Key is respect.
In my situation, it’s a bit more complicated. It isn’t straight right/left. We both agree on the important family issues, I’m very political and she is not. On some issues she is to my right, death penalty. On others she is to my left, such as health care. Makes for some interesting discussions. Depending on the test, she usually tests out as a true moderate, and I am generally libertarian scoring, (high on personal liberties, but quite fiscally and social conservative).
Only rule we have is that she initiates all the political conversations, and when we get into it, we go all the way. Everything and anything gets discussed. Any comment made isn’t, “gosh that’s such a stupid idea”, we try to tackle the why’s and wherefores. Why do you believe in this? What about this is compelling to you?
In the end, I’d rather have someone who I love and care for and who loves and cares for me, than someone who agreed with me on everything. As far as I’m concerned, there are some non-negotiables, and we agree on those. Beyond that, if she wants to vote for Obama, I don’t care. That is her decision to make, not mine. It doesn’t make me respect her less, because I know where her heart is at. She is the most amazing gal I’ve ever met.
Thanks for sharing that. Gives me hope.
that is what makes it work, then. i can see that being possible. but in the case of carville/matalin, presumably they are BOTH political, and BOTH ideologically committed, but on opposite sides of the coin. those are the relationships i can't fathom.
Those two sentences together are not rational if you are conservative.