste or smell their working class constituents. They cease to exist - until the next election season comes along, and again they exist only for their votes. Good to know these citizens are beginning to wake up an smell the RW BS.

[PearliePoo2]

15. Oh, boy, does this sound familiar......

My older brother is 66 years old. He has been a union member all his life. He has worked for the Railroad, the Operating Engineers and the Teamsters.
While he was building road in "radio wasteland" in Eastern Washington, all his truck's radio would bring in was the mega-wattage Rush-Bot AM stations. He was sucked in. Day in and day out, year after year. We lost him.
My familie's union history goes way back... three generations.
I can only hope that he, too, sees things finally the way YOUR brother has, but I don't have much hope.

[charlyvi]

18. Buck up

If my brother can see through FOX, nothing is hopeless.

[demwing]

55. One more reason to thank a geek

The MP3 player will break the grip of AM radio out in the boonies.

[Frances]

19. Raising the age for social security

will hurt those who do hard physical work the most. That's what I think whenever I see someone doing manual labor. How long can a person move furniture? How long can a person do logging work? How long can a person refinish floors (not to mention the dust they inhale)?

[charlyvi]

21. Exactly.

That's the spot my brother's in.

[peace frog]

63. They just want these folks to die and get out of the way

Dead men (and women) don't draw SS benefits.

[Auntie Bush]

22. I have THREE wingnut siblings...I'm the only Dem.

There's maybe hope for my sister but not my brothers. The one who watches FOX only is likely a Birther! Spouts all the right wing crap. Thanks God everyone in my own family are all Dems so we don't get into political discussions/arguments!

[Mnemosyne]

28. I have 5 sisters, 4 of them are Faux Snooze Palinites. Little hope.

:puke:

:hi:

[Old and In the Way]

26. Politics have split this country like a cleaver.

Countless families have been split by our politics.

Glad to hear your story...it's encouraging. If family harmony gets restored, it's bad news for the Republicans. Because it ain't Democrats becoming Republicans. And these new converts will be energized against their former political party. It's going to be an interesting 2012.

[mwb970]

29. Maybe he's tired of fighting against his own interests.

That kind of thing can wear you out. Especially when you suddenly wake up (at 64!) and see what's been happening right in front of your eyes for decades.

I notice he didn't awaken until the republicans' horrific policies actually affected him personally. Is this what it takes then?

:eyes:

[tanyev]

30. I think so. But it's going to be a slow awakening if we have to wait

for enough people to be personally and critically affected by disastrous GOP policies to finally hit the tipping point. I hope the country can hold out that long.

[Vinca]

31. Some people have to be hit on the head with a 2 x 4 to get their attention.

[boomerbust]

32. My older brother

Retired corrections officer in Wi., considered himself a proud Blue Dog conservative Democrat. Now he considers himself a rabid liberal. Its the old now they are coming for me and the only protection they now have are the evil liberals. Kind of funny to watch the transformation.

[Scuba]

33. Thank you Scott Walker!!!!!!!!! n/t

[vicarofrevelwood]

34. I separated myself from tea party friends when they started saying

that Progressive and Liberals (people who think like me.) should be shot. How long before they put the pieces together? Well I say F&*% You I'm outta here, I don't need friends like them.

[Enthusiast]

35. In the meantime

powerful corporate influences have 'turned' Democratic Party legislators. I fear the Democratic Party will no longer be the refuge for working people that it was in the past.

When we had a majority, our priorities should have at least included correcting the effects of Citizens United and insuring the fairness of our elections. This is what happens when there is no leadership.

[DirkGently]

36. This is why Dems need to harp on these issues. They define the fight for many people.

[socialist_n_TN]

38. Not only harp on them, but do so with PASSION..............

In this new century PASSION is what catches people's attention. Passion + truth is MUCH more effective than the "astroturf" passion we saw during the health care debate. But the PASSION has to be there WITH the truth or else the truth doesn't get heard.

