Do you know any relationships that ended because of this past election?

[I Have A Dream]

I'm a new member to DU, so it's very possible that this has already been discussed extensively over the last several months.

I did quite a bit of volunteering for the Kerry campaign, and I encountered quite a few households that had partners who were on opposite ends of the spectrum politically. I had people who actually refused to let me talk to the partner who was a Democrat. I've wondered how those relationships weathered the election storm.

Personally, I can't imagine living through that period with someone who thought Bush is what this country needed.

[Cha]

1. Welcome to DU,

I Have A Dream!

My sister is married to a guy who doesn't know any better than to vote for bush..they just don't talk about it. She told him she didn't want to know that he would be that stupid to vote for bush, so he didn't..tell her.

I definetly wouldn't be in a personal relationship with anyone who bought what the dark side was selling at an astronomical price.

[Hello_Kitty]

7. Oh yeah, I forgot! Welcome to DU!

:hi:

[Hello_Kitty]

2. I'm just glad I wasn't in a relationship at all during the campaign

Because unless it was with someone who shared my same views and fervor for campaigning, he would have been dealing with a largely absent partner for about a year.

As for being with a Bushie, that's gotta be tough. A woman I know who was extremely active in the Kerry campaign and is very involved with local progressive politics is married to a Bush-bot. They haven't split up yet but it appears to be a very troubled relationship, with one or the other sleeping on the couch on occasion. They have 3 little kids and my heart aches for them. This is just more reason for me to loathe this current administration, and its abominable media mouthpieces who deliberately fan the divisiveness and animosity. As John Stewart said so well "Please stop it. You're hurting people."

[smoogatz]

3. My relationship with the 51% of America, give or take

that apparently voted for Bush. We must have the dumbest electorate on the planet, and that's saying something. I don't know--a few years ago I went out a couple of times with this REALLY good looking woman in Atlanta; not a super genius, but wildly attractive nonetheless. Turns out, she's a super serious charismatic Catholic--mass twice a week, retreats, confession, the whole deal. Fine with me--the Catholic girls of my youth were tons of fun. Then, on our second or third date, she tells me she spent the afternoon protesting at an abortion clinic. I wouldn't have been any more appalled if flames had suddenly shot out of her eyes. I never called her again. She was a cat-washer, anyway. Who washes their cat?

[oregonjen]

4. I've ended a friendship because of her views

We agreed on parenting and had a good friendship, but I couldn't handle her "Christian" views. She kept sending me freeper emails and it was too much to handle. I haven't talked to her in almost a year. I miss her, but am angry at her for believing all that crap.

[jazzjunkysue]

5. I was seeing a closet republican for 3 months.

Until he forbade me to complain about the chimp's attack on social security. He was catholic, btw.

In my break up email, I asked him to ask Jesus next sunday who it's ok to hate, impoverish and kill. Muslims? Gays? Protestants? Exactly who? Find out for me. Who would Jesus drop bombs on?

[POAS]

8. Now that is my kinda woman..........oh wait,

I'm into blues not Jazz..never mind...;)

[jazzjunkysue]

11. [Channelling James Taylor's Steamroller.....] "churnin urn of burnin funk"

Gotcha covered.

[POAS]

50. Yea but waht about Saffire or

Ledbelly, Now that's blues!

[ArkDem]

35. Just curious but why did you mention that he was catholic?

[Swamp Rat]

55. Who would Jesus bomb?

[Botany]

6. Yes my relationship w/ the Washington Post National Weekly

For over 15 years I have received it and read it .....
it still comes but I just look at the cartoons and wait
a week or so and pitch it.

[longship]

9. Yes

Mike Malloy's relationship with the Democratic Party. lol

[HockeyMom]

10. Mine

Part of the whole picture. He's a Republican and I'm an Independent. He voted for Bush (both times) and I voted for Gore and Kerry. He was out of work of over a year (IT) and got a job in Florida. I refuse to go there; red state mentality, ONE Bush is bad enough, etc. Just goes against my whole being of who I am and what I believe in. True Blue Northeastern. We were married 30 years.

This count?

[jazzjunkysue]

12. Um, yeah. Sorry to hear that. Hope you're doing OK.

:hug:

[I Have A Dream]

13. I'm glad that you had the courage to be who you truly are.

Thank you for sharing this with us, HockeyMom.

