I was collared by a 96yr old man today...

[HipChick]

I was outside, doing my secret smoker thing after a very frustrating day at the office..

I thought he was going to lecture me about smoking..

He was angry,and irritated and asked me "If I watched that fool last night?"

I admit, I only caught part of the debate because of work issues..

"Does he really think we are fools?" He then proceeded to tell of his long naval career, and how he was struggling with various health problems. Then he proceeded to lightly grab me, imploring me to make sure me and 'young 'uns" like me get out and vote, because he didn't want anyone as rude, and nasty as Romney anywhere near the Presidency. He implored me again to make sure to get out and vote, he hoped his health would hold out to see Obama win his second term. He had broken with his Republican southern family last election and voted for Obama, he would be doing it again, this time around, even running the epithets from them as to why he was voting for 'that Black Man'. I thanked him for his service to his country.Before hobbled off, he patted me on the back again, and leaned on his cane, muttering under his breath.

I am blessed to be able to travel around this country, in the course of my work, meeting all people of all backgrounds, being in different city every week, I don't always wear my political leanings on my shoulder

But today, this stranger that crossed my path, warmed my heart.

Romney doesn't have all the people fooled with his lies...especially not that 96yr old man...

[CaliforniaPeggy]

1. What a great story......thank you for passing it on!

[HipChick]

2. I wanted to kiss him

[freshwest]

25. I wish I'd been there to give him a hug! And thanks for the story.

[WCGreen]

3. Great point...

By showing no respect to the president, he demeanded us all...

[HipChick]

4. Lack of respect to the President is the Republican way

and this veteran was clearly irritated by it..

[ejbr]

5. What state were you in?

and yes, you should quit smoking

(I'm an ex-smoker, so I know how it is....then again, you would not be sharing this story...hmmm)

[HipChick]

7. I'm a social smoker..

I smoke out of frustration...I am a closet smoker..years may go by, something happens at work, I pick up a cig

[ejbr]

14. what state did this happen in? n/t

[heaven05]

38. small point

i quit after 43 years, and to my amazement small nagging problems with my joints have gotten better, breathing of course, wounds are healing quicker and energy is up. quit if you can. it ain't easy, but if a nicotine junkie like me can do it, it is possible.

[OriginalGeek]

51. My doc said I could have a cigar every once in a while

I doubt I have 8 a year but that's a far cry from the 3 packs a day I was huffing when I quit on 4/20/2003.

I don't think a cig every now and again will hurt you either.



And cheers to that old guy! My grandpa is 91 and he feels the same way.

[schmice]

41. I smoked for over 40 years.

I quit cold turkey on My 31st. Next day I went for a physical. As a result of blood tests etc. I was told to get additional tests. It seems they found some "hot spots" when the did MRI's and CT-SCANS. I'm so stupid. What have I done to myself? I've got three kids. Got to get more tests done this month. I don't know what to do. The thought on painful procedures and nausea frightens me. But I did it to myself. I suggest that everybody quit. Shit, I can't believe what I've done to myself. And look who I'm affecting. Not just myself.

[druidity33]

46. After 20 years...

i quit about a month ago. It's still a struggle of course, but i expected that i would still be "an addict" many years after quitting. I did it to myself, yes, but you and me, we had a lot of help from the tobacco companies and their HIGHLY ADDICTIVE products. Please don't blame yourself for succumbing to the pressure of cigarette 'stress relief'.

I wish you all the best. Every day is worth living as fully as possible... no matter where you are or what you're doing. Good luck.

[schmice]

50. Thank you.

[maindawg]

6. wait for it...........

3-2-1.......the O camp knew that RMONEY would come out swinging.

it was like , ' rope a dope'....and in a sprint,....as I have pointed out many times , that it is the habit of our president to allow the antagonist just enough rope, with which to hang , him self.

27 lies in 38 minutes is better than they expected.


its almost like shooting fish in a barrel............

[Glimmer of Hope]

8. I think you are right!

[Ilsa]

17. I heard (I think it was) David Bender say this

On the Stephanie Miller Show. RMoney has now defined himself and now has to live with what he declared are his intentions. He can't possibly live with these lies, though, so naturally, out on the campaign trail, he'll be saying something contrary to what he said last night.

And there's the rub: anyone even trying to give him a chance will have to say "No Way."

[Honeycombe8]

9. Music to my ears....er, eyes. I hope this is the way more and more people see things. nt

[busterbrown]

10. And so I continue to say that the president we saw yesterday displaying his imperfections....

was actually showing something other than being a lean mean fighting machine which might have
grabbed the hearts of a lot of people. He looked less than perfect and fallible like
all of us.....

[Blanks]

42. That's right.

...and who hasn't done something where they could have done a better job.

The 'challenger' has a lot of ammunition, but Romney's history was not challenged. If his past had been brought up; Romney would have had 2 more debates to refute the information.

I thought Obama did OK for the first debate. If he'd done a really good job the Romney camp would prepare more for the second debate.

[Dont call me Shirley]

43. OMG, you're correct! Obama, looking like the one being picked on by the bully

really comes out the winner! Ha! Awesome! He's so wise.

[CrazyOrangeCat]

11. Great story!

And yes, Romney thinks we are fools. As does his wife.

They've evidently never lost.

