Al Gore was the toast of my moderate Repub filled family reunion!

[eeyore]

So, I went to my family reunion in Colorado this past weekend, and saw about 50 of my family members from all over the country. These events can get a bit dicey at times, especially if the subject of politics is ever breached. I have learned to just lay back and have fun seeing my loved ones rather than mix it up over issues - it's really never worth the stress.

So, I was minding my own business, drinking Gin and Tonics with my brothers, and up comes the subject of Al Gore's movie. Next thing I know, 20-30 people had gathered around and were talking about how much sense that movie makes, and how they would all vote for him in a heartbeat. Many are convinced that he will run, that he's just being politically savvy at the moment, and they can't wait to vote for him. :wow:

These are not liberals, nor even Dems who were having this conversation. This was a group of people who are very moderate classic conservatives - educated Ronald Reagan Republicans varying in age from 45-75. I was one of the only people in the room who had not seen the movie, and I'm the pariah liberal freak of the family.

My whole world turned upside down in one night, and it was awesome!

Now we just have to convince Al to run.

Oh, and by the way, they all agree that they would have an incredibly difficult time voting for HIllary, and they really hope that she doesn't get the nomination. They see her as a far too divisive figure. They don't hate her, some actually like her, but they think that she is far too polarizing.

What's getting them excited about Gore is his environmental messaging, and there was great agreement that if we could solve our energy issues that we would not be invading countries for their national resources.

10 years ago I was having very tense arguments with my family over these issues, and they have finally come around. I'm totally stunned.

[roguevalley]

1. its nice isn't it. I am very happy for you.

[eeyore]

19. Yeah, it's nice to be pleasantly shocked for a change...

I really do love my family, but we've been at political odds for decades. I'd never rub it in their faces that they made some mistaken political decisions, but it sure makes me happy to see them turning around a bit. I'll always be way more liberal-minded than they are, but I'll take what I can get.

Thanks! :)

[LisaM]

2. Al Gore has always been ahead of the curve

People are just catching up!

[ginnyinWI]

3. the problem is

If Gore were to become a candidate, he'd be villified by the RW noise machine, and your relatives might be frightened into changing their minds. He'd have to be a strong enough candidate to overcome that hurdle in order to win.

[Fridays Child]

7. They vilified him in 2000 and he won, anyway. nt

[Democrat 4 Ever]

8. Maybe, but that is going to happen no matter who the Dems nominate

The hate fest is coming. Bet on it, plan for it, expect it - we could run God for President and Jesus Christ as his VP and these guys would crucify him (sorry, no pun intended).

So, Gore just needs to keep doing what he is doing. It is working, he is changing minds and hearts. I, too, would love to see him run but if he doesn't we need to find someone as near to him as possible. And while I love Hillary, she isn't the one to unite the party. After Meet the Press this weekend, I'd vote for Feingold.

[Hestia]

16. Ahem...

Universal Law teaches that anything you are told consciously to hate, subconsciously you will hear it has love. Everytime Rovebots gets up and says everything is the Dems fault, on a subconscious level everyone is hearing it is the Neocons fault. The more they try to point the finger away from Dems, they are actually pushing people towards the Dems.

Why else are the poll results so skewed? It's Universal Law.

It also works against us too. We should never say we 'hate' Bush, Rove, et al. But that we love Feingold (or whomever). Always accentuate the positive, eliminate the negative (wasn't that a song?).

Subconsciously people are already galvinating towards the Dems, now we just have to give me the message of why we are good. Use that power that is already out there to push the final message home.

I too have been for Feingold for Pres, all except one issue. I'll give him taking the Death Penalty off the table if the prisons are emptied of drug users and plea bargins are taken off the table. If you murder someone in cold blood, you should be in prison for life, but a marijuana dealer should not get the same sentencing.

So remember, you should 'hate' the current regime, but 'love' the new one coming in.

