On a purely human (not political) level, did anyone feel some empathy with Republican friends/family

[Tommy_Carcetti]

Putting aside that we're for the good guys and they're for the bad guys?

I saw my Republican MIL today and she looked truly miserable. Couldn't even crack a smile when I handed off my daughter today before I went to work.

Part of me felt like it was just desserts for some of the stupid things she's said over the years (God love her), but part of me thought back to 2004 and how truly miserable and awful I felt after election day.

I don't know. It's wierd.

[Rabrrrrrr]

1. Only for the ones who didn't have vicious, hungry, wolf-like smiles in 2000 and 2004

The ones who just couldn't wait for the hate and oppression to begin - those assholes I have no sympathy for.

The ones who were gentle about it, I can have a little sympathy, but not much; because I know that, even though their guy lost, they are still great big winners because now they have a president that will do more for them than their guy would have, and the planet will be a much place for everyone.

[TZ]

2. Not really.

My conservative step dad seemed resigned to Obama winning..He wasn't upset..wasn't happy but was dealing with it very well..Now I do wish I could still know an ex-fundie co-worker who after 2004 bragged about how the whole country was going red...I'd LOVE to shove it (good naturedly really) in his face...

[MorningGlow]

3. My mom (Dem) and I agreed that the first person we thought of

when it was called for Obama was my aunt (her sister)--a rigid, unrepentant, judgmental, stubborn-as-a-mule repuke. And we worried how she was taking the news. Of course, neither one of us can bring ourselves to call her today...!

[Midlodemocrat]

4. Not even a little bit. I have no Republican relatives, Thank God.

but plenty of republican 'friends' who think that Bush was the exemplar of the 'morals and values party'. :puke:

I actually don't think I will get over my rage towards them for giving us * for quite a while. I blame them for the mess we are in.

[DarkTirade]

5. Only the ones who were mislead, and didn't vote out of fear or malice.

... come to think of it, I just don't hang out with the other kind. Except for that one annoying "libertarian" (i.e., greedy asshole who wants his tax cut and uses/twists libertarian ideas to justify his selfishness) asshole who comes around where the sci-fi club hangs out, but I don't choose to be around him.

[bluethruandthru]

6. I feel sorry for the ones who are so stupid that they

really think that Obama's going to abolish churches, force women to abort, turn the Star Spangled Banner into a hip hop tune, etc. But they choose to listen to nothing but right wing hate speech and refuse to believe anything but what comes out of the mouths of their masters...Rush, Hannity, Coulter, Savage, etc.

[Wapsie B]

7. I don't even feel sorry for them.

If they choose to go through life that way let their anger devour them.

[Lady Freedom]

8. I was to busy with my ringing ears to feel any emotion.

BOY! Can my parents scream!

[Lil Missy]

9. No, not really. I have no tolerance for those who are willfully ignorant.

I did take the signs out of my yard late last night, so as not to shove their noses in it. I live in a highly visible location.

I have my elderly mother living here too and don't want to invite any vandalism or hard feelings with neighbors or passers by. Nor would I put it past some rabid right-wing fuckwit trying to poison my dog.

[triguy46]

10. Nope. I don't mean them harm but they caused the nightmare.

[crim son]

11. My only republican acquaintances/family members

are people who are under the illusion that being a Republican means the same thing as it meant fifty years ago... they tend to be gullible, black/white thinkers but are often also very good people. I feel a little badly for them. Hell, I felt a little badly for McCain. But I got over it.

[Ahpook]

12. Let's just pull it together? :)

Faceless hatred is outdated, probably overrated? :)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4-swlx9z2O0&feature=related

Let's try, America? Nothing else has worked:)

[femmocrat]

13. I had as much empathy as they had for us in 2000 and 2004.

That would be NONE.

[Arugula Latte]

14. I don't know any Republicans, except for some hardcore Focus on the Family type relatives

And to picture them seeing the election returns come in gave me a feeling of pure bliss and contentment ... :evilgrin:

[Lucian]

15. I have zero empathy for any of them.

[Mighty74]

16. I have a little sympathy

I mean, I respect true Republicans who aren't sore losers. But the hardcore righties and the spoiled baby Hillary-or-nobody PUMA traitors, I feel nothing good for them. For eight years, we've dealt with Republican rule in the White House and watched things turn for the very worst under George W. Bush. Not to go all Obama on y'all, but it really was time for a change.

