I would say it’s generally impossible for anyone to have liberal friends because most people who claim to be “liberal” are anything but. They are leftists and there is virtually nothing liberal about leftism. The same is true of their claim to be “progressive.” The progress they want is toward the totalitarian controls of Nazism, Maoism, and Communism in general and Stalinism in particular.

Despite their constant screeching about “tolerance,” in general leftists are less tolerant of contrary views than people on the Right. Yes, the Right has its illiberal people and plenty of them, but at least they don’t attempt to disguise their views by labeling them as things they aren’t.

I just cut loose one friend, the younger sister of a late friend. Works for a four letter agency as a historian. Opinionated, smartest person in the room, etc. Works for a four letter Fed agency. Also hypocritical, during the unrest of 20-21 she asked me about personal protection firearms and getting a CPL, well, until she found out her agency would not allow her to travel with a firearm, then suddenly firearms became bad.

Her FB has been hate and liberal tears since November. Things like “I can’t sleep at night”, the usual liberal handwringing.

After a few skirmishes on FB, the last one lit me up. Personal attacks, how she tried to educate (her words, not mine) me, being told that I didn’t have a clear thought of my own, I wasn’t capable of any other side, I was indoctrinated and have I always been so perfect in my life? Yes, that one got me. I posted in the discussion that I was leaving her “friended” for a couple of hours and after that she was no more and I was blocking her and said that I while I would participate in discussions that differed in opinion I would not tolerate personal attacks. Told her specifically that for many years in the workforce I had to “take it” from customers but that was then, this was now and that I would not tolerate it on social media.

quote:

Despite their constant screeching about “tolerance,” in general leftists are less tolerant of contrary views than people on the Right.

I think sigfreund expresses it well.

The problem with leftist thinking is that everyone has to conform. They can't just leave the rest of us alone. The solution to every problem requires the group to conform which means a government must dictate and ultimately use force to get us to comply.

Two of my close friends are a same-sex couple who vote D. They don't have TDS, and we do have respectful but infrequent political discussions.

Their values are very similar to most of us here. I see a lot of residual momentum in their bias towards voting D, meaning that here in Utah being a same sex couple has been illegal or very socially marginalized until quite recently. State level politics is heavily run by LDS church members.

So, for them, D has always been logical.

They haven't fully realized that Trump's agenda supports them and their values.

All my friendships with ardent progressives and TDS sufferers have ended.

Among artsy types, maybe. They don't really think about politics.

Otherwise, I tend to avoid people with a violent desire to rob people.

Have a few liberal friends, sister and a cousin, none of them can have a conversation about politics. I am always open to a friendly political conversation but they just can't do it, they all have TDS. We skip politics and get along fine.

But to answer the intent of the question, yes, I have leftist friends. I don’t expect everyone else to think the same about everything as I do, not least because the things that are important to us differ. There are certain “red lines” in my beliefs that will result in my deciding to not have anything to do with someone, but even then it depends on specifics.

One of my best friends is a full blown liberal with TDS and a trans child. Been a great friend for about 30 years. Was pretty normal politics-wise until TRUMP. Now he’s psychotic on politics. In fairness, it is his INSANE wife that drives the politics. Of course she is a teacher.

Needless to say we only talk politics every few months. These days I don’t txt him any politics. But I do somewhat revel in the thought that sane politics is returning and they think Hitler is in charge.

Nope, I do not associate with any "Lee-Bore-Als".

I have found that my life is just better for it; the sun shines brighter, the sky is bluer, the flowers smell sweeter, everything is just better!

quote:

Originally posted by sigfreund:
I would say it’s generally impossible for anyone to have liberal friends because most people who claim to be “liberal” are anything but.

Also...

quote:

Originally posted by sigfreund:
But to answer the intent of the question, yes, I have leftist friends. I don’t expect everyone else to think the same about everything as I do, not least because the things that are important to us differ.

So, it’s generally impossible... but specifically possible, yes?