[BlueIris]

20. Please accept my condolences.

But I congratulate you on investing in yourself as well as--how to put this delicately--the truth. Those are pretty much the most imporant things. It's unfortunate that your partner couldn't come out from behind the other side, but at least you escaped.

[seabeyond]

14. my midland texas, nra card caring, lifetime republican

husband voted for kerry

first time voting for other than republican. now he is upset if i call him a republican. he is an independent by gosh, lol and a wink. lucky me.

[I Have A Dream]

15. Wow!

You must have really influenced him -- props to you, seabeyond!

[seabeyond]

16. i was yelling and screaming for the first two years of bush

he didnt want to hear, i knew he didnt, and told him, couldnt stop myself. like turret syndrome. he started researching and becoming informed just so i didnt have to feed it all to him. i let him. didnt say another thing cause i saw he was doing his own research. after iraq, he was disgusted. the end......to republican. not to mention boys were in a fundamentalist school, and husband was offended the minister saying things like kerry not a christian, a murder and bush a man of god, during chapel

he did it on his own

[phylny]

28. Another happy ending here

My husband is not only a Republican, but voted for Bush the first time, and has a framed picture of the time he met and shook hands with the President (an old fraternity brother/college roommate was/is a high ranking person in the administration). I was so incensed around election day, and so passionate in my disgust with Bush and his administration, that he finally saw the light and voted for Kerry.

He's a good man, you know. My husband, that is. He voted for Clinton the second time around, too.

[UTUSN]

17. I Told an 1968 Vietnam A-hole to Stuff It ---Is That Enought? n/t

[adigal]

18. I have had two friendships end

I just can't take their pro-Bush, pro-torture beliefs anymore. I think they are highly immoral even though they both think they are more moral than I because they are "strict" Catholics.

[I Have A Dream]

19. My husband also lost a very good friend.

He never thought that the friendship couldn't weather something like this. My husband just couldn't stand the thought that his friend, who was a Vietnam veteran, was being misled by the Vietnam Veterans for "Truth" (yeah, right!) lies, so he refused to keep his mouth shut. The friendship's now gone. I feel that it is his friend's loss, but it really saddens my husband.

[BlueIris]

21. My losses were "friendships," too.

Well, they were pretty much already dead, but there was no way I could reinvest in them after finding out how uninvolved in the election cycle the other parties were. They were "too busy" to volunteer, it wasn't their "thing," they had other "priorities and goals." Okay. This, despite the fact all the parties involved had college degrees from exclusive, well-respected, demanding universities, (two of them had degrees in POLITICAL SCIENCE) had lived in foreign countries for extended periods of time, spoke languages other than English and were gainfully employed (thus, having access to things like THE INTERNET). The most painful loss was the friendship I had with a woman I had known for almost twelve years. She has a combined Bachelor's in history and poly-sci, a good job which requires her to travel to Europe and Latin America a lot, and had to exercise her right to choose last year. 100% indifferent to American government at this time. She also mocked me for participating in the elction effort. So, yeah, that friendship--and two others--totally gone. One DU posters commented way back when that what he thinks is going on in America right now is nothing less than a cold civil war. That describes the attitude I see displayed on the streets around me to a tee--and I can't claim that I'm above participating in it. I don't want to devote any time or money (more than I have to anyway) to anyone who isn't willing to oppose Bush.

[I Have A Dream]

24. Yeah, I told my best friend...

to not even tell me for whom she was voting.

She kept getting confused as to which side I was on. She told my ex-boyfriend that I was volunteering for the Bush campaign. I was sooooo angry and forced her to immediately clear my good name. My ex-boyfriend was really confused but thought that people DO change, so it was possible.

I love my friend, but it has been very difficult to not let her lack of interest in the current desperate political situation influence my friendship with her.

[BlueIris]

26. Well, you're a better person than I am, I guess.

I just can't--to me, we no longer even have "politics" in America anymore. There are people supporting Bush and his law-breaking, destructive tactics, and people opposing the Administration. If a person doesn't want to be "involved"? I don't hate that person, but I'm not going to be able to be friends with them, either.

I'm not saying your best friend is a bad person or "one of them," but as I posted above, those kind of relationships just aren't the sort I can invest in anymore.

