Lifelong Republican abandons the party.

[Redneck Socialist]

My dad is a retired factory worker, world war II vet and up until the other day a lifelong Republican. His disgust with chimpy has grown so intense he abandoned the party and registered as an independent. (I haven't gotten him into the "D" column just yet.)

"I never thought I would change my affiliation," he said. He also told me that "many" (his word) other people in his town are doing the same.

It is anecdotes like this that give me hope. If, under the leadership of bush the republican party is losing people like my father, people who were rock solid republican voters, then we have a very real chance to win this thing.

My question to you all is: What anecdotes do you have? What republicans do you know that are turning against bush? I would like to hear your stories.

On edit: He was so disgusted with Koppell (sp?) during the last debate he called up WMUR channel 9 the local ABC affiliate that hosted the debate to complain. (also edited spelling.)

[Eric J in MN]

1. Why is he disgusted with Bush? (nt)

nt

[Redneck Socialist]

3. Largely the war.

He did not see that Iraq posed any threat to us. As a vet he is very aware of the shabby treatment the bush misadmistration has given to veterans.

[ErasureAcer]

9. send him here

www.kucinich.us

[Redneck Socialist]

20. DK would be a bit of a streatch for him, but...

...he did like how Kucinich handled Koppel in the last debate.

[frank frankly]

2. I know several who voted for Bush that would NEVER vote for him

there is a growing concern among average Americans--at least in my experience. i know a few "centrists" who did not oppose the war, but now say quite seriously that their worst fears have all come true.

everybody knows the words Halliburton now.
i've yet to meet somebody with a hard-on for this war.
and at least here in pittsburgh the economy is shedding jobs.

[Cloud]

22. That is true

I was one of those centrists 6 months ago. I agreed with the democrats most of the time and the republicans the rest. I was a registered Democrat but felt that I didn't really fit in with either party. I originally supported the war but changed about June. After thinking about it it was not necessary. That and the layoffs, corporate scandals, and the way Bush treats veterans has pushed me pretty far left.

If I had registered at DU 6 months ago I probably would have been banned as a conservative disruptor.

There is hope! 11 months is a lot of time for the average voter to learn the truth. I did and I will be proud to vote for the Dem nominee next year.

[Ellen Forradalom]

36. Welcome to the fold, Cloud

Stay and make our party proud.

[MoonRiver]

43. Welcome Cloud! Wonderful to have you here!

Stories like yours are why I think the attacks on Clark about voting for Reagan and Nixon are so bogus. He voted for Clinton and Gore but apparently that's not good enough for some. They feel a need to dredge up meaningless skeletons.

BTW, I don't know who you're leaning toward, but good luck to whichever candidate you choose!

[Must_B_Free]

4. My Republican friend was talking about

"where's this recovery they keep talking about" her market is dead.

[LuminousX]

5. My coworker and friend

She voted for Bush mainly because her Mom told her to. Both now openly roll their eyes in disgust regarding Bush and when we made a mutual friend and he said he supported Bush, she openly laughed because she thought he was kidding.

These really aren't 'political' people and I doubt they can even name Democratic nominees (well, she can name Dean because of me). When it is time to go to the polls, they'll vote for whoever is running against Bush.

Bush is not electable. If the Republicans wanted to save their party, they would stage a coup and run someone else.

[Kosmos Mariner]

6. Who do you think is in the best position to pick up....

the disgruntled Repub and Indy vote? I think we as a party have a golden opportunity to not only get the whitehouse back, but also make significant gains in Congress. The person for the job in my opinion is Wes Clark. I am seeing the anecdotal evidence down here in Florida as well. Golden opportunity!!



:dem:

[Redneck Socialist]

7. Well, my dad likes Clark.

He is not my first choice, but I see the appeal.

[Coldgothicwoman]

10. Despite the fact that I am for DK

When I am talking to a Conservative (notice I didn't say Republican, most of them are just too far gone) and they all say something about Edwards or Kerry. (I don't know why Edwards, but it is the trend I've seen. :shrug: ) But it seems even the more informed among them don't know of General Clark, so I try to invite them to look at him as well. As far as I'm concerned, to even have a Conservative considering our candidates, even the more centrist ones like Clark, is a minor victory in and of itself!

:toast:

[lastliberalintexas]

30. ANY of them

Speak well of ALL of our candidates to the fence sitters and disgusted repubs you know. Any of them could turn out to be the nominee, and we need to have them focused more on the policies of Dems than specific personalities.

