I can't be friends with political opponents

Discussion in 'Member Casual Chat' started by Le Chef, Aug 2, 2019.

  1. Le Chef

    Le Chef Banned at members request Donor

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    Not proud to say this, but I don't even want to see my liberal friends anymore. One of them, a friend and fellow guitar player for over 40 years, I told explicitly that I didn't need to ever see again. Sooner or later, my liberal friends will make an ugly, preachy, judgmental comment about either Trump, Republicans, or people who vote for them, and even if we declare a cease fire, it's always right there under the surface. I didn't even vote for Trump and I still despise the way they talk about my friends who do support Trump or who won't denounce his failings. Yes, he has them. So do I. So do we all.

    Time was when Democrats and Republicans disagreed over tax policy, welfare, budget priorities, pollution, the role of government, conservation, foreign policy, and voting ages.

    Now it's all down to "you're either with me or you're a Russian, homophobic, misogynistic racist."

    To which I say, "Drop dead."

    I know I shouldn't be this way, but it's either that or pretend I enjoy their company, and what's the point of faking it?

    If I put this post on Facebook, I'll lose probably 20 friends. I don't know why I care. After all, they don't mind slamming Republicans and Trump with ugly memes and "jokes."

    This sucks, and there's no way out. Need new friends is all, I guess.
     
    Last edited: Aug 2, 2019
  2. Aleksander Ulyanov

    Aleksander Ulyanov Well-Known Member

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    I don't hang out with Nazis and members of NAMBLA either. The thing is that Trump isn't even trying to say he's not what he is, not in any credible way really.
     
  3. modernpaladin

    modernpaladin Well-Known Member Past Donor

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    Before burning the bridge, I would ask them something along the lines of 'Do you think I'm a racist? Do you think I would be friends with racists?' If they say yes, they're prolly not a very good friend. If they say no, then you can prolly get past it.
     
    Last edited: Aug 2, 2019
  4. Le Chef

    Le Chef Banned at members request Donor

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    Warned? I must say that's the most thuggish thing I've read on the internet.
     
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  5. Bowerbird

    Bowerbird Well-Known Member

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    Before you sever ties ask yourself if you are feeling uncomfortable because they do not agree with you view or if you are feeling uncomfortable because some part of you agrees with them and you do not want to change your core beliefs?

    This is a hard introspection to make because it means challenging some fundamental assumptions
     
  6. Le Chef

    Le Chef Banned at members request Donor

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    I honestly don't know. Maybe I'm just tired if squabbling. I don't see that it accomplishes very much.
     
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  7. yguy

    yguy Well-Known Member

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    I dunno about that. Ideally, every American is a friend of every other American; but the bare fact of the matter is that a great many nominal Americans are enemies of America. How the hell is an American supposed to be friends with people like that?
     
    Last edited: Aug 2, 2019
  8. btthegreat

    btthegreat Well-Known Member

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    I have no problem with conservatives or republicans or libertarians, or people who are members of the NRA, or pro-lifers, or even opponents of same sex marriage. I can have a social relationship with them, and keep their political views in perspective and I am still trying to find ways I can personally respect an avowed trumpster anymore. Its getting so hard though. I have never been in this predicament before in 45 years of engagement. I just don't know how basically decent good patriotic people can respect this man, or support him. I can't put myself in their shoes like I could a Reaganite or Bush supporter. I will continue to try because I know its better for the country if we don't divide ourselves by politics, but WOW Trump is completely amoral sleeze.
     
    Last edited: Aug 2, 2019
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  9. Le Chef

    Le Chef Banned at members request Donor

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    No one is without character flaws. And almost no one is without good points, Trump included.
     
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  10. Bowerbird

    Bowerbird Well-Known Member

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    You probably need to step back from politics for a while and this is difficult it might give you the time you need to sort through things

    Worst thing you can do is lose your friends
     
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  11. Bowerbird

    Bowerbird Well-Known Member

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    I think though, that is what gets a lot of us frustrated. I know I am someone who has a tight moral belief. I am personally affronted by people who seem to be able to act outside the law and not be brought to justice. Trump University was my central pivot ( there were and are others’) This was fraud and he not only walked away unscathed but he has never faced justice over what he did.
     
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  12. Robert

    Robert Well-Known Member Past Donor

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    Thank god in heaven that I am not around bigots that hate Trump. My family supports Trump. We are very decent people. We support trump for acts of Governing, not what SNL instructs us to believe. Some Say Trump is not moral. Folks, Abe Lincoln was not moral. FDR was not moral. Woodrow Wilson not moral. Was Obama moral? Not really. His morals changed with the tossing under the bus his own pastor.
     
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  13. roorooroo

    roorooroo Well-Known Member Past Donor

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    Thuggish? More like the funniest joke on the internet! LOL! C'mon Chef, sometimes you just have to consider the source.

