Well, shoot me in the head and call me Fanny...

I am not a Mother but I received a present on Mother's Day.  Maybe we should call it an early Dog Father's present...  

I called my Sister-in-Law to wish her a Happy Mother’s day.  After several minutes of chatting I spoke to my brother who lives in Wichita, KS which is very close to our hometown where I spent my youth.  He is a STAUNCH Republican.  He voted for Bush 1, against Clinton both times and for G.W. Bush twice.  

Where is my present...well, look below.

My brother and I talked about friends and family for quite a while...the subject of the gas prices came up.  He and his family were going to drive to Colorado twice this summer to visit our parents.  He told me he can now only afford to drive out once.  Why?  He just lost his job due to a mass layoff due to gas prices are so high.

While we were talking about that I had to dig him a bit and asked him how he was loving Mr. 28%?

Silence.

Absolute silence for 20 seconds. I finally asked if he was still there.  He told me something that shocked the living hell of me.

"In this next election I’m going to vote for whichever Democrat wins the nomination.  I don’t care if it is Clinton or Obama.  There is no fucking way I’m voting for McCain."

I asked him why this change of heart?

1. The war in Iraq is going so poorly with no end in sight.

2. With all of the tax breaks that were promised he isn't seeing anything hitting his pocket.

3. He felt the oil companies were in league with Bush and just lining Haliburton, Bush and Cheney's pockets with money.

4. He couldn't stand how the Republicans are blocking reform bills from the Democrats.  He feels they are just being obstructionists.

I was truly stunned.  I couldn’t believe this was my brother who  was happy to proclaim he was proud of Bush going into Afghanistan and Iraq to,

"Kick a little Arab butt".  

The two wars came up as a reason for the gas increases and we both agreed that going into Afghanistan after 9/11 to get Bin Laden was a good thing.  He still thinks that going into Iraq was a good thing to get Sadaam but I could tell there was a tinge of regret because nothing is happening and all the proud soldiers that have been wounded or killed.

Still the fact that he will admit he is voting for a Democrat in the middle of Kansas gives me a huge amount of hope.  Could Kansas be in play?  Could we turn it blue this round?

Again, shoot me in the head and call me Fanny.  I’m amazed as to this turn of events.  If we can turn my brother around we can help others see the light.  YES    WE   CAN!

I am incredibly proud of my brother.

Wichita, KS for reference...it is often called the buckle of the bible belt.

•  Tips for my brother

  I truly am proud of him today!  He is putting up with a lot and also just lost job due to the economic slow down. :(  

  He will be ok, his wife has a great job with the city.  I just worry about him and how he is doing.

  I love my brother and wish he didn't live so far away.

  by dogdad on Mon May 12, 2008 at 12:36:41 PM PDT

  •  I'm wondering

    Did you guys get into his reasons any more than that?  I mean, a truly staunch Republican I'd think would have to have some really, I don't know, revelatory reasons for making such an absolute switch--particularly given the long-organized Hil-hate of the GoP.

    by Gooch on Mon May 12, 2008 at 12:41:02 PM PDT

    •  I just updated the diary

      To go into a bit more detail about his reasons.

      by dogdad on Mon May 12, 2008 at 12:46:12 PM PDT

  •  Good luck to your bro.

    Maybe folks like him are starting to get it how the Repugs have cheated and lied for so long!

    by Ptown boy in NC on Mon May 12, 2008 at 12:48:34 PM PDT

•  Awesome news!

  I'm not surprised though - Nebraska's caucus were overwhelmed by Republicans and Independents.

  Kansanans-for-Obama? Of course. Huck won the Republican vote there, $4 gas, a 30% approval rating for the incumbent, a never-ending war (100 years!). The Rove Model "broke" in 2006.

  by newdem1960 on Mon May 12, 2008 at 12:43:40 PM PDT

•  Kansas Repub - the hills block out communication

  with Amurkah , that's what's wrong? Congrats on your brother becoming sane.May he vote a straight ticket , and may joy and everlasting quality cheap beer flow into him all the days of his life.

  by Abra Crabcakeya on Mon May 12, 2008 at 12:43:58 PM PDT

  •  He did say he will vote a straight ticket

    It amazes me but if there is "D" next to the name he is voting for that person.

    by dogdad on Mon May 12, 2008 at 12:47:09 PM PDT

    •  May wonders never cease! n/t

      by Abra Crabcakeya on Mon May 12, 2008 at 12:47:55 PM PDT

•  A Sign of the Times

  Kansas is just like everywhere else.

  Folks are getting pressed mighty hard.

  Gas, food, and utility increases are a HELL of a lot higher than the CPI would indicate.

  Has YOUR cost of living gone up just 2.6% over the last year?

  I took the missus grocery shopping Saturday...and picked up a loaf of light wheat bread. Hostess, not some fancy brand...and put it right the f*** down!

  Bread is becoming a luxury....and if THAT doesn't scare you, nothing will.

  by Dennnis on Mon May 12, 2008 at 12:45:20 PM PDT

  •  We can eat cake you know. n/t

    by Abra Crabcakeya on Mon May 12, 2008 at 12:49:04 PM PDT

•  Well, I won't shoot you in the head.

  I'll think about calling you Fanny.

  But I will definitely thank you for this diary.

  by RadioGirl on Mon May 12, 2008 at 12:50:45 PM PDT

  •  I love your tagline

    I think we are in the same clique. ;)

    by dogdad on Mon May 12, 2008 at 12:51:47 PM PDT

•  Sounds like...

  ...some of that good weed finally made it over to you're bro's house.

  by pintel on Mon May 12, 2008 at 12:55:40 PM PDT

•  Good on your bro...

  ...and good on you for not giving up on him.  I'm betting he's replayed some of your conversations with him as he's come to terms with how he's voting next time around.

  by techiechick on Mon May 12, 2008 at 12:59:03 PM PDT

•  It's a damned shame

  that it took his personal job loss and economic "rough patch" for your brother to change his political compass.
  I wish it didn't have to take something so dramatic for people to wake up.
  My best to him on the job hunt.

  by cosette on Mon May 12, 2008 at 01:05:10 PM PDT

•  Regarding the "vast plains" in your poll:

  some months ago the papers published the result of math/geography study of some grad students.  They found that KS (and I live there too) is, literally, "flatter than a pancake."  ('bout time grad students did something useful!)

  by gfv6800 on Mon May 12, 2008 at 02:40:39 PM PDT