My dad and I...agree?!?!?! On political matters? Not an April Fool?

Just had a heck of a conversation with my father. Dad is a lifelong conservative, southern baptist, and Republican voter. He's seriously talking about switching from Republican to Independent. He angry with the Jeb and George. He's worried about the legislative branch wanting to choke out the judicial branch. He can't believe the stuff he's heard from Frist and Delay. He's worried about our personal freedoms. There were several points of agreement between us.
==pinch me!==

It seems that all that's come out in the news with the Schiavo ordeal has really affected him. I know that polls have shown the Republican politicians aren't in agreement a big portion of their own base concerning their handling of all of this, but I never thought I'd see the day they'd alienate my dad from the party. Or the day where he and I could have a positive and enjoyable discussion about politics. Well it just happened.

I doubt he'll ever vote for a Democratic candidate. He may vote for independents or Libertarians, maybe some Republicans, or not vote...who knows? But I know that there are fewer Republicans that can count on him. AND he's open to reading articles and learning more about what's going wrong with the government.

Just thought I'd share my story. It gives me hope. He can't be the only one.

common ground. I like to hear about every single person who's eyes have been opened.

You just KNOW you've fucked up when your own supporters
start to hate you.

a man I have known for years come into my shop to ask what flowers I had planted along the highway (wild verbena, in case anyone is interested.)

He has been big in the Republican Party for years. Always held a party office, been available for appointments, donated, fund raised, ran for office, etc. (He is a conservative, not a neocon.)

He told me that he quit the party, told the Gov to take his name off all the lists, and has absolutely retired from it all.

I almost fell through the floor. If someone like this is throwing it in, well what's happening with the real conservatives?

lose the real conservatives they'll lose their power. They've been so busy pandering to the religious right and the neo-cons that they've forgotten their core base.

Is this happening all over the country? I don't know if these people would ever vote for a democratic president but at least the doors are opening now. More of the real republicans are starting to see through the b.s. that is of the neocons. I'm glad of that.

We're agreeing more and more on certain issues. I've been silently hoping it's the beginning of a trend.

the Repugs will find just the right character assassination and just the right wedges to pull all these defectors back into the fold. It has always been very easy for them to do. I have no reason to suspect the future will be any different.

case with some who leave the fold, but I don't think it will be as relevant to people like my dad. As I said, I don't believe he'll start voting for Democratic candidates, so wedge issues and character assassination won't drive him from a liberal candidate that he wouldn't vote for anyway. What I believe will happen is that he won't vote for a Republican that doesn't follow a traditional conservative role. I don't think neo-con candidates stand a chance with him. It sounds like he has as much distaste for the neo-cons as he has for the Democrats. That may not sound like much, but for him it's a huge step.

He's actually out on the net reading many of the same articles I read. I was shocked that he was bringing up stories that aren't from the MSM.

The only reason I think this is important (outside of my own family) is the chance that this epiphany is happening for others like him. At least I hope so.

civility. I can be conservative on some issues (paygo, paygo, paygo,) and socially liberal.

This is old school.

In my day, liberals and conservatives wanted America to be strong. America to prosper. We disagreed on how this might happen. Conservatives believe in a strong middle class. And a strong middle class leading the world to a strong middle class.

Liberals looked to a strong America leading a worker, democratic strength leading others to strong worker class.

NeoCons are different. They want to create wealth for themselves. They reject America for a Meme philosophy. They want to be Carrington and leave the Clampetts far, far behind (excuse the dated reference.) They are globalists, if and only if, they are first at the trough.

This is not coherent, but I hope you understand what I mean. Conservatives are not "bad." Liberals are not "good." We have different visions.

NeoCons are bad. I truly believe that. For NeoCons, there are no others.

In fact my father and I have shared common ground on certain political views before. Unfortunately it's been many, many years since we've been able to discuss politics with out the whole conversation getting very uncomfortable. Today's experience was refreshing. His mind is really opening back up. My husband was shocked and happy to hear about the change in Dad, too--he never saw it coming.

to question the NeoCon philosophy?

As I said, I never expect him to vote for Democratic candidates. He is now, and will always be, a conservative man. And that's fine. That's who he is. BUT... He's open to reading sources that aren't MSM. He's open to criticizing Republicans that don't represent him. He's opened his eyes and he's seeing the neo-cons for the danger they are to the Republican party and the US in general.

Or they will vote for a 3rd party candidate.

because of their refusal to recognize separation of powers and their willingness to politicize private family matters.