Oy.
My parents are reasonably intelligent people, and once upon a time, Dad was a voracious reader. He subscribed to TIME magazine back when it was worth the paper it was written (yes, that was a long time ago), and read the NY Times and Wall Street Journal everyday.
In recent years, however, Dad has devolved into a clone of Archie Bunker (even physically; its kind of frightening, actually), and Mom is quickly pulling up the rear.
We haven't discussed politics very much over the last year. I made it clear in mid-2007 that I was supporting Obama. That did not go over well. They were truly shocked that he won and have been pretty quiet about the whole thing since Election Day.
Did I mention that in their semi-retirement, they spend their days watching Fox News?
Follow me over the fold for a cup of coffee (no tea today, sorry) and if you want to read about a truly bizarre conversation.
I called my parents last night. They live on the East coast, and I live on the West coast. I had escaped work rather late, and of course it was even later on the East coast, but I'm busy this week and it wasn't quite midnight back there, so I called.
Dad was asleep, but Mom was still up. We talked a bit about my grandmother, about my sister, and about a cousin. She asked what we were up to and I told her about the Angels-Redsox game we went to on Sunday. She told me that she was going to put a flat screen TV in my old room.
As we were about to get off the phone she said, "Oh, are you going out to a tea party tomorrow?"
"Oh please, Mother, what do you think?"
"Well, I'm going. What he's doing to us with taxes!"
"Oh, you're making more than $250,000? Good for you!"
"No, but he's raising taxes on the middle class, too! You should see my bill!"
"Actually, Mother, no tax increases have gone into effect yet, so whatever you're paying this year, they're George W. Bush's rates. I never heard you complaining back then."
"They're all crooks! And he'll never get re-elected!"
"You know, you shouldn't watch so much Fox News."
"Are you a socialist?"
Now, at this point, steam is rolling out of my ears. I can't even remember what I said. What I wish I said was: "Yes! I believe in the redistribution of wealth to the shiftless underclass!! Bwaaahhaaahhaaa!!!"
What mom said next: "Well, I love you anyway. Talk later! Goodnight!"
We're heading back east in July. Apparently, I have to start working on my pithy repartee now.