There was a time when we could get along. Then came hate radio and faux news.

Not any more. A friend of mine explained it best - it's more than politics. It effects the entire way a person looks at the world.

Be thankful you were not in my house when "Obamacare" passed.

They are dangerous, like rabid animals. They cannot function in a free society because they have no respect for differences, and no ego boundaries to tell them MYOB. They want to be the Deciders. America was founded on the notion that there was no elite class of "deciders", that each decided for himself.

If the GOP cannot work within this meme, then they cannot be functional Americans. They can only be terrorists, destroying the nation and the government.

Reagan was the start of it all. Nixon at least finally bowed to the will of the People. Reluctantly, and with a lot of arm-twisting from his fellow GOP, but he did yield.

should go ahead and divide this country in half like Canada. This democracy was built on cooperation and compromise. Your momma is right. When I am around people who are republicans I don't talk politics. They see me and what I do to help others. I see what they do and how they handle a problem. Some times both help each other. The only way this country seems to unite is when a major problem happens. Sad but it should be this way all the time. Demcrats put it out there to solve. What I see going on in the republican party is back room hiding what they are doing. That has to stop. It is up to republicans to stop it.

interest basis. It would be N/S Korea.

a lesbian.

our friendship almost ended during the last presidential campaign.

i mentioned her being lesbian because i asked her one time why she votes for the party who hates her. she said "when it comes right down to it neither party will defend me".

Friendship covers alot of different relationships. I use the expression "acquaintance" more than most people. There is an old saying about "friends for a reason, friends for a season, and friends forever". My mother had alot of "friends" who were my classmates parents. They didn't last much after we were no longer classmates. My parents know alot of people from church, but I'd hardly call them friends, but they all showed up at my fathers funeral.

At the end of the day, one should always be careful about rejecting the company of people merely on the basis of these kinds of differences. Either from an MLK attitude of "loving ones enemy" or the more strategic "keep your enemies closer, there are reasons to not build walls, but instead build bridges.

who are personally compassionate and open minded and obviously vice versa. There are a lot of reasons why a person might have been influenced to subscribe to one political view or the other. They are not for the most part reasons that have anything to do with one’s personal moral character. For one thing, most small town and rural Americans are Republicans while most big city and urban Americans are Democrats. Well most people would tend to find rural America friendlier than urban America. -but urban America more open minded than rural America. The same trend can be pretty much found in Europe as well when it comes to the divide between the left and right parties. I suspect this has to do with how social orders that still rely more on personal institutions tend to have less faith in impersonal institutions. But whatever the reasons why one tends toward conservatism as opposed to liberalism – I really don’t think that it has a whole lot to do with how good or how bad a person might be. Ideology is in many ways the secular equivalent of a religious belief system. To believe that conservatives are personally bad people and liberals are personally good people would to me be as myopic as to believe that Catholics are personally bad people and Protestants are personally good people.

I think you mean 'most white, straight people'. And I still don't really agree with you. Do you think new immigrants find rural America friendly? Gay people? What is a 'sundown town'?

and utterly narrow minded. I'm sure Rick Santorum's crazy talk would have traction. Although, I suspect his views would be a bit extreme even for there. These days there are openly gay people and there are immigrants. I would say that a certain type of immigrant - like a doctor from Pakistan or a veterinarian from the Philippines would find reasonable acceptance -basically the successful immigrant who makes decent money.

I've certainly spent much of my adult life in major cities. People are certainly more liberal and more open minded - but also more indifferent. They care considerably less about who you sleep with or what race you are - but they don't care very much whether you are lying on the ground bleeding either. And on the dark side of the city - having money and status is even more important and one is judged even more on one's economic success - at least that is how I have found it. People will care enough about the poor to vote for politicians who will defend social programs - but they won't care about them enough to actually want to know them or be seen with them...Unless they have the sad misfortune of being part of that untouchable class.

I honestly believe that most people are good and decent people. The actual number of people whom I would consider as being actually "evil" and/or intolerable is fairly small. I don't build most of my relationships around politics and doubt that their politics being different than my own would matter much to me, so as long as I feel like my beliefs are respected, I don't know why I should allow politics to get in the way of a friendship. I imagine that it can make marriages more difficult but then again it comes down to how people handle their differences in general. I don't agree with what Republicans stand for (which is obviously why I'm not one of them) and I spend a lot of time speaking out against Republican policies and behavior but I try to respect the fact that they are entitled to (what I feel are) misguided and wrongheaded views and associations just as I am entitled to my own. It kind of comes down to the Golden Rule for me. Do I want people to respect my personal political beliefs?