I live in CT, so I don't have too many Republican friends up here. But I had a few when I lived in VA some years back. I'm sure they're quite pissed today. And I don't really care.

I'm actually more proud for America and President-Elect Obama than I am sorry for any GOP-minded folks I know.

[Heidi]

21. Welcome to DU, Mighty74!

Glad you're here! :hi:

[CreekDog]

17. F$*(&$ No!

however, when Hillary actually conceded and later when she gave that fabulous convention speech, I felt a ton of empathy for her supporters. i also felt a lot of sympathy for Hillary. It is harder to lose a close one than to lose a blowout.

But only one candidate gets to win these things so that goes with the territory.

[Jamastiene]

18. In short, No.

They have never given any empathy to me, so it is very hard for me to give any to them. I just cannot muster any for them after the way they've always acted. They need to be punished for so much of the stupid shit they pull. It is that reward system...I feel it would be inherently wrong to reward them for their bad behavior. It won't kill them. They'll live. Trust me. It is the only way they are ever going to learn to be more civilized and loving. Let this be a rolled up newspaper to their noses.

[Maccagirl]

19. No

They haven't asked for forgiveness for the shit they've created and enabled, so I don't have empathy for them.

[WildEyedLiberal]

20. NO

You reap what you sow. I don't have a shred of sympathy for them.

[Tom Kitten]

22. None whatsoever

I don't believe in the rapture or Pat Buchanan or Sarah Palin or the fact that Mexicans ruined California and the gays caused Mt. St. Helens to erupt so I'm basically estranged from them.

[Jamastiene]

23. Dayum, we caused Mt. St. Helens to erupt too?

:wow: Let me guess. Was it Pat Robertson who said it?

[old mark]

24. I understand what you are saying, but no, I feel nothing but good.

I'm sure you are a much finer person than I to entertain those feelings.

I just hate tham all, and wish continued evil and stupidity on their house.

mark

[curse of greyface]

25. A lot of them voted for Obama or Barr.

Palin was a deal breaker for them. Most republicans I know are Chamber of Commerce small business owner types.

[LanternWaste]

26. Absolutely...

Absolutely. I have both friends and family members who are members of the Republican Party, and I simply don't want them to feel bad for any reason. Who would want bad feelings foisted onto those close to you?

Once I remove Politics from the equation and look at people from that perspective, it becomes quite sad. And I think that feeling joy or happiness in the sadness of others would reflect and advertise a terrible lacking of my own sense of honor and decency...

(But that's just me)

[La Lioness Priyanka]

27. nope. every time any republican goes to the poll, they vote against my best interest

so i have zero sympathy

[Iggo]

28. Nope. Not one bit.(n/t)

[MrCoffee]

29. Empathy for my MIL, who referred to Obama as a "black nationalist"?

Not so much.

[unpossibles]

30. I suggested calling my father in law to "congratulate" him

but we chose not to.

[HEyHEY]

31. No. n/t

[Inchworm]

32. Yup

It passed quickly when I remember the campaign and where we are going now. A few bad referendums reminded me to be mad at morons again too.

:hi:

[jobycom]

33. Yes, of course. Some. Couldn't be a Democrat and not feel sympathy.

My boss, for instance, is grieving. Seems to believe everything the emails said about Obama. I've stayed away from him since Tuesday, and he's stayed away from me. Four years ago we had the same unspoken space, for the opposite reason.

He's a good man, just fooled. Of course I feel sympathy for him, and respect his misery. Doesn't weaken my joy, though. I haven't smiled like this in eight years. :)

[DeposeTheBoyKing]

34. Call me inhuman, but NO

I cannot muster any. I won't gloat to any of them, but I have no sympathy for such wrongheadedness.

[hamsterjill]

35. No real empathy

I did, however, remark to a Republican, who was "congratulating" me on an Obama win, that the Republicans were now going to have a wonderful opportunity to show to me and to the rest of the world that they really mean all of this bipartisan stuff that they constantly ramble about.

Part of my complete disgust with the Republican party stems from the way that it treated Bill Clinton during his presidency. It seemed that every piece of legislation and every action that he tried to take, no matter what it was, the Republicans were there simply to be contrary. They would not support anything just because he was Bill Clinton. And they spent billions trying to peg something, anything, on him to discredit him. And what did they get? Really? His law license??? I don't think that was worth all of the money that Ken Starr spent.