[old mark]

37. K&R-People like the right wingers untill they elect them...then minds begin to change,

but only after damage has been done.
Sorry your brother had to wait this long to find the truth but I'm glad he finally did.
We need all the pissed off people we can get on our side.


mark

[AmandaRuth]

39. hopefully, he will turn off faux and

turn on msnbc

[SweepPicker]

40. I know a couple of wingnuts

who are very pissed about the teachers being attacked but of course they ARE teachers. It seems like they are starting to come to their senses. Interesting that they could not see until now how Republicans want to destroy them but "they" still vote them into office.

[abelenkpe]

41. Wish this was true for my family

So happy to hear about your brother! Hope his vote helps to stop the gov from raising the retirement age and continuing the war on the working class. :)

[Matariki]

42. Now get him to turn off Fox news.

Ed Schultz might be a good substitute for a start. Maybe send him some archived clips of Schultz's show about Wisconsin and union busting.

[JuniperLea]

43. Unfortunately, this is very telling of their entire MO

It never bothered your brother until they sat on his face... they could sit on everyone else's face and it didn't matter... but dammit, this is his face now.

I have a TeaBagger cousin at odds right now... he's a union man too. He tried to tell me that the only reason Brown is Governor now is because unions gave him money. I told him that would only be true if Brown had outspent Whitman, which is clearly not the case, because he spent a mere fraction of what Whitman spent. He's holding firm to his argument... ugh...

[caseymoz]

45. It's what I've said Fox News, Limbaugh et al have sold a fantasy.

People love the conservative fantasy as long as its taking place as "entertainment," i.e. in a fantasy world. When they actually see it in the "real world," they're not going like it. Repubs & conservatives have gone far selling the fantasy, unfortunately, for them many of the pols and leaders who were raised on it since the '70s really they believe it and they're in a position to implement it, and now that they are, people are seeing that they don't like it in the real world.

I believe it when your brother says he never thought the repubs would actually bust unions en masse, he apparently believed that the GOP was neutral about that but loved other parts of the fantasy so much he didn't bother to find out.

Really, it's almost like some very hardline trekker Klingons hijacked our political system. Except Trekkers were never that deluded enough to think their entertainment made them entitled to run the country.

I've always seen the rise of conservatism to be essentially a loss of connection to the real world brought about really from being isolated from it by entertainment, and reading people like Ayn Rand and just not getting it.

[Wait Wut]

46. Your brother and...

...all the Republican union workers and supporters in Wisconsin that got tired of being referred to as "slobs" and "liberals".

A few of my friends here in Aryanzona are switching to Independent. That's a start.

[uponit7771]

48. They just have to keep up their stupid, they'll lose a couple of generations

[demwing]

49. No offense, but this is NIMBY

I'm glad your brother is changing his tune, I just wish it wasn't only as a result of HIS life being affected. I hope that once he opens himself to other ways of thinking, he'll experience a real moment of political epiphany.

Still, a positive message, and thanks for sharing it. :)

[white_wolf]

50. Are people finally achieving Class Consciousness?

Let's hope so.

[bobbolink]

52. They boiled the frog. The drip, drip drip of the Dems let it keep happening.

Hopefully enough eyes were suddenly opened that we don't have to have a Palin to make the boiling complete.

[LynneSin]

53. Honestly, I think the Tea Party will be the best thing for the democrats

Because people will realize just what type of sick world these idiots want where everyone fights for themselves as they work for the wealthy to get wealthier.

[demwing]

56. I wish your sig had audio

clonk,clonk,clonk,clonk,clonk,clonk,clonk,clonk....

Seasons don't fear the cowbell...

[Ian David]

59. Now, you have to complete his de-programming by filling his head with correct information.

And do what you can to keep him from falling in with the same, bad crowd.

Get him connected to some Progressive groups in his area.

[bulloney]

60. People think they're for the Republican policies until it hits home on how it affects THEM.

Bust the unions? Great!

Cut or eliminate programs for low-income Americans? Can't do it fast enough.

Raise the retirement age just when I'm approaching retirement age? HEY!! WTF!!

We have too many people in this country who can't look past their noses until it's too late.

[Dokkie]

61. good for you

Now lets hope the White house doesnt have any smart ideas about raising the SS age too. Also is your brother a union guy? just cant imagine how a union member can be a right winger.

