Why Can't My Liberal Friends Talk Politics

July 21, 2006 | jhw61

[jhw61]

Not once since Hizbollah kidnapped two Israeli soldiers, killed a young Israeli citizen have my liberal friends mentioned once in office conversation. Today I felt totally shut up when one of my co-workers made a comment about "my governor, Mitt Romney" and new benefit rules for MassHealth. I started to respond and was shut down by another co-worker who said O.k. let's not talk politics. I said "You democrates never want to talk politics." It's so frustrating. Day after day after I spend my evenings here on FR, my liberal co-workers talk about the next pair of curtains they are going to buy, wow, those Red Sox are so hot, etc.,...I'm surrounded by what I would say are people who really don't care about what goes on around them, unaware how what goes on in the world should affect them. My four fellow female co-workers never want to Discuss anything. Their feeling is people should be able to believe what they want, worship who they want and that's it. What is wrong with me. Why do I feel so isolated? Yes, I live in liberal Massachusetts and that should be the answer right there but I could use some encouraging comments. Thank you for considering my thread my wondersul fellow Freepers. There has to more to life than talking about curtains and paint doesn't there?

[Paradox]

There is a guy at my gym, I mean, I like him, he is really a nice guy, but see, he barely lifts or exercises. All he does is talk about how Evihl the Bush Regime Is. He is incessant. Everyone kinda nods their head in agreement, and even I manage to find SOME common ground. He complimented me on my knowledge of the issues, and asked me why I knew so much. I told him because I was a former Liberal Democrat, but that today I was a right wing fanatic, who was converted by conservative thinking Jews (he is jewish and knows that most jews are liberal). He was stunned. He should have known though, because I was able to shoot down the majority of his complaints, but I guess since he found me fairly intelligent, he simply ASSumed that I was liberal, or at least moderate..

[be4everfree]

I think you're a troll.

You may be onto something but the jury is still out for me.

[buccaneer81]

I was born and raised in Massachusetts. At the age of 28, I got out for good. Ohio isn't perfect, but a hell of a lot better than Mass. Sometimes you need to cut your losses. Mass. is a lost cause.

[DCPatriot]

I think FreeRepublic is addictive...literally.

Rush Limbaugh was the gateway drug and this place is like heroin.

A lot of us are probably no different that teenagers hooked on video games.

We live on FR.

It's a great escape and it's instructive and makes us better informed individuals.

In the meantime there are many people who politically speaking...qualify for Jaywalking with Leno.

As you stated, they could care less.

They don't believe our civilization is being challenged or they believe we're Superman, Batman and Spiderman all rolled into one.

Bad thing is these are the people that watch the TODAY SHOW, and WORLD NEWS TONIGHT...if at all.

I sent the latest Ann Coulter column to my liberal friends and told them not to scan it, because I was going to have a pop quiz.

I wear a read tee shirt when I shoot pool against my nemesis that says on the back..."I neutered the cat. Now he's a liberal". Drives him crazy.

[Fawn]

They can't win any argument because it involves common sense and reason ....they just end up calling you names and leaving.

[sgtyork]

I may have gotten creamed in a job interview this week. I was having a great conversation with the interview, then suddenly, out of nowhere he began slamming the oil companies. Then he said something about "thanks ExxonMobil.." I relaxed and kind of eagerly said "oh are you a stockholder".

Of course, he must not have read my resume, I have worked for two oil companies... and I don't have horns.

[gorush]

OK then, here is my confession. I grew up a liberal (I went to the U of W in Madison for cry'n out loud) As a "kid" you tend to want to be taken care of, so socialism sounded great (I, with absolutely no historical context what so ever) The liberals had a political vision so intelligent that it wasn't to be denied...my inability to make complete sense out of it was a function of my ignorance...something I didn't want to admit to, of course, as I wanted to be considered among the "inteligentia"...plus the sex drugs and rock and roll...

At this stage of my being I didn't want to discuss politics either, it would expose my ignorance as I couldn't support the arguements of those obviously so much more intelligent than I.

