It takes a lot to knock me backwards..but it has officially happened.. a friend is a teabagger

[Peacetrain]

I get this email from a friend.. one of those forwards..and it is sort of a teabag sentiments.. get rid of everybody (but focusing on the Democrats)..

I just sat there and read and re-read the message that was part of a mass mailing, and wondered if she sent it to me by accident .... knowing how I stand and am a Democrat... has she been seething silently when we meet for lunch etc ?

I have known this person for 10 years, and suddenly I realize, I do not know them at all.

[stray cat]

1. I assume there were things you liked about this person that hasn't changed

eventhough politically they may disagree with you on some issues

[Peacetrain]

5. Well I have never been shy about where I stand politically.. here or real life

So to read that tripe, and it was tripe.. and to think, how twisted it is.. what must have been going through her head the last time we had lunch.

[dkf]

2. Is she out of a job?

If i were jobless i would want to throw them out too.

[Peacetrain]

3. She is retired.. that was part of the email.. just ridiculous teabagger sentiment

of get your hands off my medicare?? Hello

[timeforpeace]

4. Hopefully she is not indicative of anyone else.

[Peacetrain]

6. I think she sent it to me by accident.. I really do

Or maybe it is a stealth way to let me know where she stands.. that is a possibility..

[earthside]

14. Probably is though.

I'm sorry to say, but I think this 'throw the bums out' sentiment is going to continue to rise. What is unfortunate is that the teabaggers are getting the benefit of this populist trend only because they are expressing the anger and frustration.

The big problem for the Democrats is that they just don't seem capable anymore of talking like populist, people-power leaders and representatives. Indeed, they have brought much of this on themselves by supporting the bank bailouts and now, mandatory buying of corporate health insurance.

It may be that folks who do not pay as much attention to issues as people on DU, feel the frustration and glom onto whatever populist rhetoric is out there -- they may not even be that conservative. However, by so becoming identified as the party of Washington, D.C., the Democrats are shoving some otherwise 'liberal-leaning' people towards the teabaggers.

[Aristus]

7. Don't you hate when that happens? It kind of forces you to re-evaluate the reasons you

liked them in the first place. One could argue that one shouldn't let politics stand in the way of a rewarding friendship; but unfortunately, political views inform everything we think, say and do. If she's a hater, what does she have that's likable or valuable?

[Peacetrain]

9. I still like her .. and I was just shocked.. and a little sad to see how narrow her view points are

and who the heck is she associating with? Kind of gives me the creeps..

[AllentownJake]

10. Try talking issues not personalities

You'll be surprised on how much you agree on till particular politicians names are brought up.

[Peacetrain]

13. Here is the email..

It looks like it is a general throw the bums out.. but it is a focus on the Democrats.. knowing who I am and where I stand.. not a good thing to send to me..
______________________________________________________________________________________________________



Start getting ready for the Nov 2010 elections. Remember the motto (unless you like being abused): If they're "IN;" they're "OUT."

The 2010 Election Day .... Your U.S. House & Senate have voted themselves $4,700 and $5,300 raises.

1.. They voted to not give you a S.S. cost of living raise in 2010 and 2011.

2. Your Medicare premiums will go up $285.60 for the 2-years and you will not get the 3% COLA or $660/yr. Your total 2-yr loss and cost is $1,600 or $3,200 for husband and wife. Plain enough??????

3. Every member of Congress will get an added $10,000 which is putting them very close to $200,000 per year. Sounds like an elite class to me.

4. Do you feel SCREWED? They vote themselves a raise and better benefits. They only care about WE THE PEOPLE on election day, right? You never did anything about it in the past. The time for action is near!!!!

5. Do you really think that Nancy, Harry, Chris, Charlie, Barnie, et al, care about you? SEND THE MESSAGE-- You're FIRED.

*** THIS IS NOT ABOUT POLITICAL PARTIES! IN 2010 YOU WILL HAVE A CHANCE TO GET RID OF THE ENTIRE SITTING CONGRESS, Up to 1/3 OF THE SENATE, AND 100% OF THE HOUSE. The election in 2010 will be a sea-change to the mindset of any member of Congress who may survive.

It is ok to forward this to your sphere of influence if you ARE finally tired of this abuse.

[AllentownJake]

17. That isn't really that offensive

Tea baggers are focused on the government, leftist are focused on business. If the two of them ever wake up and realize that they are both right, it would be trouble.

The problem with Tea baggers, is they don't realize the GOP as far as the above is mentioned are just as bad as the democrats. I align myself with democrats because they don't want to establish a kingdom of God on earth. Other than that, they are both crooks.

[baldingrockwarlord2]

27. I got that very same email from a freeper friend

I flamed him back. Told him to quit crapping in my inbox with right wing propaganda B.S. He sends me these things "by accident" he says. On one hand they'll claim everyone is corrupt, but they only seem to call out the Dems by name and never righties. I have started a zero tolerance policy on political emails. Never, do any of my fellow Libs or Democrats engage in this practice of "forward to all" or even send things to each other. I find these political "good citizen" emails to be a right wing phenomenon. They say things like "If you don't agree or forward you are part of the problem". I take offense to that kind of gargbage.

Coming very close to losing a lifelong friend over this crap. I keep my politics to myself and never initiate conversations in order to maintain relationships and respect, but I find that Repukes don't care if they ruin a dinner, a visit, or crap in your inbox with their B.S. What do you do?

