I was sitting in my local watering hole on Saturday night..

[pointblank]

by myself (my friend bartends there.) I was sitting next to an older gentleman watching the tube when that commercial about Hurricane Katrina relief with Clinton and Poppie Bush came on...I made the comment to him that "Clinton looked pretty unhealthy and grey" (which he did IMO)and he replied "Well he did have that heart surgery..." (which I had forgotten about)...and thus began our political conversation that would last for about and hour and a half.

It never became hostile, although our differences were plain. I have had a few noteworthy run ins with freeptards lately, mainly them ganging up on me at work and me being made to look like an ass..but this conversation remained civil. He basically spewed the typical repuke talking points at me, although he did admit that Bush was not the best candidate that they could have come up with, and I was quick to point out how wrong he was (the liquor helped me) and we both agreed to disagree.

The conversation led to talk about congress and how a lot of blame for our country's situation was to lay at their feet along with many others, which was not pointed out enough in the media and we came to the topic of whether so called right wingers and left wingers in the house and senate, and in government in general actually go along with politics aside.

I was of the opinion that many of the same figures who are nasty to each other and butt heads on TV and on the floor of the house/senate probably went out to have drinks socially and were really probably friendly to each other outside the political realm. His opinion was the opposite, he believes that they take these issues as seriously as anyone else would and hold grudges just the same.

I am not saying that my theory is absolute nor am I being overly conspiritorial (sp?) about it (maybe a little ;-)), but I just dont think that everything is that black and white, so to speak.

What do you think?

[GreenPartyVoter]

1. I think it's a miracle you guys didn't gown down in a brawl, the way

most political discussions go these days.

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[wtmusic]

2. Your conversation sounds familiar

Whenever I talk to those people I used to try to be nice and conversational, and see their point of view about it all not being Bush's fault, blah blah blah.

No more.

Bush is the worst president in American history, bar none. I categorically reject any other attribution of the nation's problems and so far have not come across anyone who comes close to proving me wrong.

Suffering that fool gladly is killing people everyday. :grr:

[charlie]

3. I think your friend was right

One thing I've heard lamented time and again since the 80s is the loss of collegiality in Washington, that the partisan divide has become just as sharp after hours as during.

[H5N1]

4. I suppose the proof is in the pudding

there should be a lot more animosity
than there is; i suppose your theory explains
that as well as any

[RethugAssKicker]

5. Yeah, I think they are drinking together... but the dems

are probably the ones who whimp out during their drinking sessions. Thats why we're in the predicament we're in!. The spineless dems have sold us out.

[Spangle]

6. Socialy Polite

They all "play the game." They know the rules.

They have very little true "off time." Even when they are not "working", they are. Hence, after hours is geared towards planning and raising funds. So they are not going to be rubbing elbows in such "meet and greats."

Other then that.. it's just like any other JOB. You try to get along with the people you work with. You don't want them stabbing you in the back, etc. It's the same.