March 18, 2021

"For years I’ve told my clients to avoid talking about politics on the first date, but in D.C., and in a year like this one, that’s somewhat impossible. Plus, for Claire..."

"... who worked on the campaigns of Kamala Harris and Hillary Clinton and is passionate about progressive issues, where someone lands on the political spectrum is very important. So, she flat-out asked him, 'Who did you vote for in the Democratic primary?' Ben stammered a bit. He revealed he admired Andrew Yang’s ideas but didn’t end up voting in the 2020 primary.... By this time, the conversation had started to drag and Pistachio needed to go outside to do her business. Ben asked for Claire’s number and texted her while they were still on the date to make sure she received it. A few minutes later, they said good night and signed off.... Claire had a burning question that couldn’t wait: 'I had to know what he thought of Andrew Yang running for New York City mayor.' She texted Ben that one question after the date. Not surprisingly, as part of the Yang Gang during the presidential race, Ben declared his admiration for Yang and confidence that he could be the right person to run the city. Then he followed up with, 'Totally fair question but only if you share your thoughts as well.' Feeling that there are many other candidates (in particular women of color) who would make better mayors, Claire was put off again by Ben’s politics and couldn’t bring herself to reply."

Writes dating coach Damona Hoffman, in "Date Lab: Talking politics on a first date is usually a no-no. But it couldn’t be avoided after a year like this one" (WaPo).

Pistachio is a dog, supposedly a Chihuahua, though it's huge. By the way, "Date Lab" sounds like a dog.

Anyway, throughout this article, before I even got to the part I'm quoting, I thought Ben was much better than Claire. In the end, he gave the date a 4.25 (out of 5) and she gave it a 3.5. They had no further contact.

Ben's statement "Totally fair question but only if you share your thoughts as well" is a bit devious. He's already answered the question, so there's no option to withdraw the question. She can only answer or be deemed unfair. And she doesn't answer! The truth is it's not about fairness. She genuinely only wants someone who shares her politics. That could have been known before the date was arranged, so she wasted his time. 

And maybe if he'd just been asked would you like to go out with a woman who will only be interested in you if you share her politics, he might have said no — even without first hearing what her politics were.

137 comments:

Mr Wibble said...

Claire sounds like the horror stories I've heard about DC: narcissistic women with too much interest in leftwing politics, and weak men.

tim in vermont said...

"who worked on the campaigns of Kamala Harris and Hillary Clinton and is passionate about progressive issues, where someone lands on the political spectrum is very important. So, she flat-out asked him, “

This is a great service she is doing for men, ruling herself out as a nutter. If she’s hot, lie to her, then pump and dump, otherwise dump.

Iman said...

Sounds like they deserve each other.

Next!

Scott said...

she sounds horrible. Run Ben Run!

tim in vermont said...

And maybe if he'd just been asked would you like to go out with a woman who will only be interested in you if you share her politics

I don’t care about anybody’s politics, honestly, but I do care if a potential partner has surrendered their mental health so that the Biden crime family can get richer, and so that a coterie of billionaires get their pet projects encoded into law.

Bilwick said...

As one of those reactionary weirdoes who still value liberty, I definitely rule out dating "liberals" or other statists. Pointing a gun at my head or planting a jackboot on the back of my neck isn't exactly an aphrodisiac for me. As I've often recommended, the sadomasochistic Left should confine themselves to S&M bars and dungeons where they can exercise their domination and submission fantasies and not harm the rest of us.

Matt Sablan said...

"The next thing I advise is to let your curiosity drive the conversation while being a good listener. Ben demonstrated this by noticing an interesting museum print behind Claire. She shared that it was from a trip to Paris, which dovetailed into a conversation about Ben’s adventures in Tanzania, in addition to his love for the Berkshires and his desire to settle one day in western Massachusetts."

-- Honestly, look at everything the author is talking about. Ben notices things, went out of his way to figure out what she'd be ordering to share that, and so-on. She thought his pet rock was "weird." Claire so far has seemed unimpressed with Ben, until she asks where he went to school. The whole thing reads like Ben is taking a chance and getting to know her, while Claire is trying to find out whether he checks all of her boxes. Two different approaches to dating, but I feel like this is probably the best for both of them.

rhhardin said...

What the guy wants is a sense of humor.

Balfegor said...