None of our Dem candidates will spend us into a projected $5 trillion debt like Shrub has. None of our Dems will treat veterans shabbily like Shrub has. None of our Dems will send our men and women to fight wars for Halliburton/Carlyle. None of our Dems... You get the idea.

I'm not saying that you shouldn't say you like one better than the others. Just speak well of all of them point out why you have your favorite(s), and speak well of the party in general. It' snot just the president we are electing next year. :-)

[roguevalley]

8. Hug your dad for me. That hurt to do. Bless him and the 'many others'.

[eileen_d]

11. My dad hasn't gone out and registered as a Democrat, but

he and his Republican "coffee buddies" are all real sour on Bush. Some of those buddies were as pro-war as Fox News a few months ago. I posted a longer story about this in GD a few weeks ago but can't find it with the search... anyway, this is in conservative eastern Montana so I see that as a very good sign.

Edit: forgot to mention, my dad admires Dean, who he sees as similar to John McCain in style. My mom, a lifelong Dem like me, likes Clark. The thing about my dad (and possibly his buddies) is, he's so discouraged that he might not vote at all, rather than actually switch parties.

[Redneck Socialist]

12. If republican voters want to sit this one out that is ok by me. n/t

[eridani]

13. Another Republican for Kucinich

http://www.pulsetc.com/article.php?sid=785

In case you haven’t noticed it on the provisions in the new Medicare Prescription Drug Benefit law is a provision that will allow the Bush Administration to decree that all drugs from Canada are “unsafe” and therefore all drugs imported from Canada to Americans will be prohibited.

So if you are one of the many people that rely on saving hundreds of dollars a month on the exact same drugs that Americans pay double and triple for here in the U.S., you can say bye bye to prescription drugs from Canada. I just cancelled my AARP membership for it’s outrageous betrayal of the very (over 50 years old) group that it pretends to represent. The bill has already passed Congress so the only thing that can stop this bill is the Senate. If you haven’t called your Senator you better do it quick and demand that he vote against this selling out of the Medicare system to the pharmaceutical and health insurance industry by President Bush. If you belong to AARP you should seriously consider canceling your membership. AAA Auto Club offers just as many, if not more, benefits to seniors and even more discounts on various products and services; and they don’t have anti-senior, pro-big corporation agenda like AARP.

James Boyne is a satirical, political freelance writer and has five other articles published on www.opednews.com. He has previously been a diehard, staunch, conservative Republican who has voted for Goldwater, Nixon, Ford, Reagan, Bush I and Bush II, and now has made a 180 degree turnabout and supports the candidacy of Congressman Dennis Kucinich (D-Ohio), who appears to have the most integrity, honesty, common sense, straightforwardness, enthusiasm, optimism, and “fire in the belly” to be possibly the best President in recent memory. He is a progressive, populist, liberal, Democrat and is a man of principal, intelligence and experience. Mr. Kucinich comes from a humble background and clearly spells out his positions on issues on his web site www.kucinich.us so there is no question where he stands on issues.

[leesa]

45. It's actually kind of funny that they would declare Canadian products

unsafe since Canada probably purchases most of them from here. I guess there are plenty of European pharmaceutical companies for them to purchase from.

[Hamlette]

14. heard a story tonight

friend's father, life long republican hates Bush. Because of the war. Doesn't like the bait and switch from WMD to bringing them Democracy.

At lunch last week with 3 support staff at the office, I would have guessed all three were conservative to apolitical, so I brought up the war...two of them went off (!) on how awful it was. ("We have no business in Iraq, there were no weapons there, it was all for oil" I was quite surprised.) Finally the third said "we should support our troops" and all three of us said "why do you think we HATE this war? We want to bring them home!"

Not sure we made any headway with the third. She is a Fox news watcher. (I'm gonna take her that study about how misinformed they are.)

[Redneck Socialist]

15. It seems that the war will not play as well for bushco as...

...he seems to be hoping. At least from this admittedly unrepresentative sampling.

[K8-EEE]

16. YES THREE TIMES!

All THREE GOP-ers I know are not voting for GWB this time.

One, he said he will vote Dem JUST THIS ONCE to defeat GWB before he wrecks the rep of the GOP party forever...TOO LATE DUDE!

Another, said he is completely disillusioned with pols now, is let down by GWB but just not voting for everyone cuz they are all a bunch of etc etc...

The third and last BushVoter that I know, a couple actually, they are voting for a 3rd party conservative, whatever Libertarian or whatever. They now also hate GWB!

Man I think this is really a trend folks! I live in a Liberal area of Los Angeles so those are the only 3 in my entire rolodex that voted for Chimpers in the first place.

