I never though I'd post one of these..but...the GOP worm is turning here.

[Beausoir]

Sometimes, I read accounts of these freeper encounters and I wonder if they are embellished a little. I swear the following to be 100% true.

My husband works with a bunch of GOP hard-ons. They are all surgeons. My husband is the only liberal in the group.

During the run up to the false war, these guys would actually follow my husband into the parking lot at work and say things like "Wouldn't it be nice to just run into Iraq and grab Saddam and get out!". These are the Navy Seals Rock! type guys yet none has ever served.

They are all massive breeders, cranking out kids by the half dozen. They are vehemently anti-choice, yet not a single one of them has adopted a child. These guys make lots of money...mostly they work 80 hours a week, more if they are on call and they rarely see their wives, which is fine with the wives because all they want to do is go shopping anyway. They have sex with their neighbors' wives and yet no one ever divorces because it is too comfortable a lifestyle to let little things like love, trust and fidelity interfere. Most of their kids are raised by sitters and nannies.
Social events for the group are a nightmare for me. When we go to the Christmas party, not one of the docs or wives will even glance at me because I am a known Liberal. It hurts my feelings and puts my husband in a bad spot. The staff of the group are absolutely wonderful people and I prefer to hang out with them anyway, but it still hurts to walk into a room full of nasty people who can't even deign to bid me a "Hello!" because of my politics.

Anyway, my husband was sitting at his desk the other day when out of the clear blue, head GOP cheerleader walked into the office. No "Hello!", no small talk, nothing. The guy just walks up and blurts out.."I am a Conservative Republican but we are in REAL TROUBLE now. We need to stop spending and we MUST raise taxes!"
My husband turned around and just looked at him. Crickets chirping. The guy kinda shrugged and walked out.

The point to this rambling is that if THESE guys...these contemptuous, slap on the back, welcome to the good-life here at the all white country club guys are turning on Bush...then all is truly lost for the GOP. This IS the Bush base. These guys who make alot, but nowhere NEAR enough to be included in Bush's circle of wealthy friends, are finally waking up. They are finally realizing that they have been duped. That they have been lied to. These people are fundamentally very slow on the uptake.

They have been made fools of. (Well, they make fools of themselves, but Bush has extended a big helping hand.)

The problem is...how do we translate their humiliation into votes for progress? These idiots are ripe for the picking, but how do we reach out to them?

[proud2BlibKansan]

1. That's great news!

The other group we need to reach are the 20 and 30 something white males. They are firmly pro-war, anti-immigration and pro-tax cuts. The ones I know are all about 'what's in it for me?' They seem to have no sense of social justice, or responsibility to society as a whole. So I try to focus on that out of control GOP spending and that tax cut they so desperately want to keep.

If we can reign that group in, we are on our way home!

[Autonomy]

23. 30-something white male reporting for duty!

But I've been a Democrat for a long time and may be an outlier in the spectrum. There are lots of others like me, but I agree that for some odd reason my demographic is firmly rooted in paranoid self-centeredness. I think my cohorts believe that liberals are trying to con them out of their birthright of power and privilege.

[proud2BlibKansan]

24. I know there are a few good ones in your demographic

My own son is 27 and he is a lifelong liberal. But he does have quite a few misguided friends.

[SmokingJacket]

35. My friends and I are all in that demographic -- not a repub in the bunch.

The only conservatives I know are baby-boomers and just a bit older -- and a handful of twenty-somethings, too. I'm in the arts and education, so I guess I would know more liberals, anyway.

Those of us in our late thirties came of age at the tail of of Reagan and Bush 1 -- our careers all faltered until the Clinton years, and then things got great for us.

Now they stink again.

[proud2BlibKansan]

37. I am in education too

For almost 3 decades now. And this past election was the first time I had ever known a teacher to vote repuke. This little 20 something came to school in August 2004 with a bush sticker on her car. I about freaked. I asked her 'Have you LOST YOUR MIND?' She said 'oh, you saw my sticker?' She then went on to explain that ALL of her friends and her boyfriend were very pro bush. I explained to her that in all the years I have been in this business, the repukes have never done ONE thing to aid education or kids in general. I reminded her of NCLB. I told her teachers are liberals and liberals vote Dem. I actually feel kind of bad about that conversation now. I was pretty rough with her.

She is starting to come around. She at least gave up on defending dubya to me and she told me she admires my involvement in the antiwar group here in our city. (There was an article in our local paper this past week about our weekly protests and she complemented me.)

