"I cannot vote for these guys." (my only 'pub friend)

[TomInTib]

I was at a house party last night when I ran into a friend of mine who I will call "Ron" (because his name is Ron). Ron is a rock-ribbed conservative and my only Republican friend (we are friends because he likes my music and we were friends before I knew he was a 'pub).
Ron is a typical upper-class 'pub, kinda (a lot, really) overweight, nerdy glasses, a ton of money, wears his Tommy Bahamas buttoned all the way to the neck and always wears dress shoes and slacks. Ron runs some kind of consulting business, but his explanation of what he does always makes my head hurt.
We were hanging out, drinking Bombay Sapphire Gin out of the freezer, neat, when Ron started talking about the upcoming election. Said he had voted in every election at every level since he was old enough to vote (he is now my age, 55+). Said he voted straight ticket every time because he felt the 'pubs were best for the Country and best for Business.
Then he told me that he had stopped contributing when McCain became the presumptive candidate because he felt that the Country couldn't handle any more of the Bush-style government.
He then went on for some time about Obama, who he referred to as a "Charlatan", and how he thought that Obama's crowd was going to cause a train wreck.
Then he said that with the selection of Palin, he had decided to not vote for the first time in his life. And he said he was completely comfortable with his decision.
He then proceeded to blow me out of my chair (actually, it was a barstool) when he said, "You know, Tom, if Hillary Clinton was the nominee, I would not only support her but I would vote for her".
We were all hanging around with our mouths open, dumbfounded.

How many other "Ron's" are out there?

If this guy has turned, so has the screw.

[CaliforniaPeggy]

1. I hope there are millions ...just like him!

:wow:

[pleah]

2. K&R I think there are a lot more people like this out there than we realize.

I still believe the only was McCrazy can win is if they steal the election.

[Booster]

3. We can only hope there are a lot more "Ron's" out there who

are ready to put their country before their party. In their hearts, they cannot possibly believe their party has been good for this country and the last 8 years. They need to do the right thing.

[K8-EEE]

4. K&R n/t

[CrispyQ]

5. "...he thought that Obama's crowd was going to cause a train wreck."

Sorry Ron. The train wreak has already happened. I'm glad your friend is sitting this one out.

My husband works with a right winger who isn't a religious zealot, but he does have issues with blacks & women. He wanted Romney for prez & then Romney for vice prez. He isn't thrilled with McCain & is disgusted with the selection of Palin & said he will probably stay home this election.

[Name removed]

6. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[hisownpetard]

7. Pack it up, Minervah. Buh-bye now!

[TomInTib]

Welcome, Minervah

And, unfortunately, I am with you on Obama.

When I listen to him speak, my mind screams "Televangelist". He delivers well, but he has yet to convince me that he actually sincerely means any of it.

We donated to Clinton and Edwards, but I cannot justify giving money to this crowd.

I don't trust anyone under 50, anyway.

And I am not going to vote for anyone.

[EC]

I'm over 50 so you can trust me

I am tired of a country run by OLD COOTS, giving us the same old shit....get with it...the kid made it through some of the top schools in the country at the top of his class, you don't trust intellegence? And don't give me any affirmative action crap, he didn't say what race he was on applications....And a Televangelist asks for money to line his pockets, not for public service...

[TomInTib]

13. I am almost past the point...

of giving a damn, anymore.

I have spent the last thirty years trying to live my life with as little governmental influence as possible.

But I have had it with being lied to.

If Obama is elected (and I seriously doubt that will be allowed to happen), I, for one, will be watching to see who is really pulling the strings.

I truly believe that it has come down to Different Dogs, Same Handlers.

By "Televangelist" I just see his speeches as totally transparent. I don't hear any real substance, just platitudes.

I live in one of the bluest areas in the country (Tiburon, Southern Marin County, CA) and support here is lukewarm, at best.

But I am hoping for the best (or least worst, anyway).

[EC]

15. Look for the last 30 years I've been angry about the energy

platforms..disgusted that we were allowing ourselves to lag behind the rest of the world and knew that if something wasn't done heating and transportation would get so expensive it would be life threatening. I also knew that the powers that be wanted to get every last dime out of us they possibley could before switching to any alternative (after all they pray at the alter of Ayn Rand and look at her conclusions in Atlas Shrugged about the perpetual engine destroying the oil industry instead of what it could lead to in new innovations, they are all myopic) The same with Health Care...I was so sure Hillary and Bill would have got it done, but when the Repubs got control I knew it was dead...so now we'll have the perfect storm so to speak and we can get it done....


So at least pick yourself up and give it another shot, not for Obama, for the rest of us who like you have watched, hoped and been let down...what's it cost you to keep trying? Isn't having hope and maybe being let down, better than being in the crapper all the time anyway?

And by the way speeches aren't about giving you substance...they are about energizing, motivating and organizing...don't fall for that Repub crap of "well there just isn't any substance there" McCain just dishes out crap that doesn't even motivate...

[TomInTib]

16. I don't need to be energized or motivated

I want a plan.

I don't get too excited about this stuff.

At this point, I believe we are so far down the tubes that the only Change is going to be deceleration of an inevitable catastrophe.

[azmouse]

18. If you don't get excited about this stuff why do you even bother posting here?

I think your only purpose here is to demoralize.

[TomInTib]

26. I post here because....

I hate what the republicans (from Nixon, on) have done to our country.

Pomp and circumstance and cheerleading just bore the shit out of me.

