I joined Daily Kos back before the pie wars because I couldn't speak with Republicans. It was bad for my blood pressure. I listened to them (and I agree with vetgirl on this being the correct approach) but I didn't have a reply that would work in their universe. Now, things are changing. The polls are reflecting this, of course. But the ordinary people I am interacting with are pointing out the worthy issues for discussion in the 2006 Congressional campaign.
Yesterday I went in to discuss tile with my bathroom remodeling. Yes, that is what I will be spending money on instead of going to Yearly Kos. I am jealous, but we are tired of bailing the tub. I am spending this bathroom money even as I am planning to send the son to college to a liberal arts college with a peace studies major. I commented to my contractor that I couldn't be as luxurious as I would like on the remodel, because of son's college expenses. She sympathized, since all four of hers had gone at once to college. This led to our very friendly, sincere political discussion detailed below the fold.
The three boys had joined the air national guard to pay for college. I said, well, that wasn't really an option for my son right now, and she agreed. I said to her, "we needed to all show up and vote in the next election to change the war situation". I spoke of my husband as a vet readjustment counselor and said in the end, there was going to be a lot of young people coming back from that war with PTSD, and we would all pay the price with funds from our social security.
No one of the three sons had expected to be sent to war when they joined the Air National Guard to pay for college. May of my students join up to pay, and also for the chance to travel and fly planes. Air Force is the preferred service here, along with the Army. All three sons had served overseas, in Qatar, over the last few years, on multiple deployments. She had been worried about terrorists coming in and blowing up her sons' base and barely slept. One of the sons had 9 years in the guard and decided not to re-up recently, although offered enough of a bonus to buy a house (WV, houses are still affordable). Things he had seen (not specified) made him want out. I commented that none of Clinton's wars had been run this badly. I said, our troops in Bosnia ended a war and only 1 person had been killed but we had started this war. I noted we still had a lot of troops in Bosnia, and it was not picnic either. Her cousin had just gotten back from serving there yesterday, by chance.
I mentioned the sending of the guard to the border to fight immigration, when Congress hadn't voted a year before for border guards. My contractor thought the plan was insane. She had voted Republican, before and had supported Shelly Moore Capito (WV Republican) because she had argued strongly for her sons' air force base being kept in Charleston. However Capito came out strongly supporting Bush on the whole border plan this week and this upset my contractor. My contractor knew this plan was crazy and volunteered that it would cost people their jobs. Yes, people aren't supposed to discriminate by law. But there are consequences to being away from work and school. I planted the thought (paranoia) that the Republicans give controversial congress-persons in close districts a vote or an issue like the base closing or CAFTA while maintaining control of the whole issue. This helps Capito look like she is independent while actually making no difference at all, since she is just a tool. I suspected all along that base (which had great ratings for efficiency) wouldn't be closed after all, and Capito was being thrown a bone. I shared the information that Capito was the third or fourth largest recipient of Delay's funds. My contractor was shocked. Gas prices are also making her go crazy- since she is commuting and driving around a lot. I just agreed on that one.
My final talking point: Congressional Republicans had voted in ANOTHER 67 billion dollar tax cut for people getting the Alternative Minimum tax- those earning over $100,000 a year. I mentioned that this wasn't going to help me any, and she agreed with me. I recommend, stop talking about Bush and started talking about Congress, since otherwise Capito will try to escape on local porky issues like this base closing. We have to bring home the big picture and the ultimate loss of prosperity for people in the middle class, with the benefit going to the rich.
My take-home lesson is: Vetgirl is right. Voters like this woman went for the Bush/Capito line out of loyalty to the troops last election. They are rational and have personal issues for voting for Republicans. They can be swayed if the Republican Congress threatens their pocketbook and their family. The war is screwed up and it is the Republicans' fault.
West Virginians have been being bought by Republican advertisers with emotionally laden ads for the last six years, appealing to their loyalty to family and country. Coal Baron Buck Harless decided he wanted Bush elected so he could strip coal off mountaintops and told Bush how to get elected (Thanks, Wall Street Journal). Bush flew into that 130th Air National Guard base in Charleston constantly during 2000 and 2004. Capito was swept in because of Bush, and poor competition from a trial lawyer Dem with money to burn that ran a slimy campaign. Dems ran an unknown against Capito who did better in 2004. So yes, I am a big 50 state advocate, because I want Capito out, since she is a cipher, a Bush tool.
Of course there are people who voted for Bush because they still listen to Rush Limbaugh. They are being told the WMDs went to Syria. That works until your family members are in the Air Force and know better. That will be my new response to someone who mentions Syria- Where did you hear that? And then just listen. That is an open-ended answer that should elicit information from where they heard this story. Then I could debunk the source. I think it is better to concentrate on people like my contractor who are swing voters with a rational pocketbook reason for voting Republican.