At Xmas, my mother-in-law said, "economy is political, caused by democrats"

[NAO]

Ok, at xmas dinner my mother in law, who I think knows that I am a leftie, just comes out and says,

"well, this horrible economy and the economic crisis was all unnecessary, it is all political, and it was caused by the Democrats"

The extreme need to maintain civility with my in-laws kept me from even rhetorically asking how the Democrats, who have not been in power, could possibly be responsible for the current state of the economy.

My mother-in-law does NOT follow politics. Fox news is played in their house, but I know she doesn't listen much. Is this a new conservative meme, that has somehow propagated into her brain, or did she just make it up on the spot to test my ability to maintain?

[PDJane]

1. It's a new/old meme.

They trot that tired old thing out every so often.

However, for a robust economy, make a hard left turn at the next election.

[unpossibles]

2. everything is the fault of the democrats on FOX news

my in-laws were also back to their norm - they had been a bit subdued after the election, but now are back to being antagonistic toward us about our politics, about our lifestyles, and just about everything else.

My father in law especially is someone who hates being told what to do by anyone - very much the self-styled rebel who happens to spout rightwing talking points all day at the top of his lungs. Finally, I pointed out that he's doing what he hates done to himself - trying to tell me what to think and how to live, then I walked away and told him I chose not to listen to his garbage.

[Kahuna]

3. Barney Frank! SQUAWK!! Barney Frank! SQUAWK! SQUAWK!! nt

[Warpy]

4. Isn't it nice you only have to be civil to the old bag once a year?

Seriously, every family has at least one of those.

She's repeating what she's heard on talk radio and Pox News. That is the belief system upon which her whole world is based. You can't talk her out of it and should never attempt to try.

My own tactic with my parents during their mercifully brief Limbaugh fascination was to leave the area when they'd start to rant. I'd go to the store, go for a walk, go for a drive, do something pleasant. When I got back, I'd just ask, "Are you DONE?"

My folks were in a cult at that point, but they were never stupid. They got the point in record time and politics were again off the table.

You shouldn't have to be a punching bag no matter how much you need to maintain civility. I offer my technique as a non verbally violent way to avoid it.

[elehhhhna]

6. just ask them "how you figure?", shut up, and let 'em hang themselves.

try it. it's fun.

[Warpy]

12. I was over verbal games with my parents by the time I was 20

and preferred to enjoy the aspects of their characters that were enjoyable.

They just needed a little potty training during the Lamebawl years.

My method was nonviolent and kept the peace. My parents were smart enough to shake off the bullshit and get back to reality.

[yardwork]

5. When the economy is good, it's because of the previous Republican president.

When the economy is bad, it's because the soon-to-be-sworn-in Democratic president caused it. Simple, see? It's always the Democrats' fault.

[booley]

7. No it's old

Somehow it's always the Democrats fault.

It's the Dems fault when they are in power
It's the Dems fault when they are out of power

It's the Dems fault when they do what thier Republicans counterparts want them to do.
It's the Dems fault when they can't stop the Republicans.

Often to get around reality, they twist the timeline with the ever popular "delayed effect" excuse, that it was really the fault of the Dem that proceeded the Republican (regardless of much delay the effect takes or why whatever happened actually happened) So the Shrub recession is really the Clinton recession. Clinton was responsible for 9-11 which happened a year after he left office.

Of course, if that were true then the Carter Recession was really the Ford Nixon recession and the Reagan recovery was the Carter recovery. And Poppy Bush is accountable for the first WTC attack and the USS Cole and Kenya Embassy bombing.

But for cons faulty logic and double standards aren't handicaps, they are tools.

[crystalwolf]

8. I had a "Obama" christmas...lOL

My DH brother sent him a vid from Faux news, and the commentators were laughing and "saying President Obama, if you can get used to THAT"!
and they went on to say Obama was the cause of economy and how people would have to bake things, instead of BUYING stuff (expensive stuff) at the stores!!! I was so fricken pissed when I saw that because I had already decided to bake for Christmas anyway! So I wrote little notes in my Christmas cards..."I'm having a Obama Christmas..." And my FIL who was so very Happy Obama was elected, he is 85+ years, called me up and thanked me for making such wonderful baked goods and said it reminded him when he was a kid, how everyone used to do this.
What made me mad is that Faux news, was making this into a BAD thing...to actually create something!!!!
Faux news sucks, whoever watches them are imbeciles! x(

[CrispyQ]

9. She was trying to get a rise out of you.

That's not to say that she doesn't believe what she said, but they are like that. They throw out some right wing sound-bite to see if they can get anyone to bite. Then when you respond with facts & sources they ignore that & throw another sound-bite at you, one that is equally as inaccurate & ridiculous as the first & the whole thing starts over again. They do not respond to or provide sources or facts. They think & 'debate' in sound-bites.

[CountAllVotes]

10. a former friend of mine said something similar

it was after the election. She has all of her money in the stock market and has lost her ass basically. She called me on the phone and said that "Obama is messing around with the stock market!". I replied that if she wants to blame someone, look no further than the Oval Office. Who is sitting in there now?

She didn't say anything except she wished ill upon Obama. I became angry and told her she better shut the f_ up because if she kept that kind of talk up she'd be seeing the Secret Service at her door.

I haven't heard from her since, hence the reason I refer to her as my "former friend". :puke:

Good riddance and Happy New Year!!! :D


:dem: :kick:

[Vinca]

11. How did you keep yourself from leaping across the table

and going for her throat?

[ladjf]

13. Please accept my sympathy. You have a family problem. nt

[Historic NY]

14. She listens to Rush & Hannity dosen't she?

that s the latest TP (Repuke toilet paper)

[Cha]

15. Sorry your mil is so

ignorant on the subject.

[norepubsin08]

16. You would never have to have a political conversation

with her again if you followed what I did...my MIL was the same way after Reagan got elected...I responded "Listen you ignorant old bitch...in 25 years this country will be ruined with the likes of him and his ilk, so if I was you, I'd shut my trap while I still had the chance."

It solved a lot of heartache over the years...my wife and I haven't seen the bitch since!!!!!

I have no patience for politically ignorant people, specially if I have to be with them a lot...also I can't stand people who vote for selfishness (which Reagan was the poster boy of)

[CrispyQ]

17. I couldn't agree more with your sentiment about voting for selfishness!

A few weeks after the 2008 election Judge Judy was on Larry King. She told Larry that people like her, people who are very well off, "didn't vote with our pocketbooks this time." She went on about the damage that's been done to our country & our reputation & how if Obama costs them more in taxes then so be it, we need change.

I almost threw something at the TV I was so pissed off. What the fuck? You couldn't see the writing on the wall in '04? The Patriot Act, Abu Ghraib, the Downing Street memos & countless other atrocities against our Constitution & you rich assholes were too busy counting your fucking money to care what was being done in our name, with our tax dollars. Now that the economy is in the hole, you finally wake up & claim you are concerned about our reputation. Go fuck yourself, Judge Judy. I hope your portfolio lost all it's value.

Argghhh!!!! :banghead: :banghead: :banghead: