Monday, April 09, 2007
A CONVERSATION WITH A REPUBLICAN
Well, it wasn't really a conversation, but better described as a series of short exclamations back and forth. Conversations with some republicans about politics tend to be like that. A true conversation suggests give and take, proper consideration for the expressions of one another, and measures of thought and civility.
Perhaps the foregoing better defines a discussion than a conversation. But real republicans don't normally favor political discussions either. Verbal political interactions with real republicans tend to be a series of exclamations, a shouting match, or a one-sided monologue with the republican doing all the talking.
How often have we noted on television that so-called balanced panel discussions tend to be dominated by self-assured republican advocates who have all the answeres and keep repeating those prescribed talking points? While this is not always the case, and democrats are learning the tactic, some republican advocates interrupt to disagree, shouting if necessary. Even though the moderator may intervene, the orderly thought chain of the opponent has been successfully disrupted.
But then we stray.
The Militant Moderate was in a public place of activity in which there was a television set tuned to CNN's afternoon program. The reporter was giving the news of Speaker Pelosi's trip to the Middle East, including Syria, the White House criticism, and the democrat response pointing to the three republicans just there.
The conversation went like this:
Republican: "They ought to shoot her!"
Militant Moderate: "Maybe they should do something about Bush instead."
Republican: "Nothing wrong with him!"
Militant Moderate: "He's the cause of our problems, not her!"
Republican: "He is the only honest one up there!"
A Second Republican: "At least we don't have Hillary in charge."
Militant Moderate: "We could do a lot worse. We have worse right now!"
Silence.
This was an elderly republican. He spoke loudly. So the Militant Moderate spoke loudly to be sure that he could hear. Perhaps this man thought the Militant Moderate, a bit elderly as well, was also hard of hearing.
One would surmise that this elderly republican might ordinarily behave in a gentlemanly manner. But his political outburst was not. A gentleman does not call loudly for the shooting of our nice lady Speaker of the House. Being a gentleman, the Militant Moderate did not call loudly for the shooting of the president. Nor did he call loudly for his impeachment. But he admits having the urge to do the latter.
Other than being difficult to converse with, real republicans are also difficult to reason with about politics. Their minds are made up. They were not made up today, yesterday, or last year. Their minds were made up a long time ago. And, real republicans practically never change their minds.
Facts don't matter. Experience doesn't matter. Seeing events occur before their eyes doesn't matter. The current president still runs 30 percent or more approval rating. Those are diehard republicans who believe nothing bad about another republican, even if they see it happen. A bunch of these live in Oklahoma.
Dr. Edwin E. Vineyard, AKA The Militant Moderate
Perhaps the foregoing better defines a discussion than a conversation. But real republicans don't normally favor political discussions either. Verbal political interactions with real republicans tend to be a series of exclamations, a shouting match, or a one-sided monologue with the republican doing all the talking.
How often have we noted on television that so-called balanced panel discussions tend to be dominated by self-assured republican advocates who have all the answeres and keep repeating those prescribed talking points? While this is not always the case, and democrats are learning the tactic, some republican advocates interrupt to disagree, shouting if necessary. Even though the moderator may intervene, the orderly thought chain of the opponent has been successfully disrupted.
But then we stray.
The Militant Moderate was in a public place of activity in which there was a television set tuned to CNN's afternoon program. The reporter was giving the news of Speaker Pelosi's trip to the Middle East, including Syria, the White House criticism, and the democrat response pointing to the three republicans just there.
The conversation went like this:
Republican: "They ought to shoot her!"
Militant Moderate: "Maybe they should do something about Bush instead."
Republican: "Nothing wrong with him!"
Militant Moderate: "He's the cause of our problems, not her!"
Republican: "He is the only honest one up there!"
A Second Republican: "At least we don't have Hillary in charge."
Militant Moderate: "We could do a lot worse. We have worse right now!"
Silence.
This was an elderly republican. He spoke loudly. So the Militant Moderate spoke loudly to be sure that he could hear. Perhaps this man thought the Militant Moderate, a bit elderly as well, was also hard of hearing.
One would surmise that this elderly republican might ordinarily behave in a gentlemanly manner. But his political outburst was not. A gentleman does not call loudly for the shooting of our nice lady Speaker of the House. Being a gentleman, the Militant Moderate did not call loudly for the shooting of the president. Nor did he call loudly for his impeachment. But he admits having the urge to do the latter.
Other than being difficult to converse with, real republicans are also difficult to reason with about politics. Their minds are made up. They were not made up today, yesterday, or last year. Their minds were made up a long time ago. And, real republicans practically never change their minds.
Facts don't matter. Experience doesn't matter. Seeing events occur before their eyes doesn't matter. The current president still runs 30 percent or more approval rating. Those are diehard republicans who believe nothing bad about another republican, even if they see it happen. A bunch of these live in Oklahoma.
Dr. Edwin E. Vineyard, AKA The Militant Moderate
