Has This Election Cost you any Friendships?

I had a very good friend who unfortunately is a Republican. This election has placed a wedge between us that may not be able to be repaired.

I have never seen anything like this.

The relationships aren't severed but they're damaged.

And that was in 2001 when I was protesting the "free speech" zones and saying there was more to come that wasn't going to be pretty. I was actually thrown out of the house.

we had one repug at at work at our union shop(don't know why) for years. Over the past 4 years of Bush and the religious right, he finally gave up on the republican party. Voted for Kerry this time. He now knows "which side his bread is buttered on."

you have no idea!

found out my all time guitar hero was a repub... battled him on his message board. it was fun and he said he was into the discussion... then his WIFE got involved... the message board got shut down AFTER she started a hate on juniper thread! so, my fave guitarist is a repub and his wife is YOKO! shit!

i don't want to know my heros anymore!

There's a woman I've known for a couple of years and we haven't spoken much since I sent an email around with a link to my website (in sig below).


Hey...what happened to everyone's sigs?


Anyway...here it is:


http://www.conjur.com/politics - Why George W. Bush is WRONG for America

my father and brother both far right conceded the election, lol lol you know redskins lost. i felt in them yesterday that they have accepted bush losss and kerry win.

they werent angry./ my thought both these clever men, know in their heart, and are relieved or gonna be relieved with a kerry win. they know bush is wrong for our nation

but with family. One of my cousins and I have pretty much stopped communicating. The other one has been very quiet. We used to e-mail each other a couple of times a week. We were very close. I've heard from her twice in the past 4 months. We didn't fight or anything. I keep politics out of the mix, but still I think the election has distanced us a lot.

MzPip
:dem:

It hasn't cost me any friendships yet, but it has caused me to look
at and re-evaluate some of the friendships that I have.

And if it ends up costing me a friend or two, then so be it, living in
a free country is much more important then having friends who would give up that freedom without any logical thought.

He's a gay republican who wants to nuke Iraq.

I am betting that even without a war and election we'd eventually have stopped seeing eye to eye enough to socialize.

On the other hand, several friends and relatives of mine who are conservative or even Fundie now come to me for info on politics so I guess things turned out just fine in the end.

Ironically, I also lost a friend early in the Bush regime who is a very liberal Democrat. She was one of those who rolled over and whimpered quietly to herself after the Busheviks stole the election. She accused me of having some sort of mental problem because I was so active in anti-Bush efforts. That was in early 2001; we haven't had much to do with each other since.

but had I known their views on people before we talked about it as a result of the election, I wouldn't have been friends with them to begin with.

I lost a couple just after the LAST general election and its aftermath.
Also lost two excellent smart funny gifted liberal friends to suicide during Bush's first 2 years.

And I called my Frepper boss a "fucking moron" to his face. We talk only because we have to.

I can't bring myself to speak to my cousin, with whom I used to be close. She and her husband morphed into neocons a few years back (I date it to their making substantial fortunes working for Lockheed Martin), and they've drifted rightward for years. Now she's highly placed in a hyperconservative women's organization, and I just can't bring myself even to send her a Christmas card.

Sad. I miss her, but all I can think about when I think of her is, "Why? What happened? We came from the same working class background. What went wrong? How do you forget where you came from?"

cos its easier to be judgemental than it is to be kind

but who cares:spank:

.

I don't know how long it will take me to get over it!!!!!!!!!!!!
"I could never vote for a democrat because of the abortion issue." Is what they say. They suffer from abject stupidity! No, I didn't say that to them. I told them to "leave me a lone for a long time". Never mind all the criminality in this Administration, the lying, the 100,000's deaths in Iraq and blood for oil!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

We don't talk much about politics any more.

But then I have to ask myself if this was the breaking factor in the friendship, were they really "friends" to begin with?

I'm glad I learned about certain people because they don't really deserve my friendship.

and I think I influenced him just a little bit.
He voted b/c but voted dem in the house race just to try to be magnanimous about it.

He's okay it just turns out he's a spoiled rich kid who has never had to think about things and has never had to look for a job.

these days I wonder if he is a Freeper... I ain't shitting you

...and I still wonder how we continue to be friends during this tulmultuous election. :D

I don't know. One of my good friends supported the Iraq war wholeheartedly, and the more we ended up discussing it, the less we talked to each other. I haven't seen him in months now. I'm going to call him after the election and see if we can't patch things up.

who told me last night she has decided to vote for Kerry. She said it is the thoughtful conversations we have had over the last few weeks that opened her eyes. She actually thanked me.
I was speechless.