I think this group of hers came of age in a 9/11 world and are swallowing that fear pill the repukes have been adding to our water supply. LOL I can only hope that their eyes will be opened as they grow up in this climate of fear.

[ruggerson]

2. Your post is virtually a campaign ad for Mark Warner

He is exactly the kind of Democrat who the guys you are describing will vote for.

[Warpy]

3. We don't actually

Letting them fester and stew is the best policy right now. Attempting to lecture these guys will only remind them that they were bamboozled by a bunch of wealthy thugs, that they've been gullible and easily led, and that will have the opposite effect.

So just sit back and watch the show. Remember, these oafs will never vote for Democrats. The best you can hope for is that they're angry enough to stay home or that they'll go out to cast a protest vote.

Only if the Democrats come in and start getting the country's fiscal hous in order can you point out to them how much better the country does when the GOP is out of power and acting as an opposition party.

[converted_democrat]

21. I don't think that's entirely true.. I'm a lot like the people mentioned

above, but I've seen the light, and I know many others that have too.. I don't think the "best we can hope for" is that they will stay home, and not vote.. I voted a straight D ticket the last time I voted, and I know many like me.. I think the most important thing is that we don't berate them, they already feel duped and betrayed.. Making them feel worse isn't the answer. I let them give me an opening, and then I go at it gently giving them the facts of the matter.. Let them know that they aren't the alone and that others were duped and that you feel bad for them, and what is important now is that they do the right thing from here on out.. If you get them gently, they'll come back to talk politics with you again, and with every conversation you can make more and more progress.. If you evolve the conversation over time you can often change the total mindset instead of just getting them to vote one way on one occasion.. (We don't just want revenge votes, we want sustained votes from informed people..) In my case, not only did I vote Dem in one election, I changed parties and won't ever go back.. I'll vote Dem, or for the most progressive candidate for the rest of my life.. There are some assholes out there that will never change, that is true, but smart people can usually be reasoned with.. I think we can do a whole lot better than just hoping they just stay home instead of voting..

[rusty_parts2001]

4. Your comments are very profound

I think they have finally overcome their cognitive dissonance, partly because Bush et al.'s ineptness has hit home (rising gas prices, interest rates, the housing bust, big deficits, and on and on).

I don't think the senseless killing in Iraq matters much to this bunch. They are all hypocrites anyway, and totally lack any sense of humanity, but the bread and butter issues affecting their pocketbook probably do.

Anyway great post!

[boobooday]

5. By convincing them that many of our values are conservative values

And they are: preserving our environment should be a conservative value, being responsible with the federal budget, universal healthcare would help business, etc. There is also a solid libertarian faction that is with us on Evolution, War on Drugs, etc.

Here's a big one where we could make a connection: holding employers responsible for hiring illegal aliens. I lurk over in Freeperville a lot, and this issue actually has them approving of columns by Cynthia Tucker, suggesting this very thing. And on certain issues, like immigration, they are actually able to identify the propaganda coming from the White House.

I think there are a lot of issues we could agree on.

[Lorien]

14. That's a matter of framing

I saw a 60 minutes piece where a Montana rancher was forced to lease out part of his property to a methane drilling operation by the government. The rancher's cattle were now being sickened by the poisoned streams, and the beauty of his ranch was badly tarnished by the massive equipment that had been planted on it. The reporter asked the staunch republican if he could sympathize with environmentalists now that his own ranch was suffering from a situation where energy drilling trumped the environment. "Oh no, I'm no tree hugger" said the rancher, looking sadly at his pastures which were torn to bits by massive tire tracks left by his "tenants". The reported rephrased the question "would you call yourself a "conservationist" then"? The rancher mulled that word over, his lips even mouthed out "conservation-conserverative..." "Naw-that's a word trap I ain't gonna git into" he said "I call what I have for the land RESPECT! RESPECT for what God made-and that's what these energy folks don't have! RESPECT!"He had reframed the issue himself to make it palatable; but that doesn't make him any less of an environmentalist. :-)

[boobooday]

15. Yep. It is ALL about framing.

"RESPECT for what God made."

I think we could all agree with his frame, even if we are not religious.

:hi:

[ruggerson]

16. Great point

and that deserves its own thread. Hope you post it.

I'd be very interested in a discussion on short, succinct ways to reframe a whole variety of issues to appeal to this rancher and these surgeons.

