Maybe it's time to befriend a moderate Conservative

[Son of California]

Haha!
laugh all you want, but think about it minute.
I have a really close friend who is a moderate conservative and usually votes Republican. He and I have a lot of MATURE conversations about politics, we don't treat each other like nuts for having different views (like CNN and FOX are training us to do), ....in the course of our discussion, we have realized that there are a lot of misconceptions going on -on both sides- based more on semantics than anything else.
Right now he is saying -and I am hearing this from other conservatives, that they feel the Republican party is leaving them. They don't care about abortion or gays or any of that. They're worried that Bush is a liar and a bad leader, is fucking up in Iraq and that the party is following him without any question. Even if only for 06 and maybe 08 -these votes could go blue, if only we will notch down the us against them rhetoric for a moment and reach out.
With 06 getting closer and closer and with that, a great opportunity to get evened up in the Senate - Maybe it's time that we get out there and befriend a few conservatives, help to disprove some of the misconceptions they may have about our party, show them that the Dems have adapted a lot of the common sense ideas that used to typify the oldschool Republican party: fiscal conservatism, limiting Federal involvement in our day to day lives, etc etc.
ever heard the phrase, you catch more flies with honey than vinegar?

[Skittles]

1. aw gee

after this amount of damage he's FINALLY pulling his head out? See, I know what you are trying to say but I can't help it - I feel utter contempt and disgust for people like your friend....I know we should embrace them but I feel sick

[Ilsa]

2. ITA! It's time to reach out to those who are ready to

desert W. They need to learn that this beligerent and stubborn adherence to policies that don't work is pure stupidity.

[lvx35]

3. I was a conservative before I recently started backing the dems.

Though never a Bible thumper, etc. I came here to go rah-rah for the dems because Bush has actually violated a lot of conservative principles much worse than dems:

1) Non-intrusive government
Bush created the Patriot act
2) Small government spending
Bush has created huge debt
3) Closed Borders
Bush has created open borders, way worse than democrats

I back the dems because sadly, many of them are better conservatives than republicans, as far as real issues go. Now as far as non-issues, like gays and such, Bush is clearly in the lead. But has has isolated what might be called his libertarian base.

[Son of California]

4. that's my theory

That the Libertarians are ready to go Dem this election if only we can find the proper way to court them.

[lvx35]

5. You are absolutely right.

I fully agree. There was some bickering for awhile in the libertarian/classic conservative forums,(when I went there) but I can say with certainty that like 90% would go Dem at this point, because of Bush's threats to civil liberties and spending. But we've got to manage people like Hillary, put forward people like Dean. Anti-war is great. Read http://www.antiwar.com for great conservative anti-war writing. Yet Hillary stands around supporting the war, and attacking people's video games, smoking in private venues, gun ownership and other civil liberties. It won't sell. If we get a guy/woman who:

repects civil liberties
is anti Iraq war
respects property rights of individuals without being too big business
respects gun ownership
supports controlling illegal immigration*

We will pull in a lot of Libertarian/classic conservative votes.
*open borders is one of th LP's least popular causes.

[distantearlywarning]

9. This Libertarian already went Dem.

The attempted erosion of the separation between church and state in this country by the religious right appalls me. This is the primary reason why I will never again vote for any member of this administration.

Other reasons include: Abu Ghraib, the Patriot Act, the mishandling of the war in Iraq, the controlling of the media, the thousands upon thousands of lies fed to us all about everything from the president's health to the death of Pat Tillman to Swiftboat Vets, the constant attempted interference in the bedrooms, deathbeds, and television watching of American citizens, statistical anomalies in the 2004 election, and a myriad of other reasons.

[geckosfeet]

12. Why is it sad? The GOP has always spouted rhetoric to get your vote

then done what they damn well please when given the reins. Mostly enrich the rich corporate entities and fuck everyone else domestic and otherwise.

They hook you with the emotionally charged BS (religion, gay, womens and civil right) then bend you over the barrel.

I am cynical enough to believe that the Dems have the potential to one day equal and surpass the GOP's criminal behavior, but that day has yet to come and until it does I vote Dem party line and register
independent.

[otohara]

6. With So Many in GOP - Tax Cuts Come 1st

So many socially liberal folks I know - vote GOP for one reason only...their pocket books. Greed wins over logic and doing the right thing. I used to excuse these people, but no more. You vote for your precious tax cuts, you vote for all the crap that comes with it.

[Son of California]

7. Maybe Dems should talk about tax cuts

you know, the right kind, that actually help out middle and lower income families and spur on the economy by putting money in the pockets of people who will actually go out right away and spend it on all kinds of stuff not just stocks...

I mean, wouldn't that blow peoples mind, the Dem party talking up MORE TAX CUTS?

[bunkerbuster1]

10. Never works--the other guys always lowball us.

If we propose a "working class tax cut" or suchlike, they'll just say they can do a presto-chango magic act and create a bigger tax cut.

[agincourt]

8. It's sad, I know people who know Bush is terrible,

but they believe the pigboy slander about whomever the democrats run. All you can do is try to debunk the lies as best as you can. But it is hard, political lies are like a drug, it's hard for them to kick the habit, because in order to see a RW lie as a lie, they must admit they were wrong before to themselves.

[geckosfeet]

11. Sorry, but the gop supporters are on their own. So they see Bush

is a raving pile of shit. So what? They should have seen that 5 years ago.These are same people who waved flags and cheered as President Clinton was impeached.

As far as I am concerned they can live and die with Bush and his criminal gang on their conscience. The more I think about your suggestion angrier I get!