My conversation with a Republican this morning:

[AndyA]

I asked them what they thought about the 9/11 activities yesterday, as well as their President's speech last night.

R: "Honestly, I'm a bit upset that more hasn't been done to help the first responders who are sick. They are heroes, and we should be taking care of them as a country instead of letting them suffer the way they are."

ME: "I'm not sure we can afford to help them, the cash flow seems to be a bit tight right now."

R: "That's the truth, we are wasting so much money. It's infuriating. Bush is totally out of touch with what Americans want. It's almost as if he's on a different page than the rest of the country."

ME: "You weren't impressed by his speech last night?"

R: "Are you kidding? I haven't been impressed with one of his speeches in years. Last night should have been about 9/11, and it was all about the war in Iraq. I'm tired of hearing about the war in Iraq, we had no business going over there in the first place. I voted for him because I thought he was a man of high values, but he's just like every other politician out there. No values, no morals, follow the money trail and you'll find them standing there at the end of it with their hands out."

ME: "I take it you don't approve of the job he's doing as President?"

R: "No way, he is way out in right field from where my values are. You must be beyond angry at this point."

ME: "I don't know if there are words to adequately express how I feel. But you're right, I'm way past angry. I feel our country has gone so far away from the values set by our founding fathers, I'm not sure how we'll ever get them back."

R: "Oh, they'll be back. But we have to change our government first. We cannot continue on as we have. We have to make changes, and we have to make them soon."

ME: "You're talking about some pretty major changes to turn this ship around."

R: "I think they're coming. The Republicans have had more than enough time to make a big impact on the nation, and what they've done is squandered their time and our money. The lobbyists have got to go. And we need to stop the outsourcing and bring back fiscal responsibility. We have to stop attempting to police the rest of the world. Other countries are going to have to step up and be our partner in this."

ME: "You sound like you're pretty unhappy with the current government."

R: "Yes, I am. I voted for them and they've had the chance to do some good, which they have totally blown at this point. It's actually embarrassing. I'm ashamed to admit that I voted for them and supported them at one time. I guess given enough rope, everyone shows their true colors."

ME: "I hope it's not too late."

R: "It's not. I'm voting for change this time, we need a change. And most of the people I know are voting for change as well. We need some fresh air, some new inspiration, and a new way of looking at things. We won't get that if we keep putting the same people back in office."

ME: "Don't tell me you're planning on voting for Democrats this time! Is hell freezing over and I don't know about it?"

R: "It may very well be, because I am planning to vote for Democrats this time. I've voted for them before, I try to vote for the person more than the party but this time we need some balance brought back to Congress, and voting for Democrats is the only way to accomplish that at this time."

ME: "On behalf of Americans everywhere, thank you for voting for change. We do very much need it at this point."

Paraphrased to some degree, but you get the gist of it. The GOP is losing their support, that's how bad it is.

All over America, from sea to shining sea, the lights seem to be coming on. It's about time!

VOTE DEMOCRATIC IN 2006 AND 2008 AND GET AMERICA BACK!

[Warpy]

1. Here in central NM, I'm hearing the rage at all incumbents

every last one of them, no matter what the party is. They're all seen as money grubbers who don't give a crap for any of the people in this state, people who forget about who elected them as soon as the plane takes off for DC.

I've heard it from mechanics, shelf stockers, counter workers, and neighbors. Shoot, I've even heard it from my pop's stock broker in Florida. These are all people who didn't think about politics at all 5 years ago.

If they allow anything approaching an honest election, there will be big changes.

[mnhtnbb]

17. Self-delete. Wrong reply

[liberaldemocrat7]

24. You sure it wasn't a conversion or a conversation? hehe

I find this surprising. Sometimes the Republican will complain about how the chimpenfuhrer but still vote for the party that throws the less fortunate under the bus.

Oh and if you consider yourself socially liberal and fiscally conservative you do not appear a liberal. They have a name for that: LIBERTARIAN. I realize people don't like that label but it applies to you.

In my view a liberal will take liberal social positions and actrually take liberal positions on social spending.

[Seedersandleechers]

2. I should talk to republicans more too.

Currently I just act like they do not even exist.

[denidem]

3. Amen, Brother!

Kick!

[havocmom]

4. DEMS in my county so few we can meet in rusting hull of old VW

Rest of population- life long Republicans. Discussing what we have been hearing from folks and only one person reported hearing ANYTHING remotely postive about bush, and that was from only one member of our rural population.

When the junta is outed for their antics where I live, they are in trouble. Look for LOTS of voter disenfranchisement this fall. Cheney can't risk DEMS taking the hill. He will not be dethroned willingly.

[Marymarg]

5. Beautiful

You deserve an A+. You said EXACTLY the right things, not judging him, berating him which would have put him on the defensive. That is the way to do it. Give them permission to change and congratulate them on behalf of all Americans.

A great post. It made my day.

[gratuitous]

7. I second that emotion

First rate job of leading that pachyderm to water and encouraging him to drink without undue pressure or force, just a simple Socratic method of questioning and letting him figure out his own answers. The current system isn't working, it has to change. The people in power now are not going to make the change. We need new people in power to make a change. That would be . . . yep, the Democrats.

Well done.

[bumblebee1]

6. I know time is running out, Andy.

One Republican at a time. That's all it takes. They're getting the "What the hell was I thinking" mentality.

