Having Thanksgiving with the Rebulican side of my family, need some help

[ND_Democrat]

OK so I'm going to Kansas to have Thanksgiving with my family there. They are repubs and I know they are all gonna get on me because I'm a liberal. It's gonna be me vs. six repubs and I am terrible at arguing my point. If you guys could help I would greatly appreciate it.

[Bozita]

1. Pickles has the answer

Xanax

[ND_Democrat]

2. Good Idea

[chicagojoe]

3. As soon as you walk in, just start pounding on the biggest guy...

...then they'll know not to mess with you.
If you don't like that, use the line I've been using on the R's in my world---"the next words you hear me say about Election04 will be I Told You So !!!".

[punpirate]

4. You seem to suggest that...

... the dinner conversation will inevitably turn to politics. I would suggest that you not be the first to wade into the fray, and when you're asked for your opinion, just smile and say, "wait and see what happens."

You'll be pressed for your opinion, but hold firm. Just smile sadly, and say, "wait and see." You'll have them thinking a lot more than if you were to try to argue with them.

Cheers.

[ND_Democrat]

6. Thanks

The conversation will turn into politics because they know I am a liberal and will most likely try and rub my face in the fact that won *. I am going to try and steer the conversation away from politics, but i know it will get there.

[punpirate]

8. Yeah...

... I know how it goes (BTDT). But, this time, let `em gloat and try to bait you and just resist. :)

What's the line? Hope you got what you thought you wanted? They will, in time. Then, and only then, are you on safe ground in saying, "told you so." Right now, it has no meaning to them. Be the seer. That way you can't be baited.

Cheers.

[skygazer]

21. That's something that drives me nuts

Why do people feel they have to rub things in the face of others? Especially their family on a holiday?

I would say, "Look, it's Thanksgiving and I'd rather not discuss politics on a family holiday." And if they persist, throw the cranberry at them.

[Phentex]

25. You could also say

that time will tell exactly what it is they won....

[Dr.Phool]

5. Oh Gawd, Me to.

I'm in Florida, originaly from Cleveland.

Tomorrow the niece comes in with her husband, who's a Republican lobbyist in Missouri. Her parents, who live next door, believe shrub is the messiah. Brother-in law, who is retired IBM exec Republican, is also coming over from Boca Raton.

Happy fucking Thanksgiving. And I gotta put up with this shit for a week. Even play golf with these assholes.

[ND_Democrat]

7. Good Luck

[DemBones DemBones]

9. Thank God that we'll be celebrating the

holidays with our daughter and son-in-law, who were part of the massive protest at the Supreme Court on December 11, 2000, the day before the Selection of Dim Son was announced. Any animosity or derision will be aimed to the right, where it belongs, and not at each other!

Our parents are all dead now and other relatives far away, including Republicans who would make our lives hell if they had the chance. But I've been through some miserable family experiences so I feel your pain.

Best of luck to all at getting through the family dinners! :hi:

[Hello_Kitty]

10. They usually don't know anything about the issues

So you would blow them away with just a few highlights you read here. But if you really get tongue tied, every time they try to spout something just come back with "Listen, if I wanna hear the latest White House talking points I can get them straight from Fox News or Rush. They actually do a better job of repeating them than you do."

[Bozita]

11. take this toon with you

[Melodybe]

12. If religion comes up, mention that King James was a flaming homosexual

it's true, even Pat Robertson has rejected the King James Bible.

If they are fundie Christian repubs that should be a fun topic.

In love letters to his male sexual partners James often began the letters referring to his lovers as his "wife".

Tell them about the New Freedom Initative, if they hate big government that should rile them.

[Carson]

22. Why "rile" them?

Why not just let it go? If one is trying to have a peaceful family get-together, what good would your advice do?

It seems rather childish to me.

I love my family and, for the most part, we're not on the same page politically. So freakin' what. Mostly we try to steer clear of divisive topics, but if one comes up, we don't try to intentionally insult one another.

People need to get a grip.

eom

[derrald]

13. lol, well

what dorm are you in? If you're not leaving soon, I'll drop by and give you a refresher tomorrow after my 11 o clock German class. I'm in Knott, by the way :)

[hinachan]

14. Go AWOL

Hey, it worked for their candidate...it can work for you! :D

[auburngrad82]

15. I wouldn't go eom

[Lefta Dissenter]

16. On Thursday we're just having my kids

and their respective dates. All Dems (well, my son's girlfriend is a Muslim girl from Malaysia... something tells me she wouldn't be voting for bush were she a voting US citizen) but on Saturday we're getting together with my freeper in-laws. My mother-in-law is a dem, but I think she's the only one.