1. Conservative does not = Right Wing
2. In political battle, in war - No
3. The politicization of virtually everything
is a national tragedy, only serving special interests,
the media, the 1%, and party turnouts.

who are my age and peers, with families about the same stage as ours, and I know A LOT of older republicans who know my politics very well, and have been friends to me, and are people I greatly look up to.

These people are hard working, honest and also tend to be very giving to the community and other people.

I tend to actually get along very well with these folks, and am quite comfortable with them.

They tend to know I am pretty smart guy, very ethical and honest, very careful with money and not radical in my personal beliefs or my overall views.

Honestly, I think they know I am right about most of the bigger issues, but I don't try to talk then out of their positions or views. There is some kind of bizarre disconnect with them, that despite how they live their lives, when it comes to politics, they believe in what they have been told about the "liberal" for so many years, and they come home to the party and being "conservative." They will maybe support a D locally, but not nationally, not even consider it.

I have given up even trying to understand it, I just enjoy their friendship and keep it separate.

NOW, at the same time, I know a number of pretty despicable younger "conservatives" who just are obnxious about it, don't do anything for anyone else, and most of who, much more so than those who I am friends with, tend to suck off the system in some way while being all high and mighty their BS.

I have given up trying to be nice to mostly talk to these types of folks.

But, again, there are MANY very decent and kind straight voting Rs. I don't get it, I just don't, and have given up trying to understand or fight it.

He is against unions - period. I thought it was because private school, no union, etc.

This is a guy I've known since I was a kid, and I'm almost 50 now. He's 11 yrs older than me and ULTRA conservative. He was hoping McCain/Palin would be elected. He's hidden his feelings well, but I do know that he for the most part ignores me on Facebook He's against birth control, abortion, homosexuals, funding healthcare, Medicare, SS and SSDI.

Now, let me tell you about his life, or what care his family has needed, Planned Parenthood (pregnancy counseling 3x, adoption counseling 1x), has a son who's gay, welfare, foodstamps, WIC, went through "Obamacare" for cancer treatment, had to use Medicare/SS and SSDI to care for his wife who recently passed away....and I'm sure there are more - that's just the top ones mentioned.

I love the guy. He's very nice, and I certainly wouldn't begrudge him any of that support that his family has needed. But DAMN!!!! How can you use all of that support - he needed it, it was there - and then still slap the people in the face that made it all possible. AND want to make sure nobody else in the future has that support.

I just don't get it.

BTW, I posted the Tea Party Sue link back to DU where he would see it. Fits him to a Tea!

Also, I've ordered my Obama/Biden 2012 t-shirt, which will be standard chorale wear at rehearsals. I'm in the front row!

She couldn't defend the indefensible and caved in 1996. Thanks, Newt!

She and her Rush-worshiping husband were George Bush supporters. But I was a good influence on them! They voted, with enthusiasm, for Barack!

Don't give up on people. They weren't evil, just ill-informed.

No never. I see no way to befriend Republicans. They are out to destroy everything in their path. They are like army aunts.
They want to destroy Medicare, Medicaide, Social Security, labor laws, child labor laws, domestic abuse laws, food programs, minimum wages, federal agencies, state agencies, civil service, etc etc.

They have become the enemy of the people, of the nation, of the old, of the infirm, of the sick, of the disabled, etc, etc.

I would not save a Republican if they were in a damned river drowning these days.

I've ended friendships with these people because they're aggressive, lack boundries, and are willfully ignorant. I've been at different jobs and never mentioned or even hinted at my politics, but it wasn't before long that some rabid, Rush-listening idiot would make a provacative statement to smoke me out. I ended a 25 year friendship with a woman would would not leave me alone with her Fox talking points, and now, for the most part, I avoid Repbulicans at every turn.

....because they agree with Republicans too much.
I can't even imagine being friends with a Republican.



[font color=firebrick][center]"There are forces within the Democratic Party who want us to sound like kinder, gentler Republicans.
I want a party that will STAND UP for Working Americans."
---Paul Wellstone [/font][/center]
[center][/font]
[font size=1]photo by bvar22
Shortly before Sen Wellstone was killed[/center][/font]

When they expressed joy at the news of Ted Kennedy's cancer I had to hold my tongue. They bought into the right-wing attcks on the Kennedys but I found it hard to believe they could be so insensitive. I decided that I would continue talking to them and maybe eventually I could make them a little better.