But then, they came around. They're happily and enthusiastically voting for Kerry.

But Andy the Right Wing Republican and I haven't talked in two months since we got into a fight (not an argument, a fight) over politics. He's still a good friend, but every bit as passionate about his views as I am about mine -- so it's best we not talk until after this is over.
My other two self-identified Repub buddies and I are getting along about as well as ever. Between Polly and I, our votes cancel their votes.
John
Saginaw will go Dem 80-20 in the city, 60-40 in the county. Michigan should go Dem by about 55-45 when all the new voters are counted.

"interesting" information about an old friend I hadn't seen in 18 years. He contacted me and we started up our friendship from the old days.

He started sending me some truly crappy emails (the likes of which folks have already seen here) which gave me additional insight into his belief of men's and women's place in the world, a look at his prejudices about "non-whites" and other slimy stuff. The "grand reunion" was canceled due to my disgust which later turned to disappointment and sadness. Our friendship has since faded away.

It would have eventually ended anyway, but the current political climate put a lot of information out there he might not have sent my way under more "normal" circumstances.

I also have a co-worker whom I now look at with a more "jaundiced" eye.

My sense of disillusionment is growing.

one male and one female. on further evaluation, I didnt lose that much. the male decided to tell me I deserved to be blown away, during a heated argument, and I nixed it right there.

OTOH, I regained a nearly-lost relationship with my sister, who is a self-described Kerry NUT. For that I am grateful.

Friends who disagree, or who are apathetic about the election, just warn others, DONT get her STARTED!

a friend of mine who has become EXTREMELY religous over the past year or so and I just do not talk anymore. We don't agree on much of anything and it's easier for us to just not talk - -at least for NOW. We have been good friends for appx 14 yrs. She is definitely against gays having equal rights and she is misinformed about stem cell research and other issues that she doesn't care to discuss. Her church is telling her how she should vote. Need I say more? She is a goner.

and am questioning 7 others, also cousins. Whenever I am around them we don't talk about politics but all I can think about is how dumb they are. I have already rehearsed a phone call to them if Bush is elected and my husband or I am drafted. It won't be pretty...

30 years ago, said after September 11 that she thought Bush was doing a good job. I was so flabbergasted by so much ignorance that I haven't spoken to her since.

I also had a very good friend whom I could never feel the same about. The lack of logic, the repetition of Sean Hannity lies, the false arguments, has made me loose respect for this person. It isn't the party affiliation or the choice of a candidate, it is the abdication of critical thinking. It is the buying into the right wing media machine that has alienated me.

I have seen nastiness come out of these people that I didn't know existed! It has not been directed at me in particular but toward anyone that doesn't think Bush is the saviour. I have already distanced myself from these people and it will probably stay that way. Reality can be a bummer!

Throughout this campaign, while some of my Republican friends have been gracious and are basicly good people (although misguided and a little naive), I've had a couple good friends of mine reveal a completely narrow-minded and ignorant side of them (a Bush side) that I just do not feel like associating myself with any longer. While I'm not going to completely write them off, things will not be the same between myself and those particular individuals again.

... a neighbor who thought she was going to turn me on to Limpballs and OReally.

After I told her what I thought of both of them and asked her not to bring it up again, on a subsequent visit she shoved that stupid OReally book in my face.

We had a heated 30 minute "discussion" and we are no longer friends.

Too bad, I was willing to be friends but not with her delusional belief that she knows something I don't.

We are friends no more...

We know a lot is at stake. But the reason we visit this forum is to discuss all kinds of issues, including how our friends are behaving.

but broken friendships are an important component of the bigger picture. Talk about psychological upheaval! Rather than deride, why not give examples that would enable us to view it from your perspective?

is the division that Bush and his buddies have brought upon America. The division has extended not only into the economic, social, and religious arenas, but also the personal arena. This is a perfect example of what is at stake. We want a uniter, not a divider.

Kerry/Edwards lawn signs at a community "chili fest" in our volunteer firehouse...i laughed at him when he told me "this isn't a political rally so please stop"...these people had asked me for them and i had them in my van so i went out and brought them in....he was livid and pouted stomp his foot and walked away

he lives on my road and is sick of seeing nothing but Kerry/Edwards signs...i live in a heavy repuke county in upstate NY and there are only 13 homes on my 1 and 1/2 mile long road ...and 9 have Kerry signs ;D

he's * all the way, even though his health care is a tragic mess (he's 71), he has a WHOLE lot less money than he used to, etc.