So now with Obama's win and the wins of other Democrats, the Republicans have the opportunity to show me (and others) that they are ready to work together across the aisle for what is good for the country, instead of what is good only for the wealthy. And I sincerely hope that they don't waste any money trying to find out if Obama ever gets a blow job in the oval office. Somehow, I just don't figure him to be the type.

So, I'll be waiting for the Republicans to show me that they are truly interested in the betterment of my country. But I won't be holding my breath.

[Dangerously Amused]

36. I try to do the right thing.

For the Republicans who are willfully ignorant, judgmental, short-sighted, selfish and mean-spirited, I feel no sympathy. I would not rub the win in their face, but I do admit to some private feelings of vindication. I don't have any friends in this category, but my greatest hope is that those people will somehow grow out of their negativity to become better, kinder, happier people.

For the Republicans who are not willfully but incidentally ignorant, I feel minimal sympathy for their pain because it is real to them, but more pity for their circumstances. However, I remain hopeful that in time they will see that their pain and fear was unwarranted. I have a few friends in this category, and many of them are gradually making a transition to Dem. I am grateful for this progress and I realize that shutting these people out of my life entirely would not helpful in my efforts to advance the Dem cause.

Generally, through the years my Republican friends and I have learned to give each other some time apart after a major election, to allow the other to grieve or celebrate as the outcomes allow without imposing upon our friendship. One of them has already reached out to me to offer a very reserved congratulations via email. I know it was difficult for him to do that and I respect the hell out of him for it. I will give it a few days (because I am still too damn HAPPY!) and then respond.

As for me, I will remove most of the Obama promo stuff from my car and all the buttons from my accessories and jackets, partially to avoid appearing confrontational and a classless winner, and partially because I want to preserve them as momentos of this wonderful occasion. I will, however, keep the big "Yes We Can" bumper sticker in my back window as an uplifting way to demonstrate solidarity.

[PittPoliSci]

37. Nope.

Fuck 'em.

[BeachBaby]

38. I tried doing that in 1992 when Clinton won.

My parents blamed my "poor judgement" on being too young to vote (I was 23 years old)
Then in 2000 they called me a "baby killer" because I voted for Al Gore - a pro-choice advocate.
Then in 2004 they said I was headed to hell because I voted for John Kerry - a godless man.

Hell no - I have no empathy for two people who, two years ago, told me that the Middle East should be "blasted into glass" because it's better to "take them out" now, than for them to show up in the US and wreak havoc on our soil.

These two parents of mine, who are BIGTIME fundie pro-lifers, also vindicate the deaths of multitudes of Iraqi children. Why? You ask. Their stark answer: "They're terrorists in training."

Their stance on stem-cell research: I gave them the hypothetical that my son (their grandson) was hospitalized for juvenile diabetes and the doc informs us that stem-cell research would likely cure this growing problem. My dad's answer: "God doesn't want us killing a baby to save your son".

Their stance on abortion: I gave them the hypothetical of me, as a 11-12 year old girl, being raped by a man. Their answer: "You carry the child and put it up for adoption after you deliver".

I. HAVE. NO. EMPATHY.

[Left Is Write]

39. No.

[THUNDER HANDS]

40. my aunt told my mom she wouldn't vote for Obama because he's a muslim

so I feel no sypathy towards that side of my family at all.

[GreenPartyVoter]

41. No. They had 8 years and destroyed this country. I am not rubbing it in, mind you,

but neither will I forget.

[Sheets of Easter]

42. No; just the opposite, and I usually don't let politics come between friendship.

However, I've seen some wholesale ugliness in a few people in the last 36 hours. I had one friend in particular, my best man for crying out loud, go off on the death of liberty, poor people, claiming Obama is a socialist, and what not. He was just really into bitterness. I knew he was always conservative, but he's morphed into a complete Rushbot at this point. I don't even think we really have anything in common anymore.

[cwydro]

43. I cannot understand how anyone could support McCain/Palin

and I could never understand supporting Bush, but yes, I feel empathy for people who have lost.

I think most of them are scared because of pure ignorance. This will be a learning experience for them and it will be a good thing.

[pitohui]

44. not in the slightest

why should i? a vote for mccain is a vote to impoverish me and destroy my future as well as their own

[WinkyDink]

45. Oh, HELL, NO.

[Blue_Tires]

46. i took a LOT of shit in 94, 00, 02, 04

now i'm not saying i'd rub it in, because i want this new presidency to have a positive note instead of a vindictive one, but i'm damned if i'm going to feel sympathy for anyone too ignorant or self-centered to see the honest choice in this election

[BreweryYardRat]

47. Fuck no.

I'm going to be mature and not rub my mother's face in it, but I don't empathize with her at all.