We just don't talk politics that's all.

is that you then cannot be friends with any wealthy liberals either.

If they have not given away all they have to help children from going hungry or without healthcare, then they also fail your test.

How can you respect Buffet, Matt Damon, Alec Baldwin, or any of those either?

I've not discussed anyone wealthy, liberal or conservative.

this OP? Matthew 19:21 "Jesus said unto him, If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come and follow me."
And yet most of the GOP is running as hyper Christian. Why does that thought offend you so, those words of Jesus? Interesting if you ask me. What else do you feel Jesus said that was so incorrect and lefty?

"If you saw a child, starving and sick, turned away by one of your Republican friends, would you still respect that person?"

My point was simply that is a standard MOST PEOPLE would fail since most of us could give up some luxuries to help the poor. If the kid were in front of us, most of us could give some to help that hungry kid. And I believe most of us would--Republicans included. But when the kid is not in front of us, it is a bit more abstract and most people don't think of what they could give. Starbucks would be out of business if we did.

If you don't want to be friend with Republicans, feel free. It will probably be less stressful. But don't try to rationalize it based on a standard that will leave you completely friendless (even from yourself) if you actually apply it.

I didn't bring Christianity into it, but I guess if you want to, I could bring up lots of claimed Christians of all political persuasion who fail that standard--including President Obama. I'm not rich but I also fall into the category of failing that standard.

Guess I can't be your friend. I sure hope you don't have any available resources beyond your absolute basic subsistence that could be going to help hungry children.

As is obvious to everyone else, I was comparing turning a sick homeless child away on the street to Republican voters who vote for candidates who support policies that turn away sick hungry kids.

sick and homeless. Because if there are, you certainly cannot respect anyone who isn't ensuring they are getting appropriate aid. And that includes anyone who has the resources. Anyone.

They are effectively turning away your hypothetical kid.


Regardless, in my opinion your test cannot be reasonably applied evenly, so I reject it. And you can't seem to see that so I am also done with this part of the discussion.

Have a nice day.

...then somehow try to twist my OP to fit your reply?

And you're STILL wrong.

As is obvious to everyone else, I was comparing turning a sick homeless child away on the street to Republican voters who vote for candidates who support policies that turn away sick hungry kids.

But if you still want to dig your heels in with the mistaken notion this was some analogy about wealthy Dems, knock yourself out.

I assumed I had.

And then I rechecked it and decided to point out exactly what I was referring to since you appeared to have no clue what you even said.

But we're the party of Will Rogers and Harry Truman. Surely a real liberal can say "I never met a man I didn't like" and still find the ammo to "Give 'em Hell." I can't be so small minded that I have to agree with someone most of the time in order for me to get along with him. After all, isn't tolerance one of the liberal virtues?

It makes for interesting conversation.

There are people I can't manage to be friends with, some are Liberal and some Conservative. I would say that I find problems relating to Conservatives more frequently than I find it with Liberals, but neither group is exempt.

Some Conservatives I know really mean what they say and live it in significant measure. They believe care for the poor should be voluntary, but actually do volunteer and give meaningfully to the effort. They oppose abortion, but care well for their kids and grandkids, and adopt when they can support another. Some foster or adopt a whole family. Others work tirelessly to protect the environment. Some I have encountered are as good and honest as any liberal I have run into, and much better than some.

By hazard of my profession I have run into crooks and scam artists fairly regularly. Some would call themselves Liberal and a good number would call themselves Conservative. I am not friends with them and their preference in politics does not come into play.

I have seen lies foisted on the press and the public by Conservative groups and Liberal groups. Occasionaly, my personal reputation as a professional has been put in play by both sides. 18 years on, I am still standing, and largely they aren't. I have also received great professional recommendations from from both conservative and liberal groups and individuals. Professionally, I do not get to pick who I work with, and I am most successful when all sides trust that I am telling the truth, and over the long haul this always works.

I take people as they come, I get along with the honest ones, and have disdain for BS artists whether they call themselves Liberal or Conservative.

Too many of them see anyone who is not their carbon copy as an "enemy".

One of my very good friends is conservative, and we talk a lot about politics.

Fortunately he is the type who actually does respect my views even if he disagrees. And we both are a bit more moderate perhaps than some of the others who claim our parties. (He, for example, has said he thinks gay marriage should be allowed, and his only worry is that somehow churches would be forced to perform marriages they disagreed with. I point to Catholics, who for many years have denied people the ability to marry in their church for many other reasons, and they haven't been sued yet. We both like the idea of all marriages being treated the same by the government, but churches having the right to marry who they wish.)