[vickitulsa]

10. "What the hell was I thinking?"

That's how I am reading them, too.

This is what I've been hoping for and working toward for a long time, as I know everyone here at DU has, along with many other people out there. And it's so encouraging to read reports of progress like this one!

I thought the OP did a great job of eliciting responses from the unhappy "R" without applying pressure or serving up criticism. The more welcoming and forgiving we are to those who are finally getting up the courage to express their regrets, the more quickly they'll come around -- if they're going to come around at all.

I overheard a stranger in a store a few days ago saying something about "we should have realized when he chose Cheney as his VP running mate that he wasn't going to be an improvement over his dad -- and we rejected his father for a second term."

Don't know for sure that the speaker was a Republican, but it sure sounded like it to me from just his tone and the words I caught.

I wanted to jump into the conversation to offer my encouragement on that line of thinking but it didn't seem like a good idea to do so at that time in that place. Besides, the two conversants were doing just fine on their own!

I'm lovin' this sea change in the attitudes I'm encountering everywhere I turn these days, yessirree I surely am! <quiet on the outside but jumping up and down on the inside>

Welcome back to a reality I can recognize again.

[nebenaube]

8. oh please let this be the trend, I want my parents back

right after they pull their head out of their asses!

[filer]

9. Your conversation has given me hope.

If there is one rational Republican out there, perhaps there is another. I might even consider talking to one again.

[flamin lib]

11. I'm in Texas, one of the really RED states. I have a window

sticker on my car that says, "Had Enough? Vote Democrat in 06."

Parked at the grocery store and was stopped by a woman who pointed to my sticker and said,"Yeah, I've had enough!"

Yesterday I was at a discount electronics store and a fellow ran across the parking lot shouting, "Sir! Sir!" I stopped and he asked where I got the sticker and we spent a few minutes bonding. He chased me across the parking lot!!

[AndyA]

12. I'm in Oklahoma, just as red if not moreso than Texas.

I have had the same thing happen here. My "Compared to Bush, Nixon wasn't so bad" sticker has generated lots of thumbs up, waves, and smiles. It also generated horn honking, screeching tires, and an angry gesture from an asshole in a black Lexus with a "W '04" sticker on his back window.

So, the message is getting out there.

Sometimes it truly does feel like the Wild, Wild, (GOP) West out here though!

Thanks for sharing, I know that had to make you feel good when people chase you down to bond.

[ChiciB1]

23. I Know Where BOTH Of You Are Coming From... OK & TX...

I'm so lucky I have Cruella as a Congressional Representative! I have noticed more Democrats coming to some meetings, but for the most part Democrats have thrown up their hands until lately.

It's taken me a very long time and many many meetings to find some "real" movement here in my district. Still it's pretty lonely if you want to be REALLY active! However, some say that Christine Jennings might just beat Vern Buchanan! If that happens, I'll probably faint!!

But I will tell you a secret I've learned from living here so long. Many business owners actually register as Repukes because they feel that by saying they are Democrats it would be bad for business. Pretty sick, huh? My next door neighbor is one of them, he can't stand The Idiot and has never been a Repuke, but that's how he's registered.

But I can't remember when there was an elected official who is a Democrat. Oh, there was one but I've forgotten who it is.

I'm just waiting to see what stunt The Witch is going to pull against Bill Nelson. It's hard for me to figure out how she can overcome the polls, but then I personally don't think she really ever won at all! Bill Nelson is really DINO and not my cup of tea, but I have NO CHOICE!!

[electropop]

13. Satan's throwing snowballs.

And Bush just got one in the face.

[ItNerd4life]

14. Another perspective

On this subject. My parents are Republicans. My dad was in the Korean war. At the outset of the War in Iraq, he questioned why we were going in there. Having war experience and certain beliefs, I understood why he questioned it.

The only reason he continues to vote for Republicans is mainly because he is a fiscal conservative. He believes the government is horrible at handling money and wants it to keep a balanced budget.

The problem he has is the Democrats in his state have no fiscal responsibility. If he found someone who was fiscally responsible and honest, even if it was a Democrat, he says he would vote for them. He's tired of his taxes going up.

[babylonsister]

15. Dad's a fiscal conservative and would still vote for a repug? I

don't understand what kind of confidence he still has in his party after witnessing the past 5 years, the massive amounts spent, the deficit, NO balanced budget, etc. And the Democrats have no fiscal responsibility because the repugs control the reins at the moment.

[SammyWinstonJack]

16. I wouldn't call this current crop of repubs, "fiscally responsible".

Just the opposite, in fact.

[mnhtnbb]

18. Wow. A Repub in OK voting Dem? Hope you don't have Diebold.

[AndyA]

20. No Diebold where I am. Optiscan, so there is a paper trail.

But we all know that is no guarantee of an honest vote. Optiscan results can be manipulated, and a manual count is the only way to verify. You know how that goes.

Edit to add: I know of several Republicans who have stated they are voting for Democrats because they want change. I can only hope it's a new trend...

[warrens]

19. He sounds like me

30 years ago.

[roguevalley]

21. up here, politics is like a contact sport but its been SILENT for the

past few years. NO ONE talks. ALso, our repig legislature is being investigated by the FBI and the Justice dept. for fraud. OH HAPPY DAAAAAY!

[blue cat]

22. thanks for giving me a smile n/t