It puts fear in my heart how some Dems are so willing to be kind and forgiving to Repubs

[Sarah Ibarruri]

Am I the only one that feels this way, or do others feel this way also?

[PeaceNikki]

1. I don't know what this is about, but if it bothers you that people are kind and forgiving...

THAT is sad.

[Chovexani]

13. Probably because people disagreed with banning Repukes from comedy shows

Just a wild guess. Who knows.

[Sarah Ibarruri]

31. "banning" who has the power to ban anyone from programs? Is there a banning law? nt

[PeaceNikki]

33. Aw jeez

The whole premise that we must "hate" people because of their political views disgusts me.

[Buzz Clik]

2. What's the alternative?

My entire family is Republican except me.

I disown them?

[renie408]

3. Wild bears running at me puts fear in my heart. My seventeen year old son

behind the wheel of a car puts fear in my heart.

Some people being able to forgive does not put fear in my heart.

[AlCzervik]

4. are you talking about Powell or republicans we personally know?

or all republicans?

[Marsala]

5. Not all Republicans are evil, you know

There may be a couple who are merely confused. :sarcasm:

[jberryhill]

6. Make the world you want to live in /nt

[Alter Ego]

7. I want to be gracious, not a doormat.

I haven't forgotten what they did to us in 2000.

But we cannot make this country change by ourselves. Some of them are unreachable, but we must work together with those who are not to bring about a change of course.

That means bi-fucking-partisanship, as much as it makes the bile rise in your throat, is necessary.

[jobycom]

8. I am more bothered by hatred and meanness from any Democrat for any reason.

Makes them seem too Republican for my taste.

[T Wolf]

9. Absolutely agree with you. Our party always takes the high road, mostly to the detriment of

the nation.

I see two problems, at least. One, it removes the idea of consequences that have to be paid for any action. Shrub has shown what happens when there are no negative consequences for lying, crimes, etc. Secondly, they learn that they can influence decisions without changing their appalling values and policies.

In forgiving them for the destruction they have brought down on the world, we will allow them to slink back into a position of influence. That will weaken any progress that the Dems might actually try to make.

Let them suffer the results of what they have done. Then, they need to show that they know they were wrong. Then they need to make restitution. Then, and only then, should they allowed back ON PROBATION.

Treat them like the criminals they are and support.

[Morning Dew]

23. I agree.

There have to be consequences. They need to rehabilitate themselves so they can rejoin decent society.

[Sarah Ibarruri]

29. I agree. And the worst part of it is, many admire the strength of Repugs....

Meanwhile we use the same formula every time and the past 30 years we've been drowning in right wingerism because people admire their strength. I hope if Obama is elected, we do not fall prey once again to just ignoring everything again.

[stolivodka]

28. My sentiments exactly.

Everyone seems to intent on cramming as many people as possible into our "big tent", and all a Repuke has to do to get in the good graces of 90% of Democrats is say a couple lukewarm things about McCrap or Bush, and all of the lies and all of the spilled blood is forgiven! It *IS* sad.

[T Wolf]

10. Absolutely agree with you. Our party always takes the high road, mostly to the detriment of

the nation.

I see two problems, at least. One, it removes the idea of consequences that have to be paid for any action. Shrub has shown what happens when there are no negative consequences for lying, crimes, etc. Secondly, they learn that they can influence decisions without changing their appalling values and policies.

In forgiving them for the destruction they have brought down on the world, we will allow them to slink back into a position of influence. That will weaken any progress that the Dems might actually try to make.

Let them suffer the results of what they have done. Then, they need to show that they know they were wrong. Then they need to make restitution. Then, and only then, should they allowed back ON PROBATION.

Treat them like the criminals they are and support.

[Sarah Ibarruri]

25. That's it. The old, the poor, the helpless are suffering while we're spreading kindness and light

Americans like strength and all this kindness and light has never gone over too well.

[Jennicut]

11. Because we are not evil, heartless bastards like the majority of them are

We have compassion and hearts and we feel things. They are cold and heartless but I would never want to live my life that way. I do not hate all Rethugs either. Just the downright dispicable ones lie Bush, Cheney, Tom Delay, Rick Santorum, the whole Bush administration and now John McLame. I do not dislike Colin Powell (he was a moderate in a sea of neocons, there was no way to change their minds), almost retired Chuck Hagel, Dick Lugar, Jeff Flake (against government waste but not a fake about it like McLame), and I'm sure there are a few others. I respect the Repubs right to have different views I just don't like ugly attacks and lying, cheating disgusting anti democracy behavior. Colin Powell is not perfect but I will never believe he is evil like Dick Cheney. He made a mistake and he knows it and has to live with it now.

[TornadoTN]

12. Not all Republicans, but most of them deserve to be shunned

I'm sure there are a few good Republicans out there who have enough of their party and their antics. I've had several tell me that the party they joined years ago isn't the party they see today - and to some degree it holds a lot of truth.

My main complaint was how open and receptive I saw some people last night towards McCain at the Al Smith dinner. Just because he can act friendly in one evening doesn't mean that we can just forget the past few months (and John McCain's career). That was disgusting, but maybe I'm missing something somewhere.

[leftofcool]

14. My 80 year old mother is a Republican

she is the most kind and gentle soul I know. Most Republicans I know are wonderful people

[OKNancy]

15. Acid eats the cup it is held in

[renie408]

16. I discovered in the ninth grade that grain alchohol will eat a styrofoam cup.

A friend had snuck a bottle of Everclear in while we were supposed to be working on the school paper. The cups dissolving and leaking alcohol all over our desks was quite the shock.

[nosillies]

17. It puts fear in my heart that there is anyone on the planet

who is unable to be kind and forgiving towards all his fellow human beings.

[redqueen]

18. ...

:thumbsup:

We all feel anger.

Get over it, and work to move forward.

It is the only way, really.

[jonnyblitz]

19. i don't want to be the left wing version of an ignorant freeper

who wants to ban and shut down people who I politically disagree with. :shrug:

[renie408]

20. Amen. Lack of forgiveness and absolutes are to be avoided. n/t

[yardwork]

21. Yeah, Obama never shows any sign of being kind or forgiving, and look where it got him!

[rucky]

22. These people are always going to be around.

I'm not going to let them drag me down. I'll treat 'em the way I want to be treated, but I'm not going out of my way to be nice to them, either.

[hillary]

24. I live in "go big RED" Nebraska

95% of my friends and family are Republicans. I love them all, I just do not agree with them.

[AspenRose]

26. Try being married to one.

Of course, I choose to be kind and forgiving to him ANYWAY, since I love him. He's my husband first, father to my children second, and a republican way, way down the line.

[Sarah Ibarruri]

30. I could never. I've seen so many people suffering and dying from GOP ideology...

... I could NEVER marry someone that doesn't care that his ideology causes that sort of thing.

[AspenRose]

36. Well, if it's any consolation for you

He's not voting in this election.

[Sarah Ibarruri]

37. :( But he's still a Repub. I have a brother-in-law like that.

It has created a rift in my sister's relationship that he doesn't care a rat's @$$ how the weakest people are suffering as a result of whom he votes for and what his (implemented) ideology does.

[asjr]

27. Republicans are so mean. I especially

dislike Bill Frist and Marcia Blackheart from TN.

[Hamlette]

32. It is who we are, and what our country is about. Or have you not been listening to Obama?

We need to pull together. There is no dishonor in changing your mind based on new information. There was a time, pre Reagan, when the GOP was an honorable party. Many of them stuck with the party believing it would return to its honorable roots (small government, large defense for deterrent purposes only, don't waste money).

What do you fear? That a republicans is going to give you cooties? I can listen to them and yes, be kind to them without becoming one of them for gawds sake. And for the ones who change, I can forgive them.

Here's a great example from a reader on a blog. I welcome his vote.

They are killing me. I am a registered Republican. I live in Virginia. But I am clearly not a "Virginia Republican". This ticket and loathesome campaign is a disaster - I haven't left the Republican Party so much as it has left me, at least here in the Commonwealth. The party gladly allowed Rove/GWB to cultivate a certain brand of politics to win and hold the White House. And now that the bill has come due, so few wish to face the music. And in the process - and his quest for office - John McCain has embraced that which he professed to repudiate.

