Overheard at my oncologist's office today:

[ReformedGOPer]

Middle-aged white lady: Did you realize that Fox news was just bought out by the Murdoch family, and now that's why some of the commentators are now against Trump?
Mid 60's white guy: My problem with Hillary is we just don't know where she'll take us. Of course, we don't know where Trump will take us, but he'll have people around him.
lady: And have you heard that Hillary is leading him in the polls? Nobody believes she is winning. Have you seen the crowds that show up for him? Something's wrong with those polls.
man: Yea, something is fishy.

Before anyone asks, I didn't speak up. Mainly because I have a lot of stuff going on (hense, the oncologist) and I wasn't in the mood to get into it. But I was shocked at the misinformation these two were spouting.

BTW, I live in PA.

[radical noodle]

1. I hear this kind of crap all the time in my neighborhood

Sorry to hear you have something going on with an oncologist.

[Downtown Hound]

2. "Just" bought out by the Murdoch family? LOL.

"The signals we give should be clear, the darkness around us runs deep." -William Stafford.

Never was that more true than dealing with the mountain of ignorance that surrounds us everyday.

[left-of-center2012]

3. I'm originally from PA

I've seen maps on TV lately of PA showing where Trump has support and I'm shocked at how the areas (Indiana and Westmoreland Counties) where I grew up are Trump territory.

I too have overheard Trump supporters and just keep quiet. They tend to be the kind of folks I don't feel I can have an intelligent conversation with.

I have two brothers with whom I get along, as long as we don't talk religion or politics ... they being Tea Party folk, and evangelical born agains.

[Buckeye_Democrat]

8. I'm a descendant of John Proctor!

His battalion flag flies above the government buildings in Westmoreland County.


It seemed like a conservative area when I visited for genealogical research years ago.

[louis c]

32. My Aunt bought the Proctor House in Peabody Mass.

It was once part of Salem and it's the actual house. Proctor bought it from Emmanuel Downing.

[Buckeye_Democrat]

35. That's cool, but my ancestor was a different person.

He's not as well known as the earlier John Proctor of Salem, MA.

Mine was the first sheriff of Westmoreland County, PA who was later part of the Hanna's Town Resolves, a formal declaration of independence from Britain that preceded THE Declaration of Independence by about a year.

He arrived in Western PA when the area was still largely unsettled and wild. Pittsburgh was known as "Fort Pitt" back then.

Maybe he was too stubborn for his own good because he later lost all of his property by never acquiring a proper deed! Someone else noticed the oversight and took it. His land gone, he left the area as an old man to live with one of his sons. It's kind of ironic to me that his Rev. War battalion flag is now the county flag there, given what happened.

[Gabi Hayes]

14. the dems win about 10 to 18 counties in all the state. last time it was pittsburgh, the

philly area, and that was IT. Obama won by five in 12, 10 in 08, and you can WATCH PA state reps BRAG about how the voter ID laws were responsible for that 50 percent drop.

heard about that?

[ReformedGOPer]

24. me too.

My three siblings are all in when it comes to Trump. I've tried to talk to them but they come back with the Faux news talking points. I have to steer clear of the subject if I want peace. I'm in the northeast part of the state-bigly Trump country.

[mahina]

27. Was it James Carville who said PA is Pittsburgh, Philadelphia, Alabama in the middle?

[liberal N proud]

4. That meme from the mid 60's white guy seems to be a thing with the Trump thumpers

At that point you just start beating your head against a wall, because they are so clueless.

[Buckeye_Democrat]

5. Same in Ohio too. Old-time barber shops are great places...

... to observe them in a natural habitat.

If you visit an area like Boehner's stomping grounds, many people there will make comments like, "I don't know ANYONE who is voting for Obama! How could he be winning in the polls?!"

[narnian60]

7. Hahahaha.

Hilarious. Soooo clueless.

[Buckeye_Democrat]

11. They usually keep themselves in echo chambers.

They've heard for years that they can't trust the "liberal media."

Those barber shops always have FOX News on their TV's too.

[lpbk2713]

6. They were at the wrong doctor's office.

They need to see someone who can do something about their tunnel vision.