Respect for the land instead of environmentalism is perfect.

[Greyhound]

6. We don't. Just because they finally figured out that they are not

really members of the club and will never be invited to join, they are not going to come over to our side because they still hate us with all of their black hearts. They will go third party or just not vote, which will help the Democrats, but don't confuse their sense of betrayal with the development of a conscience.

[mitchum]

31. You are correct

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

7. I am seeing the same phenomenon.

I work with a lot of former military people, well-paid white guys, mostly Republicans, who are starting to turn against this regime. Some just make jokes about what a dumbass Bush is. One guy always calls him Thatasshole Bush (as if "Thatasshole" were his first name). Another recently went on a rant about how he's a conservative Republican but he HATES Bush, thinks the military should withdraw from Iraq right now before any more people get killed. I hear more and more of these comments every day.

It's been awhile since I've heard anybody defend Bush in any but the most halfhearted way. (The best any of them can come up with is something lame to the effect of, well, yeah, he sucks, but the Democrats are no better.)

I have carefully avoided gloating (although that's tempting) or saying anything that might add to their embarassment at having voted for Thatasshole. I want these guys on our side, and I think they are moving our way.

[Dr.Phool]

8. Their ox finally got gored.

I had a conversation with my doctor during a routine exam the other day. Nice guy, but a staunch republican. He knows that I put a lot of effort into Democratic campaigns

I 've been trying to get him to make a contribution to John Russells congressional campaign for a while, and I brought him some campaign literature, and info on Conyers H.R.676. He knows John is a healthcare professional (Nurse Practitioner) and understands the problems in our healthcare system.

He asked me about Medicare reducing reimbursement rates by 5% each year for 3 years, cutting into his income. I explained that the 2 area republican congressman, one in his residence, the other his business adress, both supported the cuts, and I said check out John's website, www.johnrussellforcongress.com and see where he said he'll reverse these cuts, and is a firm supporter of H.R. 676.

We may finally get that donation. We've been working a lot of healthcare providers groups, who normally donate republican, but are starting to turn away.

[Lorien]

9. I'm seeing the same thing here

I went to a symphony reception two days ago that was chock full of aging multi-millionaires, and most of the talk was about how the country had better get rid of BushCo, and soon."Not just Bush-the whole rotten lot of them" one elderly man told me as he ran down the list of members of the administration. Many of them were saying things like "I've been a republican my entire life, but that bush gang-they're NOT republicans! They're all corrupt and incompetent and they're going to destroy this country"! I've never been in a room with so many people over the age of 75 who were so fired up! I suspect that these people won't just be voting for the opposition, they'll be actively working for us as well.

[Coastie for Truth]

10. Saw the same thing here

I belong to an NGO "service club" (of the Civil Air Patrol, Coast Guard Auxiliary, Ham Radio, Urban Search and Rescue, Wilderness/Mountain Search and Rescue, Volunteer Ambulane Corps, Volunteer Fire Department genre).

Honest, hard working, church going (even if it's just to discuss the day's football games in the parking lot), former Eagle Scouts, scoutmasters, hunters. Three quarters are veterans.

We were conducting a disaster drill last weekend. During a slow period we started gabbing.

One of the staunch GOP stalwarts started it:

I didn't think it could get worse after Katrina - but the coverup is worse then the original screw up - and now they're blaming both the Red Cross and the Salvation Army because the Louisiana Guard didn't have the logistics capability.

As a Coast Guard veteran, I piped in:

At least they're not blaming the Coast Guard.

Another guy piped in:

That's what you think! Some Senator is investigating your Coastie pilots for shooting stray dogs and cats from the air. Those were some family's pets.

First GOP stalwart comes back:

And they have completely screwed up the war - this waffling on body armor! The unarmored Hummers! At least LBJ and MacNamara never screwed us that badly - and they brought us home after our eleven months.

Then the conversation moved over to Medicare Part D.

And this is the 50-something to 70-something GOP middle America patriotic, church going, hunting and fishing, tail gating base. These are the "Big Ed Scultz" voters.

[kaygore]

11. "How do we translate?" Grow balls on the Democratic leadership

The silence of the Democratic leadership and the failure on the part of the the Democratic leadership to whip the "troops" in line and speak with a single voice, loudly, clearly, and unremittingly, without trying to slink toward some non-existent middle, is how we translate.

Our leadership offers no coherent alternatives. I bet they even vote en mass for the nuking of Iran!

