2016 Postmortem
In reply to the discussion: why was the Wyoming caucus so much closer than other caucuses? Democrats only. [View all]Hortensis
(58,785 posts)the deep south/Bible Belt. It's pretty easy to sort them out -- hard-core social conservatives such as you worry about are typically smiling and agreeable one-on-one and reserved in mixed groups, but hostile and aggressive behind the backs of people like me. They do run in packs. I chose to back off some involvement in one group because our son was getting a contract with the school district in our small city and we were all worried they would make the connection; if made, they unquestionably would have gone after him. We can't move them, but I'm guessing Trump and Cruz are splitting them -- guessing because after we've been a few years in this county we are merely polite when we meet.
Typically moderate traditional conservatives, otoh ,are friends or capable of being friendly and working together. Even if they still firmly disagree about the value of government programs and I'm firmly for big solutions, we can talk genuinely about our concerns, most of which are shared. Not that we talk politics a lot, even among better friends, but we know we can talk and agree, as well as disagree. I've avoided asking people who they may vote for for some while; because they're who they are I know they must be unhappy with what's happening to the GOP.
And one of the keys to getting along in a society still formed by its village background (have to get along for life!) is not revealing very much about any non-mainstream beliefs. I suspect there must be significantly more liberals and progressive conservatives than I realize, or perhaps even they do. LOL.
This is an EXTREMELY conservative county. I am literally the first liberal and my husband the first Jew some have knowingly met. I know that because they were each bemused enough at that thought in this age to say so.