I hope your acquaintance lives to be 100, and gets to watch them disappear . . .

[trailmonkee]

12. read my post from last night, i knew I would see stories like this from today...

http://www.democraticunderground.com/10021464354

older folks are pretty reliable when it comes to character

[Cleita]

13. Well he is part of the Greatest Generation and he knows what arrogance is.

He knew what Hitler stood for too. He probably fought in WWII against that tyrant so he knows what a would be tyrant would sound like. He also knew what good Presidents like FDR and Truman could accomplish that was good for this nation, not good only for other multi-millionaires although FDR was a rich guy himself.

[mountain grammy]

15. I had a clerk tell me today she would vote for Roseanne Barr and the Green Party

I said "better than Rmoney." She said "I had planned to vote for him until I saw him last night. What an asshole, and I don't want to vote for Obama" So I said, vote for Roseanne or Gary Johnson.

[Dont call me Shirley]

45. Dr. Jiil Stein, Green, Rocky Long, Justice or Roseanne Barr would be good choices.

Gary Johnson's a hardcore Libertarian, which was created by David Koch and is responsible for this economic mess.

[mountain grammy]

49. Gary Johnson is a hardcore Libertarian and far out there on many issues,

but he's honest, intelligent and practical. He could never be elected president, but any vote taken from Rmoney is a good vote.

[Oldfolkie]

16. This 76 yr old white man,,,

,,,isn't fooled by Romney either! I see some people on this board griping about "old white men" supporting Romney. Well, a hell of a lot of oldtimers from my generation were in the front lines for JFK, got beaten and jailed fighting for civil rights, and came out against the Viet Nam war. Then we dethroned a president.
Maybe we don't look the same as we did back then, but most of my pals still active have not changed on the inside.

[Le Taz Hot]

18. Good points.

And I wish people on this board would understand that insinuating that ALL "old white men" vote for Romney and are therefore irrelevant need to get a clue.

And love your screen name. "Old folkie" here too. Still break out the gitfiddle every now and again. Welcome to DU.

[littlemissmartypants]

28. Welcome to the DU!

[FailureToCommunicate]

32. Welcome to DU! A seasoned voice is welcomed here

(Most of the time)

[TahitiNut]

34. This 69-year-old white man...

... agrees with you 100%. I've been kicked in the ass by extremists of all stripes. It has rarely caused me to lose sight of the basic issues of character, integrity, compassion, and honesty. I was a side-boy for JFK and I've got Obama's back. I'd take a bullet for the man ... far more gladly than I might've taken a bullet in Viet Nam in 1969, but avoided in my tour of duty.

In the SIX DECADES that I remember due to being attentive and aware, I've never seen such an abysmal parade of corrupt, dishonest, and cowardly politicians as I've seen in the last 10-15 years. These are people who, if they were immigrants applying for citizenship, should be refused and sent back to the sewers that spawned them.

[heaven05]

39. right on

[WilliamPitt]

19. Thank God.

I might have thought the first debate was a total failure otherwise.

You've sure turned me around.

Thanks!

.

[Cha]

31. It sure got the Big Bird Fans

off our collective butt.

[Shae]

37. Great Videio!

[underthematrix]

20. I'm like the 96 year old

To me, PBO won the debate. And in the course of it, he lobed several zingers. All mittnocchio lobed were LIES. My party thought what mittnocchio really believed was caught on that secret video about the 47%.

[gkhouston]

21. Constant lying was the best game Romney could bring to the debate.

Think about what that says about Romney's own estimation of his ability and positions.

[Jackpine Radical]

47. I'm sure those techniques always worked for him in the past.

Vulture capitalism is all about lying, when you come right down to it.

And anyway, being a Mormon is sorta like inhabiting a parallel universe with different physical laws anyway.

If you're required to believe that the Indian tribes are the lost tribes of Israel, it makes it a lot easier to believe a bunch of other stuff too.

[Spitfire of ATJ]

22. That whole "fast talking salesman" routine struck a cord.

[defacto7]

23. A great story!

Life can really show you how fast it all happens.... One day you're 25, the next morning you wake up and you're 55. I swear, that's just what it's like.

To all the newest posters, Welcome to DU. I'm pretty new myself but wow, there really have been a lot of newcomers in the last couple of days.

[NBachers]

26. And I love (most of) the new blood that's showing up around here- what an inspiration!

[Maynar]

35. That happen to you too?

Man I hate when that happens.

[arboretum]

24. Quit smoking.

Problem solved.

[deaniac21]

27. Good advice, by cracky.

[Cha]

30. deaniac..

just wanna say

[Cha]

29. ..

thank you so much for there at that point in time, HipChick~

[onecent]

33. Great story. I love these....it makes me realize that all is good. Thanks for posting.

[malaise]

36. Excellent post - great story

Rec

[hamsterjill]

40. Thank you.

Old age may bring aches and pains, but it also brings with it wisdom!!!!

[randome]

44. He should have said what he said and THEN lectured you about smoking.

But cool story! Thanks!

[Brigid]

48. I love stories like this!!

Old people know. They just know.

[Kennah]

52. Great story, but your subject line put another image in my head

I had this vision of a 96 year old Barney Fife, one bullet in his pocket, putting the cuffs on you.