Last Thanksgiving was when I got into a knock-down drag-out with my formerly-liberal-now-rush-and-faux-loving-brother-in-law... and that's when he told me that he'd be proud if his kids would get drafted, because they'd be honorably defending our country :eyes:

At any rate, I'm going to do my best to avoid any political discussions, but this one guy does love to bait me. If he brings it up, I think I'm planning to say something like, "He's not my president, but I hope the murdurous, lying asshole continues to do you proud." And then leave the room and have another glass of wine.

too subtle? :shrug:

edited to add my new sign

[aQuArius]

17. Don't start the conversation

but when they make a statement just say "Proove it"

them: The economy is getting better under Bush*
you: proove it

them: We're winning the war in Iraq.
you: proove it

ask them for the source of their information...it usually stops them in their tracks. Make sure you tell them to proove it without citing FOX news, Rush Limbaugh or any other talk show host

good luck...

do you absoloutly have to go?

[Catchawave]

18. Politics aside...

The only way I could survive my family gatherings over the years....

drink heavily:beer: , but please do so responsibly...lol.

[el_gato]

19. I printed out some big full color photos of children war victims

If someone pulls any shit all I have to do is pull out those photos and say "This is what you are personally reponsible for, and you better
hope god does not exist because if there is a god you are gonna burn in hell."

[Carson]

20. Be the bigger person. If you don't want to discuss politics, then don't.

Leave the room. Change the topic. You know you are right and you also know you probably won't change their minds, no matter how well you argue the points. Why then be part of the discussion?

If you love your family and want to spend this holiday with them, then don't answer a political discussion with anger or violence or recriminations.

I speak from experience. The majority of my family are conservative Republicans.

I've seen so many threads here about not seeing "my repuke family" or "I'm not speaking to Mom/Dad/Brother/Sister." I find it sad and troubling.

Don't let this attitude happen to you.

Best wishes.

[huskerlaw]

23. I'm dealing with this prospect as well

In fact, want to stop in Nebraska on your way down? It will be me and one sister vs. 30 Republicans (give or take 10). Frankly, I could use the help. It's going to be nothing short of horrifying.

I already tried the "ignore them and they will go away" tactic at a neice's birthday party on November 5 (yes, that was painful). That totally didn't work. The problems started when my fundie mother asked my 5-year-old nephew to "tell Aunt Lisa who won the election!" At which point he starts dancing and yelling, "Bush Won! Bush Won!" Why? Because his Kindergarten class had a mock election and Bush won...and to a 5-year-old the winner is always the good guy. And my 9-year-old nephew says "Yeah, who would vote for Kerry? He quit. He's a loser." Luckily, the older one plays lots of sports, so I had a little talk with him about sportsmanship, and he ended up taking Kerry's side. As for the little one, I took him aside and showed him Kerry rally pics that I still had on my digicam. Lucky for me, Jon Bon Jovi was also at the rally. The child, for some reason, is in love with Bon Jovi music, so he quickly realized he'd picked the wrong guy (yes, I know this was a cheap ploy, but ya gotta do what ya gotta do). I couldn't have scripted it better, as he walked right over to previously mentioned fundie mother and said, "Grandma, I made a mistake I should have voted for Kerry."

So do what you need to do, ignore them if possible, defend yourself if necessary. But most of all, remember that even if they make your day a living hell, you're right and they're wrong. Keeping that in mind goes a long way.

[Aiptasia]

24. Just stuff devilled eggs in your mouth

Then try to talk and spit yolk and bits of egg on their shirts.. crackers are passe...

[GOPFighter]

26. May the force be with you!

I'm the only liberal in my family. My wife and I would drive from DC for the family get-together. After a few years (and ugly arguments) it became obvious that this was one of the highlights of their life. They had no liberal friends or co-workers so they let their anger and frustration build up all year and unloaded on us. Everyone ended up screaming their arguments at me and there was no way I could rebut them all.

I sadly came to the conclusion that their politics and fundamentalist religion meant far more to them then their love and respect for me and my wife, so we stopped going. In fact I hardly ever see my family anymore.

ND, I hope your family is more considerate of you feelings and beliefs, but if the conversation becomes a 6 vs. 1 screaming match, leave. If they don't have enough respect for you to hear your side of the argument and accept that you have the right to your opinion, like they do, then they aren't worth spending time with. I miss my family, but I refuse to be their punching bag.

[dorktv]

27. if you are Christian, take the bible with you. Open to Matthew

Chapter five. Read it out loud. Repeat as necessary.

Or to really tick them off, mark all the places where it says be good to the poor. Then read them off, it will take you a long time because the book is jam packed with admonishments to be good to the needy. By then they will leave you alone.

[Shoeempress]

28. Since when did Thanksgiving become Thank God That's over.

If your family has such bad manners why go see them? You obviously don't enjoy the visits, and if they are being rude to you, they don't value you. If they want to see you, let them get in the car,plane, train and do so. I'd come down with the "flu" and spend a 4 day weekend doing something fun.