The Democratic leadership may be "good men ," but, as Edmund Burke has so aptly said, "The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing."

Evil is having a field day and the supposedly good men do nothing.

Why should disenchanted Republicans vote for a Democrat if the Democrat offers no alternative? The alternative needs to be repeated by all Democrats, using the same wording...repeated and repeated and repeated.

It would be better to sacrifice the Joe Lieberman's and other non-complying Democrats and loose even more of the House and Senate, than to continue to try to serve two masters: The true (what needs to be done) and the non-existent middle or Republican lite.

[Kingshakabobo]

12. I attended a real estate closing with a former bushbot attorney Friday....

the subject of gun control came up. This NRA member attorney said he now believes these bush types would be more likely to take away guns considering their disregard for the bill of rights.

He also said his disregard for the truth regarding Iraq was disgusting. He eben used the word "maniacal."

[Raksha]

51. That's good news about the NRA guy.

I hope a lot more of them have those light-bulb-over-the-head moments.

Re "This NRA member attorney said he now believes these bush types would be more likely to take away guns considering their disregard for the bill of rights."

The neocon fascists have no more respect for the second amendment than they do for the rest of the Bill of Rights. They just don't (and won't) advertise the fact until the moment they are ready to take their guns away. Then they'll pry them from their cold, dead fingers without thinking twice about it!

Edited to correct typo

[Poppyseedman]

13. Something wrong with having more than 2.1 children?

They are all massive breeders, cranking out kids by the half dozen.

I have six kids and supported them all never taking a penny from the government or my neighbor to feed, clothe or educate them. Loved them all.

I find it offensive to be labeled a "breeder" Geesh!

[Mythsaje]

26. I think the suggestion here

was that they're popping out kids they're not even raising themselves. It sounds as though they've shifted parenting responsibilities to others, and that's a bit sad if you ask me.

[Beausoir]

28. No..I am sorry about that. No offense to you intended.

It's just that as a mom who has adopted 5 kids..to see these guys actually BRAG about how "virile" they are..to see their wives in a constant pregnant state and then to hear them rail against a womans' right to choose..well, it just disgusts me.

You'd just have to "know" these guys to see how I would call them breeders. No offense was intended toward you.

[madmunchie]

53. Why didn't you include the other comments about them not

raising their children, adopting chidren...that was the real point, their lack of real family values and reality.

[kestrel91316]

54. But your 6 children are presumably all Americans, living in the US.

They are members of the most greedy, wasteful, hyperconsumerist society ever known on this planet, and as such they are going to use up more than their fair share of the planet's resources.

It's NOT just about whether or not YOU can afford them. The planet can't afford them.

Don't take this as a personal attack. It's not. It is just the plain, unvarnished truth.

[Poppyseedman]

62. Your comment is not based on anything resembling

facts or reality.

Don't take this as a personal attack. It's just you can't begin to prove any of it with actual empirical evidence

What is a fair share of the planet resources? .000000001 % ?

We don't even know how much resource the planet has.

You are subjecting yourself to fear mongering

[LoKnLoD]

17. Cattle prods? Herd em to the polls....

these types seem to like be told what to do and what think.

[mzmolly]

18. We reach out by airing "disgruntled Republicans" in the next election.

Give them the mic, give them a voice. We show tele commercials with these people talking in everyday conversations etc. much like the conversation you noted above.

Thanks for the post, sorry you're alienated - I bet you'll be more popular soon?

;)

[pretzel4gore]

19. so effectively have the republican'ts destroyed liberalism

there's really not much of a fallback position with the established Democratic 'opposition'....liberalism was its heart.
if fixing the situation is to make things better for this rich type, then fukkit, let it descend all the way into chaos.....these big fat soft spots with their guns should defend their lifestyle with them guns; let see them battling against hyperinflation with guns, or superstorms, or plagues of mutant measles or something...shoot them viruses! blow away that tornado/huricane, bang bang shootem up those $100 bottles of water sold by armed shopkeepers who keep human heads in an oil drum by the door to remind folk not to mess with them!....klol
i know this don't help, but kerist, this started (!!) with regan and they knew it was a lie 25 years ago!

[SPKrazy]

38. What You Wish On Them

will also plague the rest of us

Let's just welcome them into the fold

make the world a better place

[pretzel4gore]

52. theory and practice...

in theory, i'd have them all walk the plank etc, but in practice, i agree with you.....there's simply no time, nor money, to persecute the ordinary republican't ....

