Well I've got to share my Bush story because even today, 24 hours later, it makes me smile.
I've got a friend, very dear man I've worked with for these past 5 years. He's an orthodox Jew while I am very much a Gentile. Since the first time we've worked together, we talked about everything, especially politics.
He is very liberal and had supported all things Democratic. I used to lament this stance as he was a very honorable man and I lamented endlessly why Jews, who should be Republicans in terms of economics and brains, were always Democrats. Sam would explain to me that Jews had a general wariness of anyone associated with any extreme in terms of religion, which would include right wing Christians. It was Christians, he explained to me, who sent millions of Jews to gas chambers.
Now I understood this and it was a perspective I hadn't considered. Still, I always felt that this batch of Dems today would sell him and his children down the river in a minute while that "far right" he mistrusted would be the ones to do the moral thing.
We always had the sort of relationship where we would tease each other on all things political. He made fun of Newt Gingrich et al and I gave him what for every day of my life over the lovely and moral Clinton. In fact, after the last election, he would poke fun at Bush, hinting that he was a mental lightweight and didn't even win the election.
Sam has three children now living in Israel. He's always been a fan of Israel, viewing it as seat of his cultural heritage. He used to spend many minutes explaining all things Israel to me; this before liking Israel was cool.
We both learned from each other is what I'm saying here, and it was a friendly political difference but no one's mind was ever completely closed. He and I both were political junkees of a sort.
Of late he'd taken to emailing me articles about Israel, all to make sure I was properly provided the truth. I don't see him every day but we do see each other on occasion.
I hadn't seen him in these past four months. Each and every day I would fume. I was right! Those far-right Christians Sam mistrusted were the very ones defending Israel. I couldn't wait until I had a chance to storm Sam's office with my facts.
Which I did yesterday.
I marched right in there and stood tall over his desk.
"Sam, everyday your hero Bibi Netanyahu is on TV and guess whose show he is on? Rush Limbaugh! Sean Hannity! Fox news!" I told him, hands on hips. And of course I had to mention our long ago discussion about Jews mistrusting "right wing Christians" and how he gave me a perspective I wouldn't have but for his comments.
"But now, Sam, it's those same far right Christians defending Israel with all of their hearts and souls."
Sam hemmed and hawed a bit and mentioned that people in the KKK and neo-Nazis probably voted Republican and that I shouldn't forget this.
"Sam, you should get down on your knees and thank God George W. Bush is your President after all the grief you gave me after that election."
"I AM glad Bush is president," Sam said softly, "and I intend to vote for him next time."
Then he went on to worry that Bush was going to give Sharon a hard time next week but that's just the point. Sam's comments about Bush giving Sharon a hard time were a waaaay different hue and cry from the humorous mockery of the man Sam exhibited after the election. Worrying about whether or not Dubya's going to take it easy on Sharon is indicator that Sam respects Bush and while he obviously does not want Bush to give Sharon a hard time, he accepts that one way or the other Bush is going to deal with Sharon with all the power and weight of the U.S. presidency.
Sam also told me he now listens to Rush Limbaugh and you could have knocked me over with half a feather. Sam spent hours making fun of Rush Limbaugh in a prior life!
While I'm not going to assert that Sam will change party affiliation tomorrow I really see a respect and appreciation for that "far right" so vehemently defending Israel. Yes and a gratefulness. Sam, like so many Jews I suspect, always feared that when the chips were down that America would turn its back on Israel and let it citizens be murdered in broad daylight. I see a happy guy in Sam and no mind he's worried about how Bush is going to treat Sharon, the point is he gives Dubya enough brain power to act like the leader he is.
Oh. Sam has NEVER told me who he is going to vote for but he told me yesterday he has every intention of voting for Bush. And he also told me he despises Hillary Clinton.
And where did Sam get that brilliant idea? "Probably"? The last I heard the Ku Klux Klan was solidly Democrat.
"I AM glad Bush is president," Sam said softly, "and I intend to vote for him next time."
Sorta says it all, doesn't it?
But I have to say that your closing line "punch line" is the most reassuring part of all:
And he also told me he despises Hillary Clinton.
Yippee!!!!! Now........ if you can get him to tell you why he despises Hillary, please come back to this thread in the future and ping me/us with your answer. I'd really like to know what's going on in your friend's mind. He clearly is a good representation of many others like him. And it would be a good thing for all of us who know the difference between right and wrong to join forces, no matter what the party affiliation.
You need to tell Sam he is WRONG; they voted Democratic!