WARNING: This is a MAJOR RANT about my Bush loving neighbor.

[LiberalLibra]

I am so angry right now and in total shock that I can hardly type so please forgive the typos but I desperately need to rant to someone who might just understand. I just returned from having a conversation with the “idiotic bitch from hell” otherwise known as one of my neighbors.

My neighbor was telling me that one of her sons, about 24 years old, has been unsuccessfully looking for work for about four months now. With two little kids under 4 years old he needs more than an occasional day labor job but there is just nothing out there these days. We went through the usual good wishes for future success but that it looks grim because whole families are out of work and homeless these days.

Of course that led me into a short monologue about how bad Bush is and how we were better off under Clinton and Gore and would be better off after 2005 with a Democrat in the WH. My neighbor’s pat answer about anything and everything that she doesn’t want to face or acknowledge is “I don’t think so”. So, of course I pressed her to find out what the meaning of “I don’t know” was in this particular case. Her answer was, “I don’t like him”. That led to “who don’t you like Bush or Clinton?” Her reply was, I don’t like Clinton.” OK! We were making progress here. So I asked what she thought of Bush and she floored me with, “Oh, I like Bush.” With a mounting disbelief I very nicely asked what she liked about Bush and her answer was, “He talks so the poor people can understand him.” Then she went on to say, “He doesn’t lie about sex either.”

About this time my mouth is dragging on the porch so I said, “Well, Bush may not lie about sex but he sure lies about the reasons for sending our young people off to war.” I went on to remind her of the medical coverage Hillary tried to get through Congress that the dammed republicans blocked and wouldn’t even consider. I also commented on the fact that Congress is now trying to privatize Medicare and do away with Social Security. Her next comment was unbelievable. She said, “Oh, they will mess with Social Security until there is no more but who cares? I get SSI but I think I was better off before I got it.” That did it!!! I asked her, “So why don’t you give the SSI up and let someone else have it that would appreciate it and might actually deserve it?” Her reply was, “Oh, I don’t know about that.”

We then got into what news stations she watches and what news she reads and of course she watches a lot of Faux news. So I offered to print out articles from the web on what Bush is really doing to which she replied, “Oh, I read what I want to read.” I’m sorry, by this time I was totally fed up with this idiot so I very sweetly said, “Are you sure you understand what you read and hear though? Maybe some remedial reading classes would help.”

After that I changed the subject because it was apparent by this time that trying to educate this creature in this lifetime was out of the question. Soon after that I excused myself and came home. What I want to know is how anyone can be so stupid?? I don’t watch Faux news but there has got to be a sliver of truth on the station now and then that even my neighbor could understand. Also, did I handle this properly and if not how can I educate this person in the future?? Or, am I just wasting my time??

[mkregel]

1. You're wasting your time

Some people make their minds up and refuse to change them, despite any logic or reality that comes their way.

[bookman]

2. Maybe...

..wasting your time.

[searchingforlight]

3. Their name is legion.

eom

[Clete]

4. You should remind her SSI is funded by SS and if it goes

so does her SSI, but then she was better off before she had it, wasn't she? Yeah, waste of time. I had an argument once with a guy who made minimum wage, who was against SS. He admitted his elderly mother collected SS. When I asked him what she would do without it, he said he would support her with the money he saved from the SS deduction from his paycheck. :wow:

[seeker4ever]

5. I still try.

I know how you feel...really. I go through this with some of the people in my cardiac rehab sessions. To my suprise though, one of them has really started to listen. He's a registered republican. He seemed to be a little shy about revealing his disgust with all things Bush until we started talking at length about Bush's stupidity.

Anyway, with this neighbor of yours, don't knock yourself out but ya never know.

[Skittles]

6. she is a classic example of corporate media brainwashing

very, very sad.

[lcordero]

7. I used to be Active Military(US Army)

Active Military is a lot different than being at home. I was raised in a heavily Latino Democratic(95%) District. I never met a Republican until I joined the military.

I was basically apolitical when I was in the Active Military. I had two house rules:
1. Don't talk about religion in my dwelling.
2. Don't talk about politics in my dwelling.

That person is going to have to realize it on their own.

[shanti]

33. so

what made you have a change of heart in regards to politics? for me it was the Selection 2000, but 9/11 really revved it up.

[diplomats]

8. Do you know if she's even registered to vote?

eom

[LiberalLibra]

10. Yes, she voted in our Mayor's race not long ago and.......

....if she voted for who she claimed she voted for then she either used her head or winged it and got lucky.

[Feanorcurufinwe]

9. Yes, you are wasting your time.

I'd say anyone you talk to today who has no doubts about Bush, is a zombie robot. Limit the discussions to weather and .... I can't think of any other safe topics.

[LiberalLibra]

14. I think you are right - that's the only safe thing I can do for my health

:grr:

[jiacinto]

11. Talking down to her won't convince her

She may be unreachable. It probably is a waste of time, only because of the inordiante time it would take to talk to her.

But if you're willing to make it a long term project then by all means do it.

[LiberalLibra]

19. Under normal circumstances I'd agree with you that talking down to.....

....someone is not the way to win them over about anything. But I won't be here long enough to worry about educating her - I'm moving out of state in a couple of months, so she is welcomed to live in her fantasy world.

[caledesi]

12. Hey LL!

I am a Liberal Libra too...10/11 ....I understand where you are coming from. I have the same problem w/ one of my conservative friends....I have come to the conclusion, that it is just NOT worth it. You are NOT going to convince these people and certainly don't want to confuse them w/ the facts.

