I heard a gaggle of Republican women dissing Bush this morning...

[Obamarama]

It's blueberry season in West Michigan. It's also 95 humid degree summer weather so my partner and I got up and headed out at the crack of dawn while it was still cool to pick our berries at a local farm.

Several rows over there was a group of women who appeared to be well-to-do retirees. I had assumed they were probably Republicans. I don't know what they were talking about, but they appeared to be hooting it up and having fun. My ears pricked up when they started talking about Bush.

Apparently one of them has a grandson who is in the military hospital at Rhein-Mainz AFB in Germany after being injured in Iraq. They all echoed one another about Bush lying, we should have never gone into Iraq, the economy is tanking. One of them said "If I had known this was what was going to happen I wouldn't have voted for him EITHER time."

If they hadn't been a bunch of sweet little old grandmas I would have thought of something pithy to say to them, but I just smiled as I continued to pick berries.

[FreedomAngel82]

1. At least people are waking up

I'd rather them wake up then never at all. Now if only they would vote democratic next year that would be nice. :)

[The Witch]

2. Stories like this never fail to warm my heart.

Not schadenfreude per se-- just an encouraging feeling that people can come out of their stupor and see the light. :)

[mwb970]

23. There should be a special Forum for conversion stories.

They really do my heart good.

[lildreamer316]

27. I agree:

It really is a nice break from all the doom-n-gloom; I think we should have one too.

[underpants]

3. They must not be worried about those Iraqi cropdusters

That is good to hear though.

[ThomWV]

4. And They'll All Vote Republican Next Time Too

Because it won't be Bush running.

[Salviati]

9. Reminds me of an old joke...

Patient: "Doctor, it hurts every time I bend my arm like this..."

Doctor: "Then stop bending your arm like that."

[ComerPerro]

10. Exactly

Granted, they are mad at Bush now.

But if they don't vote for Republicans, gay people might be able to get married!

[zbdent]

5. Here's a suggestion for what they SHOULD have been told -

"Gee, isn't it nice that you can sit here, retired, doing this for fun, instead of having to do it for a living on far less than minimum wage?"

[Malingerer]

11. I wouldn't recommend...

talking down to older people whether or not they appear 'well to do'. Most of the elderly in this country worked far harder than any of us have ever... or will ever have to. I think migrant workers should be payed the same as everyone else in this country (assuming they are here legally), but don't make assumptions about what those women did prior to retirement. If we want to convert these people who are on the fence.... insulting them isn't the best way to start.

[Ariana Celeste]

16. You're exactly right.

Many of the elderly lived through times we couldn't imagine. Like the Depression, for instance.

[Barad Simith]

20. Very well said!

"If we want to convert these people who are on the fence.... insulting them isn't the best way to start."

No need for I-told-you-so. Dems should set the standard for decorum, not mirror freepers. We've all been subjected to five years of ignorant, obnoxious and brutish behavior from them, and we know how it comes across.

[zbdent]

21. Gee, the "well-to-do retirees" statement must have misled me

:eyes:

[GoneOffShore]

39. I was agreeing with you

right up to (assuming they are here legally) when I hit a brick wall.
Why shouldn't anyone be paid the same as anyone else?
Are you saying that if someone is here illegally they deserve to be exploited?
That's what it sounds like.

[knitter4democracy]

31. Ummmmm . . .

It's SW Michigan. Not everyone who looks like a well-to-do retiree is one, and too many people carry guns.

I live here, and I'm just saying, you have to be careful. A better way would've been to ask more about her family member in the military.

Many farms here do the U-Pick thing just to keep afloat financially. We all go there to help keep those family farms open (and because they have the best produce in the nation ;) ). Believe me, when you're out there, you think of it. Even Republicans I know do. They just then confuse it with illegal immigration and get all nasty about it. :eyes:

[gratuitous]

6. Always be on the lookout for an educable moment

When the woman mentioned that she wouldn't have voted for Bush either time if only she'd known (what I call the "Ooh La La" defense), I might have said something along the lines of, "Well you know, I seem to remember a few people during the campaign saying that Bush was headed down the wrong path. Sorry about your grandson. I wish more folks had paid attention during the campaigns."

