A conservative friend comes over to our side.

[trof]

Bud and I used to fly together at TWA. The last time we talked politics was during the Clinton administration. He wasn't a fan. I hadn't heard anything from him in a few years. Today, out of the blue, he sent me this e-mail. It's a copy of a letter he sent to Bush.
Brave guy.

TO: George W. Bush
President of United States

COPIES: William H. Frist
Senator
Lamar Alexander
Senator
Bart Gordon
U.S. Representative

SUBJECT: The Noble Endeavor in Iraq

Sirs:

I was in the military for five (5) years from 1960 to 1965. I was a pilot in Vietnam in 1964. What was your contribution to the country and the pursuit of freedom during this period?

In past history, the Kings, the Noblemen, the Knights, the Princes and others in high position would lead the troops (pawns) into battle. How many Senators or Representatives have sons, daughters or grandchildren in Iraq?

Mr. Bush, when you are explaining the “Noble Cause Concept” in Iraq to Cindy Sheehan and the parents of the Marines in Ohio, tell them why this endeavor for freedom is not worthy enough for Jenna and Barbara to die for their country. They would make good privates in the Army!!

A visit to Iraq by you, Wolfowitz, Cheney or Rumsfeld with a phalanx of security is not inspiring to the “Grunt” being exposed to real danger.

Where have all the “Real Leaders’ gone?

Sincerely,
XXXX XXXXX

[JohnnyBoots]

1. Well said. A lot of Repubs I know are starting to wake up too.

[AlleyCat123]

2. Awesome letter!

:thumbsup: :)

[wryter2000]

3. Welcome to DU, AlleyCat

:hi:

And that is an awesome letter.

[NorCalDem]

6. Welcome to DU!

[despairing optimist]

4. The Cindy Sheehan Effect. It's the Bush gang's worst nightmare

She's no stereotypical left-winger. She played by all the rules set up for Middle America and raised kids who were altar boys and Eagle scouts. And she's showing up the hypocritical flag wavers and plastic yellow-ribbon decalers for what they are.

She's also the DLC's worst nightmare because when she's through with the neocons, she'll get to anyone else who's phony.

[trof]

5. Frankly, I was surprised he knew who she was.

[despairing optimist]

7. She's striking chords everywhere. Your friend hears music. The phonies

hear car alarms.

I bet there are more than a few vets out there who wish they had a mother like Cindy to hold presidents' feet to the fire. If we had a nation of Cindys, we'd have a nation at peace--and if not a world at peace, at least the US would be walking the democratic walk and leading by example.

[trof]

9. Sir, I believe you have NAILED IT.

Dead. On.
Very good analysis.

[despairing optimist]

10. My family has vets from WWII, Korea, Vietnam, and Iraq too

So I'm aware of how they think and what they feel. For them Cindy is the one who has nailed it. She hits them where they live.

[Clark2008]

8. Yeah! One more blue voter in my red state!

:hug:

[DemoTex]

11. As our fellow airline pilots lose jobs, pensions, and dreams ..

Many are punching out from the burning fiasco that is the Bu$h legacy. I'm sorry it took them so long, but I'm glad they are out. Now I must worry about whether or not their chute will open (let's call the PBGC the "chute") or what awaits them, and us, when we all awake from this total nightmare.

[Eloriel]

12. Oh, NOMINATED fer shure! Beautiful.

Here are a few other "Conversion stories" that I've collected --

Republicans Jumping Ship
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=104&topic_id=4358932&mesg_id=4358932

We have to reach across the aisle...
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=132&topic_id=2006940&mesg_id=2006940

At least one Repub moderate getting scared.
(sees parallels to Nazi Germany)
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x2002674

I heard a gaggle of Republican women dissing Bush this morning...
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=104&topic_id=4110293&mesg_id=4110293

Independents Are Having Buyer's Remorse
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=102&topic_id=1627590&mesg_id=1627590
Link: http://www.businessweek.com/magazine/content/05_29/c3943060_mz013.htm

Heard some astonishing info today from a friend.
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x1920600

"As of today, after 25 years, I am no longer a Republican."
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x1890603
also: http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x1907487
Link: http://www.registerguard.com/news/2005/06/26/ed.col.chaney.0626.html

I'm seeing a lot of changed minds about Iraq and Chimpy McCokespoon.
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=104x3939527

Pa. GOP honcho blasts right wing, switches parties
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x1825375
Link: http://www.phillyburbs.com/pb-dyn/news/111-06022005-497208.html

Republican says his party has been taken over by "a bunch of kooks"
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x1811231

Are we witnessing the collapse of the Republican Party?
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=104x3732175

The Good Republicans (Plaid Adder)
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=104x3729680#3733287

Post in this thread:
Voinovich is in tears on Senate floor!
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=132&topic_id=1809081&mesg_id=1809207

A Voter Switches Party Affiliation
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=132&topic_id=1803102&mesg_id=1803102

Something in the air? Lots of converted Repubs....
(links to the following three threads)
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=104x3654563

New to DU by reformedrepub (14 posts at the time)
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x1780575

OMG - my parents LEAVE the Republican Party!
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=104x3652906

Hi, my name is Stacy, and I'm a recovering Republican...................
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=104&topic_id=3651186&mesg_id=3651186&page=

[existentialist]

13. Children of members of Congress in military combat areas

I could use an update myself, but I do remember it being established that at the time of the invasion of Afghanistan somebody established that the ONLY member of Congress that had a child (a son) in combat in Afghanistan was (Democratic) South Dakota Senator Tim Johnson.


Anybody have an update on this?

[Elidor]

14. Your friend has my congresscritter

Bart Gordon. GAH!!!! :puke: I can't even hear his name without blowing up.

My wingnut, Limbaugh-loving boss is getting his horizons expanded lately: I've been leaving JimHightower's Lowdown newsletter in the bathroom for him to read. And he actually reads it!

[progressoid]

15. But why is it taking Amurikans so long to figure this out?

Are they just getting informed?
Did they know their leaders were chickehawks but ignored it because of "fighting terrists"?
Are they so feeble, that they believed the RW talking points?
Mass ignorance?

[melissinha]

16. My guess

They haven't been affected personally... but have you heard all the complaints about gasoline prices? I think that people are putting two and two together and seeing that if the oilman can't do anything about lowering the cost of oil, maybe he never intended to in the first place.


What I plan on telling the right when I see them.... stem cells don't feed your family, preventing gay couples from marrying doesn't pay for your gas.... and most definitely idealogues who played every card to get out of Vietnam don't give a damn about our troops or the thousands of dead Iraqis.