Electioneering

[c9]

I'd like to hold a US Election party on November 2nd, but I don't think I could quite handle a strong Bush supporter attending. Well, they could attend, but they might not be willing to wear the gag. I think it's because I'm still expecting Bush to win.

(I would never restrict a Tory supporter from coming to a Canadian election party. You're all invited, whenever Tony Valeri finally loses count.)

How should I phrase the invitation to let people know whether they'd enjoy the party? "Kerry supporters only" is really far too crude, and not accurate anyway. Maybe "If Bush wins you better be disappointed" would work?

Comments

[thayleia.livejournal.com]

Name the party's theme as "Let's cheer on Kerry in his attempt to oust that dough-dick Bush from office."

That should clarify it nicely, while at the same time not alienating anyone.

[jpman.livejournal.com]

Will you have known these people for more than 2 days? If so, they won't come if they're Bush supporters... :)

[c9.livejournal.com]

We don't know many people well here. Many are Vinny's coworkers, and straight upper-middle-class Canadians are often surprisingly receptive to conservative political (usually fiscal and military) viewpoints.

[jpman.livejournal.com]

Yes, but have you (in the singluar) spoken to them before? If anything even remotely political has come up, and if they're Bush supporters, they won't come.

[cap-hill-latte.livejournal.com]

Hmm...coworkers + politics are a bad combination*...even if you mostly agree on things. Maybe you should skip people from work and just invite the cool womyn at the local vegan co-op - they _should_ be safe.

Or maybe working at a place where lunchtime political conversations about, say, India and Pakistan's nuclear capabilities, involve people from India and Pakistan has made me extra sensitive. Yesterday, I sat between one conversation where an American Democrat was explaining to a new-to-the-country Indian immigrant why anyone would vote for Bush and another between an American Rebuplican explaining (for lack of a better word - I know this person to be very biased in one direction on this issue) the Israli-Palistinian conflict to a German national and an Indian national. Keeping true to my new no-politics-at-work policy I was talking to a Bulgarian about women's basketball.

*I really, really wish I had never learned my boss' views on Bush and the Whole War Thing(TM).

[c9.livejournal.com]

I've had conversations with them (I think) regarding politics, but never in depth. I know that I've never foamed at the mouth. So if any of them feel strongly about their beliefs, or feel like keeping friendships and politics separate, I'm sure they'd still feel like coming along.

[simplisticton.livejournal.com]

Don't ask, don't tell. (Groan).

I second the motion: don't invite people from work. Bad things are just bound to happen if you do that.

[c9.livejournal.com]

That's for sure. No work invites, I promise.