Yes, and then they stand and stare at you as if they have just said something incredibly witty and devastating, and all of their friends at the table titter in apreciation. I live in Florida, not in NYC, and this happened to me in my own house because I happen to know a set of academics. To tell the truth, I was so stunned that people would be so rude that I didn't know what to say. Finally, I said that I thought they were rude and we should change the subject (which wasn't Bush, anyway - I can't remember how it came up).
A few days later, one of them sent an e-mail to my sister saying that she couldn't believe that my sister liked Bush, because she was "so intelligent." This was the tipping point; we wrote back and said that they were incredibly rude, and we couldn't believe they liked Kerry, because they were "so intelligent." All of them apologized, and we have been good friends ever since.
I honestly think these people live in such a bubble they don't realize how rude and aggressive they are, because everybody they know thinks exactly as they do, and says exactly the same horrible things they say. But sometimes if you call them on it, they get a grip and realize that they've gone over the line. That is, if they are of good will, but there are many who are not.
People that rude are NOT of good will.
I'll go beyond that. I have changed my attitude toward "friends" who would install communism in my country...friends who would put traitors in office...friends who undermine Americans fighting for their lives (and our security) overseas...
They are not my friends. I have made that kind of politics "personal" and do not associate with such anti-Christian, anti-American, anti-freedom, pro-terrorist and idotic trash poorly impersonating intelligent human beings.
If they want a complete division of this country to separate themselves from us, I say it cannot happen soon enough for me.
I am sick to death of them.