And maybe if he'd just been asked would you like to go out with a woman who will only be interested in you if you share her politics, he might have said no — even without first hearing what her politics were.

Yes, shouldn't this be the case for most normal people? I mean, I understand that there can be limits, e.g. if someone is a communist or wants to build the Fourth Reich or something, but this kind of hairsplitting between slightly different varieties of Leftism is madness. Given her ideological rigidity, I wonder whether her real concern was that Yang offers something unusual among modern progressives, namely leftism without the snarling hatred and contempt for the conservative and centrist Other.

Joe Smith said...

A known liberal democrat woman would have to be hotter than the sun before I'd even say a word to her. Even then it would be a non-starter.

And if I didn't know a beautiful woman's politics, I wouldn't go out of my way to ask.

If she turned out to be a pussy-hat-wearing shrew then she would be summarily dumped, regardless of hotness factor.

Fernandinande said...

Poor Claire.

chickelit said...

Political compatibility seems to be a bigger problem for women than for men.

Richard Dolan said...

"She genuinely only wants someone who shares her politics."

It's the world that Twitter made, and she's not leaving it. Perhaps Ben will have better sense.

Joe Smith said...

"Poor Claire."

Eau Claire.

Mr Wibble said...

Political compatibility seems to be a bigger problem for women than for men.

I assume it's a social positioning thing: they don't want to be embarrassed by telling their friends that they're dating a Republican.

Greg The Class Traitor said...

I'm shocked, shocked, to discover that leftists are intolerant sexist and racist bigots!

Shocked!

Nonapod said...

She genuinely only wants someone who shares her politics. That could have been known before the date was arranged, so she wasted his time.

It should be obvious, but there's more to life than politics. I think the problem for many modern liberals is that they have this tendency to link every last #&^*ing thing to politics. It didn't used to be so. Mixed political couples seemed to be far more common in the past.

But politics have become so dire and absolutist these days. Many people on the left seem to proceed under the assumption that anyone who doesn't agree with them can only be evil, there's no other possible explanation.

Jeff Weimer said...

If it were me, hypothetically, I would have told her after the primary vote question that I was a lifelong Republican and voted for Trump, no matter *what* I'd actually done.

If the smallest deviation from her political orthodoxy is too much to bear, she might as well be told to quit wasting her time.

Beth B said...

There be dragons there, Ben. You'd do well to avoid her brand of crazy.

Dan from Madison said...

Boy does that sound like a great date or what?!?!

bleh said...

I met my wife in school and never looked back. So I never had to do online dating or anything like that. If I did have to date now, my political preference would be for someone who doesn't care about (or just plain dislikes) politics. It's much easier to have the occasional political disagreement with someone like that.

Politics is too important to too many people already. If you and your partner are both really passionate about politics, then you're either in an echo chamber or at each other's throats.

mikee said...

www.reddit.com/r/FemaleDatignStrategy has an intersectional compilation of male threat avoidance for females, female determination of low versus high value males, and posts by women who have realized they have been taken advantage of in relationships. Reading it makes one weep for the minefield women must walk in woke society, with hazards everywhere, including in their own understanding of self and others.

Still a better romance than Twilight.

Will said...

Ben should have replied he voted the Dem Primary in Iowa... And the votes were counted in that new Democerratic app... So of course nobody will ever really know for sure how *anyone* voted!

With the exception of Kamala of course, whose toxicity had already swamped her boat even before Iowa.

Given that Kamala dropped out 11 months before the actual 2020 election did Claire sit out those 11 months rigidly or was she more pragmatic about someone who could win?

Yancey Ward said...

Fucking hilarious. If Ben had any balls at all, he would have replied, "I wrote in Trump's name."

Sebastian said...

"The truth is it's not about fairness."

The truth is, it's about female privilege.

Anyway, all this raises the fundamental question: should progressivism simply be counted as crazy in the hot/crazy matrix, or do we need to add a third dimension to capture lefty fanaticism?

Mr Wibble said...

It should be obvious, but there's more to life than politics. I think the problem for many modern liberals is that they have this tendency to link every last #&^*ing thing to politics. It didn't used to be so. Mixed political couples seemed to be far more common in the past.

But politics have become so dire and absolutist these days. Many people on the left seem to proceed under the assumption that anyone who doesn't agree with them can only be evil, there's no other possible explanation.


No, they also assume that you are stupid.

But it's not a complete surprise. Much of the culture and institutions that existed outside of politics are dying: churches, social clubs, etc. Pop culture is mass produced and increasingly stridently left-wing. Smaller communities died off when jobs were shipped overseas. Young adults leave home and move hundreds or thousands of miles away to college or to start their careers. As a result, it's difficult to find commonality outside of politics.

SGT Ted said...

Don't date political obsessives.

Greg The Class Traitor said...

Feeling that there are many other candidates (in particular women of color) who would make better mayors

So, she's a sexist and a racist.

She didn't feel "X is better for this reasons and Y is better for this reason", she just feels that the candidate must have the correct sex and race in order for her to even think about voting for that candidate

Which is to say, she's a sexist and a racist.

I'm with Tim: if she's really hot, lie, pump, and dump (just be sure to wear a condom, and video the event so you can prove you got her consent).

If she's not hot, just dump. Certainly don't give her your phone number!

Michael K said...

The story reminds of the personals in "New York Review of Books." In the back page section called, "Women looking for men," Most added to their ad, "No Republicans."

That was 25 years ago when I still subscribed. Nothing has changed.

"Hot Crazy Matrix" is still the best guide.

SGT Ted said...

"Political compatibility seems to be a bigger problem for women than for men."

Women are far more conformist in general than men.

Greg The Class Traitor said...

Much of the culture and institutions that existed outside of politics are dying: churches, social clubs, etc.

Churches that pander to the Left are dying. Churches that don't are growing, last I checked.

"Education pods" are the new social clubs

rehajm said...

That's bad advice. It's definitely a good idea to be upfront about your leftie politics so people don't bother investing any time or interest in you.

rehajm said...

Enjoy your cats.

Kevin said...

"She genuinely only wants someone who shares her politics."

I hear Andrew Cuomo is available.

Yancey Ward said...

Jeff Weimer wrote:

"If it were me, hypothetically, I would have told her after the primary vote question that I was a lifelong Republican and voted for Trump, no matter *what* I'd actually done.

If the smallest deviation from her political orthodoxy is too much to bear, she might as well be told to quit wasting her time."


Exactly.

Greg The Class Traitor said...

"should progressivism simply be counted as crazy in the hot/crazy matrix"

Yes.

Next question?

Kai Akker said...

Ben, 2.0

Claire, 0.5

Gunner said...

Someone should tell Claire that she is definitely not pretty enough to get away with demanding total political orthodoxy with her. Frankly, she would be lucky to even get an unemployed Libertarian.

chickelit said...

Is it fair to assume that Claire mixes politics and dating like Kamala did?
Woe unto the man who lies to get laid.

Original Mike said...

I don't remember ever talking politics while I was dating. Has the world changed or was it always like this and I didn't know?

Ken B said...

I'd answer “Hillary.” Blow jobs aren’t as easy to get as they used to be.

rehajm said...

Enjoy your cats.

Now I see she's a dog person. Enjoy your dog...

policraticus said...

Swipe Left.

Matt Sablan said...

"If it were me, hypothetically, I would have told her after the primary vote question that I was a lifelong Republican and voted for Trump, no matter *what* I'd actually done."

-- And have the entire Internet -- because this is being written about in the WaPo -- identify you as the racist, Nazi MAGAt Trumper who tried to date the progressive queen? No. There is no reason to *lie* about supporting Trump in public. I think the guy honestly does support Yang, and was just taken aback because he went out of his way to follow all of the advice that the Dating Coach gave them, and she decided to go off-script.

Mr Wibble said...

Now I see she's a dog person. Enjoy your dog...

That doesn't count as a dog.

GingerBeer said...

Miss Goldberg, 24, who is "passionate about politics and movies that pass the bechdel (sic) test," should seriously consider freezing her eggs about now.

Matt Sablan said...

(Note: I actually don't think Claire is THAT bad. She knows what she wants and is screening for it. But I certainly think if Ben HAD been a Trump supporting Republican, the comments at the WaPo would be significantly more pro-Claire than they are. Honestly, the Dating Coach failed both of them in setting this up, because the Coach had to know what Claire wanted, and set Ben up into a minefield. So, hopefully, no one beats up on Claire too much. She and Ben were not a good fit, and the Dating Coach should have seen that before letting them be written about.)

Bruce Hayden said...

My partner was just the opposite - she would only date Republicans and right of center independents. First two husbands were fairly non political, though she was after the second for years after he supposedly voted for Obama/Biden. That was well after they were divorced. She always knew where I stood, of course...

Back right before she met me, she dated the conservative half of a popular morning radio team. She loved his politics, but ultimately they ended up just friends, because he was a couch potato, with his chips and beer, and she loved fine dining, from her first husband, who had been an executive chef at one of the big Las Vegas hotel/casinos. She was a frequent caller on their show, and one day she called in, and he commented that her name sounded like a feminine hygiene product (it probably does). They all got a laugh.

I dated an environmental attorneyette not long before that, when I lived in Austin. She had moved from the EPA to the TX govt after Justice Gorsuch’s mother took over the former. We did some double dating with my 3rd brother and his wife, and the “shrub” (GW Bush) jokes became tiresome very quickly. One of them said “shrub”, and all laughed. I liked her - but the relationship didn’t survive my move from TX to AZ, and I think part of it was her tireless left wing ranting. I think that she was the only “out” leftist I ever dated, though I am still connected by Facebook with a brief college girlfriend (and 1st wife of a fraternity brother), who is pretty out there on the left. Rarely read her posts anymore, but keep connected for old time’s sake.

Mr Wibble said...

What amazes me is how boring these women are. They all have the same politics, read the same books, dress alike, etc.

Readering said...

It's DC.

DavidUW said...

Funny. Beta boi still loses to cat lady. She’s a solid 4 or 5 at age 24 when any woman should be smoking hot, Beta Ben dodged a bullet.

The current partner picked me up at a bar in DC when I was traveling there for business. We didn’t talk politics.
She discovered I’m a Republican later.

Now she is too.

She’s Puerto Rican to give you an idea of my persuasive abilities.


PM said...

Hey, guy, to get in, lean in.

Her: "I'm passionate about progressive issues."
Him: "Omigod, so am I! That's kind of amazing, right?"

tim maguire said...

Never mind ideas, I want names. Who cares what policies you support or what your hopes are, I just want to know if you back the right people.

Ben dodged a bullet. Though it's entirely possible that Claire did as well.

Joe Smith said...

"I'd answer “Hillary.” Blow jobs aren’t as easy to get as they used to be."

In a rare joint statement, Bill Clinton and Willie Brown responded: "Speak for yourself.

tcrosse said...

Claire de loon.

Ken B said...

The really funny thing is the Trumpkin Covidiot denialists here mocking the woman for her intransigent prejudice. Pot, kettle.

tim maguire said...

Fernandinande said...Poor Claire.

That's the generous view. She's a sad and lonely person who will lead a sad and lonely life. She may have a dog, but she should get used to cats.

wild chicken said...

So I'm re-readimg Golden Notebook by Doris Lessing. Basically, British Stalinists in love.

It doesn't make a diff if you agree on everything. One or both always move on.

Temujin said...

I can almost hear her valley girl voice saying, "I'm very paahshunutt about prahgrahssahv politics." Ugh. An entire generation of women who think they are Greatness Walking, while speaking like that.

It's almost enough to make a man yearn for the good old days when men were men and women weren't allowed to vote.

(ok...have at it).

Mike Sylwester said...

My daughter got me to start watching the reality show Married at First Sight. Then I got my wife to watch it too, and now my wife and I watch it instead of American Idol.

I thought that the show's premise was a bad idea. Four (or five) couples agree to marry without knowing each other before their wedding ceremony. Then they live with each other for eight weeks. Then they decide to stay married or to get divorced.

I have found this show to be surprisingly intelligent. The producers choose applicants who are good talkers, and the producers match the couples carefully. During the eight weeks, the couples are counseled by professional marriage counselors who are skilled and wise.

So, the show intelligently portrays many, varied conflicts between men and women who are trying to stay married.

I am now watching my second season of this show, and a political conflict has appeared for the first time. The husband is a 38-year-old former Navy pilot who now works as an airline pilot. The wife is a 28-year-old office worker, who seems to be an alcoholic.

Anyway, in last night's show, the political conflict was discussed by the couple and a marriage counselor. The conflict's essence is not revealed, but it's obvious that the husband is quite conservative and the wife is quite liberal. I think that this series was filmed during the 2020 election race but is not being broadcast until now.

The wife is bothered by the husband's political opinions much more than vice-versa. The marriage counselor did a good job of talking her through her resentment about this difference.

Much of the fun of watching this show is predicting whether the couple will stay married or get divorced. Now they are half way through the eight weeks. I predict that this couple will divorce. Their primary problem is her drinking.

exhelodrvr1 said...

Who paid?

tim in vermont said...

She describes her type as someone who wears glasses and is funny.

Pol Pot made assumptions about people who wore glasses too, and how many times do you think the words “That’s not funny” pass her lips?

Joe Smith said...

I bet Claire has vocal fry.

Matt Sablan said...

"Who paid?"

-- It was a virtual date, and they ordered separately. So, assumable that they each paid their own way.

She specifically didn't laugh at the pet rock joke. But, that actually wasn't that funny (but I'd still do a polite laugh, especially if I was on a date with someone.)

tim in vermont said...

I weare glasses and my friends think I am very funny, even the liberal Trump hating ones, but I am not interested.

exhelodrvr1 said...

She forgot the "beer" in "wears beer glasses"

Rabel said...

That's a Chihuahua to the same degree as Kamala is an African American.

Kevin said...

Ben: Have you ever voted for a person who wasn’t an oppressed minority?

Claire: Didn't we already cover this?

Ben: You never answered the question.

Claire: Look, I'm not gonna discuss my voting record with a total stranger.

Ben: It's kind of a double-edged sword, isn't it?

Claire: A what?

Ben: Well, if you say you haven't, you're an over-woke Commissar of the Chardonnay Cancel Culture. If you say you have, you're a xenophobic, misogynistic racist! It's a trap. You want to but you can't but when you do you wish you didn't, right?

Claire: Wrong.

Ben: ...Or, are you a tease?

Man at next table on a date: She's a tease.

Claire: Why don't you just drop it?

Man at next table: You're a tease and you know it, all on-a-mission-to-remake-the-world women are teases!

Ben: She's only a tease if what she does gets you to vote for her candidate.

Claire: I don't do anything!

Ben: That's why you're a tease.

Claire: Okay, lemme ask you a few questions.

Ben: I've already told you I voted for Yang!

Claire: No, doesn't it bother you to keep voting for centrists who just want to make tiny changes at the margin of the status quo? I mean don't you want any respect?

Ben: I don't use my vote to get respect; that's the difference between you and me.

Claire: Not the only difference, I hope.

Ben: Face it, you're a tease.

Claire: I'm not a tease!

Ben: Sure you are! Politics is a weapon! You said it yourself; you use it to get respect!

Claire: No, I never said that. You twisted my words around.

Ben: Oh, then what do you use it for?

Claire: I don't *use* it period!

Ben: Oh, are you afraid to create a digital record for big tech to remove you from social media, or is it psychological?

Claire: I didn't mean it that way! You guys are putting words into my mouth!

Ben: Well if you'd just answer the question...

Woman at next table: Why don't you just answer the question?

Man at next table: Be honest...

Ben: No big deal...

Woman at next table: Yeah, answer it!

Man at next table: Answer the question, Claire!

Ben: Talk to us!

Man and woman at next table: Come on, answer the question!

Ben: It's easy, it's only one question!

Claire: No! I’ve never voted!

donald said...

When I decided to get out there after my wife died I tried the online thing a couple of times. One was neat but not for me (we did a few things together, left on good terms). The other one was a smoker and lied about it. Politics never came up. When I meet women now, if they’re talking politics, I want out ASAP. Rhardin is right, I want funny, and attractiveness. These people are banal, and it distresses me because I see my beautiful, brilliant, actual MD, niece in them.

Bob Smith said...

Run for your life Dude. Don’t bother to wave goodbye, just run. Seriously, I don’t care if her eyes make your heart skip a beat. I don’t care if roscoe alerts when she comes in the room. Run.

wild chicken said...

I always thought I was liberal but most my dates were not. But boy they were fun. One got me interested in local politics just for the comedic value.

It took me a long time to get to where they were ideologically. Not sure why.

Howard said...

No wonder you INCELs frequent happy ending massage parlors.

gilbar said...

"should progressivism simply be counted as crazy in the hot/crazy matrix"

Definitely NOT. The Crazy axis is for folks like Cosmetologists and Strippers
progressivism is a Whole other dimension of messed up.

Example: Here are two girls, that are NOT the same
Candi is stunningly attractive; she is a Hairstylist
Beth is stunningly attractive; she works for PETA

need more?
Traci is pretty darn cute; she works making porn of a type that i CAN NOT mention here
Sara is pretty darn cute; she is an Antifa member

like i said; a Whole other dimension

henge2243 said...

Politics are like penises. Nobody wants to see them waving around on a first date.

Elaine, "he took, it, out."

Big Mike said...

Anyone who cares more for "Progressive" politics than human contact has very low dating potential. I agree with Bob Smith -- run.

I note in passing that "Progress" means returning to "separate but equal."

gspencer said...

"In the end, he gave the date a 4.25 (out of 5) and she gave it a 3.5. They had no further contact"

Both scores were way too high.

But this is the state of Democrat dating? Yikes!

Rob said...

. . . and the horse she rode in on.

Tom T. said...

I don't share her preferences in terms of the importance she attaches to political alignment, but she's doing a service to get those preferences out onto the table right away. Otherwise she's wasting his time. The coach is wrong to suggest that this has anything to do with 2020, though. This is one individual's point of view, and I expect that she was this way long before 2020 and will continue to be this way until she either finds someone who meets her standards or decides that her political filter is not bringing her happiness after all.

wendybar said...

She's not worth all the drama.

Joe Smith said...

"Politics are like penises. Nobody wants to see them waving around on a first date."

If that were the case, Kamala would never be vice president...

wendybar said...

Michael K. said "Hot Crazy Matrix" is still the best guide.

Yep. That is hilarious....

n.n said...

She hangs left. He hangs right. Let's get together and hang ten.

Gunner said...

Guys, this is 2021. The ugly chicks are crazy as hell too.

Just an old country lawyer said...

"Works at a progressive non-profit," is really all one needs to know.

Birches said...

Posing with the cat seems like a big red flag, even before the politics.

RigelDog said...

Why are so many women so gosh-darn GUSHY and dogmatic about today's politics? It's overly-emotive, to the point where their ability to discuss or even hear slightly dissenting views is drowned out by the wave of feelings evoked---and which fits the stereotype of the hysteric irrational female. At the same time, it's an assertion of raw power; like they are totally juiced with power. As though they have finally been given societal permission to let out their inner aggressions and to act in opposition to the female stereotype of the non-aggressive nice girl.

I don't recognize myself in these behaviors and attitudes. Not for the first time I wonder if I am even a chick.

MadisonMan said...

Of course it can be avoided. You say this: "No sane person cares about anyone else's politics"

Jim Gust said...

Claire will be a childless spinster in her old age.

Original Mike said...

"Why are so many women so gosh-darn GUSHY and dogmatic about today's politics? It's overly-emotive, to the point where their ability to discuss or even hear slightly dissenting views is drowned out by the wave of feelings evoked---and which fits the stereotype of the hysteric irrational female."

I believe we have learned one thing in the past decade. That old bromide that the world would be better off if women ran it was totally, utterly wrong.

Michael said...

Three things:

1. Anything would be better than what they have now.
2. How different is Andy Yang from your basic Progressive, aside from being generally competent?
3. "Mister, we could use a man like Rudy Giuliani again!"

Plus: did no one ever tell these young women that there is more to life than politics, or that disagreeing with them in itself does not make someone a bad person?

mockturtle said...

Wokesters deserve each other. I can't imagine in my wildest dreams a sane person being interested in dating a wokester. Wokesters are nuts.

John Scott said...

I wonder if she would make an exception for the guy that wrote into Slate if he turned out to be a Republican.

Jupiter said...

Thank God they don't know how to reproduce.

mockturtle said...

I believe we have learned one thing in the past decade. That old bromide that the world would be better off if women ran it was totally, utterly wrong.

You are so right, O.M. Women are destroying our country and possibly the world. And as a woman, I am forced to make this admission based on objective evidence.

stevew said...

For women like Claire dogs make the best companions. Her dog's name, Pistachio, is a tell too.

Reading this article I am quite thankful that I met mrs. stevew in college. The dating scene these days is torture.

Jim Gust said...

One of the great and surprising love stories was Mary Matalin and James Carville. They are both passionate about politics, and they are on opposite ends of the spectrum (though practical enough to not be extremists).

I was at a sales conference soon after Hurricane Katrina, and they were the guest speakers. It was very clear that the years of marriage had not mellowed their politics, yet it was just as clear that they were as in love as ever.

Claire is making a huge mistake in limiting her choices.

mockturtle said...

Kevin, you should be writing scripts! Good work. ;-)

NorthOfTheOneOhOne said...

Jim Gust said...

Claire will be a childless spinster in her old age.

But at least she'll have a steady stream of income writing opeds for the NYT and WaPo about how there are no good men out there any more!

mockturtle said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
mockturtle said...

Women often say they want one thing but end up falling for another. They shouldn't be taken too seriously. ;-)

Big Mike said...

Claire will be a childless spinster in her old age.

@Jim Gust, one hopes! There is no way she will turn out to be a competent parent.

I'm Not Sure said...

"@Jim Gust, one hopes! There is no way she will turn out to be a competent parent."

She'll be hoping for transgendered babies, no doubt. Really give a boost to her prog creds, it will. Too bad for the kids, though, but what are you going to do? Eggs, omelets...

Jim at said...

It's usually - but not always - the leftist who starts running his or her mouth about politics ... be it on a date or at a family gathering. This is a good thing and I encourage it.

They're actually doing you a favor by providing a clear signal to avoid them at all costs.

Static Ping said...

It is reasonable that if you are truly passionate about something that you find a mate who shares that passion with a minimum requirement of not being obstructive to that passion. If someone who deviates from your political beliefs puts you in a frothy rage, then you probably don't want to live with that person and it is best for everyone involved to get that out of the way at the start. That said:

Getting into frothy rages over political differences is typically not healthy.

Getting into frothy rages over minor political differences is fanaticism. I am not sure it is healthy to be in a relationship with a fanatic under any circumstances. A fanatic that can limit his or her fanaticism to only one area is rare, and the most likely result is a relationship that features constant arguing or an overbearing spouse.

Kevin said...

Kevin, you should be writing scripts! Good work. ;-)

LOL! Right now I'm busy rewriting them.

"Answer the question, Claire!" is a classic line from The Breakfast Club. It was too good to pass up.

Mark Jones said...

Living here in the People's Republic of Portland, when I jumped back into the dating pool after my divorce, I put a notice in all my various electronic dating apps: "I am not a liberal. If you can't deal with that, move along."

I didn't care, particularly, but I saw no reason to waste my time with a leftist shrew (no matter how hot and otherwise appealing) who would, at best, disdain my politics and at worst, constantly berate me over my politics. I don't know how many women did, in fact, move along, but in the end I found a wonderful woman so it worked out.

mockturtle said...

Kevin, sorry I missed the meme. Haven't seen that movie.

mockturtle said...

My late husband was a British Liberal [not British Labor] and I a Conservative, at least by the time we married in 1974. We definitely differed on the fundamental role of government but neither was so emotionally invested in our politics to make it a problem in our marriage. Interestingly [but maybe not surprisingly], he was the one who wanted to cheat on our income tax, which I flatly refused to do.

JAORE said...

Bullet dodged.

Lars Porsena said...

I'm glad it ended like it did. We don't want these people breeding.

The Vault Dweller said...

Both my sets of Grandparents were married their whole lives. In both sets there were divergent political party affiliations. Both marriages worked out pretty well. If someone finds that he or she can not stand the idea of being in a relationship with someone with different political views, chances are any relationship that person might get into he or she will discover there is something that he or she can not stand about their romantic partner.

chuck said...

Reminds me of soaking in Lava Hot Springs during the Reagan years and overhearing a young pair comparing investments.

Friendo said...

@ Kevin 12:47 - very nice.

Yancey Ward said...

Kevin,

Absolutely fucking brilliant! I am in awe of how you modified that. As I was reading it, it rang familiar to me, and I had almost reached the end when I realized the source material you are using. You win the internet for the entire month!

h said...

I was surprised at how strongly the WaPo comments run against the woman.

RMc said...

What the guy wants is a sense of humor.

Supporting Hillary and Kamala is pretty funny!

Kevin said...

Kevin, sorry I missed the meme. Haven't seen that movie.

Oh please don't feel bad. No one can see every movie.

If the resulting writing brings you joy, both the original screenwriter and I are more than pleased.

Assistant Village Idiot said...

She knows that some generic women of color will make better mayors.

Run screaming.

mockturtle said...

Kevin, no kidding, you have real talent. Good scripts are such a rare commodity nowadays that you should give it a shot. I can't remember a movie made in the past twenty years that had good dialogue. Now, there may have been some but none sticks out as memorable.

gilbar said...

was Mary Matalin and James Carville. They are both passionate about politics
They are both complete mercenary whores
fify!

gilbar said...

Claire: No! I’ve never voted!

i've never voted either. I'm not a registered voter... I'm a compulsive Liar

Kevin said...

Nice, gilbar!

I'm Not Sure said...

"Answer the question, Claire!" is a classic line from The Breakfast Club. It was too good to pass up.

I usually don't "get" movie references, unless it's Airplane!, Blazing Saddles or Monty Python and the Holy Grail, but I got this one. Well done!

Achilles said...

tim in vermont said...


This is a great service she is doing for men, ruling herself out as a nutter. If she’s hot, lie to her, then pump and dump, otherwise dump.

Guaranteed to get you accused of rape.

Zach said...

I've noticed that in a lot of these posts, the guy seems like a better sport than the date warranted, gives the girl a generous grade ... and never follows up.

Gives new meaning to the term "Gentleman's B."

Zach said...

Like, giving her 4.25 points out of five isn't really giving her four points, you know? Calling her back is giving her four points. Giving her four points is really giving her three points, and three is just a nice word for two.

Bunkypotatohead said...

She worked for Clinton and Harris. That's strike 1 and strike 2.
Pistachio is strike 3. You're outta there lady!

Quaestor said...

...this kind of hairsplitting between slightly different varieties of Leftism is madness.

But nevertheless typical of leftism. Study the career of Lenin. At first, he argued with the Mensheviks, then he banned them, finally, he had them murdered.

It won't be long, now...

glacial erratic said...

So the left, left, left woman thinks the left, left man is not left enough.
Makes sense to me.

Known Unknown said...

POLITICS IS A CULT #changemymind

mockturtle said...

The wokesters trying to out-woke each other. Same thing happens in every Leftist revolution, including the French. Someone will be the last to the guillotine. Fun to watch if it weren't for the fact that these idiots are now running the country.

dbp said...

I have three daughters, equally attractive and aged 19-24. All are fairly left-wing but the older two have both enjoyed long-lasting relationships and have no rule about their boyfriends sharing their politics. The youngest one is pretty militant and has proclaimed that she will never date a guy who isn't also a leftist. She has never had a romantic relationship of any substantial length.

Kirk Parker said...

"Claire had a burning"

Most definitely keep your distance.

DINKY DAU 45 said...

So is this like My brother a "professed" Catholic marries a Jewish girl and they raise they kids as both. Kids are told "Yes Jesus is son of God by the Dad and the mother says"No he was just a good man. The kids decide to become Wickens and agnostics saying their parents are totally confused. But hey, the holidays are great ,Hannukah,Christmas,Seder and Communion,confession and self relection, ELUL... Yeah its not only Politics its called LIFE ON LIFES TERMS. Its all you got, find a spot and (like Don Juan searched for) and hone in.Too many neat little piles people put others in. Remember the famous words of Sgt Barry Sadler "hate your next door neighbor but don't forget to say grace" yeesh... cheer up,got shots in your arm and even though you said NO you sure took the DOUGH. :)

Dalben said...

It's amusing that the 'share her politics' requirement isn't just be a Democrat, but support the same Democrats in the primary. So presumably the large majority of Democrats who voted for Biden and Sanders, are already on thin ice or unacceptable, not just the smaller percentage who supported long shots like Yang or Bloomberg.

I mean it doesn't change the basic issue, it's just that the hyperspeficity makes it more humurous. Like 'I want someone who's blonde' vs I have a color pallette showing the hair shades I'll accept.

Lurker21 said...

I forget where this comes from, but it may be relevant:

E. Digby Baltzell, the man who invented the acronym WASP, and who of course was one, told me on a spring day back in 1970 that “the worst thing that has happened to American society in the 20th century is the transmission of the energies of religion into politics, to the detriment of both.”

Greg The Class Traitor said...

Achilles said...
tim in vermont said...
This is a great service she is doing for men, ruling herself out as a nutter. If she’s hot, lie to her, then pump and dump, otherwise dump.

Guaranteed to get you accused of rape.


That why you set up hidden cameras to record, and make sure you get your affirmative consent