I have a friend who is a lost cause

I have a friend I have done business with for more than a year. He's a 100% conservative. Yesterday he actually tried to talk me out of voting for Obama. He claims to be good at citing facts. Each time I raised an issue, he tried his hardest to counter argue my reasons.

After a while I simply gave up. The guys voting for McCain. Now, get this. He claims he doesn't like McCain, but he's voting for him simply because he's a prisoner of war. We talked about the ad where Obama run in which MCCain was teased for not knowing how to work e-mail. This guy actually blamed that on his being a POW. I was disgusted. I couldn't believe it.

But, I think the thing that broke the straw with me. he gets a kick out of going into a democratic chat room. He'll listen to people like us talk about politics, and after a few minuets, he'll jump online and suddenly start debating people, calling them out on their views. He even went so far as to bully them into agreeing with his misguided views. Some people have said they won't participate in anything when he shows up. How can I debate this guy and show him he's wrong on Obama or am I wasting my time? Is he a lost cause? I just don't know.

I have republican friends who absolutely refuse to vote for McCain simply because they are scarred of Palin which I say good for them, but this guy I don't know. I need some advice guys.

It's obviously not worth bothering.

like most hardcore repugs. Once they make up their minds about something they actually CANNOT change their opinions. So yeah, I'd give up on him and spend your time focusing on anyone who is undecided in this race-or registering Obama leaning friends and colleagues to vote.

Clearly the guy's not right. If he's so insecure that he needs to antagonize people whose views are different from his, he's beyond redemption. If he's voting for McPOW because he was a POW, that tells you he's got no brain.

Ignore him. Laugh at him. Mock him. Do whatever you want with him.

But, above all, do not take him seriously. He's a joke.

into his proven wrong views.

Your friend was wrong on Iraq

wrong on the economy

wrong on the war on terror

and wrong for America

Just let him go.

I used to know someone like that. He seemed relatively normal until we would talk politics (or religion). As long as we avoided those topics everything was fine. Unfortunately, it always managed to rear it's ugly head. Ultimately, I slowly extricated myself from the relationship and haven't regretted it.

Sometimes it's only $ that talk to these people.

something like that makes a point a lot better than a lot of words can for someone who just likes to argue and bully. :thumbsup: good strategy

Who's paying money to whom? If you're the one getting paid, I'd cease the political talk forthwith.

Our views on so many things differ that it makes me uncomfortable. This is why I keep religion and politics out of business transactions. But he is still a friend and we still talk now and then, we just don't do business.

:evilgrin: a LARGE bet...

One strategy I use with arch right-wing neanderthals like this guy is just to smile and laugh a LOT (like Rachel Maddow to Pat Buchanan). That indicates to these rigid thinkers (at the elemental animal level) that you are not afraid and are strong in your position. It doesn't matter what you say. There's no logic that can be used against a closed mind. Accept that.

These are people who just need to taunt, bully and dominate others in order to survive. Use the samurai technique--give no opening for a sword to enter. Swerve, feint, wear them out--and then act like you've had the greatest fun. Never concede anything. Match their rigid thinking. Give them some sound bites off the top of your head. Never belabor a point with them. SMILE.

Above all, don't spend too much time on someone you already call "a lost cause." ;-)

Abortion is the only problem in this world.

Sometimes, I've found, that the best way to "get" at people who simply won't listen to reason is to just calmly say something like "we obviously have differing viewpoints, neither of us are going to change our positions, so we need to limit our discussions to things other than politics and religion. It really is a nice day outside today, isn't it?"

Hard to do sometimes!! But stick to your guns.

People with this mindset actually enjoy the bullying. They get high off of doing it. And when you take away their vehicle to use those tactics, it really messes with their minds.

show him THIS video of McCain making ribs on Rachael Ray's show:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jJJ8VqIitHo

There he is moving his digits around expressively and lifting heavy racks of ribs with tongs in one hand, but he can't operate a computer?

(DU-only Bonus: he uses the word 'fundamentally' when referring to seasonings :rofl:)



Also, see if you can get him to read the Rolling Stone article:

http://www.rollingstone.com/news/coverstory/make_believe_maverick_the_real_john_mccain

It does a GREAT job of explaining how he was no hero when it came to his POW days-- a survivor, yes, but NOT a hero.


Finally, make sure he watches the debate tonight and ask him if he's comfortable with Sarah Palin having the nuclear codes.