Reply #47: Two of my closest and most valued friends at work are...

[Minnesota_Lib]

evangelistic, conservative Republicans.

One, Tom (very religious, small government, unfettered free-market conservative but now sees the danger of a theocracy), long ago gave up the Republican Party. He has been politically active since the early 1980s (he says he was a member of Fawell’s “Moral Majority”) and is well-versed in the neocon philosophy (he is aware of Strauss and the anti-democracy beliefs of the neos). We don't agree on much...except that the neocons are evil incarnate and the biggest threat--internal or external--that this nation has ever seen. He says the Republican Party has ceased to exist not only because of the neocon takeover but because their new power-hungry "big government, borrow and spend on pork like crazy" philosophy has eclipsed the worst the Dems ever did. He even wears a bigger tinfoil hat than I do: he thinks Bush will incite Marshall Law before the next presidential elections to keep the neocons in power hehehehe.

The other, my dear friend Chuck (he is a racially free-market, theocracy minded fundie) agreed not to discuss politics with me long ago. We tended to get into shouting matches.

Tom just told me two days ago that Chuck admitted that he is totally disillusioned with the Bush administration and admits he made a major mistake supporting them.

Tom cites the Iraqi debacle, the deficit, the constant public-opinion manipulating attacks on the media (Chuck used to be a reporter for a few small town newspapers and values a free press) and the "Nuclear Option" as the last straws for Chuck.

I am seeing hope here. If these guys can see what is happening then others can as well. While I disagree with the "classic Republican" philosophy, at least I could respect it. My two friends--plus you, Ready4change (and the crashing ratings of FAUX News)--give me hope that this nation once again can become a democracy of those that respect the old adage "agree to disagree"--a democracy where we all work together and compromise in order to build a better republic.

Peace Out....

Edit: Punctuation nazi here..hehehe. Fretting over one dropped comma = anal.