Arguing w/ a Republican: "Bush's great insight on Iran" WTF

Just wanted to mention a discussion I had with a Republican tonight while out running. It's neverendlingly frustrating to listen to Republicans, I tell you. A bit on what we talked about regarding Iraq and Iran, and unions.

I was out running with a friend (in my running club). He's a very right-wing Republican. Very religious (won't run on Sundays). He absolutely loves Bush. I should mention, he's a very nice guy. He's just been totally duped, brainwashed, by the Bush administration, and I imagine by his church.

Anyway, to get to the point, there were two things that came up.

First, get this: He argued that Bush had "great insight" on Iran. He is sure we'll "go to war" with Iran, and because our troops are in Iraq and Afghanistan, we have Iran "surrounded". Bush is a genius for "predicting" Iran would be a troublemaker. It was also totally Jimmy Carter's fault that Iran is the way it is now.

The stupidity of the above thinking is just incredible..incredible. I won't insult you with explaining why.

The other goodie was on unions. He echoed Ahnold in saying that union members shouldn't be forced to have their union dues go to Democrats. I had to explain how he was wrong, in four ways:

1. In any organization that donates to politicians, you may or may not agree with who they give money to. If you belong to, for example, the Concerned Women of America, I'm sure your money goes to Republicans, whether you like it or not.

2. The bylaws of the union will specify how it is decided where money goes. If the union leaders make that decision, keep in mind that those leaders are voted into office. The union members can vote the leaders out if they don't like where their money is going. They also vote on the bylaws.

3. The reason most union money goes to Democrats is that union workers believe Democrats support workers!

4. Union workers, who may be making $30,000 per year, might be helping their CEO make $30,000,000 per year, whether or not that CEO is effective or not. So the hard work of these workers..and the profits they help produce, enable the CEO's to give money to..to whom? To Republicans.

I also had to lecture him on the way Sheehan has been so horribly treated by Republicans, and on the swiftboating of veterans opposed to Bush (McCain, Cleland, Kerry, Murtha.) He reminded me that "Murtha's plan to pull out of Iraq" was voted down 400-3. I had to remind him of the devious trick the Repubs did on that one..to change his plan to something silly, and then label it "Murtha's plan".

These Republicans..one lie/half-truth after another...and notice how well these deceptions work. Amazing.

(If I've made any mistakes in my thinking, please let me know. I'm not actually an expert on unions. I was making my best guess on my response to him.)