My friend has been out of work for 6 months. I mentioned Clinton etc....his reply "well, you can't blame the president." That's when I knew it was fruitless to try to influence this person.

So now we talk more superficially, but that's okay. He will have to come to his own conclusions about why * is the WORST president in history.

[LiberalLibra]

29. I think one of the suggestions below is the best approach I've heard......

...in a long long time. That is to agree with the person and act all sympathetic and then try and talk the person (repubs only of course) out of even bothering to vote. I like that approach especially when they won't figure it out until after election day and then the damage is done. I know it is so cold hearted but I have this very dry and sometimes sarcastic sense of humor so that approach would just be so perfect for me to pull off too. :dem: all the way!!!

[ScreamingMeemie]

13. I think my old neighbor moved in next door to you....

The one who told my daughter that her mother was wrong to vote for Gore.

What the Heck is wrong with these people...

"Oh they don't know":mad: :mad: :mad: :mad: :mad: :mad:

[whathappened]

15. i can under stand

the rich not giving a shit about what is going on , but how is some women making 500 a month think jr. is doing such a great job

[LiberalLibra]

20. That was what I wondered about too! I just couldn't believe her!!

:grr: :freak:

[LiberalLibra]

16. THANK YOU one and all for your comments and ideas, I just......

....hope I don't meet many more like her.

[Clete]

18. Don't move to Crawford, TX.

:evilgrin:

[freemar]

17. Next time, try being stupid . . .

This person, and the others of her ilk, have ALL the answers. The challenge is to put a seed of doubt into her mind by AGREEING with her and then wondering about a "problem" that might be in her worldview, e.g., "Right, I see..., social security is not a good thing ... for you, but I wonder how those feel who might be living only on SS?" Either that, or just walk away and say "have a nice day."

Direct confrontation and conscious raising have never worked for me.

[mitchum]

21. "idiotic bitch from hell" pretty much sums her up

Don't waste your time

[Blue-Jay]

22. Your neighbor

uses a similar (lack of) reasoning as my brother. That being said, at least he calls me every election day to remind me to go to the polling place and cancel out his vote. Not that I need reminding, mind you. Still, it's become a tradition with us. One day, I hope to help him see the error of his ways, but until then I'll continue to "cancel out his vote."

[Demobrat]

23. You know what I decided to do about people like that?

OK, this is bad but I decided to encourage them not to vote. Instead of trying to change their mind, I go with "oh, why bother to vote, it doesn't make any difference anyway" kind of stuff. Seriously. And it works! I can get them nodding in about 30 seconds. And I don't doubt that when the times comes, they'll stay home. So what the hell. Let them think what they want. Just keep them away from the polls! OK, flame away.

[starscape]

25. hey....!

Actually, that's not a bad idea!! Talk them out of voting. If they're going to vote republican, then I'm all for keeping them away from the polls.

In a way, you're just protecting them from themselves...

[LiberalLibra]

27. Yhat is not a bad idea - I may just have to try that on the.....

....repubs and repub wannabes. Thanks!! One less vote for boy king!!!!

[starscape]

24. umm.. no offense, but..

Please don't take this the wrong way. But have you ever met a republican before? I mean, it kind of sounds like this woman got you in a rage over something that she probably didn't even want to talk about; and in the end it just sounds like she isn't very smart.

I live in a pretty healthy mix of democrats and republicans, and let me tell you the rows we get into! Things get personal, things get nasty.. but then they usually calm down.. it's just politics, but it's frustrating.

But from the way you described your conversation, this woman didn't really say much or initiate much of an argument and yet she is an "idiotic bitch from hell?" LOL.. I would say she's just confused.

Remember, we still need to live together! Meet enough people in this crazy country, and things won't shock you as easily.

Cheers..

[LiberalLibra]

28. I would tend to agree with your assessment if she had demonstrated....

....that kind of mentality in this situation only. The part I would agree with you on though is maybe I did breath an issue she didn't want to talk about or deal with. On the other hand, I strike up political conversations with all kinds of people in all kinds of settings and never have I encountered what seems to be such out and out ignorance.

[Chicagonian]

26. consider the (lack of) intelligence of the average American..

then realize that since that's the average at least half the people are dumber than that.

I'm 42, and I expect the second half of my ride to be a lot more interesting than the first.

[LiberalLibra]

30. I'm chuckling away here!!! Thanks for the laugh!!!! I needed that!!!

:bounce:

[zbdent]

31. This woman's mind (and those like her) make me think of Al Capone's

vault.

Locked up for so many years, and nothing of substance inside.

[Lastgasp]

32. Please keep on trying, LL . . .

But try to keep the discussion on one narrow topic. Ask her why millions of people lost their jobs when Bush took over. Beg her to figure it out. Say, "I'll give you a couple of days to think it over, then I'll come back for your answer." Of course she'll never figure it out, but maybe she will at least think about it.

[imix]

34. She sounds like the religous type.

The religious types are the absolute dumbest people on the face of the earth. King George and the Repugs love religion. It keeps their subjects blind, stupid and loyal.

[juajen]

35. jA relative that I recently talked with

is conservative and watches Fox, I believe exclusively. However, my relative who is ex-military was very adament that * should go. Said any dem would be better. This was encouraging, but, normally, I do not try to do anything but point out inconsistencies in this administration. They seem to be brainwashed. Have another relative who is ex-military. Also, no vote for *. Think he might have a lot less support from military than they think.