How many Republican friends do you have?

[sabra]

[Goldmund]

1. I don't even know a single Republican.

[sabra]

3. Where do you live?

[Goldmund]

6. NYC

Go figure :shrug:

[sui generis]

5. It's hard enough just being good to my real people friends

why would anyone waste time on a republican?

[Goldmund]

8. That's what I'm thinking

It's not that I have an explicit "filter" in place, it's that whenever I meet someone and I end up digging them, they invariably turn out to be liberal.

[Warpy]

17. Work colleagues are GOP

and they're OK as people, just lied to, disinformed, and WRONG. Since I allow good people to be wrong, I try to be accomodating.

They've returned the favor by dropping politics as a topic for discussion.

[thecai]

20. Good One, Warpy

I feel the same way.
Most of the (few) Republicans i know are family, and only a couple of friends.
They are truly misinformed and misled.

[tx_dem41]

23. Then it should be our duty to inform them and lead them.

Aren't we assured enough in our principles to debate and defend them?

[tx_dem41]

21. There are many good reasons why a Democrat SHOULD...

...spend time talking to Republicans. Two off the top...one, to debate them and change their minds (yes, it does happen, more frequently than you think)...two, to test out your own defense of Democratic stances on issues and modify accordingly when you figure out what "works".

As party members, I feel like we HAVE to do this. Its how we do our part in turning the tide and growing as a party.

[sui generis]

25. oh I talk to republicans - just don't call them my friends

there is a HUGE difference. My friends are people that I want no responsibility for changing - I want them the way they are, not the way I think they need to be. That clearly rules out republicans.

[Pushed To The Left]

35. Both of my Republican parents

voted a straight Democratic ticket in 2004! Some Republicans are waking up!

[Goldmund]

39. I totally agree with you

as I said, I don't intentionally avoid republicans. It's just that where I live there are hardly any at all. I do love to debate them and I often do it on the Internets.

[The White Tree]

7. Most of mine are family or my wives friends.

Thing is they all are decent people, they just are clueless on most things that are outside of their sphere of interest.

As such, most are republicans because their parents were and they have never been interested in trying to change.

The problem is, the more intensly you go after them to try to understand what they are voting for, the more they are turned off because they really don't understand the issues and they feel threatened by someone who (at least sounds like) he does.

[Hobarticus]

2. Should include "Reformed Republicans"...I have two

Nothing that I did...they're just very smart people.

[edbermac]

4. Does that include relatives?

You pick your friends and enemies in this life, but your family...you're stuck with them...:dilemma:

[pie]

9. not a single one

way too much maintenance

[FreepFryer]

10. I have a number of close friends who are Republican.

Many voted for Kerry, by the way.

I'm working on converting them over - usually it takes one claim against health insurance, or other unforseen problem, to make them realize just whom they're really helping (~1%), and whom they're hurting (~99%), by being Repubs.

[unhappycamper]

11. My son lives in GA.

Folks down there are nice as hell. Clueless, but nice as hell.

I'm working on it - he's starting to listen. It could happen...... maybe.....


edit to add last comment

[UdoKier]

12. None. I don't like sociopaths.

I have a couple of repuke relatives that I avoid, but that's it.

[demnan]

13. I have one

She's the nicest person in the world but has a blind spot where the Republicans are concerned. I keep working on her though. I won't give up.

[bobthedrummer]

14. Our 29 year old son is a Republican. He's the sole exception.

He's not a neo-con. There is hope for this one.

[demgurl]

15. My husband's family members are pubes.....

I really have no republican friends. One of my son's friends has parents who are republican. We meet up so our kids can play. I always feel that she looks down on me. The way she speaks and the way I will say something and she repeats the exact same thing back with a tone that says, "I can't believe you think THAT way." I don't judge her, wish she would leave me alone.

[tx_dem41]

16. Much like the racial divide can be closed by personal relationships...

I engage people of all ideologies. The ensuing exchange of ideas has proved quite fruitful in changing some opinions. We should all engage people who don't agree with us politically. Its one of the ways our numbers grow.

[babsbunny]

18. My son is a Repub

We don't talk politics! I wish I could tell him everything I know, thanks to DU!

[seabeyond]

19. i dont know a single democrat

i have met no democrats

you need that in your poll. cause though i had to mard 10+ it is only because i have never met a democrat here, and cannot make friends with one

[UdoKier]

22. Jesus, where do you live?

Even back in Texas, I knew plenty of democrats!

[seabeyond]

27. amarillo

f*in texas. not one. i have some that are moderates, but they are religious so vote because of abortion, most dont care about the gay issue and thinks that should be left alone

honestly i dont know one.

now i am around middle to upper income people. i know there are some democrats in town. i pull over all the people with kerry stickers and say i love you. lol lol

looking around my life again, nope not one

[UdoKier]

28. Wow. I guess I was lucky to live in El Paso.

Plenty of cool people in El Paso, lotsa democrats.

And we have mountains, too! :)

[seabeyond]

30. doesnt that area go democrat, lots of democrats

they are part of the bush stole area of texas and austin andhouston i believe. lots of dems in htose areas. not here, lol

i have inlaws in elpaso. visit there often. interesting place. it is fun being in a place where white is the overwhelming minority. lol lol have a repug friend that lives there just a blast for me to tease him

[R. A. Fuqua]

24. I have no idea.

I have lots of friends that I hang with and have fun with--and we have NEVER discussed anything political.

For example, I like to go to the park or the gym--play a game of pick-up basketball with the guys there. I enjoy their company--and we don't talk politics. Sometimes we go to the local pizza place--kick back and enjoy some pizza and beer--watch a game on the tube--and we never talk politics.

I am sure there are all kinds of political beliefs represented--but we can just enjoy life and live in the moment without being all hung up about that stuff.

When I am with friends I like to DO stuff--I am going white water rafting with a bunch of guys this weekend. No time to argue politics---not when you are having lots of fun.

[DURHAM D]

26. None - my political views are based on facts not faith.

No point in spending time with people not of this world.

Besides that I hate everything they stand for and stand for everything they hate.

[lies and propaganda]

29. god bless, just one

im 24, and we met when we were 15 and far from political. Being both from military families, we both joined the AF.

I was discharged before i made it to my permanent duty station, he re-upped, is about to go to Iraq to kill ayrabs and loving every Bushco minute of it.

We seriously have talked twice since Nov 2. One gloating call he made in about Dec, the other telling me how he's going to Iraq.
Isnt it ironic, dont ya think?

[nonconformist]

31. None.

I have cut people that hurt me and mine out of my life. Life is too short to be have pent-up anger and resentment for my "friends".

[Johonny]

32. I have one close republican friend

Who helps run political campaigns and raise republican money. His helpful insight into the inner working of the republican party help me to remember why no human should vote republican.

[mitchum]

33. None! Life is too short to waste my time with the greedy and stupid

[Baclava]

34. I have no friends..........no enemies.....

I'll just go back to my cave now.

Keep all the noise down out there and I won't have to come hurt you.

I hate the living.

[New Dealer]

36. I have several Republican friends

Most of them are fairly rational and open-minded. We often talk politics, and it hasn't turned ugly yet. However, they don't have strong support for Bush.

[in_cog_ni_to]

37. None. n/t

[TommyO]

38. Friends: 0...

Relatives, too many (you can't choose them)