It'd be nice if all of them were that reasonable. I have several others who I just don't talk politics with.

My brother became a Republican about 4 years ago. We argue all the time,so I have said whenever we talk to let's NOT talk politics. He just can't help himself. He is always baiting me into the subject. This man just HATES Obama!

I have another friend who is a rabid Fox News watching Republican. I tried the same rule with him and he also can't resist. He will say something very anti Obama or anti Clinton or make some dig about Nancy Pelosi or Rachel Maddow and then say, 'oh sorry. I forgot, you are a liberal.'Its like once he has said it we now have to have a debate/argument.

My brother however is the worst because I remember him when he actually was pretty liberal. He is the type who hates ALL LIBERALS! Which means if I watch a movie that has Sean Penn, Alec Baldwin,Tom Hanks, or any left leaning actor in it he has to say something really mean and nasty. Same goes with music. Any left leaning liberals he won't tolerate (although for some reason he refuses to accept Bruce Springsteen is a Democrat. He loves Bruce and looks the other way.ANy other liberal band or singer he hates) I never understood people like this. I LOVE Kelsey Grammar and enjoy Charleton Heston and other right wing actors.

He will trash Sean Penn and remind me how Sean hates America and how actors need to learn to STFU and then proceed to tell me how great Jon Voight is.

It is getting worse with my brother and I and I only have the one conservative friend now and I can see those days coming to an end very soon. I have no idea how people can be friends with these people who want to destroy so many good things about this country.

I'll even say that typically I enjoy talking politics with my conservative friends more then I do with my liberal friends, It gives me a different perspective on an issue and allows me to defend and share my own perspective giving me a more rounded view of the world. They respect my views and I respect theirs despite our disagreements.

A bubble is not a good thing to be in, economic, political or just societal getting different perspective and views is almost always a good thing.

Though she isn't as die hard as most republicans. She voted for Jimmy Carter, she voted for Ross Perot twice, she was anti-bush by the end of his second term. She donated to John Edwards and Hillary Clinton during the primaries (before the Iowa Caucus where Obama took the lead) and even went to hear Bill Clinton speak.

She supports Gay Rights including full gay marriage.

She is a registered republican, but has said if Mitt Romney doesn't win she will likely vote 3rd party again or not vote at all.

She is a good person at heart. She is more of a conservative independent than she would like to admit because of where and how she was raised.

In fact she kept her donations to Edwards and Hillary secret from my Dad because she knew what might happen/be said to her if he found out.

Unfortunately.

We joke about it often (even to the point of threatening to have a red/blue paintball fight), but when it comes down to being "human", we've both helped the other out in some really nasty situations.

It is kind of hard to cut them out of your life over differing political views. I love them, I dislike their politics. We try not to discuss it too much but I do get a kick out of the fact that they raised two pretty liberal kids (me and my brother).

I have several friends who are Republicans, some of whom are very conservative. We disagree about politics, but not about the every day things in our lives that make us friends to begin with. I feel bad for people who turn politics into such a blood sport that they will dissolve a friendship over it.

I wouldn't hesitate to give assistance to them under almost any conditions.
My closest neighbor is a conservative, and I pray he never moves,
though he IS one of those being foreclosed by BoA. (Ironic, isn't it?)
I would trust him with my life, as I do several other Republicans on our rural Fire Department.
Our relationships are respectful and warm, but not honest.
I would never be able to reveal to them exactly what I think and feel about their beliefs,
but I do respect their right to have those beliefs.
Hence, I can't consider them "friends".
The same applies to "Moderate" or "Centrist" DLC Democrats.
They agree with conservatives on too many issues.

I DO have "friends", and the boundaries with my "friends" are much more open and honest.
We join together in Common Cause, and THAT is the basis for what I consider "friendship".
No "conservative" would ever feel comfortable in that circle,
and for that reason, they are not invited.

I just posted this on another thread, but it's relevant:

Not often, but it does happen. I'm friends with a guy you would think I'd be willing to
take an axe to, but I'm not talking about a Frank Luntz here. This guy really believes
the whole line, puts his life where his mouth is, considers me as batshit crazy politically
as I consider him, but accepts me for what I am, and considers me a friend as do I him.
Google him, and you'd think I would guillotine him at the first available opportunity. Some
of the people he hangs out with, I'd be sorely tempted to do just that, but not him.

Go figure, but that's the way it is.