[LiberalLovinLug]

64. Ronald (Jesus) Reagan's public views on unions should be played mercilessly

I don't live down there, so I don't know if they are making use of this video, but I sure hope so.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HsHXJr8tqP0

Some great ads could be made of these clips. Of course its not as if the Gipper actually WAS pro-union, if you look at what he did to the Air Traffic Controllers, not to mention the Actors Guild earlier but why not clip and paste what we can use. The other side does it all the time.

Something else to add a few more sticks of dynamite into the heads of teabaggers.

[Marnie]

67. Congrats to your bro,

Better sooner than later but better later than not at all.

His problem is to swear allegiance to a party. Always study the candidates and vote for the best one or at least the least worst one.

[Liberal_Stalwart71]

68. I do hope you're right. I'm still stunned that Sharron Angle will not be running for Ensign's seat.

And Palin's numbers continue to plummet. Glenn Beck's ratings are going down the tubes and fast.

I just hope you're right...

[StarburstClock]

70. Typical repugnicant, only cares when it directly hits them

I tell people like that they should have to pay for their lifetimes of hatred, lies and voting against Americans by giving up their "entitlement" they have so vigorously campaigned against for their entire corrupt lives.

His anecdotal experience is representative of nothing except his own selfishness, not a change in societal norms among repukes.

[saras]

71. Seasons don't fear the cowbell...

Seasons don't fear the cowbell...

That's the part I'm going to keep.

I mean, it's good that this is happening, and it's good to talk about what makes it work better, but, still...
While it's ok to get them onto more factual news, something else to do with someone who just discovered that the media lie is to learn to do research. Looking at hard data from almost any chemical industry controversy over the last century will make a progressive out of a lot of people.

but, still...

Seasons don't fear the cowbell...

[wouldsman]

74. This is a strong trend

I traveled to Madison two weeks ago with a lifelong repub who has now seen the light.He now believes that this is the most important moment in politics in the last 30 years, most likely to be the most important battle that he will ever engage in.
It is moments like this that can convert people and create party loyalty for decades to come. We must work hard to capitalize on these opportunities. This is a water cooler war that we can win. Never before has it been so important for all of us to engage with our friends, enemies, family, coworkers and anyone else that we can.

[jwirr]

75. At the moment the actions and big mouths of the rethugs are doing

more for us than we have been able to do. I for one hope they do not wise up. They have been stupid enough to hurt their own.

[rasputin1952]

76. My Mon, a life-long R refused to vote for bush's 2nd term...

and found McCain absolutely repulsive. She wonders what happened to the GOP of Eisenhower and begrudgingly respects FDR, JFK and Johnson. She has mentioned that the Reagan yesrs were nothing more than smoke and mirtriors, and considers bush to be a "punch drunk, owl-faced bastard"...:D

The GOP has really overstepped itself this time around and people here in Nebraska are pissed off too. Far too many people are out of work, and the citizens know that the corporations own the GOP, which is bad, but the worst thing is, the corp's are sitting on trillkions while people are beiung thrown out of their houses and children go hungry from lack of jobs. Since the GOP immediately gacve up on job creation, and moved to social legislation...people have gone ballistic.

Now if only people get off their duffs nationewide and crush these bastards once and for all, we'll make it.

[Greybnk48]

77. More good news in this regard.

My sister lives in very red Oconomowoc Wi and has played bridge with the same women for over 30 years, all hard core wingers (and college educated racists almost to a woman). My sister has been all alone in her liberal views all these years, although it's never been this contentious.

Every single one of them has turned on Walker---why??? They ALL have teachers or nurses in their families, or close friends, and they are PISSED. These are Sensenbrenner people; we all know that fat little prick. Well his backers are not entirely unlike him, if you know what I mean, and they're against Walker and very vocal about it!

I cannot stress how astounding this is!

[sellitman]

78. My 90 year old father in law voted for his 1st Democrat when he picked Obama

He too has seen enough. Besides he hated McCain more than anything.

[Batgirl]

79. One of BatSpouse's childhood buddies has traditionally voted GOP.

Since this thing in Wisconsin started, followed by the stuff with our new wingnut Gov. in Mi, the guy's FB posts are sounding almost Chomskey-like. Posted link to Snyder recall petition this morning.