Loaded question about talking with Republicans

[grumpyduck]

Okay, folks, serious answers only please.

I've mentioned here several times that I have an old friend who's a Republican and that we rarely talk politics. However, every time he gets on it, it's always about how bad the Democrats are.

So I'm curious as to whether any of you have asked a Republican what it was, exactly, that they liked about the previous (ahem) administration, and, if so, how they responded.

I've considered doing this several times with my friend, but know it would result in a very long (as in very long) and irritating conversation for both of us -- mostly me trying to get him back to my question -- so I've been holding off.

[Ocelot II]

1. Have you asked him how, specifically, Democrats are bad, and how their bad policies

or actions have harmed him personally?

[grumpyduck]

10. I haven't.

That's not where I want to go.

[Shrek]

2. The Republicans I know are mostly Never Trumpers

They'll answer "judges" and "tax cuts" and not much else.

[wryter2000]

3. I've never tried it

I don't recommend it. I imagine they'll give you reasons they liked Trump that will curl your hair. I'm pretty sure I'd end up shouting. The person may very well have approved of taking babies away from their parents.

[Hortensis]

11. This. Any reasons they might come up with would be

the long-internalized deceits they were taught by Fox et al. And any sort of intervention that somehow resulted in sobbing and screaming, "Yes, omigod yes, I approved atrocities against babies. Omigod, please, let me die!!!" would probably not improve the relationship.

Protect what's left of the friendship for when this passes and we have to rebuild society.

[czarjak]

4. We're communists. Broad brushes cover up a lot of BS.

Plus my “Libertarian” BnL says he’s not a Republican, he just votes that way because you know whom votes Democratic.

[Scrivener7]

5. That is a Pandora's Box, my friend.

[hurple]

6. I have a few times

It's always all about the racism. Always.

Of course they don't word it like that, but that is always what it boils down to. Always.

[sop]

16. Yeah, it's always about how "other people" are taking advantage of and destroying the country.

Whenever I've tried to burrow down into the Republican belief system, discussing issues on their individual merits, things like funding public education, affordable health care, equal taxation and the like, it always devolves into an "us vs them" debate.

They'd rather support anyone who promises to be as punitive and cruel as possible to those unlike them. The fact their own interests are being ignored seems to matter not all, so long as certain people are made to suffer.

[Calista241]

7. Judges, tax cuts, immigration policy, regulation. Bunch of other things.

My family members that are Repubs would answer with that list. Most of them hated Trump's personality, but loved his policies. To this day, my Mom bitches about immigration policy every other time I see her.

[Eliot Rosewater]

12. This is how broken their brains are (not your family but in general)

Everything they LIKE about con policy is bad for them...


Judges: the ones cons appoint will maintain the rich in charge of everything and consumer rights are limited etc

Tax Cuts: NEVER help them, always hurt them, this is obvious since most of it goes to the rich

Immigration policy: If we didnt have the large immigrant population our economy would completely fail and great harm would come to all of us

Lack of Regulation keeps their air dirty and their water undrinkable...

NOTHING any republican EVER does, EVER ...helps them, nothing. It is maddening, isnt it.

[blm]

8. Ask him to write down the policies and legislation

passed by Republicans over the last 3 decades where the main beneficiaries are America’s working families.

Ask him to write down the policies and legislation passed by Democrats over the last 3 decades where the main beneficiaries are America’s working families.

Ask him to write down the years when the deficit has gone up and the years when it has gone down.

[LakeArenal]

9. Yes. I have a range of Republicans in my social group

The ones that hate trump are fine. Just a bit like “ I’ve got mine.” Too bad for you.

The trumpers and serious religious ones are hyped on abortion. Women are second class citizens, even tho the women trumpers are louder and more virulent about the “ others”. All Hispanics are Mexicans.
Some have been heard to say dump is “handsome and brave”. That Melania is “classy and beautiful”.

When not on trump, they love talking about their stocks and what is their latest stock coup.
That the border is in crisis and Haitians Haitians everywhere and not enough trump to save us from them.

[Rorey]

13. What I have learned

One of the main elements of a productive discussion/argument is that all parties have to agree on the basic facts. If your friend is getting what they think are facts from places like FoxNews, there is no point in discussing.

Facts are facts. They can't be up for debate.

[Irish_Dem]

14. If you value your sanity and the friendship, don't do it.

Will be painful and damaging to listen to insulting nonsense and lies.

[rickyhall]

15. We're all baby killers. Or at least that's what the repug Baptists here brain wash their kids with.

[lagomorph777]

17. I had Republican friends.

I dropped them (after 50+ years of friendship) after I learned they had voted for Turd.

I hope that answers your question.

[MLAA]

18. Can't help, I quit talking to the couple of trumper/republicans in my life a few years ago.

There is nothing they could say to justify their positions in my opinion. Felt and still feel their choices have had such a harmful effect on our country. So whether it was racism or wealth protection didn’t matter to me and I could not have changed them.

[Demsrule86]

19. I do have friends, neighbors. co-workers and acquaintances who are likely GOP- don't know for sure

as we never discuss politics.