When talking politics with your SO/Spouse/etc,

[Ariana Celeste]

do they ever look at you like you're going a bit out there? Do they ever try to be "the rational one"?

How do you handle it?

I tend to get a little upset- I don't cry or lash out, just look at him and say "Why you always gotta bring me down, man?" He has been into politics longer than I have, but I put a lot of time into reading DU... and of course other sites, but this is my main source of info. And I usually end up being right when we discuss this Administration- thanks to everyone here.

I have trouble handling it, though. Lol. He says, "I'm not going to be your yes-man." I tell him, "That's not what I want, but you don't have to bring me down, dude. Discuss, not criticize."

So how do you handle it? Maybe I can learn something. :D


On edit- Mind is a Socialist/Libertarian kind of mix, liberal for the most part.

[goddess40]

1. I just held my ground and after 15 years he came over to the light side

When we got married his favorite President was Nixon, what was I thinking? I refused to be swayed by the stupid things he would say about the economy, I truly believed that he thought he had to vote republican to protect the wealth that was going to pour down on him from out of the sky.
Not only does he vote democratic now but he is the VP of his local union, he used to feel that unions were a necessary evil.

[Ariana Celeste]

3. Right on

Mine is a Libertarian/Socialist mix. He is for the most past liberal, but he thinks I stick my head into too many conspiracy theories.

Good for you for holding your ground!

[goddess40]

15. My hubby thinks I'm still a bit out there at times

I'm from the "let it happen" camp, to many free passes to clear the way to 911 for me to think otherwise. I question everything this administration does these days; if I can think it they can do it. After all they have everything going for them, the control all three branches of the government and the media. Too many people in this country think if they see it on tv or in print it must be true, except of course that brilliant piece of propaganda the right has been working on for years. Blame it on the liberal media if any glimmer of truth comes out - I'll give them credit for dreaming up that beauty. When someone complains about the liberal media within earshot of me I tell them to not listen to airamerica if it bothers them so - as that is all there is in liberal media.

[FloridaPat]

2. My friends look at me like I'm insane. And I don't blame them with

some of the statements that have come out of my mouth. Let's face it, most of what's happened in the last 5 years should only be in science fiction books. Not the real world. People get really upset when I say I think our government did 9-11.

[Ariana Celeste]

5. I try not to go there often,

and only really mention that to my SO and brother. My brother agrees even though he doesn't know a lot about politics- come to find out, one of my close friends from highschool hangs out with him and tells him all the same things I do. Lol.

My SO on the other hand doesn't believe there's any possibility of the govt doing it, and only a slight possibility of them letting it happen.

[BOSSHOG]

4. I'm very fortunate

My wife and I (married 31 years) agree on almost everything in the national political arena. Our conversations are relatively irrelevant since there is no conflict. She is probably more liberal than me but I'm much LOUDER. She would rather I not talk politics, especially with her coworkers since she likes to maintin peace in her world and I grudgingly oblige. Her coworkers are wonderful, well educated folks, but some are political neanderthals. We limit our conversations to sports and marinade recipes and grilling techniques.

[Ariana Celeste]

6. Right on. I hear you about the co workers.

My SO doesn't really hang out with Bush voters/supporters, and certainly wouldn't bring them home- he knows me better than that, lol! Fortunately one of the men he is friends with who comes over, while not liberal anymore, isn't necessarily conservative- he and I have talked politics a few times. Somebody along the line made him think that you grow out of liberalism. Yeesh. Despite that, we agree on so many levels- he's definitely on the left, he just doesn't realize it. He can't vote, though.

[Heidi]

10. Same here (sort of) . . .

Mr. Heidi and I do often discuss politics, but our views are much the same, though he sometimes has to talk me down from the ledge when other Europeans treat me as though I (as an American) am the Dubya's personal envoy. (We also discuss non-political matters, like the all consuming questions of "gas?" or "charcoal?")

:hi:

[ScreamingMeemie]

7. Used to. Except MrG is sometimes even more vocal than I. He

works in a shop with a bunch of mindless people who are just existing. There are one or two dems there...and they've made it their business to "educate" instead of listening to the spewage of pablum. :hi:

[Ariana Celeste]

11. Haha.

At my SO's workplace, most are just working drones, but there are a few righties and lefties- so once in awhile he gets involved in some discussion or another. After Sheehan started actually getting coverage (just like I *told* him she would, he didn't believe me) he asked me to repeat her name a couple of times- I have a feeling he has mentioned her at work by now. :D

:hi: back at ya!

[Bluerthanblue]

8. i don't get the 'devils advocate'

treatment, but i DO get the 'can't we talk about something else'-
and i've come to see that men (sorry, sounds sterotypical, probably alot of women have the same problem) get very uncomfortable when they SEE a problem, and feel powerless to 'make everything ok' immediately, so they want to avoid the discomfort.

i've learned that there are times when talking about the issues is kind of like 'preaching to the choir'- but also, sometimes i DO need to bounce off my friend, and even though i don't agree, i have to try and understand the 'other' perspective, and why they hold it.

It IS hard to be 'calm' or not want to wake up the world, especially when you are 'informed'- it's like listening to the band as the titanic is filling with water....

hang in there- wish i could give a better answer.

[Ariana Celeste]

9. Oooh I get that, too.

"Can't we talk about something else? I just got home from work.", "You're preaching to the choir, hun. Let's watch Conan."

It IS hard. That's why I spend so much time here! I always try to understand other perspectives, as well. Talking with my mom or my SO's mom, I have to. My mom disagreed with me on a lot of issues until she watched F-9/11. She is kind of on the same page now.

<and i've come to see that men (sorry, sounds sterotypical, probably alot of women have the same problem) get very uncomfortable when they SEE a problem>

I think you are right, there.

[RubyDuby in GA]

12. Sorry - Mr. Rubyduby and I agree on everything

Damn I'm a lucky woman!

[ismnotwasm]

13. My husband has this cool way of looking at things

He has this instinctive sense of right and wrong. He's an uneducating guy, a truck driver before he was struck down by MS. He can say in a sentence what I will rant on and on about. We agree on politics, but damn I wish I could put things a simply as he does. He cuts straight through bullshit. He learns facts from me, and I learn how to present those facts from him.

[Ariana Celeste]

14. That's very cool

Once in awhile when my SO feels like actually discussing politics, he can do the same thing. But I'm with ya, I can rant for hours if I'm given the time to do so. :D

[I Have A Dream]

21. Wow, we need him to be working with our leadership on the left.

No kidding -- this is what we're missing on our side. Wonder if there's any way he could...

[SarahB]

16. Nope.

Every man I've had had a major relationship with has been on a similar political wavelength. I'm lucky. :)

[skygazer]

17. My hubby never paid attention to politics before he met me

If he had any opinions, they tended to lean toward the repuke - mostly because he has guns and was a member of the NRA and so got all their propaganda in the mail. Also because of the way the "liberal" media portrays us wingnuts types. But in reality, his interests lie more in the liberal camp - he is very concerned about environmental issues, for example, he is a union member, working class, etc.

He is somewhat bemused by me and finds my passion somewhat overwhelming. He admires it though, and tends to find my arguments persuasive and logical (actually, he thinks I should run for president because he loves to cook and decorate and so could redo the white house and host gala luncheons and such).

He voted for the first time last year and voted Democrat. :)

[Wetzelbill]

18. why am I even on this thread?

I'm single.

[name not needed]

19. Same here

but I want to inflate my post count once more.

[Wetzelbill]

20. so I better give you another post to reply to then

:)