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MarineCombatEngineer

(17,755 posts)
Sat Jan 10, 2026, 05:02 PM 17 hrs ago

I just dropped off a delivery at a So. NV. Walmart and went in to replenish my supplies when I ran into

a Trumpedo supporter, believe it or not, we had a quite pleasant conversation about politics, he was a former Air Force Forward Combat Air Controller in Vietnam who operated behind enemy lines, we waxed about our experiences in combat and came to the same conclusions that Trumpedo is not about america first and he suggested that he might vote straight Dem. in the coming mid term and 2028 elections, that's how pissed he was about Trumpedo and his criminal org.

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I just dropped off a delivery at a So. NV. Walmart and went in to replenish my supplies when I ran into (Original Post) MarineCombatEngineer 17 hrs ago OP
That's good to know, MCE! Aristus 17 hrs ago #1
As passionate as he was, I believe that he will, MarineCombatEngineer 17 hrs ago #2
Thanks for the smile. I needed it. no_hypocrisy 17 hrs ago #3
Hmmm. Is there a strong contingent of like minded individuals? yellow dahlia 17 hrs ago #4
Good ?, I sure hope so, but in this very red county, it's a start and the fact that a dedicated Democrat, MarineCombatEngineer 17 hrs ago #6
Indeed - the conversation itself is a start, and hopefully portends a shift. yellow dahlia 17 hrs ago #7
Excellent! I bet you were a good ambassador for the message, though. Well done. Scrivener7 17 hrs ago #5
Yes, I was, I was very respectful of his views, as was he. nt MarineCombatEngineer 17 hrs ago #8
Good SuzyandPuffpuff 17 hrs ago #9
The fact that you ran into someone like that, suggests there's a lot other former Trump supporters out there that we Fil1957 17 hrs ago #10
Well done. Permanut 17 hrs ago #11
Want to believe they meant that angrychair 17 hrs ago #12
Welp, I am truly sorry that you feel that way, and I can understand why you feel that way, but, MarineCombatEngineer 17 hrs ago #13
You done good Keepthesoulalive 15 hrs ago #30
I want to believe it, too, but I've been fooled too many times. hamsterjill 15 hrs ago #28
Agree...because they just know voting for a Dem means all your guns get taken away Bengus81 1 hr ago #37
Semper Fi brother NHvet 17 hrs ago #14
Voting all Dem is the only thing that makes sense. Every race. Every election. Beartracks 17 hrs ago #15
That's really all I'm able to do. calimary 16 hrs ago #21
Likewise. Even a so-called "good" Republican just contributes toward (R) majorities... Beartracks 15 hrs ago #27
I bet you have the energy and the experience... ananda 17 hrs ago #16
I do, generally, I am respectful of others opinions unless they come off hostile and confrontational MarineCombatEngineer 16 hrs ago #19
I wish you could have talked to my dad... ananda 15 hrs ago #26
Good for you, MCE! brer cat 17 hrs ago #17
I know it is anectdotal but... Skittles 16 hrs ago #18
Wow! Thanks so much for sharing this Grim Chieftain 16 hrs ago #20
Thanks for sharing this. Mystery To Me 16 hrs ago #22
Thanks for this, but its really not a gift, it's reality and, IMO, the sane republicans are starting to MarineCombatEngineer 16 hrs ago #24
Glad you were able to do that. I can't stomach them, but I guess they need an exit ramp. Joinfortmill 16 hrs ago #23
So mr715 16 hrs ago #25
MCE, I always appreciate your perspective and I hope you are right. But I'm skeptical. hamsterjill 15 hrs ago #29
You are rightly so to be skeptical and I get that given all the lies MarineCombatEngineer 15 hrs ago #32
indeed. AllaN01Bear 15 hrs ago #31
Yes! LeftLife 12 hrs ago #33
but vet first. barbtries 3 hrs ago #36
Jesse Ventura orangecrush 8 hrs ago #34
I saw that! Jesse Ventura went total WWE on Trump & republikkkers. BComplex 15 min ago #39
+1 orangecrush 6 min ago #40
thank you. barbtries 3 hrs ago #35
The fact they say "might" and "considering" shows the cognitive dissonance. mdbl 1 hr ago #38

MarineCombatEngineer

(17,755 posts)
2. As passionate as he was, I believe that he will,
Sat Jan 10, 2026, 05:08 PM
17 hrs ago

I mean, I could hear the contempt dripping off his words for Trumpedo.

MarineCombatEngineer

(17,755 posts)
6. Good ?, I sure hope so, but in this very red county, it's a start and the fact that a dedicated Democrat,
Sat Jan 10, 2026, 05:19 PM
17 hrs ago

like myself, can have a very pleasant convo with a dedicated Republican and we can find common ground gives me hope that we will defeat this criminal org. in the WH.

yellow dahlia

(4,607 posts)
7. Indeed - the conversation itself is a start, and hopefully portends a shift.
Sat Jan 10, 2026, 05:24 PM
17 hrs ago

I have been saying for awhile, that a shift in a portion of his supporters will make a big difference for the tone of the country and the midterms.

I believe the midterms will be a mandate already. But having more affirmation of that will only help. A mandate makes it harder to "screw" with the election.

Thank you for communicating with those of all kinds.

Fil1957

(546 posts)
10. The fact that you ran into someone like that, suggests there's a lot other former Trump supporters out there that we
Sat Jan 10, 2026, 05:31 PM
17 hrs ago

don't know about.

angrychair

(11,709 posts)
12. Want to believe they meant that
Sat Jan 10, 2026, 05:34 PM
17 hrs ago

But Republicans have no moral compass or values or spine. They are a death cult and they will always vote for Republicans because their hate and racism and misogyny is endless.

They are all scum and deserve nothing but our condemnation. I wouldn't piss on a Republican even if they were on fire.

MarineCombatEngineer

(17,755 posts)
13. Welp, I am truly sorry that you feel that way, and I can understand why you feel that way, but,
Sat Jan 10, 2026, 05:39 PM
17 hrs ago

my sense is that this is the beginning of a passive revolution against this criminal org.

If I can have a pleasant convo. with a dedicated Trumpedo supporter in a very red county, then things are looking up.
Time will tell.

Keepthesoulalive

(2,125 posts)
30. You done good
Sat Jan 10, 2026, 07:03 PM
15 hrs ago

A lot of people were conned and we saw Hispanics flip big time in the last local elections .Am I going to reach out, no but if they are willing to see a small glimmer of light they are welcome to vote with us to save our country. The always trumpers can get stuffed.

hamsterjill

(17,059 posts)
28. I want to believe it, too, but I've been fooled too many times.
Sat Jan 10, 2026, 06:57 PM
15 hrs ago

When the chips are down, they always go home to roost with those like they are. I say expect the worst and hope for the best with these assholes - but NEVER take anything for granted.

Bengus81

(9,827 posts)
37. Agree...because they just know voting for a Dem means all your guns get taken away
Sun Jan 11, 2026, 08:52 AM
1 hr ago

Just like Clinton confiscated everyone's gun,so did Obama and even Biden.

NHvet

(280 posts)
14. Semper Fi brother
Sat Jan 10, 2026, 05:42 PM
17 hrs ago

and yes it is going to be a brick by brick type of thing with changing the hearts and minds of those that ingrained in MAGAland. We can only hope that the better nature in those in the cult is getting through. As with everything in life, people don't care unless it affects them personally. Trump and his gang are on the cusp of destroying all that most hold near and dear.... our homes and families.

Beartracks

(14,369 posts)
15. Voting all Dem is the only thing that makes sense. Every race. Every election.
Sat Jan 10, 2026, 05:42 PM
17 hrs ago

The conservative Republican value system spawned, supports, and defends Trumpism. Republican officials at local, state, and national levels cover for Trump, implement his (and Project 2025's) un-Constitutional plans, and regard him as a messiah figure. He and his administration derive their power from the consent of the right wing and their complete lack of moral authority and backbone.