[Democrat 4 Ever]

17. Ahem, back at ya.... I don't believe your garden variety freeper

has any emotion except hatred for any opinion except what is sanctioned and touted by KKKarl. Evidently the freepers didn't get your memo concerning Universal Law of hate is love, love is hate. The only way you can put those two words together for the repugs is - they love to hate Dems. Period.

And, personally, I believe the vast majority of the polls are correct. 65% of the American people now know that Chucklenuts is a fraud. His policies are wrong, his administration crooked. Those polls are dead on, IMHO.

And yes, I hate the current regime but believe me, if they steal another election, I will hate the new one even more.

And right now I'll leave the zen feelings to people or a country who don't have as much to lose as we do right now.

[ginnyinWI]

21. I think the big tactic they try to use on Dems is ridicule

So that might go along with your thinking. Telling people to hate Al Gore or John Kerry might have backfired, but ridiculing them might not. And they certainly did ridicule both men when they ran.

So maybe turnabout is fair play: poke fun and ridicule them and their ideas without any letup. Laugh at them--because their policies don't work and they aren't even implementing them right. Just dismiss all of their antics and tactics, especially Rove's, but expose people to what he's doing at the same time. Anticipate what they're going to do and laugh at it. Do you think that would work?

[Benhurst]

12. Anybody the Democratic Party puts up will be vilified by the

right wing noise machine.

[eeyore]

14. No, I've never heard them talk like this about a Dem...

This is a very different phenom, and they won't sway easily.

[sinkingfeeling]

4. Are most of them in Colorado? It is one of the most environmentally

conscience states, so maybe their excitement isn't a national thing?

[eeyore]

13. Some Colorado, but many all over the country...

My family is filled with hiking, skiing, outdoorsy Rebublicans with roots originally in Indiana and Illinois.

[marmar]

5. The destruction of the planet is something that affects everyone...

And except for the most hardcore Gore haters and Rapture Right types, the movie, and its star, are making connections with people who might have been chilly toward Al before.

[proud patriot]

6. very cool

B-)

[Guaranteed]

9. That's just amazing. nt

[Gato Moteado]

10. great story.

i wish all repubs were a little more like your family. unfortunately, i think your family might be an exception.

[eeyore]

18. The west is full of people like my family...

The average western Republican of the 60s, 70s and 80s was always just a social/fiscal moderate, and most of my family is that way. They don't like anything extreme, and often vote to extend the status quo. They are nothing like the fundie Bushbot Repukes of today, and they no longer recognize their party.

My dad drives a Prius, and is very concerned about the environment. He just thinks it makes pragmatic sense to take care of our resources. To him conservation is part of being conservative. He is a very common sort all around the west.

Maybe it has to do with education. His political affiliation has nothing to do with religion, and in fact he'd prefer to keep religion out of politics.

There are millions of people like him throughout the country, and they are the type that find it unsavory and classless to be politically loud and agressive. Small government, moderate policies, and upward mobility - that's what his party used to stand for. He was born into a poor but smart small-town Indiana family in the 30s. He worked his way through school and became a surgeon, and believes that others should have the same opportunities. His party no longer exists.

[Radical Activist]

11. Nice. The environment is a great wedge issue for us.

Maybe this movie will be a catalyst for us to use it better in upcoming elections.

[eeyore]

20. It's a huge wedge issue.

The Republicans can't speak common sense conservation like the Dems can. That's really what it's all about. We wouldn't be fighting a war if we had some alternative energies to use, and they know damn well that the Republican status quo will continue to work against any change. There are millions of Western Republicans who treasure the environment and will vote to save it.

Use it or lose it, Dems!

[Uncle Joe]

32. Isn't that the most ironic thing, saving life as we know it

has to be a wedge issue, this should be a no frickin brainer.

[eleny]

15. K&R This is great!

I'm in Colorado and am surrounded by lots of R's. Friends I made while working. Some are really fun people. It drives me nuts that they worked for the state in social services no less. Nursing at the teat of the Dem Party for their careers and retirement plan but voting Republican.

I'm so glad to read about your family. There's hope.

