This just in: Grandma Neebob gives Bob Jr. the Factor for Kids

[neebob]

So I'm talking to my son, who's in Salt Lake visiting his dad, and he mentions that Grandma stopped by yesterday. Come to find out, in addition to the fleece blanket she told me she was going to give my son (who digs fuzzy blankets), she also gave him B.O.'s book. And when she gave it to him, she said, "I don't know if your mother will approve of this" - which is a lie, because we've discussed B.O. on several occasions. I could have sworn she wanted to send me a copy of Who's Looking Out for You?, and I can't help noticing I don't have it. So unless I imagined this conversation, I must have refused.

Points to my ex for saying he's not a fan and reminding my mother that B.O.'s "been in some hot water," to which she replied that was all made up.

I swear! As if we hadn't just managed three pleasant conversations in a month, after a year and a half of ugliness, she gives my kid The Factor.

This will be a huge test of my ability to let things slide.

[Mayberry Machiavelli]

1. We're seeing a lot of stories like this on DU. I guess the RW relatives

feel a certain compulsion to "gloat" in this way or something. It's quite disgusting. I wouldn't dream of sending an unwanted Al Franken or Michael Moore book to a RW family if Kerry had "won" the election, though I'd be happy to have a civil discussion of politics with them if they wished.

[neebob]

3. The thing that's most maddening about it

is not the author or the content - which I'm sure is pretty innocuous and silly - but that this asshole on TV is so important to her that after a year and a half of painful, shitty arguments that included three months of not talking at all, she's willing to take this risk. And guess what? I'm the one who ended the 3-month silence. It's like she's trying to start something. But you know, I think this proves it isn't me. And I guess that's how I'll manage to resist the urge to ask her what kind of drugs she's on.

[Wonk]

9. She is trying to start something.

Buy her a vibrator, and sign the card attached to it "Bill O'Reilly" O8)

[neebob]

10. That's actually a pretty good idea.

After all, she feels perfectly comfortable sticking her old Limbaugh letters and other wingnut mags in with her "care packages." I never mention them.

I'm thinking Mombob would like a loofah and the printouts of Andrea Mackris' lawsuit filing from TSG. She doesn't have a computer, and the quoted passages will curl her hair. Just to be fair and balanced, I'll include B.O.'s countersuit.

I wonder if she'll feel guilty when she opens up the package I sent her, which contains Bob Jr.'s school pics, some cute S'mores salt and pepper shakers (which she collects), and the English translations of 15 Josh Groban songs that he sings in Italian, French, and Spanish - which I spent quite a bit of time copying, pasting, and printing for her BECAUSE SHE THINKS HE'S THE BEE'S KNEES.

[salinen]

2. Easy

just tell her to shut up, shut up, shut up.

[LuCifer]

4. A few days ago at my local crappy mall...

...I was in the bookstore (a great place to escape the stupid people...usually!!!) just killing some time while my fiend shopped, and I heard someone asking for the O'Liely Fucktor For Kids...and how I found the restraint to not go FOAMY on this troll, I have NO idea!!!

Lu Cifer, and I wonder why my lip hurts...

[GRLMGC]

5. The O'Reilly Factor for Kids

I'm sure it's hilarious. It'll probably be good for a few laughs as long as you let your son know its a total joke.

[gardenista]

6. I bet that Bob Jr. will figure out that it's total B.S. all on his own.

My grandfather used to send me anonymous shit in the mail, in support of the Viet Nam war, which I vociferously opposed when I was 11-13 years old. It never helped his cause, and my liberal parents and thought it was funny that he thought we didn't know where this shit was coming from.

I actually remember using some of the information garnered from his articles to my advantage on the debate team. Kids know when adults are trying to manipulate them, and when grandparents are trying to use them to get at their parents.

[neebob]

7. He's almost 16, so I'm not concerned

I'd have bought it for him if he'd asked for it - which would never happen in a million years. I've had to admonish him about getting into it with wingnut kids at school. But he thanked my mom for the book and told me he'd read some of it, but it was stupid. He doesn't even like to read, unless it's something about snowboarding, and that's another thing my mother knows. I'm actually kind of embarrassed that she's such a determined lunatic. My ex and former in-laws are all Democrats.

[gardenista]

11. The giving of the book was a message to you. Your mother

will probably never change. So sorry.

Even with all the problems I have with my family, thank GOD they are all Dems!

[mitchum]

8. I'm sure that every copy bought was intended as a gift

What kid would ask for swill written by a blowhard who comes off like a belligerent brothel customer?