Tweak as necessary to your particular situation, but it can be quite helpful to remind people that the information about what a fucking scumbag Bush and his whole corrupt bunch of henchmen are has been out in the public for a little while. Okay, don't put it quite like that, but encourage folks to take their information with a just a little more discrimination, rather than just absorbing the spin.

[TomPainesBones]

7. I guess that's all it will take to absolve Republicans of responsibility

"If I had known this was what was going to happen I wouldn't have voted for him EITHER time."

You had four years of the worst administration in history to make a decision and do the right thing. You chose your petty bigotries.

You will get no pass from me. YOU are responsible.

[newyawker99]

18. Hi TomPainesBones!!

Welcome to DU!! :toast:

[Sequoia]

24. So that's where the bones went!

Hi and welcome. Thomas Paine is my hero of all time.

[Alpharetta]

8. I would have asked a question

"Well to avoid voting for the wrong guy in the future, have you noticed which news organizations still support him despite his mistakes?"

[A Simple Game]

13. Good idea. N/T

[Libby2]

12. A well placed blueberry

or two, would have worked for me. ;)

[Malingerer]

14. or... not

yeah that's a great way to change people's minds

:eyes:

You have potential converts right there ready for some gentle guidance to the Democratic party... and you throw fruit at them? No wonder we are accused of being shrill. Why not talk to them about how they will be happier with Democratic candidates who aren't war hungry like Bush? Come on people..... if we want to change people's minds we have to be civil and reasonable.

[Libby2]

22. Oh geeze lighten up

it was a fucking joke.

[Zen Democrat]

15. Just goes to show that the DSM has had a profound effect.

If this woman voted for Bush in 2000 and 2004 -- and now see's him as dishonest ... what would have caused that? It just may be the Downing Street Minutes filtering into the collective consciousness.

[Tommymac]

38. The DSM was the alarm clock going off...

and Rove's transgression was a bucket of ice cold water!

[proud patriot]

17. Good to hear

:-)

[bigwillq]

19. Nice!

One by one....:hi:

[kskiska]

25. The editorial in my southern bible belt newspaper today

recommended dumping Rove!!! I couldn't believe it. More bad news was the Boy King's visit to nearby Charlotte to talk up CAFTA, which is poison here.

[bobbieinok]

26. problem with 'conversion'stories ......there were many before 2004 '

election'

without voting reform, all of us WILL BE voting neo-con repuke forever

[Eloriel]

28. Herea re a few other "conversion stories" I've collected recently

Independents Are Having Buyer's Remorse
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=102&topic_id=1627590&mesg_id=1627590
Link: http://www.businessweek.com/magazine/content/05_29/c3943060_mz013.htm

Heard some astonishing info today from a friend.
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x1920600

"As of today, after 25 years, I am no longer a Republican."
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x1890603
also: http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x1907487
Link: http://www.registerguard.com/news/2005/06/26/ed.col.chaney.0626.html

I'm seeing a lot of changed minds about Iraq and Chimpy McCokespoon.
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=104x3939527

Pa. GOP honcho blasts right wing, switches parties
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x1825375
Link: http://www.phillyburbs.com/pb-dyn/news/111-06022005-497208.html

Republican says his party has been taken over by "a bunch of kooks"
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x1811231

Are we witnessing the collapse of the Republican Party?
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=104x3732175

The Good Republicans (Plaid Adder)
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=104x3729680#3733287

Post in this thread:
Voinovich is in tears on Senate floor!
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=132&topic_id=1809081&mesg_id=1809207

A Voter Switches Party Affiliation
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=132&topic_id=1803102&mesg_id=1803102

Something in the air? Lots of converted Repubs....
(links to the following three threads)
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=104x3654563

New to DU by reformedrepub (14 posts at the time)
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x1780575

OMG - my parents LEAVE the Republican Party!
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=104x3652906

Hi, my name is Stacy, and I'm a recovering Republican...................
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=104&topic_id=3651186&mesg_id=3651186&page=


Enjoy!

[Mutley]

50. Things might be starting to turn around.

So many DUers, myself included, know Republicans that are finally starting to wake up. This is happening all over the country. I think the DSM and the Rove/Plame stories are enough evidence to get those people out there - people who are really good at heart, but have been misled and manipulated by the government they trusted - to stand up and fight with the rest of us.