    Don't let the nay-sayers get you down. Always remember this isn't about Trump, it is about stopping the progressive socialist agenda.
     
    Last edited: Aug 2, 2019
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  14. btthegreat

    btthegreat Well-Known Member

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    See I don't see being a complete amoral sleeze as having one or two or even three 'character flaws'. I have some. I am too often proud, stubborn and prone to arrogance. Those are flaws in my character. But I am also honest, loyal, empathetic, hard working, trustworthy etc. I am a basically decent person. Most people are, including politicians. Almost every single conservative or republican political figure, I can think of, strives to be a decent person. Even If I don't see much evidence in their public lives, I will see some shred of honor or I can see evidence in the way they conduct their personal life. I can find moments, character defining moments, where each did the right thing stood tall. I looked hard with Donald. Real hard. Nothing.

    He's completely void of signs of basic integrity. There's no soul there, no passion for doing the right thing - ever.
     
    Last edited: Aug 2, 2019
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  15. Hoosier8

    Hoosier8 Well-Known Member Past Donor

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    Meh, I just let my lib friends rant.
     
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  16. Bowerbird

    Bowerbird Well-Known Member

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    No, he ran a crooked fraud that he was refusing to make right on this until he HAD to settle
    https://www.nationalreview.com/corner/trump-university-scam/

    Then there is the scandal about bribing his way out of being charged

    https://www.vox.com/2016/6/2/11838554/trump-university-fraud-abbott-bondi
     
  17. Bush Lawyer

    Bush Lawyer Well-Known Member

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    Hysterical Trump nonsense. One can be vehemently in disagreement with a Government but not be an enemy of the Country. That is the bullshit like Trump spins and suckers swallow it large.
     
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  18. Bush Lawyer

    Bush Lawyer Well-Known Member

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    True, but POTUS ought not have the many and awful characters flaws Trump wears as Badges of Honour.
     
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  19. jack4freedom

    jack4freedom Well-Known Member Past Donor

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    I have many friends and even a sister and brother in law who are Fox News, Hannitized Trumpists. I still love them and can hang out and party with them but I sure as hell don’t want to be lectured by them about how horrible LA and California are (which seems to be one of the main parts of the new right wing narrative) or what a miracle worker and godsend Trump is. It’s almost creepy how some people like them who never voted or knew anything about politics (and still don’t) are preaching to me about politics and the wonders of Trump. I have been following politics since Goldwater vs Johnson and have supported candidates from both parties and many independents. I do not shut them out of my life but I make it clear that I don’t want to hear their canned right wing ditto head bullcrap. If they persist, I will avoid them but I hope it never comes to that. There are a hell of a lot more important things in my life than this whole Demikin vs Republicrat crap or the phony left vs right paradigm. We ca we can relate on higher levels such as music, art, sports humor and other far more interesting subjects.
     
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  20. Distraff

    Distraff Well-Known Member

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    If a liberal friend makes a political statement about Trump, you are free to say that you don't want him to bring politics into your friendship and draw a line. All friendships have boundaries and ending friendships simply because you can't draw boundaries with friends you don't agree with on everything isn't good for you.
     
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  21. Bush Lawyer

    Bush Lawyer Well-Known Member

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    You are quite right. Allow this outsider to comment that it is TRUMP who is creating and manipulating this massive divide and it is not good news for the USA. Leaders ought be about uniting. Trump could not care less. He knows his political survival depends on black and white (gawd...I do not mean skin colour) division, the larger the better it is for him. He is deliberately polarising people, hence this Thread.
     
  22. Bush Lawyer

    Bush Lawyer Well-Known Member

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    There is the general rule that you never talk about politics, sex or religion in company. That is largely followed I suspect with acquaintances but there is nothing off the table with my mates. There is a huge political divide between us and I am largely well outnumbered. However, that just adds to the list of things we can have a go at each other about......especially on the golf course. :)
     
  23. jack4freedom

    jack4freedom Well-Known Member Past Donor

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    It’s almost as if people I’ve known all my life have joined some kind of whacky cult. People who I have interacted with since we were kids and politics were never a bone of contention between us have become entranced by this transparent huckster and won’t shut up about it.
     
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  24. Bush Lawyer

    Bush Lawyer Well-Known Member

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    Ok.....give as much as you get. There is plenty about Trump they just cannot defend, at all.

    Imagine the scene...a Female Leader meets Trump....do they become concerned that he will grab their poozie? Etc etc etc.
     
    Last edited: Aug 3, 2019
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  25. Aleksander Ulyanov

    Aleksander Ulyanov Well-Known Member

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    Or just stop discussing politics with them.

    I know lots of people in PERSON, whom I have on idea of their politics. Not my business or concern. If a Trumper pushes the matter he finds me not around him for very long but otherwise....
     
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