[niceypoo]

17. My brother in law has simular feelings

He is a lifelong republican and was president of "Young republicans" during his high school years in the county he grew up in. He says Bush has "made it embarassing to be a republican".

[Redneck Socialist]

18. "embarassing to be a republican."

Ha! That's great!

[5thGenDemocrat]

19. I mentioned this the other night while I was really, really drunk

Andy the Right Wing Republican was over. He brought a case of beer along, which is why I was really, really drunk. Andy is personally very generous.
Anyhow, we resumed our ongoing political shouting match, now in its eleventh year, and he was all shitty and giggly about the prospect of a Howard Dean nomination.
In turn, I told the dumb SOB that I wasn't backing Dean at this point -- that I supported Wesley Clark and offered him a Clark 04 bumper sticker. I expected him to reject it, of course, but he took it, saying "I'd have thought you'd already stuck one on my car."
Well. He took it home at the end of the evening. He hasn't stuck it on his car yet, but he does have it lying right on top of his expensive, modern Now-a-Go-Go Republican giganto-screen TV (which is permanently tuned to FOX) -- where whatever God it is Repubicans believe in and all his friends can see it.
I know he doesn't like Dopey -- mostly because of the budget deficit. He doesn't like liberals either, except for me and the DUers who come to FUNDAY each year.
But, you know, he has a real hard time criticizing a former four-star general and Supreme Allied Commander, Europe. I'm not saying he likes Clark, exactly -- just that I think he likes him more than he does the Pinhead-in-Chief.
The fact he took it into his house tells me the tide is turning. Oh, yes, it is.
John
Who still has five of the stickers left -- four after I stick one on his car.

[frustrated_lefty]

21. A young kid I work with

identifies herself as "mostly republican," but stands for dem ideals. She may vote republican in this election, and I won't try to convince her otherwise. It's her choice.

She has been asking about this mess is Iraq and how we got there, though. She knows this is bad, and she's started asking what dem candidates are about.

That's my anecdote

[IronLionZion]

23. Republicans weren't always this evil

they stood up against slavery and for family values and freedom. The right-wingers and neo-cons seemed to have hijacked the party and made it a force to be feared and hated.

They want to protect freedom so much that they take away our civil liberties. They care about the troops so much that they take away their benefits and their lives. They care about the economy so much that they outsource our jobs. Why don't the real conservatives realize these things?

Bush: conservative 10
compassionate 0
lying bastard 90

[Redneck Socialist]

24. Kick for the daylight crew.

Please keep the stories coming. We need all the good news we can get.

[HFishbine]

25. Question and Answer

Question: Where does your dad live?

Answer: Yes, I've had the same experience with a couple of republican friends who are certain there is no way they will vote for Bush again.

[Redneck Socialist]

33. NH n/t

[qanda]

26. You'll find plenty on this FReeper thread

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1038941/posts

Discussing the Bush* plan to give illegals amnesty.

[Blue_Roses]

27. I'm sure there are more

who were die-hard Bush supporters who will vote Dem, but they would probably never say it. Many Bush supporters who were so vocal in 2000 have been proven what a complete incompetent President he was TOLD that he would be and they just don't want to hear, "we told you so." I know that to be true with a relative who won't discuss Bush now.

Haha...

[Ficus]

28. my stepfather

is a life long Republican and ditto head who recently changed his party affiliation to Dem. Career millitary, retired from the Pentagon as a Lt. Colonel. Vietnam vetran.

Surprisingly, he dosn't like Clark at all. He likes Edwards, or at least from conversations that I've had with him make it appear so.

[maxanne]

29. good for Dad!

My father had disavowed the Republicans by the time he died.

My hat's off to your father, Redneck Socialist - this must have been a difficult process for him. :thumbsup:

There are a number of Republicans up here working for the Dean campaign. One of my state legislators spoke with me about his disgust with Bush.

NH has a special added bonus - Benson. Even the Republicans hate Benson. He's a walking, talking negative campaign ad for the Republican Party. He adds some gasoline to the Bush fire.

Kudos to Dad for calling WMUR. If only we had more than just one right wing television channel in our state.

[Redneck Socialist]

35. Hey Maxanne...

dig yourself out of all that snow yet?

Yeah Benson's a friggin' tool. Have you heard any names floated as to to possible opponents? I haven't yet, but I would not be surprised if he faces a primary challenge. The old time Republican guard absolutely hates the guy from what I understand.