The regime is starting to crumble, and this is when it is really going to get ugly. It is desperate, and we cannot underestimate the lengths to which it will go to regain it's grip of America's throat. The coming fight will be like nothing we've seen yet, and we must stand firm! Every one of us must do everything we can to press this issue as far as our reach can go. It is our duty as citizens of this country, and of this world.

:patriot:

[B Calm]

29. What the hell they doing picking blueberries, they should be in Iraq

fighting the terrorists!

[knitter4democracy]

30. We're going blueberry picking tomorrow.

:hi:

I'll keep my ears open. ;)

[Obamarama]

45. HI there in BC!

So are you going to put your freshly picked berries on Kellogg's or Post cereal???

[knitter4democracy]

46. Shhh. Neither--I'm going to make jam and pie.

:D

Of course, that's if my kids actually let me bring any home. You should see them after picking--purple from head to toe.

[Obamarama]

48. A word of warning for knitter4democracy:

"that's if my kids actually let me bring any home."

We were eating as we picked yesterday. We picked a lot (45 lbs) so, we ate a lot. Let me just leave you with this pre-picking reminder: fresh fruit eaten in great abundance at one time = Mother Nature's answer to Ex-Lax!

[knitter4democracy]

49. We call it blueberry poop.

You've never lived until you've changed blueberry poop diapers. Sorry to be gross, but they're bad. I'm glad mine are potty trained now. Of course, I'll still be cleaning them up a bit, but you know . . .

I've often wondered if we should use blueberried instead of other cleansing routines. They work so well.

[Tommymac]

32. Cool!

It's important for people to believe they fit in...if you have the chance and hear something like this and can reply, show you are in agreement politely. No words are necessary! A smile, a wink, a positive nod is all that is required. Body language can work wonders and is VERY effective!

Reinforce their new found knowledge...if reinforced 3 times or more by a stranger they will be much more comfortable with it and more likely to internalize their new outlook and then spread the word.

Don't be an ass...there is a time and a place for forceful words...to one who is admitting they were wrong it is very important NOT to antagonize them or make them question their new found belief or load them with guilt...the scar of their conversion is still very fresh and sore....one of the hardest things for a human to do is to admit to themselves that they were wrong.

[FizzFuzz]

36. happy 666th post! Ha!! And, very cogent remarks.

You are right on target.

One of the other hardest things to do is to let someone admit they were wrong without rubbing it in their face. (Especially if what they were doing was harming you). Oh how I dream of smacking the shit out of these jerks, or imagining pathetic grovelling and scraping from them...it is HARD to not go with the temporary relief of kicking them for what they've done.

[Tommymac]

37. You can do that later....

after they have had a lot of time to adjust if you feel the need....but believe me, they will probably already be smacking themselves around quite a bit. ;)

Now the totally unrepentent are another story. :evilgrin:

[liberalla]

43. Encouraging story and your advice is the best.

Very compassionate, gentle, wise and useful!

"one of the hardest things for a human to do is to admit to themselves that they were wrong."

So TRUE!!!

[sendero]

51. Great observation...

.... and I agree 100%. Well said!

[CatWoman]

33. I see this thread has made its way into the internet's number one

cess pool.

GET A FUCKING LIFE, MORANS!!!

[Obamarama]

47. Are you serious? They highlighted ANOTHER one of my threads?

Yikes...does that make me Freeper Bait? Quick...pass the Japanese melon liquor!

[Larkspur]

34. When I lived in Illinois, my mom and I used to go blueberry picking

in Northern Indiana and after 15 years of going to Northern Indiana, we found a blueberry farm closer to home.

Now I live in CT, and pick my blueberries at the grocery store. I sure miss picking the big fat Midwestern blueberries.

[Longhorn79]

35. Maybe...

...they weren't republican...

[jazzjunkysue]

40. Blueberry stains are so hard to get out: Like a repub giving up on GOP:

It's hard to un-do that.

[UrbScotty]

41. Yes, there ARE other Democrats in West Michigan!

It's easy to forget that, but stories like this inspire me.

Thanks for sharing!

[raysr]

42. "Gaggle"

that's great!

[orpupilofnature57]

44. is that a gaggle of geese?

[Inland]

52. mmmmmmm......blueberries.

Good to eat and easy to pick. mmmmmmmm.