[timeforpeace]

28. Oh, that's nothing. Don't sweat it!

[louis-t]

29. I got that from a known repug.

My response? "Senate didn't "vote" on SS cost of living raise. It is tied to inflation. If there is no inflation, there is no raise. It's just the way it's set up. I never noticed any Republicans screaming when previous Congresses announced pay raises." The one I got also had something in it slamming HCR. I wrote "It's a shame Republicans have to scare old ladies into believing that an elected president wants them dead to keep their campaign war chests full."

Oh, and notice how these always claim to be non-partisan, yet they only mention Dems as the enemy. I have heard many repugs blame Barney Franks for the financial meltdown. I ask them "So, one short, pudgy, gay man brought down the entire economy and the brilliant Republicans couldn't stop him? The all-powerful Barney Franks?"

[laughingliberal]

30. Good on you for pointing out that the SS COLA was tied to inflation

Might also remind them that the lack of the COLA was why President Obama advocated for and got the extra one-time payment of $250 for people on SS.

[louis-t]

39. Right, thanks, forgot about that.

[AllentownJake]

8. The guy on my bowling team agrees with me 75% on issues

He loses it on personalities. Not uncommon.

[Peacetrain]

11. I don't know Jake.. I am still shocked to think that she embraces that philosophy..

[AllentownJake]

12. My Teabagger bowling friend

Hates free trade, is not anti-labor (isn't as pro-labor as I am), thinks the corporations are crooks, has no problem with gay marriage, hates the bailouts, shares my view the way to combat illegal immigration is to fine people that hire them not to go after the individuals etc.

However, if we bring up a politicians name, the debate suddenly turns sour and I'm Nancy Pelosi and he's George W. Bush.

It is actually quite amusing.

[laughingliberal]

31. This is so common. I talk to Republicans all the time who are pissed off about the same things I am

Yet, they are totally convinced these things are the fault of the Democrats (to some extent, lately, they are due to little change on some policies from the last administration). I begin to wonder if party affiliation is hard wired.

[AllentownJake]

34. Realizing that players on your own team aren't playing for you is difficult

The world didn't look like this 60 years ago. FDR was beloved and so was IKE and no one doubted that even if they disagreed, both men loved their countries deeply and this process was not all about them.

We have moved into a world where we are voting on personalities.

[laughingliberal]

36. Quite true. Unfortunately, that voting on personalities has made it all too easy for the kingmakers

to control the process. The whole industry of image makers with the cooperation of the mass media can spoon feed the public anyone they choose and people just suck it up. Nothing sets my teeth on edge more than discussing campaign platforms with someone who says, "Oh, I just vote for the person." A close second to that for me was once those who defended their lack of investigating candidate's positions by saying, "Ah, they're all in it together." Sadly, I am seeing that become close to the truth these days although I don't think it always was.

[HBravo]

15. I don't think it was a accident

"has she been seething silently" I think she sent you a message. I don't think it was a mean message just a message since you are friends. Stand firm!

[Peacetrain]

16. I plan too.. When we have lunch next month, it will be a little stilted for sure

[HBravo]

19. Good luck

Hopefully there will not be to much friction and she will dicuss it and not try to teabag you. (no pun intended)

[Peacetrain]

21. ROFL.. I do not know whether to mention it or not...

[HBravo]

24. Teabag meaning in Political terms

[bobbolink]

18. If you truly want to keep the majority in Congress this year, you better start

reaching out to people like this, and understanding their anger, rather than dismissing them as less than human.

And rather than yelling at me for what I said to you, start listening to Thom Hartmann.

[Peacetrain]

20. what are you talking about?

[bobbolink]

38. .

:eyes:

[ThoughtCriminal]

22. Reply All is the cure

A polite debunking with links works wonders. I still get the cute pictures and family news, but nobody dares forward political spam to me anymore.

[Land Shark]

23. I suggest focusing on the POPULISM behind it, there's much common ground.

Some folks will be attracted to teabaggerism because they are attracted to the populist message that is otherwise removed from the corporate media.

[laughingliberal]

32. I think this is the correct approach

It is frustrating to see people on different sides of the political divide are pissed off about many of the same things yet we can not seem to form a coalition to effectively oppose the problems we see.

[EFerrari]

33. Bingo. The same issues attracted people to Ron Paul.

There is a constituency there worth addressing.

[leftstreet]

37. +1

[mnhtnbb]

25. A woman I worked with--in fact I hired her--years ago has turned up as a teabagger

and Faux News listener. I was stunned. Absolutely stunned. We've stayed in touch
for 25 years and I had no idea she had such sentiments.

[JohnnyRingo]

26. Just one? I've seen a number of friends turn in the past year.

I usually reply with a debunking link to Snopes, and chastise them pointing out that when someone tells them "not to believe everything they read on the internet", they're referring to those unverifiable fwds that arrive in their inbox. I close by mentioning that "if it sounds like an incredible story, it's probably not credible".

I'm sure only lack of resources prevent them from sending $2000usd to Nigerian banks.

I don't like to dissolve long friendships over politics (I don't email anything political to anyone), but if I have to read the yearly rerun about Nancy Pelosi's jet one more time....

[Peacetrain]

35. Just checking back in to look at the messages.. thank you for the good advice one and all..

I will try and keep it in perspective.