I have a very good Republican friend. She is the exact same age that my mom would be if she were still alive. My mom was also a Republican and I suspect that I would be having the same conversations with her were she still alive.
My Republican friend and I agree on so many issues: abortion, gay rights, and the death penalty. Where we don't agree is the legitimacy of the war in Iraq, and that I think that Bush is a lying piece of shit.
Since she is a life-long Republican, she will always vote Republican, or just stay home. She could never bring herself to vote for a Democrat. I have given up on trying to convert her - it's not going to happen, but maybe I can convince her to stay home.
She is offended by my disrespect to "our president," although she doesn't mind that I disagree with specific policies. I told her that Democrats do not "hate America," but just some of the current administration's actions.
We have had some very unpleasant conversations which usually end up with one or the other of us (usually me) hanging up on each other. Just the other day, I said, "Fuck you," and hung up on her. I felt bad about that.
So, I think that I have finally figured it out: Don't attack Bush personally (although God knows there is enough reason to attack him personally.)
The fact that he was a draft dodger and yet has been heralded as the "War President," is completely lost on these people. They consider it to be "old history," if they acknowledge it at all. It is apparently okay to attack "issues," but not the president. In other words, don't make it personal.
So, I had a very nice conversation with my friend tonight. I totally avoided attacking Bush or making negative comments about him. She agreed with the recent ruling of the Supreme Court that minors should not be subject to the death penalty. We both agreed that 2,000 Iraqis protesting today against violence was a wonderful thing.
Turning your Republican friends around is a very slow process, and you must be sensitive and subtle.
"It's hard work."