"I'm a Republican, and I'm Voting Democratic!"

[stopbush]

So I'm doing some phone work tonight for one of the candidates, working off a list of registered Dems in my neighborhood. One number I call is answered by a woman, but since I'm calling for her husband, I ask for him.

"Who should I say is calling?"

"I'm _____ _____, and I'm a Democrat living in your neighborhood. I'm conducting a quick survey about the upcoming presidential primary."

"Well, I'm a registered Republican. My husband's the Democrat. But this year, I'M VOTING DEMOCRATIC, and I KNOW my husband is, too."

Sweet words, my friends...sweet words...

Is anyone else having similar experiences?

[cthrumatrix]

1. I do alot...and then ones that are repugs just "cringe" when you

bring up his name.

I'm a firm believer the polls are nothing but BS propaganda....people think this man is awful for this country.

[lovedems]

2. My aunt is a republican who is voting democrat this year.

My sister is the classic "swing voter" and she thinks * is an idiot, she isn't voting for him. My friend, who is young, is voting in his first election and he voting against * also.

[ElsewheresDaughter]

3. 15 repugs i know "will NOT NOT vote for bush*", they are die hard Houston

lifelong repukes

[sweetladybug]

4. Such sweet words to hear. I hope other registered Republicans

will wise up like that lady. I've been hearing the same thing from other Republicans who are tired of being lied to and conned.
VOTE DEMOCRAT 2004!!!!

[bigwillq]

6. Me too

[the populist]

5. I have a very close friend

who is a Buchanan-ite who voted for Bush in 2000. He'll vote for Gephardt if Gephardt is nominated. If not, he'll abstain.

[w4rma]

21. Then he'll likely abstain. (n/t)

[sangha]

7. John Kerry is having a similar experience

Kerry Turning Some Iowans Into Believers in His Cause
http://www.nytimes.com/2004/01/14/politics/campaigns/14KERR.html

I'll be very honest with you," Shirley Cohen of Hollis, N.H., said. "I was a Republican. I changed to become independent two months ago. I was very strongly leading toward another candidate. But you've very thoroughly convinced me tonight."

[0rganism]

8. I guess that pretty well neutralizes Zell's vote, anyway

I'll be resting a little easier when W's re-elect numbers drop below 40%, tho.

[Wwagsthedog]

9. Several puggies & liberts around here.....

....are embarrassed that they voted for dimson in 2000. Most say they will either vote against him or not at all. Sorry, but they don't like Democrats either. Net plus for us, I'd say.

[stopbush]

10. Of course, they don't like Dems either usually means they only

know what the right-wing spin has told them.

I used to go through this with repigs in NJ all the time - they never knew any of the position papers or history of the Dem candidates. "Isn't he basically proposing socialism?" was the best they could come up with when discussing Dems. "Well, not really, but you support bush, so you support corporate socialism. What's wrong with a little socialism directed at the people?" was my typical reply.

[blackcat77]

11. There are a lot of angry Republicans

There's a lot of that going on. Just today, there wea a letter to the editor in our local paper with a self-described lifelong Republican explaining in great detail why he could never vote for Bush. I think that, in his arrogance, he believes that the Republican party faithful will vote for him no matter what. So did his daddy. And Jr will be proven just as wrong.

[lovedems]

15. I hope history repeats itself! n/t

[Mz Pip]

12. Yes

A couple of weeks ago I heard my hubby ranting to his business partner, a Repub who voted for Bush. Normally, they do not discuss politics. Considering that hubby is a lefty and business partner is a conservative one can understand why.

Well, here's my hubby ranting and on the speaker phone I can hear responses of complete agreement. My jaw dropped.

MzPip
:dem:

[IronLionZion]

13. Don't be a dumbass!

vote Democratic in 2004.

Tell them that then tell them about Clinton's jobs. 1000 new jobs every 3 hours for 8 years. Bush took the whole month of December to create that many.

For every Zell Miller out there, I bet there are thousands of women like her.

[solinvictus]

14. Me

I've changed my views on the national party since 2000. They've completely abandoned the middle class to outsourcing, they've undertaken a foreign policy to benefit their corporate masters, and their policies are to the detriment of the entire country.

[Dr.Phool]

16. I have

I work Mondays at our county Democratic HQ. The first thing I do is check the voice mail, and call people back who called over the week-end. And, I answer the phones the rest of the day.

I'm amazed:wtf: at all the calls we get from Republicans who are planning on voting against Bush.:toast: This in a fairly conservative (Pasco) county in Florida. The vast majority want information on Howard Dean. Some want to volunteer and get active.

I agree that most polls are a load of bull. When shrub was polling in the 70s, I couldn't believe it, because I couldn't find a person who could say a good word about him.

Even my father, who's retired in South Carolina isn't voting this year, but he did express interest in Gephardt.:nuke:

Keep up the work. Let's kick:kick: some Republican butt this year.

A Democratic president(Give 'em hell Howard):toast: A Democratic Senate:toast: and A Democratic House:toast:

Cheney and DeLay in prison in 2005!!:hurts:

[stanwyck]

17. How do we take advantage of the anger

the conservatives have toward Bush? Face it. Many of them are so indoctrinated by right wing talk radio that voting for a Democrat is unthinkable. A couple of the men I work with listen to all the rightwing spin shows. Yet, for the first time in the 10 years I've worked with them, they've openly criticized a conservative. Bush. They oppose his Medicate plan, the amnesty toward undocumented workers, and the fear of loss of our civil liberties. They say they'll never vote for a Democrat. So what are they going to do? And what are we going to do to capitalize on their dissatisfaction?

[Dr.Phool]

19. Martin Sheen

Was talking to peaople at a Dean rally tonight. He said, after being asked the obligatory question about Dean from a European reporter, that anger is a good thing, if it's channeled in a good direction. towards justice.

Try steering them on economic issues. Like most people who work for a living, they're probably getting screwed by Republicans.

Any working man who votes for a Republican, is like a chicken supporting Col. Sanders!!

[SheilaT]

18. It's been posted before, but

it's worth repeating. http://www.liberaloasis.com/bushin41point2.htm

[peacebuzzard]

20. in heart of E. TN. my repairman said many people are against Bushb

and sick of him giving away money and jobs. And this is red country, angry red. Who Knows?:tinfoilhat: :shrug:

[randr]

22. I live in a very conservative rural area

I have daily contact with conservative neighbors, coworkers, and friends. Most have expressed a dissatisfaction with one or more of Bush's issues. Some are angry and on the fence. Others still standing with their guy. If any of the Dem candidates strike a cord with this anxiety it will get interesting. The more hard right of them are silent.
More interesting, the people who claim never to have voted are expressing a real anger at Bush, almost as much as my more liberal friends and acquaintances.
I am optimistic.

[Ready4Change]

23. Me.

I'm one of the Republicans who's going to vote democratic in 2004. I didn't vote for Bush in 2000 either.

Started hanging out in DU because it echoes many of my own impressions of the Bush administration. I'm happy to say I'm seeing a growing number of conservatives ARE waking up.

[candy331]

24. I suspect that when finally one

candidate is selected as the nominee people will then start listening and many will vote democratic.