[ArkDem]

31. I know how you feel. I will now only deal with open-minded

people myself!

[shanine]

22. No, but I know some

that never started because of it . . . a dealbreaker for me!!!

[newyawker99]

34. Hi shanine!!

Welcome to DU!! :toast:

[EFerrari]

23. I lost the NYT and most of the corporate media AND

because of my big mouth, learned that most of my neighbors are on board.

My son broke up with a girlfriend mid election season. He just couldn't go there with her Bushworship.

Happy mom here. :)

[OrlandoGator]

25. Three friendships.

I have no patience or tolerance for the Kool-Aiders at this point.

[BlueIris]

27. Ech. As I posted above, I feel your pain. That totally hurts.

And, you know, I really miss my friends. Thinking back to when they and the country were sane, it breaks my heart. And I hate being as alone as I am because I can't communicate with those folks anymore. But it's better than feeling like I'm betraying myself or my country by being around them. And it's better than wanting to snap their heads off when I'm around them.

[Tim4319]

29. Shaq and Kobe

[expatriate]

30. My brother.

I haven't had much of a relationship with him for some years, but after my last visit to the USA, I heard him state "Well now, Bush is a loose cannon, but he's OUR loose cannon," one time too damn many. This was said in response to any criticism of Shrub. It was said in defense of torture, illegal war and killing, and in defense of sending our military out for a war based on lies.

Then the dickhead voted for Bush in 2004 and sent me an email to let me know he had. He has never emailed me in the seven years since I left America, not even in response to emails sent to him, but he couldn't resist sending me an email to taunt me about having voted for Bush. HIS precious loose cannon.

So I don't have a relationship with the arrogant idiot any more. He was a self absorbed, manipulative, greedy and grasping dickhead from birth, so it just fits that he's a Bush worshipping Republican.

No loss to me. I'm glad not to have to make nice ane pretend I give a damn about him any more.

[adigal]

54. He sounds like my brother

who screwed over my family and my sister's family this summer over a beach house he wanted from my parents. He and his wife died for me that day. So sad. It really breaks my heart what people will do for money or land.
And he and his wife are good Germans, I mean republicans, right down to their SUV and their McMansion.

[expatriate]

57. Sounds like we have the same brother!

Yep, mine always bought into the entire republican thing, even as a little kid. On weekend nights he would stay awake until midnight, when the television stations went off the air, so he could stand and salute during the Star Spangled Banner. He has always been obsessed with war, since he was too small to comprehend what war really is and what it really does. Loved military might and power and glory. Believed that America had the right to go anywhere and force any nation to do what America wanted - and he never matured out of that belief. It's like watching a little kid who played toy soldiers still believe, in his forties, that playing toy soldiers is what it's all about.

And the greed - yep, we've had situations where my brother has tried to jerk everyone around to get his hands on money or land. Lately he has been harassing my stepmother, trying to hector her into giving him some of our late father's possessions, even though our father specifically stated that he did not want my brother to have them. He and his wife have a favorite topic of conversation - what they will inherit when this or that family member dies. My husband calls them "Mr. and Mrs. Dead Man's Shoes", and that is, tragically, very apt.

So I wasn't surprised when he turned out to be a ranting canting conservative Bush lover. And believe it or not, when we were growing up (later, my father went off the deep end from too much booze and health problems, and became bizarrely conservative right before his death), our parents were very liberal and tolerant, committed Democrats, and always urged acceptance and tolerance of everyone on us, from the time we were tiny. They also urged generosity and tried to teach us that people and love were far more important than possessions. It sure didn't take with my brother.

I sometimes truly think that certain traits are just inborn. My brother's attitude and outlook on life is nothing that he learned at home.

[adigal]

60. Isn't it amazing - how so many repubs are the same!!

Shallow, greedy and self-centered. Thank God I am no longer one of them!

[0007]

32. My son and I......n/t

[BlueIris]

33. Ouch. I'm sorry. n/t

[Mz Pip]

36. With another Democrat

We haven't spoken since before the Primaries. He supported one candidate. I supported another. He got really nasty about it and became very insulting. That was the end of that.