He has a pathological hatred for Clinton and associates ALL Dems with him. CANNOT get through to him, no matter what you say.

a landslide.

No one has made any ugly remarks to me, and I do have Republican friends.

They try to get me riled up through email, but I just delete it without reading it.

The good thing that has happened is that liberals here have become much more visable. I have made many new liberal friends through the past four years.

;)

We've never seen eye-to-eye politically, but it was only in the last year that he decided to keep bringing up the "wedge issues" and ask m opinion on them. He's your typical right-wing talk radio listener: working man, most definitely blue collar type, who listened to Rush for nearly ten years and watched his show when it was on TV every damn night. Told me that he "gave up" on Rush when the Oxycontin investigation was launched, but as right-wingers go, he lied like all the rest.

Says he listens to a local man who hosts a show called "Garage Logic" here. It's merely a local echo chamber for the RW talking points. Funny thing is: he's a union man. He loves his job, and the benefits that he has for him and his family, but he can't put two and two together and understand WHY he has these benefits.

He thinks that gays should be allowed "civil unions" but "don't call it marriage." Keeps harping on the "sancitity of marriage" and all that crap (funny thing is, he married his wife becuase he got her pregnant.)

He's a straight Repug voter, probably. He says he likes to discuss the issues, but he doesn't get his information from any other source than Rush and his favorite local radio show. Can't think outside the box, and still blames Clinton for all that's wrong in this country. Also likes getting me mad by reciting all those false talking points.

So, I decided that he wasn't really that much of a friend anymore. He still thinks we are, but he's starting to ask "how come you don't call much anymore?"

After the election, I'll tell him.

One of my roommates voted for Bush, but I didn't care. The rest of us aren't, he's not stupid, and I live in a red state anyway.

...which in and of itself has strained our relationship. Once she started e-mailing pro-Bush BS like stories about how wonderful things were going in Iraq, and I argued back, we stopped talking or e-mailing very much. Finding out that she's working for the Bush campaign in OH made it worse.

I'll have a hard time talking with her after the election, at least for a while, if Bush wins... fortunately, that's looking less and less likely. Then again, maybe she'll not want to talk to me much after a Kerry win. We'll just have to see.

a definite strain on our relationship. I personally think she's a habitual conservative and if she took the time to explore her feelings she'd discover she's actually quite liberal. It's frustrating really. She has sent me a couple of anti-Kerry emails that were absolutely beyond ridiculous. I can't sit still for that and rebutted them. I think I rubbed her the wrong way a couple of times, but I cannot stand the perpetuation of ignorant bullshit. Heck, I've corrected an erroneous email about Bush. Goodness knows he's got enough bad stuff about him we don't need to fabricate any more. At least she doesn't live in a blue state. Her Bush vote will be drowned out.

Voting republican is a character flaw in my book.

My sister just spent the weekend visiting a right wing/Christian/Conservative, who apparently filled my sister's head with all sorts of right wing propaganda. As recently as last friday, my sister was voting for Kerry, and now she says she may not vote for either candidate. I was so disturbed by her transformation over the weekend that I told her I had to hang up the phone and wasn't sure when I'd be able to talk to her again. :( I am seriously bummed right now.

I can't imagine how I'd respond if my sister gave me a similar phone call. I'd be chilled to the bone. I hate the thought of a loss for Kerry, but I have to admit I'd prefer no vote to a vote for Bush. That's truly sad. I'm sorry.

Dad's a Republican, but he prefers just a plain conservative. New Jersey here, he voted McGreevey because of the PBA endorsement, and other things I suspect. Voted Clinton in '96. Might've voted Gore in 2000, and I think he'll go Kerry in this one as well. He recognizes when someone isn't the conservative they say they are...plus Bob Dole was just a creepy old weirdo.

Later.

RJS

I've lost a few friends and at least one family member that I will probably never speak to again. This is all by my choice though, and quite frankly my blood pressure thanks me for my decision.

If you want to be my friend and you are adamant about supporting bush and this war, then you must at least have the facts straight. I can't not in good conscious hang around someone who thinks we found WMD in Iraq. Also, I can't call you my friend if you are voting for bush only because he is a "man of faith". By saying this you are ignoring little issues like THE WAR BASED ON BOGUS INTEL!!!