[HughBeaumont]

10. OH boy, the SuperTrain of Cognitive Dissonance at work there . . .

White-wingers need to understand the truth . . . the reasons establishment conservatives with some semblance of a brain stem are rejecting Trump is that he has no idea WHAT he's doing, he doesn't have the temerity for world leadership, he's mistaking the word "Dictator" for "President", his economic plan is a non-starter, his comments about using nukes smack of the crazy and you would think even the most sub-moronic catatonics have to be aware by now that he's obviously TRYING to lose.

Conservatives have got to come correct with a realization - they have nothing to show for two decades except likely the most disastrous presidency in the modern era and a cavalcade of frightening candidates and nominations all because of the simple fact that times have changed and they never will, mostly since they were taught that assimilation and change are for the weak.

[kimbutgar]

30. I like your term white wingers

I use Reichwingers but your term white wingers is more accurate of a description.

I think Cheeto is going to win PA though.

[HipChick]

12. Typically Faux Viewers..they believe everything they see/hear

[eShirl]

13. Trump dead-enders

pathetic

[Rex]

15. Not shocked at all, they sound like Foxnews zombies.

The most misinformed group of people in America.

[Buckeye_Democrat]

16. They do worse than people who watch/hear NO NEWS!

As indicated here a few years ago:
http://www.mediaite.com/online/yet-another-survey-fox-news-viewers-worst-informed-npr-listeners-best-informed/

[gratuitous]

17. Well, you don't have to be confrontational to disagree

Some innocuous statement like, "Well, polling techniques have really been refined over the years, so they're a lot more accurate. Remember back in 2012, when a lot of people thought Mitt Romney was doing better? The polls turned out to be right."

[lindysalsagal]

18. Good luck: Improvements are made every day in medicine.

Hang in there.

[ReformedGOPer]

22. Thanks. eom

[awoke_in_2003]

19. I am at the point

where, if I hear politics being discussed at work, I leave the room. There is no way to reason with these people, every when presented with facts. They are little better than brain dead zombies- total waste of time, sucking up precious oxygen. Luckily, in public places (like docs office) I have great ability to shut low life idiots out. About 40% of the people in this country don't even deserve a "have a good day". Total reptiles.

[Buckeye_Democrat]

21. There isn't much point. I've tried to reason with them in the past.

Maybe it helped later, but it didn't seem like it at the time.

Those types also seem to be the most vocal. My quieter co-workers over the years tended to be Democrats.

EDIT: I rode Amtrak for a camping vacation in California a few years ago. I met some Californians who were very vocal Democrats! That was a nice change! I don't see that as much here.

[Initech]

20. I overheard one one time while waiting in line at the bank:

"Yeah the trial lawyers are the ones who have all the money."

Uh... no they don't. The people who HIRE the trial lawyers are the ones who have all the money.

[Squinch]

23. My best wishes to you for your best health.

[Hortensis]

25. Good for you for choosing serenity. :)

I find it definitely helps with conservative neighbors to focus on their good points, usually those that are family, friends, community related, and try to avoid discussions about all the outsiders and outside influences they don't like. They really have been encouraged over decades by cynical operators to be increasingly more indecent toward outsiders (liberals, city people, etc.) than they would be naturally, but they don't know it.

[mahina]

26. Good luck, and welcome to DU!

[Thinkingabout]

28. Since the comvention I heard my RW friends trying to start how cruel Trump has been treated

With the Gold Star parents. I told them Trump will not let it go and therefore unless Trump can get himself under control this story will go on forever. One remarked this election is a mess, they only have to look to the RNC candidate. Trump has stopped some of the emails and remarks about a great RNC candidate.

[scscholar]

29. Sounds like the Bernie logic with "the crowds that show up for him?"

Just because people aren't excited about a candidate doesn't mean they won't vote for them.

[Person 2713]

31. I am on the move for work in IL . I hear discussions like this all the time . I try to move out of

range or put earbuds on while waiting . It's amazing but not pleasant to hear .
Healing and best of health to you btw

[spanone]

33. yea, something's fishy alright

proud ignorance....

[Liberal_Stalwart71]

34. Cognitive dissonance!