I am not friends with any Republicans. I still get along with the Republicans in my family but they have always been pretty luke warm Bush supporters. They are more Republicans out of habit rather than ideologues.

Mz Pip
:dem:

[LynnTheDem]

37. Not the election per se; but the Iraq invasion was the end of my

relationship with my in-laws; both parents and one of the 2 daughters.

My hubby speaks to them on the phone still, but only on a "casual acquaintance" basis.

His family refused to bother spending any time VERIFYING what bush & his Cartel were spewing. Total LIES that were so easily shown to be total lies, for anyone that bothered to spend a bit of time researching facts.

THEIR OWN SON was sent to invade Iraq, and they couldn't be bothered.

Their son is my husband; NO ONE willingly sends MY HUSBAND into war without bothering to check facts first, and remains my friend.

NO ONE. Most especially not the family who supposedly love the soldier they willingly sent to war without checking facts. They put bush uber alles, even over their own son's life.

[benevolent dictator]

38. I solve the problem by not being friends with Republicans.

Not so much that I avoid them, as I'm SO outspoken about my views that a lot of the moderate Democrats cringe when I'm around. I tend to attract the far lefters and that's who I'm friends with.

[DeepModem Mom]

39. Rumored: Brad Pitt and Jennifer Anniston --

he supported Kerry; she supported Bush.

[I Have A Dream]

40. Yeah, I just heard that a few days ago

I heard at one point that she called Bush a "f*ing idiot", so it's weird. However, one never knows what changes people.

[nonconformist]

46. That was a joke, a parody

It's not true. Anniston didn't support Bush - in fact, Rolling Stone magazine quoted her in an interview as saying "Bush is a fucking idiot".

[eissa]

41. A friend of nearly 20 years

It happened recently (I even posted our e-mail exchange here.) She's military wife and die-hard republican. Complete opposite ends of the political spectrum. I just couldn't take her e-mails anymore about how great the war is, especially when I have family living in Baghdad and know the reality of the situation. She doesn't want to hear anything negative about it (comfortable in her delusions.) I'm over it.

[sellitman]

42. I respect many friends and co-workers less now.

That's about it.


I certainly don't respect.........

[stanwyck]

44. Sadly

me, too. I've really distanced myself from a few people. I'm polite. But no longer friendly. I keep it all business with some co-workers. And have quit sodializing with a few former friends. I have enough friends who I respect who deserve more time and consideration that I don't feel the loss of those whose political beliefs are so abhorrent to me -- and so dangerous for our country.
For example, anyone who can believe what the Swiftboar Liars say is lost to me. Those men have been paid by Texas oil money for years to spread lies. They smeared John McCain. Then they were paid to smear Kerry. So for a co-worker to tell me they're "believable" but the men who stood up on that stage with Kerry (and who served alongside him) are NOT believable...well, that's a deal breaker.

[frictionlessO]

43. I nearly lost the bulk of my family...

I'm still very torn up over it. I always thought they were independants at heart and they still think they are. Boy though they sure took to the programming Rove laid out for them.

My communications with them went from two or three times a month to once every 3 months now with nothing of substance (except for their well being) being said.

I now place nearly all my hope on the Downing Minutes as well as a select few Dems.

I was suicidal after the elections and there are periods still darkly moved through (I have gotten help)...in many regards I feel DU, Boxer, and Conyers may have very well saved my life. Some would and have called me shallow and selfish for being in that space... I dont know how to answer them.

[I Have A Dream]

45. I don't know how anyone could say that to you...

My heart really goes out to you. I know that nobody can really replace your family, but I'm really glad that you have this group.

I want to cry, and I'm angry for you. You obviously have a beautiful soul, and you deserve better. Please don't give up hope!

[frictionlessO]

47. Oh Im not giving up! Have no fear on that...

The darkest days are when I want to give up my vows of pacifism and start getting uhmmmm physical with some of the more vulgar death mongers..

That drains me more than anything.

My family still loves me as a person they are connected to by blood. My family would largely disown me if they knew even a modicum of my beliefs about this corrupt government that they reselected.

If you want to cry, cry for the Iraqis and our soldiers, or for our lost system of clear and verifiable elections. I cry over these things rather than my own family as they are both the root cause and larger and more important than my personal life.
Same thing for your anger.