Ignorant Christian Fascism is not a recipe for success, it's Saudi Arabia under a different prophet. Count me out. Despite differing with the Democratic platform on a great number of policies, I will gladly vote for the Obama ticket because at a minimum it promises adults at the helm, a rational approach to policymaking, the return of science over theocracy, the restoration of the primacy of the rule of law, and the creative destruction of that assemblage once known as the GOP.

[Sarah Ibarruri]

34. For decades the elections have shown that Americans like strength

and associate forgiveness with weakness.

[Hamlette]

57. if you do too, then you might want to consider support republicans

Obama has the right mix of tough and not nasty.

My dad was a republican until Reagan. You will never convince me he was a bad person or that he should not have been forgiven. No greater human ever walked the earth.

I associate a failure to forgive as unchristian, mean, nasty, and evil.

And I disagree with your statement that Americans associate forgiveness with weakness.

Think of all those sinful republicans they forgave.

Oh and the Big Dawg had a nearly 70% approval rating during impeachment.

Hate all you want, refuse to forgive all you want just don't tell me I should too or that my party should.

[Shakespeare]

35. Obama does not feel that way.

Perhaps you should follow his example.

[Sarah Ibarruri]

38. If our economy had not crashed, how would our elections be holding up?

Would we be a head a little? Think about it for a while.

[Shakespeare]

39. You presume that I haven't thought about it.

Do us both a favor and don't be presumptuous.

[Sarah Ibarruri]

40. If you have, what's your opinion? If our economy had not crashed....

.. how would the campaign be doing at this moment?

[Shakespeare]

43. I think we'd still be ahead.

I think the point difference would be, maximum, a -2 difference if the economy were singing right along.

But it isn't, and we aren't down by -2, so this is all conjecture.

[Sarah Ibarruri]

44. So you think the crashed economy makes very little difference. Okay nt

[Shakespeare]

46. I said I estimate it makes about a 2-point difference in the national polls.

Don't twist my words, mkay? I was very specific.

[Sarah Ibarruri]

47. That's a very optimistic guess. You're dead wrong. nt

[Shakespeare]

50. LOL--and you know this HOW, exactly?

I don't think you understand polls very well, and I REALLY think you don't understand the difference between national polls and state polls, and what drives each of them.

[Sarah Ibarruri]

52. You're incredibly optimistic that the hurting economy is having a tiny effect...

and assuming that kindness and light is really working this time where it didn't work the past 2 elections. Let's drop it here. I will not respond to your aggressive tone telling me that sweetness is the way. What a joke!

[Shakespeare]

56. 2 percent in the NATIONAL polls is not "tiny."

THAT is why I said you don't understand polls.

And where did I say "sweetness is the way?" Oh, that's right. I didn't.

Fail logic much?

[woofless]

41. America will never acheive her potential

while the Republican Party survives. Send them the way of Bull Moose or the Know Nothings. Stomp and shred them and spit on the dregs.

Woof

[Sarah Ibarruri]

42. The Republican Party will remain strong as long as we continue to allow them nt

[ljm2002]

45. I am with you 100%...

...it is frightening "how soon they forget".

I am not a vindictive person. But politics is a rough sport. And the last 30 years has been brutal towards any sort of progressive politics in this country. The Republics have demonstrated time, and time again how utterly devoid of principles they are when it comes to how they fight: they lie, they cheat, and they steal, both figuratively and literally. It's the only way they can promote their policies, because if most people actually understood the truth of the policy positions, then Republics would lose by overwhelming margins, since their policies only benefit the favored few.

But we still have people who actually believe you can "reach across the aisle" to this crew.

Do they not remember the insane level of thuggery that was present in Congress just 3 short years ago? Do they not remember microphones being turned off, lights being turned off, hearings held in small basement rooms, and various and sundry other forms of pure political thuggery, that were engaged in with delight by the asshats who now tell us we should practice politics with "less anger"?

It really pisses me off. It's like watching an abused wife who keeps going back for more -- the first 100 times, you tend to be more pissed at the abuser. After that, you start to despise them both equally.

Just my $.02.