[SPKrazy]

61. LOL! In Theory

but in practice, some Repubs are people I actually care a lot about.

I don't understand their political leanings usually, they aren't rich, or especially powerful.

They are usually single issue voters (abortion usually) and are Baptists (here in the South)

But in theory, walk all the power broker Repubs off the plank!

[Autonomy]

20. The 2nd% from the top is finally realizing

that the top 1% is screwing them over, too! Haha, idiots.

[BeFree]

22. Translate into votes for progress?

The reason I ask is because I feel too many of our progressive votes have been translated by the e-voting into neo-con activism with the click of a mouse.

IOW, Kerry was elected, so was Gore.

But now, as you have pointed out, another translation is all that could save the neo-cons from certain death. Do you think they won't do their e-voting translation again?

[noamnety]

25. reaching out

Listen to them. Let them talk to you.

[C_U_L8R]

27. The GOP Worm is Eating it's own Tail

Gobble gobble
and soon *poof*
there will be nothing
left behind

*burp

[stepnw1f]

29. Not Only are They Rude But Stupid

and I'm sure they all had a really good education too. But I guess they really lack common sense. What pisses me off about your post is the fact that they shunned you. Will they ever apologize? Nope.... everyone of them are meat puppets with lots of money.

[Beausoir]

30. Well, they shunned me because I don't fit the doctor's wife mold, too.

I'm not very pretty and I am NOT a social butterfly, but mostly, I think they shun me because they are scared of me. I really do believe that. These big brave white hunters are really frightened of a middle aged woman with a brain.

It does hurt my feelings, but there is nothing I can do about it so I try to avoid all social contact with them.

[stepnw1f]

33. Good for You

Not very pretty? No one really is all that "pretty" when you factor their personalities into the mix. By reading your post, I assumed you were pretty. And now I believe your are confident as well... :)

[Beausoir]

46. You? Are a sweetie! Thanks for the kindness. n/t

[stepnw1f]

47. You are Most Welcome

Our better half, most of the time. What would we, men do without you?

Pssst... that what makes the left so strong. Women are our equals!

[pnwmom]

41. They shunned you because emotionally they're stuck at Jr. High level.

I hope you're living in a big enough town you can find educated friends elsewhere.

[flyarm]

32. i am lifelong dem..but surrounded by rethugs...this is what i have done

first i ask why they are rethug..most have no answer...

but instead of giving speeches or lecturing..when one comes to me and shows concern..i have made up like business type cards..but on paper..and i have listed many web sites..

like :
information clearing house, truthout, buzzflash..i have about 8 web sites on it..




and i say..here are some places you can look into to help you understand whats really going on in the country..

i have the PNAC http on it and rebuilding americas defence http on it..
and i just leave it at that...

i do not beg them to look at those sites..i just give them the tool to find out for themselves..

almost 100% of the people i have given the cards to has come back to me in time..and they are in total shock..and thanking me up one side and down the other..and they proclaim how ignorant they had been..and are eager to tell others what they have learned...

i used to try to educate them to no avail..it was like hitting a wall ..now i let them do it themselves with a little help to where to educate themselves..

then when they do it themselves..they feel like they have more control over what they are learning and they can put their arms around the truth in their own privacy..it has more meaning to them..

many come to me after they have done their own research and thanked me profusely..and i say..well i didn't do anything..i say..you found out the stuff yourself...

it gives people the humility they need..and makes you humble..and not so frightening to their prior judgements

most realize they were brainwashed..but they do not feel like they have been publically humiliated by it..

look..some of the smartest people in this country have been fooled...
we need to be kinder to each other..
* has divided us..we have to unite us again...

we don't do that by telling others they were fooled..tricked brainwashed..we just need to give them a hand in finding the truth for themselves..

fly

[Dangerously Amused]

36. Wow. Now THAT is an excellent idea!

You hit the nail on the head, too... that it's hard for people to admit they are wrong in front of others. The change has to come from within.


May I use your idea? May I ask what all the sites you use are?


Thanks for this!

[flyarm]

39. of course use this idea..it really works!!

i will pm you a site with all the sites and i will just advise you which ones not to use!!

fly

[Dangerously Amused]

43. Received. Thank you so much!

And thanks for the good advice, too. You have really thought this out quite well. Such wisdom!


