One of my repub co-workers just had his epiphany. (good news for once!)

[Systematic Chaos]

Someone I work with frequently on the craps table at my casino has just seen the light regarding *. I've been discussing this administration with him for the past 3 years, and I have tried repeatedly to make him understand what a fraud * is and what a criminal act the whole Iraq war is. I have always had more patience with this gentleman than I would almost any other right-winger because I know that at heart he is a very intelligent, nice person. No, seriously! It's just that when he was younger he worked for many years at the Nevada Test Site with a lot of diehard military wingnuts and whatnot. His opinions about politics were shaped by those of the people he associated with, and now that he's nearly 70 he has told me many times that having to completely reassess his point of view at this point in his life would just be too difficult and painful.

Well, today we had a few minutes where there were no players at our dice game, and we spent the time talking about the devastation caused by hurricane Katrina and the horrible way it's been handled by * and his lackeys. When I heard what he had to say about it, it nearly made me cry openly in the middle of a busy casino pit. He said that he simply could not believe that * would go to a fundraiser, play a guitar in front of photographers, or do anything other than take his ass straight down to New Orleans and remain in the area until every survivor had been evacuated. I explained to him that Condi Rice took time off to watch Spamalot and buy fancy-ass shoes and that added even more insult to injury in his mind. He is completely DISGUSTED with the entire * administration right now and the look on his face was just so pained when he freely admitted to me that it appears I've been right all along.

I felt no urge to gloat at that point. I was just very happy that just maybe I had something to do with changing the perceptions of a lifelong republican supporter. Our discussions never got nasty even though at times he could clearly see that certain subject matter would cause me to become irritated and passionate. He never argued with me just for the sake of egging me on. He was just someone who couldn't bring himself to believe for even a moment that our government could be that corrupt and warped. And you know, this is the best mood I've been in for over a week.

Just thought I'd share this with all of you. The tide is turning. Believe it!!

[Arkana]

1. Excellent, and you made the right decision in not gloating.

[havocmom]

2. thanks, we all needed that

The quarterback is toast

[Liberty Belle]

3. Yes, my Republican ex-neighbor has had enough with his party, too.

I was flabbergasted a couple of days ago when he told me he's so sick of what the GOP is doing that he's decided to run for school board in his new neighborhood--as a Democrat!

He's a social moderate who is pro-education, but had voted Republican in the past because he's a small business owner and felt the GOP was more business friendly. But the GOP's anti-education policies and now anti-humanitarianism are just too much for him to take. I suspect there are many more like my neighbor.

[eauclaireliberal]

9. Bush doesn't give a shit about the small business owner, BTW

Corporate hucksters are his heroes: The ones that swallow up other businesses, move the jobs overseas and spend winters in the Caymans.

[FreedomAngel82]

17. So true

Earlier this year John Kerry, and I think maybe someone else, helped with a small business bill that helped people. I can't remember much about it now though.

[ordinaryaveragegirl]

4. There is hope out there...

And hopefully, he's one of many to see the light.

[Spazito]

5. That is awesome, it sounds like a nice man with a heart

saw what was important and you helped him get there.

[spuddonna]

6. Wow! That's so awesome for your co-worker!

He's seen the light... Amazing what the truth does...

[Vektor]

7. I'm watching people in my Repuke town

drop Bush like a hot potato too. One by one, many are saying "what the hell is he doing?"


And you're right. Once they see the light, gloating just doesn't seem like fun. You're just relieved they have woken up.

[Judi Lynn]

8. He's lucky you're a valuable friend who hasn't condemned him, n/t

[Systematic Chaos]

10. He's not the kind of person you could do that to.

I think we can all agree that many right-wingers are self-absorbed, zealous pigs, but he just isn't that way. He has always been the type to let someone else have their breaks from :40 past the hour until on the hour, so that they could go home at 6:40 instead of 7:00. He gave me tons of coupons for places I like to eat, even when he likes the same places and could have used the coupons himself. His political opinions were just something that had been ingrained over the course of decades, so I put myself in his shoes and even though I wasn't thrilled about it, I could at least understand his need for a feeling of stability.

He's lost that now, and it's very clear to me that he's having a very tough time coping with it. But it's always better late than never. :)

[FreedomAngel82]

18. That's how my family is

All of my family is that way. I'm the only true blue liberal democrat I know of. My uncle didn't vote this last election cause he didn't like Bush nor Kerry. Better than nothing eh? My two aunts were Bush supporters and my grandma and my dad. I have gotten my dad to watch the "Daily Show" so I'm slowly working on him watching F911. My dad and his family are the old-school republican types. Not anything like the Reagan neocon type. I think it is very difficult once you learn the truth about your government. I remember how I felt when I found out the truth about Bush. I think right now all you can do is just be a good friend and listen to your friends comments and thoughts and tell your friend that you're always there to talk about anything. I wouldn't get into the hard-core stuff yet. He's just realizing everything and the shock will take a while to get over I think and the anger.

[Swamp Rat]

11. thank you n/t

[Usrename]

12. It's good to hear about your friend and I think there are many others.

How sad this is for me and I can't stand *. It must have been something to be there. I'm glad people are starting to feel this. I know, bleeding heart lefty talk.

[AuntiBush]

13. Same Here! Every-One I Ran Into Today Is Utterly Fed-Up!

Strangers, Passer-bys, Shoppers, just general people in passing are saying the same thing, repeatedly: "This is not my country!" "This is a disgrace!" "They should impeach them, now, before they ruin our country and further!"

Not once did I bring anything up. From the city, the suburbs and out in the boonies. All of these people began talking about it to me and general passing.

A disgrace.
Where is my country?
What happened to my country?
Why won't someone do something before they (fill in the blanks).

It was beyond belief! People are alive, awakened, sickened, and done!

[countmyvote4real]

14. I wonder how long it will last.

Their kool-aid is so strong and bile.

I don't mean to take anything away from your co-worker's epiphany, but if he returns to Faux news coverage he will be lulled back into the GOP spin points in no time. Just like Shepard Smith and Geraldo that are being deprogrammed or fired.

[FreedomAngel82]

19. That's what I wonder

Will it last? Are they truly turned? Or when things are died down and back to somewhat normal will they run back to Bush?

[MadeinOhio]

15. Be careful......

He will go back hear the radio of the right-wing talking points, thinking it was all the DEMOCRATIC mayor's fault!!!!

You must be careful of this with all republicans, the brainwashing is not over! :mad:

[FreedomAngel82]

20. Maybe you can introduce your friend

to a good progressive talk show. I suggest someone like Al Franken or Stephanie Miller or Majority Report. They're not hard-core or anything like that and quite enjoyable to listen to.

[FreedomAngel82]

16. Wow

I'm surprised and glad but also sad it took something like this to make some see the light. *sigh* You should show him about Al Gore.