[redqueen]

48. NO

Not the tiniest bit. Just desserts are just desserts. This is *nothing* like 2004. Nothing.

[Skittles]

49. no

the support of these ignorants has dagged America down no end - I revel in their misery

[billyoc]

50. Greetings, Comrade!

[AlCzervik]

51. nope, nothing at all. 8 years i've to shit from my miserable pampered sil and she called

me yesterday all boohooey and told me she needed to move out of Massachusetts, i told her to just leave and stop whining and then she said something about Obama and i told her to suck it.

[skygazer]

52. Not really

I appreciate the fact that they worked hard for their guy and have to be disappointed that he lost but for the past 8 years, I've seen no sign that anyone has understood my dismay and anxiety about their choice who resided in the White House. I see no reason to waste sympathy on people who are now going to be better off, whether they ever realize it or not.

[Tektonik]

53. None, fuck fascism

[grannylib]

54. No. None. They've all been pushing my (and everyone else's)

buttons and gloating in general for the last eight fucking years, and STILL wearing "Sore Loserman" tees and being total shits.
My response to the few freepers in my family is SUCK IT THE FUCK UP, ASSHOLES NEENER NEENER NEENER!!!!
I hope they suffer for the next eight years the way their unelected fuckups made the rest of us suffer for these last eight.
SUCK IT UP.

[yeswecanandwedid]

55. I sure did, I have to respect their views. I'm talking about friends and family now.

Not just every repug whackjob (hell, I know our side has plenty as well).

[Zavulon]

56. Not in the slightest.

They gave me endless shit about "socialism," "pacifism," "Marxism," "hugging terrorist thugs" etc, for years, while ignoring the warmongering bullshit and contempt of the backbone of the country (lower and middle classes) by their heroes. Fuck 'em.

[RushIsRot]

57. I sent a former co-worker a message: Can you say President Obama?

She replied, "no I cannot." To which I replied. Pay attention, your lot in life will change for the better. You might even be able to retire. PAY ATTENTION!

She's been voting for whoever her church tells her to for years. She cannot abide the news and drifts off into movies to escape.

[dropkickpa]

58. Nope, not one bit

I'm an asshole maybe, but fuck 'em.

[Phillycat]

59. Really, really not.

Those motherfuckers were willing to take away my right to have control over my own body, and send innocent young Americans to die side by side with innocent young Iraqis. They are fucking evil if you ask me.

Of course, it's easier for me because I have literally no Republicans in my life who are close to me.

[Bertha Venation]

60. The only Republican I'm close to voted Yes on 8, so -- NO.

None whatsoever. My extreme bitterness is his only consolation out of this election.

[Gormy Cuss]

61. No.

But then, the ones I know are angry not miserable.

[Kali]

70. yeah that was kind of where I was going

I know a few and am even close to some (although I have been avoiding them for the past 7 or 8 years just so I wouldn't put us in a situation where we might say things to ruin friendships) but they are not really in need of sympathy or empathy other than the fact that their values and thinking are not fully developed.

[Glorfindel]

62. No

No. No.

[Burma Jones]

63. Not a Bit.......

My Mom and her Husband, one of my Brothers and and Uncle live in Texas, all are die hard Republicans although they have ALL made their livings from the Government (NASA and the Navy)......

[libodem]

64. Nope

They helped ruin my country. If they liked Bush and his smirky, smart-ass, snotty, condescension, they are beyond my pity.

[Westegg]

65. Empathy? No. I pitied them, as I always have.

[1gobluedem]

66. I don't have any family who are Republican

And very few -- maybe three -- friends who are. I feel no empathy for them whatsoever.

[av8rdave]

67. Nope.

I remember how I was treated in 2000 and 2004.

[zanne]

68. After recalling what they put us through in 2000, my answer is...

No. Absolutely no sympathy from me. They're lucky we're not rubbing it in.

[SalmonChantedEvening]

69. I hav been cruelly delicate with it all.

Saying little, and not gloating in the slightest.

I have been sharing it with those who enjoy it, and refusing to take the time to be bothered by negativity.

It apparently bugs the hell out of people. :evilgrin:

[jonnyblitz]

71. I haven't talked to my republican weed dealer yet but all my

immediate republican family members voted for Obama. :shrug: