# Ladies, can a Republican float your boat? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [August 26, 2001, 3:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ladies-can-a-republican-float-your-boat/78154 "2001-08-26T03:24:54Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![slortar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/6bbea6/32.png) [@slortar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/slortar)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2001, 4:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ladies-can-a-republican-float-your-boat/78154/21 "2001-08-27T16:55:36Z")
What? I was surprised that nobody has recognized the sheer sensuality and erotic power of Bob Dole. And Nancy Reagan. _shivers with ecstacy_ ---
**Author:** ![Earthworm\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/f07891/32.png) [@Earthworm\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Earthworm_Jim)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2001, 5:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ladies-can-a-republican-float-your-boat/78154/22 "2001-08-27T17:08:10Z")
Is it just me, or does this thread cross the line on that whole “Don’t be a jerk” rule? ---
**Author:** ![MsRobyn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/90ced4/32.png) [@MsRobyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MsRobyn)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2001, 5:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ladies-can-a-republican-float-your-boat/78154/23 "2001-08-27T17:12:40Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by MsRobyn \* > \*\*OK, I’ll bite. Love the nick, BTW. > > I’m a woman (duh) who is a fairly liberal Democrat. I’ve consistently voted Democrat since I turned 18 and was old enough to vote. > > My first marriage was to a rabid Republican, and it drove me crazy. We’d argue the silliest stuff just to argue. > > My mother has said that if I marry a Republican again, she’ll cut off my inheritance. Considering my previous experience, I don’t need that as incentive. > > Robin \*\* OK… now that you’ve framed the question. Being married to a rabid Republican was somewhat satisfying in the sense of having some discussion. Since the ex is a single-issue kind of guy (gun control being his pet cause), discussing guns and gun control got old. Robin ---
**Author:** ![The\_Raven\_1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7993a0/32.png) [@The\_Raven\_1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Raven_1)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2001, 5:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ladies-can-a-republican-float-your-boat/78154/24 "2001-08-27T17:30:52Z")
Howyadoin, Relying on TV Nation for statistics is like relying on George Stephanopoulos or James Carville for fair and balanced analysis. Michael Moore rocks, but he’s about as on the level as an Vegas Night roulette wheel… -Rav ---
**Author:** ![rjung](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/45deac/32.png) [@rjung](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rjung)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2001, 7:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ladies-can-a-republican-float-your-boat/78154/25 "2001-08-27T19:40:37Z")
> [@](#): > > _Originally posted by Tygr \* > Look, I’m about to get annoyed here. First there’s that brilliant thread explaining how we aren’t as intelligent as the more “enlightened” and “progressive” party. Now we gotta sit with the accusation that we are lousy lovers?!?_\* Don’t forget the “Republicans have more nightmares” thread currently running in GD. Maybe a few more will get you to realize that being a Republican is Not A Good Thing? 😉 (I note that most of the Republicans who responded to this thread tend to be more indignant instead of mildly amused. Maybe _that’s_ why they’re not so emotionally satisfying – they can’t laugh at themselves…) ---
**Author:** ![Eonwe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eonwe/32/240_2.png) [@Eonwe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eonwe)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2001, 7:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ladies-can-a-republican-float-your-boat/78154/26 "2001-08-27T19:49:49Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Tygr \* > My brain and my heart are two separate entities, and I don’t allow either one to rule the other. That’s why I’m a conservative. **Tygr** Up until that line I was with you all the way. So close to being a great rebuttle… wish you had stuck to the high road the whole way, but you can only expect so much 🙂 I am not conservative, but I imagine that if I was this thread would really be getting my goat. Here’s a question for those democrats/others who are making this wild assumption that they are somehow more able to form emotional bonds with women: What is it about your political viewpoint that gives you this power over the heartstrings of women everywhere? I’m sure all the lonely, depressed, love-starved republicans would pay dearly from their tax-break-filled, sweatshop-labor-augmented coffers would love to know. Also, I’m a democrat… so why don’t I have a girlfriend??? Answer me that!😕 ---
**Author:** ![Tygr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/df788c/32.png) [@Tygr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tygr)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2001, 9:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ladies-can-a-republican-float-your-boat/78154/27 "2001-08-27T21:32:33Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by rjung \* > **Maybe a few more will get you to realize that being a Republican is Not A Good Thing? 😉** Beats the alternative. 😛 > [@](#): > > (I note that most of the Republicans who responded to this thread tend to be more indignant instead of mildly amused. Maybe _that’s_ why they’re not so emotionally satisfying – they can’t laugh at themselves…) \*\* Look, anyone who knows me knows I can take a joke with the best of 'em. But I got no sense from the OP that this was lighthearted. Right now the only stereotype that the Boards are not working to correct is the perception of Republicans, especially Republican men, as greedy, selfish, morally self-righteous, uptight, etc., etc. But the last straw for me is trying to state that we’re emotionally stunted and incapable of building satisfying relationships with the women we love. (I’d ask Mrs. Tygr to post here and refute the contention, but in the back of my mind is a sneaking suspicion that someone would just point and say "Look, see? He’s forcing his wife to submit and support him like a Good Republican is supposed to!) If you want to debate issues that’s fine. If you try to put forth “evidence” that I’m not intelligent based solely on my party affiliation, I’ll grit my teeth and move on, dismissing you as someone who’s more interested in name-calling than in an open discussion of ideas. But if you try to contend that my political beliefs and principles indicate that I’m incapable of being a good lover… That is not the sort of thing that I’ll be “amused” by. It takes a lot to get me to blow a gasket, but that will put you on VERRRY thin ice. > [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Eonwe \* > **Up until that line I was with you all the way. So close to being a great rebuttle… wish you had stuck to the high road the whole way, but you can only expect so much 🙂** Sorry you see it as “taking the low road”. It actually sums up my entire point. This whole thread is about tying political beliefs to emotional sensitivity. Which is absolutely ludicrous because the two have nothing to do with each other. > [@](#): > > \*\*Also, I’m a democrat… so why don’t I have a girlfriend??? Answer me that!😕 \*\* I dunno. [sub]_(becoming increasingly shrill)_[/sub] Maybe if you’d cut your hair, quit smoking the Pot, put on a tie and go out and get a job instead of relying on the gov’mint to pay your way through life, you _might_ wind up _making_ something of yourself and accidentally _impressing_ some nice _God-fearing girl_ that you could bring home to your _mother_ and me then marry and start giving us some grandbabies like yer s’posed to! 😃 [sup]- See? Who says we can’t laugh at ourselves?[/sup] ---
**Author:** ![Three\_Dog\_Night](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b5ac83/32.png) [@Three\_Dog\_Night](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Three_Dog_Night)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2001, 9:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ladies-can-a-republican-float-your-boat/78154/28 "2001-08-27T21:45:06Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Tygr \* > \*\*Sorry you see it as “taking the low road”. It actually sums up my entire point. This whole thread is about tying political beliefs to emotional sensitivity. Which is absolutely ludicrous because the two have nothing to do with each other. \*\* Look at some of the previous posts. Some women think there is a correlation. Just like how some think that your party affiliation affects your dreams. This is because your personality affects your political views, so that’s why Republicans may have more nightmares, etc. In the partisan nightmares thread **ElvisL1ves** points out that the nightmares of Democrats are tempered by some of the things that make them liberal–the hope for a better future, compassion, etc. Responding to two even earlier posts: Moore used the firm Widgery & Assoc, a legitimate polling firm based in Flint, MI. I don’t think they have a website, but if you whipped out the Flint phonebook and called them they’d explain their methods. 33% of Americans are registered Republicans, 35% are Democrats, the rest are indies. I presume that, because of the gender gap, about 40% of men are registered Republicans. ---
**Author:** ![matt\_mcl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/7ab992/32.png) [@matt\_mcl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/matt_mcl)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2001, 12:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ladies-can-a-republican-float-your-boat/78154/29 "2001-08-28T00:02:58Z")
I dunno, being Canadian, but I’ll just say that it’s my firm belief that Stockwell Day’s main problem is that he secretly wants to get it up the butt from Svend Robinson. Matter of fact, he and I have a lot in common 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Arden\_Ranger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b487fb/32.png) [@Arden\_Ranger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Arden_Ranger)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2001, 12:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ladies-can-a-republican-float-your-boat/78154/30 "2001-08-28T00:42:05Z")
Now, **Tygr** , my love. I did say my _opinion_ was based on my _experience to date_. Guess I’ll just have to find a willing Republican to compare. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Three\_Dog\_Night](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b5ac83/32.png) [@Three\_Dog\_Night](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Three_Dog_Night)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2001, 4:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ladies-can-a-republican-float-your-boat/78154/31 "2001-08-28T04:43:24Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by matt\_mcl \* > \*\*I dunno, being Canadian, but I’ll just say that it’s my firm belief that Stockwell Day’s main problem is that he secretly wants to get it up the butt from Svend Robinson. > > Matter of fact, he and I have a lot in common 😉 \*\* Let’s not forget Pierre Trudeau’s wife, probably the best looking first lady ever. ---
**Author:** ![rjung](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/45deac/32.png) [@rjung](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rjung)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2001, 7:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ladies-can-a-republican-float-your-boat/78154/32 "2001-08-28T19:34:08Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Tygr \* > Right now the only stereotype that the Boards are not working to correct is the perception of Republicans, especially Republican men, as greedy, selfish, morally self-righteous, uptight, etc., etc. So go to GD and start a thread on it. Either that, or write to your high-profile Republican political and social leaders and tell them to _stop_ being greedy, selfish, morally self-righteous, uptight caricatures. ---
**Author:** ![pldennison](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/9fc29f/32.png) [@pldennison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pldennison)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2001, 7:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ladies-can-a-republican-float-your-boat/78154/33 "2001-08-28T19:47:15Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by rjung \* > \*\* > > > [@](#): > > > > \*Originally posted by Tygr \* > > Right now the only stereotype that the Boards are not working to correct is the perception of Republicans, especially Republican men, as greedy, selfish, morally self-righteous, uptight, etc., etc. > > So go to GD and start a thread on it. Either that, or write to your high-profile Republican political and social leaders and tell them to _stop_ being greedy, selfish, morally self-righteous, uptight caricatures. \*\* Like Gary Condit? Ooops. ---
**Author:** ![Captain\_Amazing](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/6de8d8/32.png) [@Captain\_Amazing](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Captain_Amazing)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2001, 8:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ladies-can-a-republican-float-your-boat/78154/34 "2001-08-28T20:22:08Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Stoid \* > **How in heaven’s name do people from opposite sides of the political spectrum enter into serious relationships? I don’t get it…it’s that Carville/Matalin thing and it blows my mind.** Well, with Carville and Matalin it was because they both respected each other, they both thought the other was intelligent and nice, and they had similar personalities. That’s probably the same way people on the same side of the political spectrum enter into serious relationships. I’m not dating anyone from the opposite side of the political spectrum (or the same side, come to think of it, so if anyone is free…), but I have friends who I politically disagree with on most issues, and I don’t think that hurts our relationship. ---
**Author:** ![Yumanite](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/b487fb/32.png) [@Yumanite](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yumanite)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2001, 9:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ladies-can-a-republican-float-your-boat/78154/35 "2001-08-28T21:04:25Z")
To put in my 2 cents, I must agree that I would feel slightly put upon if I were a Republican reading this thread. However, in the interest of learning something. . . The last time I dated a REAL Republican was in high school. This is not because I have been avoiding them, but 'cause I’ve been in a monogamous relationship pretty much since my 1st year of college. Based on that experience, and on my Republican friends, I’d have to say that a GOP guy could float my boat provided that he was an intelligent, well-reasoned person, capable of discussing his opinions in a rational and friendly manner, and willing to consider the viewpoint of another, at least academically. Of course, I hold that standard for all men, regardless of political party. It’s just that I might never find out if a guy who agrees with me is a lousy debater. ---
**Author:** ![Tygr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/df788c/32.png) [@Tygr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tygr)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2001, 10:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ladies-can-a-republican-float-your-boat/78154/36 "2001-08-28T22:27:00Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Arden Ranger \* > \*\*Now, **Tygr** , my love. I did say my _opinion_ was based on my _experience to date_. > > Guess I’ll just have to find a willing Republican to compare. 😃 \*\* Present. > [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Yumanite \* > **I’d have to say that a GOP guy could float my boat provided that he was an intelligent, well-reasoned person, capable of discussing his opinions in a rational and friendly manner, and willing to consider the viewpoint of another, at least academically.** I _said, **“Present”!** _ 😃 > [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Three Dog Night \* > **Some women think there is a correlation.** Perhaps so, but it’s still stereotyping if they make the assumption that we are all emotionally stunted. I, for one, am going to continue to go out of my way to demonstrate that one can advocate conservative social and political policies and still be fun-loving, expressive, out-going in ALL aspects of life. > [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by rjung \* > \*\*…write to your high-profile Republican political and social leaders and tell them to _stop_ being greedy, selfish, morally self-righteous, uptight caricatures. \*\* I’m sorry, I don’t know any that are like that. Know plenty of Democrat ones, though… 😛 ---
**Author:** ![vanilla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/f19dbf/32.png) [@vanilla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vanilla)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2001, 11:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ladies-can-a-republican-float-your-boat/78154/37 "2001-08-28T23:25:26Z")
Well, I don’t know what most of my mates were politically. The last one was republican, so i guess it doesn’t really matter, though if some guy said he voted for Bush over my guy (Nader) I would wonder about his …whats the word I’m looking for…sanity? Intelligence? something like that ---
**Author:** ![Ukulele\_Ike](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/df788c/32.png) [@Ukulele\_Ike](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ukulele_Ike)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2001, 12:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ladies-can-a-republican-float-your-boat/78154/38 "2001-08-29T00:55:04Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by andygirl \* > \*\*I know for a fact that the man who built my canoe was a staunch Republican, so there you go. \*\* I am trying VERY hard not to make a comment about the “man in the boat.” ---
**Author:** ![celestina](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/258eb7/32.png) [@celestina](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/celestina)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2001, 5:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ladies-can-a-republican-float-your-boat/78154/39 "2001-08-29T05:32:48Z")
For the record, I’d like to say that I do have problems with singling Republicans out as some kind of sexually repressed group. I think that at the heart of the question, perhaps the underlying concern is about how well folks from different political backgrounds will communicate and how this will ultimately bear on the success of a long-standing relationship. I am first and foremost a RATIONAL HUMAN BEING who votes her conscience and who is open to different perspectives. I can be liberal or conservative as I see fit. However, I’m suspicious of Republicans in general and their conservative agenda because I think that their putting “family values” and Christianity in the political arena is a logical fallacy, and it’s hypocritical. The imposition of Christian values on a socio-ethnically diverse American population is offensive because it violates Americans’ constitutional right to privacy and the notion of tolerance of religions that America was founded on. I’m suspicious of Democrats in general because while they TALK a good game about reform, they don’t seem to make too much progress in that area. Of course I appreciate both political views because it sure would be boring if everyone just saw things one way. But I digress. I once dated a Republican. We had great sex, but what ruined things was when we tried to talk about substantive topics. He was VERY conservative and a Christian, while I was VERY liberal and agnostic. I think he thought that because I’m nice and polite, I would just fall into line with what he was thinking. Whatever. When I voiced my perspectives on topics like abortion and religion, it rocked his world because either he couldn’t conceive of me espousing those views, OR he just hadn’t run into many, if any, folks who espoused those views. Well, didn’t take us long to break up. I didn’t wish him ill then, and I don’t wish him ill now. He’s basically a nice man with very narrow views. [shrug] We just didn’t suit on the mental level, and for me that’s even MORE important than sex. [giggle] Nothing gets me hotter faster than an intelligent man who can think and argue logically and express himself well AND who can respect and accept me. I think that, yes, chemistry is a wonderful thing and so is sex, but no matter what political affiliation you have, if you can’t TALK to someone and feel as if they RESPECT your views–however they differ–and more importantly RESPECT you as a person, then there’s nothing to build a relationship on. ---
**Author:** ![rjung](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/45deac/32.png) [@rjung](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rjung)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2001, 7:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ladies-can-a-republican-float-your-boat/78154/40 "2001-08-29T19:50:29Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by pldennison \* > \*\* > > > [@](#): > > > > Either that, or write to your high-profile Republican political and social leaders and tell them to _stop_ being greedy, selfish, morally self-righteous, uptight caricatures. > > Like Gary Condit?\*\* Given his past voting record and personal inclinations, it’s pretty obvious he’s closer to the conservative side of the liberal-conservative spectrum, despite his party affiliations. > [@](#): > > _Originally posted by tygr_ > **I’m sorry, I don’t know any that are like that.** You have to get past the denial before we can address the problem. 😉 [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ladies-can-a-republican-float-your-boat/78154.md?page=1)