They weren't friends that I want to associate with... They're fundementalist whackjobs that are stuck in thier meaningless single issue morality world... they would rather see the life we know crumble around us, than to allow gays/lesbians to marry, and a 13 yo to be able to abort a child... Heck, a couple don't even care if the mother's life is at risk, because that's the plan god had in mind for them. I said to remember that next time someone in their family gets diagnosed with cancer, has a heart attack, gets in a car accident, etc... No medical care for you, based on your single-minded insanity!

Flippin Fluffnuts! They're so willing to dictate my life and those of others around us - and don't even see that their god's biggest sinners, because they think they've been appointed by god to stone everyone at the gates of heaven!

problem is, he's also a fundie. However, as I'm a nonfundie Christian, we managed to get along, until he asked me, straight out, "So are you going to join the college Republicans?" This was right after the Zell pukefest, btw.

Needless to say, he did not like my answer. He went on a tirade about gay marriage and abortion, and I responded by saying that the rethuglikkkan party platform was loaded with Pharisaic hypocrisy regarding abortion, and proceeded to list a bunch of anti-life rethuglikkkan policies. He didn't take too kindly to this and called me a baby-killer, and I closed the MSN messenger window that we were having this conversation in, removed him from my contacts, and refused to bite when he tried to start another im chat.

A few days later, we ran into each other (it was unavoidable). I told him that while I respected his views, calling me a baby killer was over the line and I asked for an apology. He then said that "I need to get my priorities straight." We haven't talked since, and I have no plans to after the election regardless of who wins.

It helped weed out some blood sucking pretenders!

any aquaintences, well, I won't miss them.

I stopped discussing things with my repug brothers. Family will go on after elections, and not worth the hard feelings.

RL

Of course, I've also gotten a Republican friend of mine to vote Kerry.

I haven't lost any friends of huge consequence, mostly just "hanging out" buddies. I have gained, however, a handful of close friends, and a dozen or so more "hanging out" friends.

who bragged to me about giving max back in June 2003. I said buh-bye. End of story.

so it wasn't this *election*, but it was definitely over her politics. When she defended the Patriot Act, and said she didn't care if we had to give up our rights to keep safe, I lost all respect for her.

I have three Republican friends left. One has a great sense of humor. We never discuss politics seriously, but joke with each other a lot. The other is a couple with whom I never discuss politics. They are socially liberal, and probably just don't know that they are really Democrats down deep, so I excuse them!LOL

I had a huge falling out with two people on-line with whom I've been communicating for years. I've spoken to both regularly on the phone and met one in person briefly. I thought we were very compatible and cared for these two ladies deeply. The crap they pulled on another forum site directed against liberal members of that site was heartbreaking. It was definitely a right-left split that fractured quite a few long-term OL relationships.

I haven't spoken to many family members in months because of the election, but I guess we'll have to figure out a way to communicate when we get together for a family reunion at Thanksgiving. Oh joy. I do hope I'm the one who gets to gloat. Because I can do so internally and outwardly be very gracious and diplomatic. I don't expect the same from them.

astounded me. I'm sure they feel the same about me. I had a discussion the other day with a woman I've alwys thought was a hippy type bleeding heart. Supports the legislation against PBX because it's a barbaric procedure and wants the death penalty in all states with the executions being more painful and drawn out. WTF!? Never would have guessed.

Kerry/Edwards sign in the window.

After 9/11 they started flying about 20 flags around their house. I didn't fly any, but my son went to Afghanistan and my daughter-in-law just came back from a tour in Iraq. My neighbor's now have just one large flag. I still have none - for no other reason than I don't own one - my husband's retired Army and I spent 9 years in the Army myself. I hardly think we are "un-patriotic" people. I don't need a flag to prove anything. Anyway, I guess, the Kerry/Edwards sign is just too much for her.

Thanks Bush for uniting this country the way you have.

I have lost 2 friends over this election.

I've had some "superficial" friends...people I've met through my children's school/friends. They look at me like they're repulsed or something. It's unreal. Completely changed, completely unfriendly. A few assumed I was a repug, and sent me emails/jokes. They were sorry. I fought back and I had quite an arsenal (thank you DUers).

I also have a very special aunt, who I'm sorry to say, has told me just today to stop sending her anything from the NY Times, which she considers to be most biased. She told me she is voting for Bush*. She is a teacher, who now works for the public school system and finally has a union/pension/etc. She was underpaid for years...and now she's a little better off with this new position. She can't/won't see that the UNIONS got this for her. Go figure? I am exceedingly disappointed, and have lost a lot of respect for this person.

