I talked to a friend who is a Republican today...

She is one of my best friends, and a reall sweet person, and VERY intelligent--a history professor. Don't ask me to convert her...she wouldn't do that to me, and I won't jeopardize our friendship by making politics the center of it.

So, anyway, we were discussing the upcoming election, and I said I hope it is decisive. She agreed, and said that she believes that it will either be a landslide for Bush or a landslide for Kerry. She said that she doesn't want 2000 to happen again.

I said that I hope so, and then we began to talk about something altogether different.

What do you guys make of this? Do you think that other Republicans are hoping to avoid the post-election chaos of 2000?

most people are not rabid partisans, and understand how destructive the 2000 election was. If she's a history professor, she has a special insight into how dangerous it was.

I think MOST Americans, Republican or Democrat, don't want to see extreme divisiveness.

Tell her she can avoid it by voting for Kerry :)

I don't know. I have a hard time believing any kind of Bush supporter has any critical thinking skills.

when each side presumes anybody who disagrees with them politically is an idiot, things get ugly.

I've thought a lot about this problem in recent months, even years.

Jews hate Palestinians, Palestinians hate Jews, Irish hate English, English hate Irish... ad infinitum, ad nauseum

We have to be able to disagree without hating, or else there's no hope for peace, ever.

If we presume any Bush supporter is a vile idiot, then we lose. We're no better than the crazy Clinton conspiracists.

The overwhelming majority of Americans don't hate. They're not rabid partisans. Some people like strong leaders and perceive Republicans as stronger than Democrats. They're not morons for doing so - they just need to know more.

None of this is to excuse the hate-filled Freeper types. They're beyond redemption. But most Republicans are simply good people with a view that differs from ours. It doesn't help our cause to dismiss them all as retarded.

Everything you said. :thumbsup:

You can hate somebody's politics without hating them personally.

The French hate the Germans,
The Germans hate the Poles.

Italians hate Yugoslavs,
South Africans hate the Dutch,
and I don't like anybody very much.

But we can be tranquil and thankful and proud,
For man's been endowed with a mushroom-shaped cloud,
And we know for certain that some lovely day,
Someone will set the spark off,
And we will all be blown away.

The Merry Minuet as performed by The Kingston Trio

The song isn't complete without the la las!

From one Tennessean to another, you make me proud! :pals:

Like they haven't been ugly for quite some time now???? Think Rush Limbaugh and Ann Coulter and you can say thigs will get ugly

I will bet that she got to where she is through raw memorization of regurgitated facts. A professor of history who votes Republican either isn't so sweet or isn't so wise, one of the two.

I would really like to know how she can reconcile her knowledge of American and European history with Repug party rhetoric.

But Bush's Right Wing Extremism will never allow that. I'll march in the streets before this idiot starts yelling again about his mandate to make this counry a theocracy.

...a close election might be the only chance the Repugs have, as it's probably impossible even for Rove's Army of Darkness to steal a Kerry landslide.

If that were to happen (Rove _obviously_ stealing a landslide from Kerry) I wonder if any countries would have the, um, guts to stand up and not recognize the Bush Junta...?

to normal American citizens who happen to be Republicans, legitimacy is important. They want a President who is absolutley the President whether it's their guy or not, they love their country and they don't want to see their country in turmoil. However, the people in power I don't think care about legitimacy, so unless you have a mass defection which hasn't happened yet (although a mini-defection seems to be brewing in places like Ohio) it unfortuneatly will be close. I really thought someone would pull away right now. I know polls don't mean crap, but a lot of people pay attention to them as some type of a scoreboard and if the polls are still close by the end of next week it will be a Kerry win because I don't think people will accept another Bush by a nose.

I also hope it is a landslide in either direction, because we do not need anymore cynicism. We also need a uniter, not a divider. For whatever reason Bush could not accomplish that. A decisive win for Kerry could definitely turn him into a uniter, and one of the greatest presidents ever.

by either candidate so there wouldn't be the problems that were there in 2000. This was on the CBC via shortwave....

We didn't get it in 2000.

after you've cheated your way into the office that is.

Then everybody rallies around you and you can do whatever the hell you want!!

No matter where they fall politically. See, one issue we can all agree on. :)

I hate to say this, but I hope is it decisive either way. The country needs a president with a mandate. I hope it is kerry but the polls are all over the place.

Another close Bush win that is disputed would createb such acrimony and bitterbess it would paralyze washington. If Kerry wins a contested election we may see an intellectual civil war, if it is not going on already.

And on a side note:

If Bush wins and you voted for him or if you dind't vote at all, then you can't complain one bit what happens.

Example: If Bush is agressive in Iran or North Korea and we end up in a conflict, then you can't complain about that conflict or the deaths if you voted for him.

Bush is clearly targeting Iran and North Korea after the election and if more people die, I don't want to hear any outcries from Bush supporters or non-voters. Agreed. This election is about bitch rights at the minimum. If you dont' vote or go for Bushie, you lose your bitch rihgts for 4 more years. Agreed?

This isn't the Yankees vs. the Red Sox.

This is a fascist takeover of the country.

I certainly didn't, and the friend I mentioned didn't either.

So who is the Republican apologist?

It means well but is too nice for it's own good, and usually bends over and asks the bully for another.

It's the reason why we are where we are at this point in history: wimpy Democratic party for the past 30 years that only plays to the "can't we all just get along" suburban vote while the fucking country and the world is taken over by fascist imperialistic thugs. I'm so sick of this shit. Sometimes I think there will only be a true opposition party to conservatism when liberalism dies out and is replaced with a tougher, stronger form of leftism. It's about time the underdog - the oppressed, the poor, the discrimated - actually had a champion who had the guts to stand up and fight to win, and not simply a bunch of idealists who like to sit back in their cozy existences and wax poetic about "bipartisanship" while the world falls apart.

Well put. I agree with everything you said.

To clarify that title is angry sarcasm because I sure as hell don't feel that way.

But that is exactly what my sister in law told my nine year old when she asked her Aunt if she was voting for Bush or Kerry.

The stupidity of the SIL's statement boggles my mind.

Do you think that means "regime change"? It's over double from 2000.I can't help but think this it to vote for change - our last Gov was useless (approval rating in the 20's). Call me hopeful but I think it'll be much bigger for Kerry and I think the pollsters will have to rethink their methods.

Let's hope you are right!

By the way, I have a female friend who is a pilot living in Montana. Your post made me realize that I should contact her to see how she's doing. Do lots of folks in MT fly? :-)

Welcome to DU!! :toast: