Our neighbor, the Republican, is fed up with *

[Missy Vixen]

Okay, boys and girls, you know the drill. We see these threads daily. However, two women I know have both told me, within the past month (and one this afternoon,) that they will be voting ABB in the upcoming election.

Why is this significant? They're both upper middle class "soccer mom" types -- *'s supposed "base". They are also both (up to this point,) solely Republican voters. I almost fell off my chair today when the neighbor called and started asking me questions about the positions of a certain Dem candidate with an MD. It seems she's watched all the Democratic debates. All of them.

The last straw for these women? My friend Stacy almost had an aneurism when * sent $87 billion to Iraq. She's afraid her teenage sons will be drafted as well. Our neighbor (who had ten */Cheney yard signs in the yard during the last election,) is infuriated over illegal aliens.

The base is fleeing. We must capitalize on it.

Julie
writing from the midst of "soccer"/"safety" mom country

[bleedingheart]

1. there are loads of people living in McMansions who are getting

nervous about outsourcing, healthcare costs and the fact that without federal funding the states and local authorities are raising taxes to compensate....

[Missy Vixen]

3. Bleedingheart, true

My friend Stacy's husband has been out of a permanent job for the past two years, and was unemployed for over a year before he found a contract.

They have no health insurance. He's over 50.

It's amazing to me how quickly the Republicans are turning when it's *'s hand on their wallets...

Julie

[Stephanie]

6. Yes. Now that they are about to start outsourcing Legal Work -

It's getting a little too close to home. Suddenly the soccer moms can see the light. Or, the dark.

[Mile Hi]

2. Don't believe it

They will vote Repub

[Missy Vixen]

4. I don't think so this time

>They will vote Repub<

These two women have fought me to the mat over political differences. We're friends because I virtually stopped talking to them about politics.

For our dyed-in-the-wool Repug neighbor to call me and ask questions about the good doctor (and tell me that she'd VOTE FOR HIM if he gets the nomination,) Hell is about to freeze over.

Julie

[calimary]

7. I've got a would-be "step-dad" like that.

83, widowed about the same length of time as my mom, Catholic, Irish, conservative. Says he's been looking at Edwards. Says he loves this country but he's starting to hate the politics. Says all his friends are saying the same thing. Methinks the tide may be turning.

bush's support is a mile wide and a millimeter deep. And if they're that ardent as republi-CONS, if they don't vote Dem, they'll probably skip voting altogether, or maybe vote in the Congressional race but not for president. EITHER WAY, we win!

[SharonAnn]

17. My 86 year old dad, life-long Republican, is looking for someone

he can vote for. It won't be *. He's still planning to vote for other Republicans for other offices, just not *.

[alcuno]

11. Hi Mile Hi.

It's actually quite extraordinary to those of us with friends and relatives who have completely turned on *. But you are right. After another 9 months of hearing that * lied the US into a war, I'm sure they'll all go back to voting Republican.

[ochazuke]

5. The $87 billion was a big deal

I overheard a lot of people talking about it. The immigration reform proposal is poison to lots of Republicans. Bush can loose these people if our guy knows how to use the English language to pull them in.

[Mayberry Machiavelli]

8. Yes Yes Yes

Keep these coming... If there are any lessons for the rest of us in how to help these defections, let us know, although I think that the administration is really doing more than any of us ever could to alienate people like this...

[Jacobin]

9. I'll be interested in her views after the $200 million BushBlitzAdvertisin

Smear which is about to erupt.

Fear, smear, etc is about to be unleashed like we have never seen before.

I worry about these early 'converts' and wonder if they will regain their RW views after BushCo freaks them all out with "raising taxes", terraist 'lerts, etc.

I hope they stay converted I do, I really really do.

[DrBB]

13. Yes, me too. I think the question is not "will they vote Dem"

...but "Will they vote?" An energized base on one side and a demoralized one on the other will produce a victory, too. Pretty much the story of 2000 and 2002--their guys were really jazzed up and we were mostly unenthused. It may well be the opposite case this time.

[I Thaumaturgist]

10. More than just the soccer moms.

I have several friends who are die hard Republicans, some are in the military. They feel that Shrub is not a Republican at all but a facist. They despise the way he is treating the military like his own private toys. They hate the way he is spending money. And they really hate that he sounds like a complete idiot when he speaks. I believe we will be pleasantly surprised in November, provided we have a solid candidate.

Bush is toast.

[alcuno]

12. Welcome to DU, I.

It's been really interesting hearing from people who know of Republicans who are no longer enamored of *.

[sistersofmercy]

16. Welcome to DU, I Thaumaturgist!

I know Republicans who are also disenchanted with bush*.
:hi:

[rhino47]

18. Welcome to DU I

:hug:

[BiggJawn]

14. Did you see Cal Thomas' column today?

Usually Iron-Pants Cal sends me hurling, but today he wanted to talk about how Mike Pence, Indiana's own RW religioso whacko was dressing Shrub down at a Fundy get-together. He's "not conservative enough" anymore for 'em...

So, for the Soccer Moms who got fooled by the "No Blow Jobs" promise that turned into a "No Jobs PERIOD" promise, Shrub is now losing the Promisekeepers, too.

Gooooooooooooooood!

[mreilly]

15. That's nice, but....

... I am counting on the Democratic base and the independent voters to mobilize against Bush and throw his ass out in November. As far as I'm concerned, it can happen without a single disillusioned Republican lining up to vote against Bush. Because I don't believe there really will be such a thing come November. I think that Republicans are too programmed and stupid to ever consider voting for a non-Republican no matter how much frustration and fear they vent a few months before the election. Maybe it's just my own anti-GOP bias, but I refuse to ever place an ounce of hope or trust in these people that they will wake up and come around.

Mark my words, once the GOP propaganda machine gets cranking against whoever the Democratic nomineee will be, you will see these same people ranting and raving about (Kerry/Clark/Dean/Edwards) in nine months time. Boo hoo, they want to raise my taxes. Boo hoo, they can't keep the country safe. Boo hoo, they want to allow gays to marry, or attack us religious folks or push their radical liberalism down our throats. No matter how they vent against Bush now, they're going to race out to re-elect their little hero next November, which is why we need to plan to work around them and win regardless of their outlook.