[eeyore]

24. I had to leave Colorado for the sake of my sanity...

I grew up in Ft. Collins, and always felt like a liberal freak. Little did I know that it could have been worse - I could have been growing up in the Fundie South. With age I have tamed a bit, but I used to just be rendered speechless by the political ambilelence of the average Coloradoan. I grew up with families that valued making money to spend on McMansions, SUVs and skiing, and that meant supporting the Republican party. I just couldn't take it any more, and found my way to Portland, Oregon which is much more my speed and political match.

I love Colorado, but I still find it to be a frustratingly conservative place. That's partly why I found this whole event so shocking. Political discussions are pretty much out of bounds at a family event, but this one was met with great reception.

Yes, there may be hope.

[Viva_La_Revolution]

29. I spent my formative years in Ft. Collins too

from 13-19

Funny we both ended up in Portland, the oasis for liberals. :)

[eeyore]

31. No way!

Ha! No wonder we tend to follow each other around on DU. I can always count on you showing up at some point, and I'm always glad when you do.

I felt a huge sigh of relief almost instantly when I moved to Little Beiruit.

Great to see you Viva_La! :toast:

[Viva_La_Revolution]

34. You really should try and make one of the MeetUps

This Sat. we are meeting at Blues Fest. near the Beer Garden, of course. :)

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=174x3764

Marva Wright, the "Blues Queen of New Orleans" hits the stage at 7pm :bounce:

[eeyore]

37. I know, I know...

I'm just hyperventilatingly busy of late, and I can barely attend to basic hygeine as it is. :blush:

I'm working on a huge project that has a lot at stake for me and my future well-being. I pretty much work and sleep, but that will eventually change.

Have fun, I'll be there in spirit!

[eleny]

35. I was born and raised in NYC

Left for CO when I was almost 30, many ears ago. It was culture shock. Nice that it's a purple state at least for now.

[Uncle Joe]

22. This is most inspirational, thank you for sharing it with us eeyore.

I believe there is a perfect storm of environmental awakening on the horizon.

[ThomWV]

23. I Can't Wait For My NEXT Chance to Vote For Him Again As Well

we are in agreement.

[tinfoil tiaras]

25. Thats awesome!!

I hope Al runs too...I <3 him so much!!

[The Backlash Cometh]

26. Oh, what a riot. It's AL GORE who has changed, and not the moderate

Republicans. Those who voted for Bush will never admit they're wrong. I'm convinced.

[eeyore]

27. To be fair, Al has changed a lot since he ran in 2000.

He was very safe during that campaign, and now his passion has been unleashed. They like what they see now.

You're right, they won't outright admit that they were wrong in voting for Bush, and I'm not going to hold that against them. Why not just welcome them like a dear friend who has arrived late for dinner? They're here now, and that's what's important. I don't need to hear my family say that they were wrong and I was right - I'm really not that vindictive.

What really matters is that we find common ground to work towards saving our country, and right now Al Gore has become that common ground. End of story. At least it is for me.

[The Backlash Cometh]

30. Oh, I'm not going to go easy on them.

If they don't admit they're wrong, they're going to weasel their way back to the front of the line and demand hands on the tiller, and our country desparately needs them to shut-up and take a backseat for about ten years so we can undue the damage they've done.

I mean, ten years ago, these same folks refused to believe that global warming and the damage to the ozone was something we needed to deal with now, today. And now they want to claim that Al Gore is the one that changed?

Nope, I want to hear them say "I'm sorry."

[eeyore]

33. Actually, none of them ever said that Al had changed - you inferred that.

I truly believe that there is a time when the best thing to do is just graciously smile and agree. They know where I stand, and it is a quiet conciliation from them to bring up that they like his views.

Here's the thing - I don't hate my family for voting for Bush. It made me sad, because I know they are intelligent and thoughtful people, and I felt like they had been taken in by a Manson-like cult leader. It's like losing a family member to drugs, which I have. I didn't hate them for their illness, it just made me sad.

My family always believed in global warming - many of them are scientists, most have graduate degrees. They have always valued the environment, but they also were taken in by Republican rhetoric about over-regulation, and believed that the free market would take care of the issue. They now see that is not the case, and have changed their minds. I think they should be welcomed, not scorned.

[The Backlash Cometh]

36. Well, there you have it. YOUR family always believed in Global Warming.

My extended family believes that the economy works better when America is at war. They get jobs with the military industrial complex, worked for Unical in the past, try to get jobs on the off-shore drilling platforms, don't believe in global warming, think minorities are just lazy and don't believe they're discriminated against, believe that parochial private schools are better than public schools, though they don't have one kid who was ever accepted into a top twenty school and, in fact, had the philosophy that college was a rite of passage, and not really an academic experience.

I can go on and on. One must be very careful of how charitable they're going to be in extending laurel branches to these people, because if you don't want to play nice with someone like Lieberman, why would you play nice with them?

[eeyore]

40. I think we have very different types of Republicans in our families...

I don't think it's wise to paint with such a broad brush as you seem to. It seems we have very different families, and while I sympathize with your plight, I think you're off-base in just writing off large segments of the population as "these people".

Conservatives come in all stripes, just as liberals do, and I personally don't like being lumped in with groups like Earth Liberation Front or PETA for being liberal. Likewise, I don't think it's fair to just write off anyone who has voted Republican in their past. There is a large continuum of ideology out there, and most people fall somewhere smack in the middle, just to one side or the other.

I think it's very different when you're talking about an elected official, such as Lieberman or Zell Miller, who have signed up to represent the Democratic voters who elected them. They have a responsibility to reflect the party that they belong to. Voters, however, are very different. Many people in my family vote for the candidate, not the party, and have no strong allegiance to either one. Usually, however, they feel best represented by a moderate conservative, which more and more happens to be a conservative Dem these days. I don't like that either, but the Republican party has been taken over by religious nutjobs.

I'll welcome anyone who wants to vote for a Dem. I'll vote out any Dem who acts like a Republican.

[The Backlash Cometh]

45. I guess I'm having trouble finding Republicans who say they will vote Dem.

Most of them are still spouting the right-wing talking points. If they hear it on Fox, it has to be true.

[madokie]

28. Thanks for sharing, I am also inclined to thing that big Al is waiting

for the perfect time to enter the race and that is about 18 give or take a few months away. imho

[Politicub]

38. I love Gore

and your post was inspiring. Most people I know would love the peace and prosperity we used to have in the Clinton/Gore era.

He's a man beyond our time.

[marions ghost]

39. worm has turned I think

:toast:

[snot]

41. I was shocked at the poll reported on DU recently that said

something like 48% of the population said they would never consider voting for H. Clinton, Dean, or Gore! I don't see how that could be true, given that most of the country voted for Gore once, and I'd expect even more would prefer him as an alternative now. I'd be interested if anyone has any insight into that poll.

[MODemocrat]

42. They sound like very savvy people to me

Like the song about the big tree in the backyard: "They're big enough to bend". Congratulations; and I hope Al runs also.

[kittenpants]

43. that sounds almost identical to the conversation I had with my mom

this weekend. Word for word almost! She didn't like Gore in 2000 & never wants to talk politics with me because we disagree (she's kind of apolitical, but republican), but SHE brought up the fact that she saw Gore on some show and was so impressed by him, that she could tell he was sincere, smart, etc. & wondered what the country would be like if we had a president like him instead of Bush! (Of course, I wish she had realized this in 2000... but whatcha gonna do?) I was stunned into silence & once I recovered my wits told her all about An Inconvenient Truth & how she has to see it.

[Lisa]

44. interestingly, Colorado does some very advanced work on global warming

There are lots of highly-respected climatologists, biogeochemists, and atmospheric scientists who are with NCAR and the universities there. They have contributed a lot to our knowledge of this issue. If some of your relatives are there, it's possible that they are seeing the advantages of having top-notch research facilities in the area (jobs, economic spinoffs, etc.).