[AntiCoup2K4]

31. This is encouraging news, but.....

...let's hope these folks get to the polls and vote. Hopefully for our nominee, but if not, then they go with a third party. Granted, any of the above is less votes for Junior, but we need verifiable numbers of votes against this shithead and his PNAC asswipes so we can get in the faces of FAUX, Clear Channel, Limbaugh, etc. and say...

THE PEOPLE HAVE REJECTED YOUR SO CALLED MESSAGE. FUCK OFF AND DIE!!

[bobbieinok]

32. remember 2002????? there were a lot of similar anecdotes

MEDIA will lie and attack dem nominee 24/7.

And then the votes will be stolen.

What about all those sure dem states in 2002??? and reports of not enough ballots in dem precincts and voting screens showing a dem vote as a rep vote etc etc etc ...............

[frustrated_lefty]

34. A young lady I work with

commented this week. She's young, uninformed, couldn't name more than two dem candidates. She did say she's not happy with this presidency, she doesn't like what's happening in Iraq.

[LTR]

37. I enjoy seeing posts like this

Why?

Because the modern-day GOP is biting the hands that feed it, and people are wising up to this fact.

We see this happening with the old-time conservatives, or the classic "fiscal conservatives" (Goldwater Republicans). The ones that advocate a responsible, streamlined government. If that's the definition of "conservative", then the Neocon movement is the antithesis of that way of thinking. They are not 'conservative', rather 'reactionary'.

I'd say, in the last ten years or so, the Democratic party has done a better job of serving this group. People are finally starting to realize this.

The only way we're going to win in 2004 is by bringing people over to our side, at the expense of the opposition (GOP).


I say, 'Welcome to the party!'

[grasswire]

38. surely......

.....in the back rooms of Republicanism some are talking about a challenger to Bush in the primaries.

Surely many see the risk of * destroying the Republican party.

I like to see this happening. I want the party destroyed in a landslide. I want to see REPUBLICANS kicking George's flabby ass up Pennsylvania Avenue to Union STation for that one-way train ride out of town.

[otohara]

39. Today My Republican Doctor Said NO Bush

he will vote for Dean, but no other democrat

[proud patriot]

40. Here's a letter I wrote Pretending to be a conservative to a RW

guy at grassfire.org after he wrote me telling me
I was more libertarian than conservative .
I think your dad may get a kick out of it .
My republican grandparents are not voting for bush in 04
not sure who they will vote for but it won't be bush .
anyway here is the letter I wrote
-------------------------------------------------
A little history of my feelings of Conservative idealogy .

My Grandfather fought in WWII and the Korean War
and has been a Republican his whole life . I was brought up
to believe that Conservatives believed in Smaller Government
States Rights , Privacy Rights . Conservatives also believe in
Accountabilty , letting people keep their money through lower
taxes , and Balancing Budgets.

Never has it been a Conservative Value to invade countries
that pose no iminent threat to the Lives of Americans .
Saddam was/is an Evil Evil man of that there has never been
any doubt . I'm more concerned about Cargo ships and other
Security Risks to us Americans then I ever was about Saddam .
It is my firm belief that the money and resources spent Securing
Iraqi citizens has taken our collective eyes off the REAL threats
we face today as a nation .

I'm sure the Iraqi citizens are thankful we are spending so
much money on their Country . Meanwhile more National
Guard and Reservists are on foriegn soil than ever in our
history . They were deployed without all the proper equipment
like Armored Humvees and 40,000 troops lack bullet proof vests
in a battle zone . These are not Conservative values .

I'll stay Conservative as I'm proud to be such , but I'm
not sure President Bush is a Conservative , and I'm
not sure The once Honorable Republican Party
represents Conservative Intrests anymore either .

Perhaps if the Libertarian party represents these
intrests they may suit me and my Family more .

Thanks for the Suggestion

My Sincerest Regards ,
Patriot w/o a party

[UrbScotty]

41. We're changing America!

Stories like this are not uncommon!

[loudsue]

42. Then why will ALL REPUBLICANS, ALL THE TIME get elected?

:shrug:

Can you say "Diebold President O'Dell promised to deliver Ohio votes to George Bush"?

If we don't stop these strange repuke land-slides all over the country, it doesn't matter how many republicans switch their vote...

IT WON'T COUNT!!

:kick::kick::kick:

[MoonRiver]

44. Yes, that's the 1000 pound gorilla sitting on top of our Constitution,

that few want to think about. Sometimes I despairingly feel that this election frenzy we DUers are in over Clark, or Dean, or whomever is an exercise in futility. I just keep looking for hope in Bev Harris' Black Box Voting updates, and hoping and working for the best outcome.