[stolivodka]

48. The Democratic Party used to be considered the strong party.

Too bad we got taken over by wannabe flower children who fail to realize that politics is a contact sport and that there are lives hanging in the balance.

[Sarah Ibarruri]

49. You said it! It *IS* like an abused wife who keeps going back for more!

What an excellent explanation! You said it so much better than I ever could've.

[elkston]

55. You're saying Obama's lead has NOTHING to do with his campaign.

Its all the economy. That without the downturn he couldn't win, or wouldn't have figured out HOW to win.

He's a pussy that doesn't stand up to attacks. WHATEVER.

And you know what? This economic downturn was a REAL LIVE test of Presidential resolve. Obama passed and McCain failed.

But instead of praising the TRUE STRENGTH of Obama *where it counts*, you want to call him a wuss.

[Sarah Ibarruri]

59. No, I'm saying that Democrats are all too willing to lie down on a puddle....

... so GOPers can walk over them without soiling their feet.

[catlady]

51. Well I was a republican for 20 years...

I was always a social liberal, but for all of those years I honestly believed that too much government intervention was wrong. I believed that the government should be minimal, and keep taxes low so that I would have enough money to help those that were put in my path to help. And I did. I gave people jobs, I paid for their healthcare, I donated time and money, and I irritated my fellow republicans constantly for freedom and equality for all and to stop the war. I truly did believe that I was doing the right thing, and did not believe that I was part of the problem.

However, even if it may seem too little too late, I did pay attention to what my former party did the past eight years. They represented me in no way whatsoever. Looking back over the past 20+ years I don't think they ever really did, but before the internet the world was much smaller to me. I have changed my party and for the first time in my life I am voting for a candidate that I truly believe in. I am not just voting party, and I am not voting for the lesser of evils. I am voting for a man that I believe represents what I have always believed. Somehow over the years the democratic party became in my finally open eyes the party that represents my beliefs and values. I was terribly swayed against the democrat party during Carter, and being as that truthful information was hard to come by at that time I ended up in a rut (no excuses, just the sad facts). In my heart of hearts I wanted to believe that we didn't need government to intervene and that it could be dangerous. But after seeing nearly everyone who said what I had said end up hoarding their money, not volunteering, not donating, and NOT giving to those in most need, I came to the cruel realization that people never had any intention of doing those things. They used that as an excuse to further their own greed. I realize now that the only way we can give people an equal chance at life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness is to have strict regulations on those that would take advantage of others. The playing field MUST be as equal and fair as this world can allow!

I am not trying to make excuses and you are all free to hate me or wish punishment on me or shun me from this board. Because right now it doesn't matter to me if you hate me, and if it helps you to fight harder for Obama by hating me then consider me your willing punching bag. What does matter is that this country has been nearly destroyed by the republican party (we are hanging by a thread). And Obama has some brilliant and well thought out plans to turn things around (not just talking points), and real actions in the past to prove that his heart is good and that he actually can accomplish what he says he will do, and that he is the closest anyone has ever been to representing my views and beliefs nearly across the board.

You can hate me all you want, but right now I feel like one of those ex-smokers who become extreme in their opinions about current smokers. I am FURIOUS at my former party, and I feel like while my intentions had been good that doesn't stop the fact that there will always be blood on my hands from this mess. I cannot change my past, but I can go forward doing the right thing. I am not looking for acceptance or a pat on the back either, for I freely admit my own digust with myself. I am a mother and it makes me sick to see what I have left my kids if I don't so something to turn this back around. So like I said... I'm not expecting any pats on the back... Having my eyes opened before it was too late, having the opportunity to help in this campaign, having the opportunity to vote for someone I believe in, getting to personally know some wonderful people in the democratic party (and here on this board), and watching more and more people who used to think like me wake up from their self imposed slumber is absolutely good enough for me.

[AZBlue]

53. You're suggesting we hold all Republicans accountable for the crimes of Bush & his cabal?

That's absurd.

[wvbygod]

54. The unforgiving person scare me much more than the altruistic soul

And fear leads to distrust. It gets worse and hate does not help matters.

[cynatnite]

58. We need repub votes, too. n/t