People (especially men, but some women)seem to just automatically hate me for having a political opinion. Or maybe it's just because I can argue for my candidate better than they can for their candidate. LOL

I'm quiet, but I have a lot to say when asked. It shocks people. I'm also soft-spoken and I guess attractive enough that men are really, really, really taken aback. Little reverse prejudice there. LOL

Anyway...I have a few great friends and my husband, and we know the truth. But I am completely split from my family now. Sad. And Bush was a "uniter"? Yeah, right.

...I used to correspond by e-mail with a guy who is the brother of a friend of mine. He was all for Kerry, then one day wrote me an e-mail, that said "Go Bush!" Just like that, he had drank the Kool-Aid. Last time I sent himm an e-mail, which showed that the dollar had sank to .78 to that of the Euro, he sent an e-mail to me to never write him again and to erase his address. All I was doing was showing the facts. He works for Boeing in the defense industry. It seems like a lot of these types are nothing but moonies. I think they drink the Kool Aid in a group ritual.

Another: About 5 months after 9/11, I was having a dinner with a friend - or supposed friend I guess - who I had known for years. He asked me what I thought about what was going on with the war on terroism. I had done enough research to know that Bush was in bed with the Saudi's and thats what I told him. I thought we were kindred spirits, and didn't think twice about my comments. He looked at me and said I was nothing but a left wing Rush Limbaugh, then he got up and stormed out of the restaurant. Haven't seen him since. I sometimes wonder how he feels since F 9/11 came out and Moore said the same thing. Oh, well. People like that were probably never friends to begin with.

a response from all involved. I haven't lost any particular close friends be they family or just aquaintencies only because I only keep those close who I can count on, anyone that would see this election as a reason to alienate me are not worth my time anyway. But I do fear for this country as a whole when this election comes to pass whomever wins, the division that this administration has ignited will not be as easily repaired as some might hope..

As some have stated on this thread, this election has brought out the best and the worst in people that otherwise might have stayed hidden. To keep those close to me that are foolish enough to vote this moronic demon in another four years, I have put it down to the fact that they surely must have been taken over by some unseen force and have lost all sense of decency and honesty in the process, it's the only way that we can remain civil..

My one true faith is that after Kerry wins, they will slowly lose that haze that has clouded their consceinces these past four years and we shall be united once more...

If I give up on them, I give up on our society as a whole and then I just feel we will all lose in the end...

If the moron attempts to steal it once again and succeeds, I do fear a real civil war full of unbending division will be inevitable in our country..thats my real worry...

her boyfriend is a republican and has been fence-sitting. i've never really been a fan of this dude, and she's sensitive to it.....so i've just been politely suggesting that she should convince him to vote libertarian or leave it blank.

today she said he's voting for chimpy mcflightsuit and i kinda lost my cool and said that "only the evil or the stupid are voting for * "

she took offense, i guess. don't think it'll drive a permenant wedge....but i'm gonna keep my mouth shut around her until kerry wins tomorrow.

at least we're in california and his vote won't matter. and she's voting kerry.

He supports Bush. I support Kerry.

I heard some guy held a screwdriver to his girlfriend's throat and held her in a closet for a while because he was for Bush and she was for Kerry. I don't think he was real serious but she called the cops anyway after he stopped.

I just got tired of dealing with their right-wing attitudes during holiday get-togethers so now I don't have to. But I have made several friends I would not have made if Gore claimed his win in 2000. i might still be in Texas if bush was not in the WH. so at least a LITTLE good came out of that stolen election.

I think.

I think.

...and I started that policy about ten years ago. Makes life a lot simpler.

All of the members of my immediate family are registered Democrats.

but he's not on the ballot here in CA, this time... Plus it wouldn't make that much of a difference electorially. This is one of the people I had months of knock-down arguments over this with in 2000 (the rest of them are all voting Kerry this time) so I figure there's no point in flogging that horse with this guy over it again- we know where each other stands, and it's not worth fucking with the friendship. We both can't stand Bush, and we agree on that much.

I don't really have conservative friends.

I no longer feel bad about the two relatives because I asked them several times nicely to refrain from political discussions and to agree to disagree, which, being repukes, they COULD NOT DO.