Then I happened upon Rush, a person of whom I had no knowledge but disliked, 'cause, well, that's just what we liberals did...I'm ashamed of the self-imposed blinders that I so easily donned. (Rush was the first conservative that descibed what a conservative believes and why, obviously different than the liberal description)

[GodfearingTexan]

i feel for ya dude. you should start wearing a military-style flat-top haircut and hanging portraits of the old west genre on your walls. hang pictures of you out camping and hiking, riding horses, hunting, fishing. they'll feel so utterly unmanly for the rest of their pathetic lives.

[jhw61]

Thanks Steve. I am not a troll. Read my posts. I don't have much to say because to be honest with you there are so many freepers here that are far more intelligent and know so much more than I do. But trust me, I'm here every evening sometimes clinging to the threads to really feel that I'm not so crazy. I simply am a young Mom raising her son, working hard and facing some stiff silence here in Massachusetts. I live in Quincy, a beautiful historic city. Our past Presidents John Adams and John Quincy Adams lie in there eternal toms not nearly a mile away from my home. What can I say, I'm tired of being shut down by my liberal friends/co-workers and thought I'd drop a line. I didn't expect so many replys...silly me. Best Freegards. jhw61 in Quincy, Massachusetts. And no, I have never voted for John F'n Kerry or Ted "Swimmer" Kennedy. Thanks for your confidence in me...I think.

[Enchante]

"Would any of you consider moving to Massachusetts? HahHah!"

I go back a century in Mass. lineage on one side of my family, but I escaped from there in 1994 and I ain't goin' back!! Always happy to exchange with you in this forum, though.

[be4everfree]

You I think were the first to identify this TROLL.

they just never want to go as deep as I do which makes me feel like I'm weird for the feelings that exist in my heart and soul.

Recently divorced and taking care of a young 7 year-old son. Believe me, I'd like nothing more than to move to Texas where my Liberal brother just moved to because of better income and an incredible mansion. Pray and thing of me. Thanks so much!

I listen to Rush everyday and anyone up on the second floor where my office is...is subjected to it.

My dad was in the Merchant Marines at the landing of Omaha Beach

I am suspect of this poster.

[jhw61]

Hey GodfearingTexan...I'm a kinda chunky gal ya know but I do have a really cute face. I'm into pretty skirts and anything to flatter my big lungs ya know...Hey I think that's why my liberal friends don't like me...I'm well endowed.

[jhw61]

Hey GodfearingTexan...I'm a kinda chunky gal ya know but I do have a really cute face. I'm into pretty skirts and anything to flatter my big lungs ya know...Hey I think that's why my liberal friends don't like me...I'm well endowed.

[Katya]

I live in the DC area, and have the opposite issue. Most of the people I deal with on a daily basis are lefties. They all feel perfectly free to make idiotic pronouncements and snap political judgments, while assuming everyone around them must agree. I pretty much have to keep my politics to myself, particularly since many of these lefties are clients. Unless I'm with my husband, best friend or other freepers I have to be on good behavior.
Basically, while living in this blue state I consciously decide not to alienate myself and antagonize the general public. I'm pretty Libertarian anyway, so it's much easier just self-identifying as a Libertarian. I have more luck discussing side bar issues with people without bringing up party politics...ie. Right to bear arms, taxation, immigration, school choice and land use policies. Once you lay out the issues without engaging hyperbolic emotions, and remain completely pragmatical, most people tend to agree with me, and it's at least an opening for them to "think".

[beebuster2000]

btt

[Steve Van Doorn]

"My dad was in the Merchant Marines at the landing of Omaha Beach"

what is wrong with that statement?

[Sir Francis Dashwood]

As a Salesman,... you have to let them "go off" and get back to business. (will that be 100 shares, or do you want to take a more manly position of 1000 shares)

Don't forget the perfect full Windsor, the smile and minty freshness... (but, of course... a stronger posture of a thousand would net much more than a hundred and look much better if you decided to refinance anything or establish new lines of credit for other acquisitions...)

[be4everfree]

So, to be Perfectly Vague is the only way to deal with moonbats in the workplace. ?

[Figment]

You should try working with another FReeper, especially if you get paid by the hour!

busting a gut here

[be4everfree]

(but, of course... a stronger posture of a thousand would net much more than a hundred and look much better if you decided to refinance anything or establish new lines of credit for other acquisitions...)

Money is but a Tool to be used like hammer or a pen.