:hug:

[stepnw1f]

48. Great Job Man!

That's what I try to do... no lecturing! I just provide a place for them to go.

[renate]

55. how about starting a thread of your own with this idea?

:thumbsup:

[bloom]

34. yeah

In "What's the Matter with Kansas" - Frank describes the two Republican groups and how at odds they are.

In some ways - the culture war radicals end up just helping out the rich Republicans - yet the traditional well off Republicans can end up being demonized in the same way that liberals are. For being "elitist", driving Volvos, etc.

So what might happen is the traditional Republicans will side the the Democrats (probably the DLCers) and the culture war radicals might siphon off more bitter, working class Democrats who are convinced that the pro-life issue is the only one that counts.

Those of us who consider ourselves liberals and who care about social programs and such might be left out as the disenfranchised minority.

[pnwmom]

40. This is off-topic, but you crack me up. Have you heard of the

term "M.Deities"?

Surgeons are the worst. I have often tried to figure out why my younger sister ( who not only is married to a surgeon but lives in nowheresville, Texas) has gotten so obnoxiously weird over the years. Now I know. Thanks for the insight!

[Beausoir]

44. Yes, but there ARE good surgeons/good people out there. My husband is one

of them. It's not my intent to blast the entire profession. I have met some wonderful people including one of his partners who is truly devoted to environmental causes. He knows so much about water quality, run-off problems and he is very active in protecting our resources. He's also a nice man and his wife is the only one who I can hold a conversation with.

Another partner has spent months (really..months) down in the Gulf states with his church group, rebuilding, cleaning and helping after Katrina. He's a hell of a nice man. Unfortunately, these two examples are older men, closer to retirement. I think it's the younger ones that are the worst.

[pnwmom]

50. Of course there are surgeons who are great people, too. But it must

take an awful lot of ego strength to be able to cut into people. So maybe there ends up being a disproportionate number of egotists in the profession.

By the way, when I need a surgeon, I WANT a doctor who is confident! No shaky hands, please!

[kerry-is-my-prez]

42. 2 of my bush-voting neighbors are on his case also.

One of them said "He's really messed up everything" and the other came up to me and siad "I think that Bush is going to cause us to go into a recession."

Gee thanks guys - took you long enough to realize this - and thanks for helping to put him into office too.

[Beausoir]

45. It was as if this guy just HAD to blurt out his feelings...like he was

asking for forgivness or..something. My hub said it was the strangest thing. He just waltzed in and made a statement.
Methinks they may be growing consciences? Or...the cynical side of me says...they are just worried about their wallets further on down the line.

[mainer]

49. Just to be fair to surgeons ... we've got a lot of Democratic ones here

But then, we live in Maine. In fact, whenever we hold Dem fundraisers at our house, it seems like half the people who show up are doctors. And these are liberal, Bush-hating, rabidly anti-war doctors. I suspect that your hair-raising experiences in Stepford (my sincere sympathies!) may have to do more with what part of the country you live in. Or not?

[OxQQme]

56. Not 'Pssst... that what makes the left so strong. Women are our equals!'

Rather, 'Psst..thats what makes the left so strong. Women and men ARE equals.'

"Our equals" comes from a stance that says they are lesser-than already, but they are 'equal' if they rise to 'our' level.

Rather, perhaps the males should put aside some of their male-ness and be the equals of the feminine.

Your statement is TRUE insofar as they are the force that will bring us forward into a truly nurturing society and resonates my chimes.

[progressoid]

57. "they make fools of themselves" Exactly! But to get to them we will

have to put the blame on B* & co.

[Mr_Jefferson_24]

58. Greed does indeed make people...

...stupid and the people you write about are living breathing proof of this. The guy who marched into your husband's office with his woefully too little too late observation is only motivated by fear. He fears the effect on himself of national economic collapse and the sudden spiraling inflation that will surely ensue, and rightly so---it IS now emminent.

[hopeisaplace]

59. "My husband turned around and just looked at him. Crickets chirping."

You made me laugh out loud with that line...
Was into your story, picturing the whole damn thing...then
pictured your hubby mouth open (I added that lol!)..too shocked
to speak...chirping.
I don't know why, but it struck me so funny. :rofl:

Thanks for the great story and the laugh!

[Mayberry Machiavelli]

60. I wish I heard some of that here in TX. I can only hope that some of these

people are coming to similar conclusions privately, 'cause I sure don't here it out in public, although overt, enthusiastic shrub worship is much less evident.