================

calimary

(89,057 posts)
21. That's really all I'm able to do.
Sat Jan 10, 2026, 06:06 PM
16 hrs ago

Just can’t imagine doing anything else but voting straight Dem. With Republicans, I’m stopped right off the bat by their prehistoric ideas about women (and the equal rights they seem hellbent on wiping away). For me, it stops dead cold, right there.

Beartracks

(14,369 posts)
27. Likewise. Even a so-called "good" Republican just contributes toward (R) majorities...
Sat Jan 10, 2026, 06:56 PM
15 hrs ago

... and Republicans in large numbers always give in to the worst instincts and values among them.

I guess I'm a single-issue voter after all: "Is the candidate a Republican? Then I'm voting for the Democrat." At the end of the day, that's the issue that matters.

===============

ananda

(34,453 posts)
16. I bet you have the energy and the experience...
Sat Jan 10, 2026, 05:50 PM
17 hrs ago

for Trumpedos to talk to decently.

I hope you get to do this frequently.

MarineCombatEngineer

(17,755 posts)
19. I do, generally, I am respectful of others opinions unless they come off hostile and confrontational
Sat Jan 10, 2026, 05:58 PM
16 hrs ago

that's when my dander comes up.

ananda

(34,453 posts)
26. I wish you could have talked to my dad...
Sat Jan 10, 2026, 06:54 PM
15 hrs ago

when his second wife turned him onto
krazy konservatism and Faux News.

We need more vets to allow people
to talk themselves down.

Grim Chieftain

(1,267 posts)
20. Wow! Thanks so much for sharing this
Sat Jan 10, 2026, 06:03 PM
16 hrs ago

Just when it seems things are hopeless, there are rays of reason, sanity and optimism.

Mystery To Me

(32 posts)
22. Thanks for sharing this.
Sat Jan 10, 2026, 06:06 PM
16 hrs ago

It's encouraging. You seem to have a gift for connecting with those from the other side of the isle.

MarineCombatEngineer

(17,755 posts)
24. Thanks for this, but its really not a gift, it's reality and, IMO, the sane republicans are starting to
Sat Jan 10, 2026, 06:46 PM
16 hrs ago

realize what a disaster Trumpdeo is.

hamsterjill

(17,059 posts)
29. MCE, I always appreciate your perspective and I hope you are right. But I'm skeptical.
Sat Jan 10, 2026, 06:59 PM
15 hrs ago

It's gonna take me a long time to believe any of them have really figured things out. Living in redneck, dumbass MAGA la la land probably has an impact on my perspective. I always hope other parts of the country are more enlightened.

MarineCombatEngineer

(17,755 posts)
32. You are rightly so to be skeptical and I get that given all the lies
Sat Jan 10, 2026, 07:45 PM
15 hrs ago

from this Admin., but this respectful convo. with a dedicated Republican gives me hope that we will defeat this Nazi regimel

barbtries

(31,139 posts)
36. but vet first.
Sun Jan 11, 2026, 07:25 AM
3 hrs ago

here in NC we elected a democrat who promptly switched parties and is a full blown magat now.

BComplex

(9,750 posts)
39. I saw that! Jesse Ventura went total WWE on Trump & republikkkers.
Sun Jan 11, 2026, 10:36 AM
15 min ago

But real Americans need to vote out all the republicans who are put there by special interests from now until they clean up their party and the court appointments they've been putting in, and get their party permanently separated from the self-righteous christofascists.

mdbl

(8,129 posts)
38. The fact they say "might" and "considering" shows the cognitive dissonance.
Sun Jan 11, 2026, 09:19 AM
1 hr ago

This sets up a scenario where one of Dump's super pacs makes up a juicy lie about a Democratic candidate or all Dems at the last minute and they go back to their cult way of thinking and vote for the fascists. It's all about who has enough money to lie the loudest.

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