They insisted on keeping up the harassment (in one case) and trying to get me to "see the light" (the other one). Finally, when I was told that I was a "traitor" who "supports terrorism and beheadings" and that I would personally be responsible for killing one relative's small children by not voting for Bush, I thought fuck it.

Life is too short.

friends, but recently it's been hard.

Friend is not a word I throw around lightly, if something like this would come between a friendship you couldn't have been too good of friends in the first place. The people I call friend would kill or die for me and I for them, politics is secondary to that.

ago and gave me the old heave ho yesterday. He'd sent a revolting pro-swiftboat liars email to me and several others. I sent him a well-reasoned plea for critical thinking--he wrote back that the email had gone to me by mistake and added: I am sorry for this intrusion into your "life."

It was all I could do not to answer: Wow Dad. That's really "Christian" of you.

He fits the profile of Bush in "Bush on the Couch" so thoroughly it's creepy.

to a HATE-ful Anti-Kerry email sent to our global list.

Asked them how this in ANY way demonstrated the love of Christ that we're supposed to epouse. Then finished my rant by asking how lying your country into a war with 1000+ dead soldiers and countless Iraqi civilians demonstrated the love of christ.

Yeah... I probably won't be going back there. I'll be finding a new church after the election. :)

:-)

I have a few Republican friends; most of them are ones that I just made recently so I haven't gotten into too heated of a political discussion, definately no confrontations.

Its not worth it. If they were from some important swing state, maybe I'd go on a mission to convert them, but as it stands I'd rather not get into it. One friend I had a bit of a debate with when talking with our undecided friend just as she was about to vote, but we had an intelligent, reasoned discussion and I respect his right to his opinions and I appreciate that he gave me the same respect.

A couple of weeks ago, Mom told me that my uncle and grandparents in Arizona think that I'm an "extremist." Funny how they never told me though...ok, I've debated my uncle, but he never called me an "extremist" Left of center maybe, but I find the "extremist" bit entertaining.
:evilgrin:

Of course, my uncle thinks he's in the rich elite because he's a physical therapist, but he's ALWAYS been overly egotistical. Therefore, a bu$h* pResidency fits his personality well. And my grandparents, especially my grandfather, are born-again ultrafundies.

Now for the good news, my grandmother in WA is voting for Kerry; she was a union Dem to begin with.:)

. . . I have a couple of Repug friends with whom I completely avoid political subjects, because hearing their Kool-Aid-fueled views makes me wanna :puke:.

They'll waste no opportunity to crank up that ol' RW fave, anti-Bill-and-Hillary ranting. What gets me the most is that they are otherwise extremely intelligent people.

:shrug:

The great uniter has severely strained relations with some friends (a married couple).

It is at times very awkward to visit with them now. I feel like I'm "walking on egg shells" around them.

They hated the Clintons. The just haven't been able to let go of that hate. I've given up trying to get them to see Bush's many faults.

Some family members (by marriage) are a bit uncomfortable to be around these days.

possibly 2 :(

Few at work will talk to me (having thrown a few out of my office for deliberately discussing their personal politics designed to set my hair on fire). And, I'm in the doghouse w/my wife for threatening to throw her sister's boyfriend out of my house two weekends ago for spewing freeper soundbites. And refusing to apologize to him.

Just threw a freeper out of my office this morning. A woman from NY who claims to be a dem, but is party line chimp and schwartzenager supporter. I've told her before she's a liar about what party she belongs to and this morning she showed me a bumpersticker which said Democrat for Bush. I blew up. And I don't feel bad about it at all.

Gyre

A lot of my friends are liberals. Even if they're Republicans, they don't support Bush or any of those right-wing nut jobs (Cheney, Ashcroft, etc.). Strangely, the person dearest to me (my boyfriend) is a firm Bush supporter. He's a member of AFROTC (we're both college students), and although he doesn't agree with a lot of the Republican platform, he believes that Bush is more of a military supporter than Kerry is. (Plus, he just doesn't like Kerry.) I posted in GD recently asking for Bush's record on military support. Many thanks to all who responded. I'm not going to ask if the information I sent him changed his vote, though. This election hasn't ruined our relationship, but frankly, I'm disgusted with him.

they can all go to hell

My friend and I don't talk much any more. She didn't like my idea of opposing the war and supporting the troops by NOT wanting them to be killed in a war zone. Now that's an idea that hadn't crossed her head! Makes you wonder sometimes if logic is dead in a republican head...