But I will be there when the shooting starts.

I will be there when we are in the streets.

I am not into demoralization.

I just want some solid food and a gun that I can count on.

[EC]

24. The plans are on the websites

it used to be that actual reporters did this but now their job is to entertain...


Speeches were never intended to give the plans, where did you get that idea? Look at all the great political speeches of the past, they are to motivate.

[muffin1]

12. By not voting for Obama,

you are doing your part to help McCain/Palin win. You can live with that after the last eight years???????
Just how is Obama that different from Clinton or Edwards - aside from the age thing (which makes NO sense)?

[TomInTib]

14. I don't vote for anyone.

I have only voted for one person in my life (Clinton over Bush). And I had to stand in line for over an hour, with a bunch of people who were actually praying for Brother George, to do that.

Even if I was registered, my vote wouldn't even be a drop in the bucket. I live in S Marin County.

[ThatsMyBarack]

29. Stupid is as stupid does....RON!!!!

:grr:

[SoxFan]

19. Alerted

Urging a no-vote? Nice try.

[TomInTib]

28. I am not urging any kind of no-vote. Where the hell did you get that?

I just don't vote, personally.

But my friends, family and related companies have donated millions of dollars to the Dems this cycle. We do our part.

I live in a precinct that goes over 90% Dem. My vote, even were I to cast one, wouldn't make one bit of difference.

[dansolo]

27. You donated to Edwards, and yet you question Obama's sincerity?

[Meiko]

34. Convicted felons

can't vote, right?

[EC]

8. What was it you were backing Hillary and Edwards for?

That you can't back Obama? The platforms are exactly the same...the Democratic Platform...it's not about the candidate, it's about the agenda for the country. Obama's comments on Health coverage were Hillary's, that was agreed upon when Hillary relinquished to Obama...so what is it you can't support in Obama?

For the record, I'm calling you out.

[Errrica]

11. Straight up.

It's not about the person, it's about the platforms. Obama said it himself... It's not about him, it's about us. People actually voted for Bush because he seemed like a guy they could "have a beer with," and look how that turned out.
If someone doesn't vote for Obama and McCain ends up winning, then they have NO RIGHT WHATSOEVER to bitch and complain about the disaster that will surely ensue.

[muffin1]

10. Yes, who the hell would want free health care?

Oh yeah, the rest of the fucking world. Go back to Free Republic, moran.
This board is for those who support the DEMOCRATIC NOMINEE.

[Cha]

9. THat's good..

I feel sorry for the ones who are so brainwashed that they don't know a excellent thing when they learn about it, though.

[azmouse]

17. That ship has sailed and it is time for you to vote Obama or find a new political board.

Your friend is a sad loser and so are you for being proud to sit out this election.

[madmom]

20. As far as the "I would have voted for Hillary" claim, way back when Kerry/Edwards was

our ticket, my brother-in-law (big bush idiot) said "if it were the other way around", so this time I told him "here's your chance to vote for Edwards" (in the primary) he said he never said that!

[eleny]

21. Why dumbfounded?

Hillary is DLC. That organization is quite comfortable with what's good for big business.

[Aristus]

22. I'm not holding my breath. I heard a lot of stories in 2004 about how many repubs

were sick and tired of the politics of hatred and bigotry, and would either vote for Kerry or stay home on Election Day.

Didn't matter, did it? The election still ended up being close enough to steal.



My substantive hopes lie in the numbers of young first-time voters who are 100% behind Obama, and (believe it or not) the fact that Ohio has a Democratic Secretary of State. I truly believe that will be a factor.

[RollWithIt]

23. I have a racist brother in law, he said he won't vote now...

I've been working on his racism, he's from Kentucky. He's kind of an ass but I don't rock the boat, I love their kids. Anyways, even he said she wasn't qualified to be Vice President and he wasn't going to vote for them. He even said something about pandering. I was shocked.

[CTyankee]

25. Hubby had a "Ron" who is actually a "Jim" last night at a local sports bar.

Jim is a lifelong 'pub, a former economist now retired. He WILL NOT UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES vote for this ticket. AND, going you one better, he is considering voting for Obama! He told my hubby that the election is essentially "over."

[TomInTib]

33. They are gonna have to steal it.

But the 'pubs are going to be screwed on the grassroots levels for the next decade or so.

[Major Hogwash]

30. He must have been looking at his 401K plans, the ones that have shrunk like Cheney's dick.

Some of the Bushie Republicans that I have talked to, have totally flipped over backwards. Their 401K plans are worth about half of what they were 5 years ago, their stock is worth less than half of what it was worth 5 years ago, and now, they blame the tax cuts Bush gave to the rich!!!

I couldn't believe their attitude about the tax cuts because they were all for them 5 or 6 years ago. Like somehow they were going to have some of that tax money "trickle down" on to them.
Some of those people are making over $100k a year, so I don't know what the hell they were thinking when they argued with me about it back then, but they aren't arguing now.

Several of them have already given up the idea of voting this year.
They didn't like McCain to begin with.
They won't vote for McCain because of Palin, either.

[5thGenDemocrat]

31. Andy the Right Wing Republican won't vote this year, either

He also no longer wishes to be called "Republican." He now prefers "conservative," thank you.
John
So this might be something going around in general. Meanwhile, I've never been as jazzed to vote as I am this year.

[Motown_Johnny]

32. Perfect reverse barometer, Always wrong on politics, His stance on Hillary is consistent