I didn’t leave my Leftist friends. They left me. I don’t need complications in my life so I don’t pursue the former friendship. By now I only have two friends besides Mrs DF. That’s about all I can handle.

quote:

Originally posted by darthfuster:
I didn’t leave my Leftist friends. They left me. I don’t need complications in my life so I don’t pursue the former friendship.

When we lived in CA pre-Trump, most of our family and friends were Democrats, and during Obama's 2nd term, we started to notice some mildly contentious attitudes towards us. But it really ramped up when Trump became the Republican nominee in 2016 and by the time we left CA at the beginning of his first term, many of our friends and family stopped returning calls and texts, they all knew we not only voted for Trump, but donated to his campaign. People we had known for decades, just like that. And my wife and I didn't even blink, we are actually grateful to see their true nature. Pretty much the rest of our family and friends we are still in contact with are either conservatives, or extremely unpolitical.

I have two cousins who are like friends to me who are as liberal Democrat as they come. As long as we never discuss politics, everything is fine and dandy.

I've had some casual acquaintances that I never talked politics with before, didn't really know where they were, that I'm now finding out are somewhat liberal.
A relative or two that formerly would just live by the "let's not talk politics" and now they can't help themselves for some reason. They still say that, just can't hold back.
Something about the present environment that seems to be making them lose their mind.

Hypothesis:

In the Post-Soviet era, a rational person cannot believe in Socialism.

Post DOGE, a rational person cannot believe DC to be a functional/competent system.

Conclusion: There is no such thing as a "rational, well-socialized, Democrat." They are either part of the thief class, insane, or patholigically envious.

My wife absolutely hates Trump. She has bought into the whole he's a Nazi/Dictator/Oligarch/Son of Satan etc. thing and America as we know it is doomed.

I have told her I will not discuss politics in our house. When she brings something up I ask her "what she would like me to do about it?" Other than that, I don't argue with her. She spends way more time looking stuff up and "researching" things than I do.

Side note: I may be requesting help on "counter points" to her claims on the collapse of Social Security and Medicare, and cellphone searches when re entering the country.

quote:

Originally posted by chellim1:
So, it’s generally impossible... but specifically possible, yes?

I did not make my point clear.

It’s generally impossible to have friends who call themselves “liberal” because if they are in fact leftists, as they probably are and were the people that the original question referred to, they are also probably not liberal in the real sense of that word. I was referring to semantics.

Another example of what I’m getting at is, “Is it possible to have men friends who are pregnant?” A “pregnant man” is not a possibility and therefore it is impossible to have pregnant man friends. It’s possible to be friends with pregnant women who claim to be men, but not to be friends with an actual man who is actually pregnant any more than we could be friends with an alive dead person.

A “liberal who wants to control every aspect of other people’s lives through every means possible including intimidation and even force” is also something that does not in fact exist. The qualifying definition that starts with “who …” means he is not actually liberal any more than a dead person is alive. There are people who are indeed liberal in attitudes and practices, but most of them are not on the Left, and leftists are what the original question of this thread asked about.

I live in the only county in the UP that did not vote for DJT. I have no liberal acquaintances and am cautious about any type of talk with people who I dont know.
It would appear to me that the liberal left is growing more and more unhinged. So I avoid them.

I haven't had any reason to talk to leftists since I quit playing in bands ten years ago. I have very few friends, and we're on the same page. I don't tolerate the aggravation that comes from the other side.

quote:

Originally posted by PHPaul:
Unless you count cyber- I have no friends, so...

Seriously. A few acquaintances, some of whom may have Liberal leanings but we don't talk enough to get into politics.

Paul, I am right there with ya Shipmate! What is this “friends” Y’all speak of?

I have my wife and we have one another. Fortunately, we are lockstep in life, philosophy, and politics. I am not sure but suspect this “conditioning” might be an artifact of almost 35 years in uniform and moving every two to three years either coast to coast or overseas — almost a self-preservation mechanism…or I am just a grumpy ole curmudgeon.