As for my soul.. well thank you kindly, I am sure of yours as well.
Welcome to DU the liberal life saver!!:hug:

[AuntiBush]

48. Welcome to DU! We've all discussed it. Don't feel bad. You're not alone.

Nope!

Friends lost from Nov. 2004 Election because they did a U-turn change on me. Never did I bring anything up, politically or religiously. They did.

After my shock and heartbreak wore off, and they began to call again recently with their sudden fears and anger over the man they voted into office, I finally grew "spine."

4 so-called gal-friends lost to the "Great Divide!."

1. 12+ year friendship. She took the religious & social security road. Of course, she worked off and on 30+ years of her life under-the-table as a barmaid, never paying a dime into Social Security and taxes. Real patriotic, huh. Note: History of lousy childhood and abusive relationships. She's run out of churches in her area because she can't get along w/any of them either. Refusing to "judge" Bush, she sure did judge Kerry though she admits she didn't bother to get to know the man. She has a son in his early 20's. She supports the war but refuses to send him over there! Says she's trying to get him to hold a job. Yeah. How about good military discipline.

2. 4+ years. She's another one from an abusive childhood and worse she lives with a married-man. That's right. He lives in her house, and he rules. She's worked under the table for so long part-time not paying taxes. He got her into a KKK type mentality.

3. 3+ years. No loss. She left 40 plus years in the Catholic Church for a Fundi-Nutbag-Religious Evangelical "Bush-Push" site. What has she learned; That everything is "Elvis," the "Beatles," and "Clinton's" fault. Whatever... Note: She too is stuck in a lousy marriage.

4. Another gal-friend. Had hope for her. She means well, but after 25+ years of an abusive marriage (really bad), she works, he drinks the profits. She finds so-called love from another Fundi-Nutbag Evangelical Bush-Push church because "they put their hands on my head and tell me I'm healed - 3 times a week."

They call now and then. They try to mend faces. But 2 of the 4 above know they'd better not push me again. All of them know I stand by my convictions and will never steer them wrong. They also know I'm smarter then most and can be trusted.

So, why they call me w/their newfound fears and anger over * and co., only to end-up falling back into their debate mode is beyond me.

I no longer want to hear it. They can kiss my Democratic butt!

[Pockets]

49. I try to be respectful toward those who are lost....

Maybe because most of my family is Republican, I find it easy to get along with them and value the opportunity to shed light on issues. I usually state that I understand both sides of the political spectrum, but I happen to lean more toward Democrat. I find it doesn't help to become overzealous. These people truly are lost and confused and need someone patient to guide them out of the dark.

[ContraBass Black]

51. I nearly lost my best friend.

[merh]

52. I have a sister that won't speak to me.

We had a dispute before the election - I couldn't understand why she would vote for the weed given his administration shits on folks that most need the help. She is "legally deaf" and can't get SS disability. She blames the ones that are abusing the system. I blame those in charge of the system. :shrug: Whatcha gonna do?

She also supports the war and thinks anyone that is against the weed is against the military and "hates America". "Bomb 'em over there and not here." She has 2 sons draft age, I pray they won't be drafted. :(



Edited to WELCOME you to DU! :hi:

[Bok_Tukalo]

53. No.

Differences in political philosophy are just another spice. I would never end a relationship over such a thing.

Relationship enders are disloyalty, infidelity, deceit, ect ... Not who you vote for.

[tx_dem41]

56. Agreed.

I especially can't imagine losing a familial relationship over politics. Maybe its because I'm the only Democrat in my family, and I just have lots of practice at it.

[converted_democrat]

58. I didn't speak to my parents for 5 months..............

Then they called me and said that this really must be important if I felt so strongly about it. Now we're tighter than ever, and they are really coming around.

[Pushed To The Left]

59. Take it from me...

Interpolitical (is that a word?) relationships can be TOUGH sometimes! We didn't break up, but I would be lying if I said things didn't get pretty tense.

[lwin]

61. Well none that have ended...

But have had some seriously contentious moments, some backing away from a few friendships and family members, and an all out cold war, bumpersticker/sign duel with my Chimp loving neighbors on either side of me. We haven't spoken since before the election. I won't even look at them. It sounds petty, but my patience is down to just about zero for people who can't see what is so obvious about the fundies & neocons.