Hell Froze Over

[ClayZ]

My father, 80 years old, called tonight and asked to be put on the speaker phone. He said he had and announcement. He knew we were had all our kids and grandkids (12 of us) gathered together for dinner tonight.


He said, I want you all to know that for the first time in my adult life, I did not vote for the republicans.

I almost fainted. We all cheered.

I have ruined our last four Christmas gatherings arguing polities with him. He has called me everything from ANTI American to "PROTESTER" to Traitor, with a sneer on his face.

He thinks Fox News is the only news.

My Mother followed suit. She did not vote for the Republicans. We have made each other cry over politics many times in the last 6 years. She should not have to worry about it at her age.

They finally woke up!

They both said all their lives that they would not vote for a Democrat if Hell Froze Over.

I had spent most of the afternoon calling voters all over the US to encourage them to vote for the Democrat with Move On's Call for Change.

My Father's call was the most astonishing of all. I will never forget it.

I love them so! :cry:

[Trajan]

Awww ..... I FEEL the love ....

I love my RW numbskull brothers and sisters ....

But here is the difference : We do not argue politics .... ever ....

Why ruin Christmas Holiday ? ....

Anyways : GREAT news ......

[Skittles]

1. kudos to them, ClayZ

you must be very proud, and so relieved to know they care more about America than the GOP. +-

[Whoa_Nelly]

2. Absolutely amazing!

Wonderful news for you! :hug:

Thank you for sharing this :loveya:

[Straight Shooter]

3. Oh my!

:woohoo:

[eleny]

4. I'm so happy for you!

One, because you still have your dad and mom. And second because of their change of heart. :hi:

[mrreowwr_kittty]

5. That is awesome!

Your parents are good people. And goodness will always prevail in the end.

:hug:

[cboy4]

6. Good for your family!! I'm lucky that my mom, dad and two sisters

are all on the same page with me politically.

I'm really happy you're gunna have a great Christmas this year!! :bounce:

[ClayZ]

16. We are going to visit for his 80th Birthday NOV 10th.

It should be very interesting.

[cboy4]

17. Awww. That's great. ;)

HAPPY 80th!!

[madmax]

7. Super Fantastic

Give our love to Mom and Dad!!! :hug:

[KeepItReal]

8. My daddy is a Democrat. I cannot imagine him any other way.

Army vet...Father of 3...KeepItReal, Sr.... I love him!

Glad your dad came round.

:-)

[NanceGreggs]

9. Great story, and thanks for sharing it!

Seems that hell is freezing-over all over the country - who knew that when it happened, it would feel this warm and toasty?

Thanks, ClayZ!

[blm]

10. Congratulations, Clay. In family dynamics, that is no small thing.

Enjoy it - I can practically feel your heart bursting. heh

[Sperk]

11. My father in law told me that he's "Never voting for another Republican.

I'm done with them!" YEAHHHHHHHHHH

[neoblues]

13. That's the Ticket! "Republicans? Just Say No"

One of their own favored slogans applied to themselves...

(or perhaps "Got Republicans? Get RID" (RID as in head-lice treatment)

[ClayZ]

14. I know, huh! WHOO HOO!

TURN TURN TURN!

I am serious, for my parents this is HUGE! They are in Doc Hastings Distric.

I call them every morning, so this morning he said they were going to fill out their mail in ballots.
I said don't do it untill you read your EMAIL. I sent this:

Washington Post

The House ethics committee, the panel responsible for upholding the
chamber's ethics code, has been virtually moribund for the past year,
handling only routine business despite a wave of federal investigations into
close and potentially illegal relationships between lawmakers and lobbyists.
.
The committee's last formal action of note was its recommendation to
admonish former House majority leader Tom DeLay (R-Tex.) for the second and
third times in 2004. Since then, the committee has been crippled.

Rep. Joel Hefley (R-Colo.) was ousted as the ethics chairman early this
year by House GOP leaders. His successor, Rep. Doc Hastings (R-Wash.), has
been slow to take up the reins because of disputes between Republicans and
Democrats over the panel's rules. Hastings and Mollohan also feuded for
months about the makeup of the professional staff.

It has been a year since Hastings took the reigns, and the House Ethics
Committee still doesn't have a chief of staff on the job, nor even begun the
process of hiring investigators. During that time at least seven lawmakers
have been indicted, pleaded guilty, or are under investigation for
conspiracy, fraud, campaign finance violations, and other improper conduct.
Last week Rep. Duke Cunningham (R-Calif) resigned from Congress after
pleading guilty to conspiracy and tax evasion, and the other Washington is
abuzz with rumors of lawmakers, spouses, and aides entangled in the growing
scandals surrounding lobbyists Jack Abramoff and Michael Scanlon.

Government watch dog groups from across the ideological spectrum are
decrying the Committee's failure to act, and the erosion in public trust
that has resulted.

"There is no ethics enforcement in Congress today, and it's
inexcusable," sad Tom Fitton, president of Judicial Watch, a conservative
monitor of government ethics.

"No matter what level of corruption the members of Congress engage in,
the ethics committees do nothing," agreed Melanie Sloan, executive director
of the liberal-leaning Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington.
"It's a national embarrassment."

This is Hastings' committee, and by failing to act he is complicit in the
corruption he is responsible for investigating and punishing. The citizens
of WA's 4th Congressional District deserve to know the crucial role their
congressman is playing in preserving our Capitol's crooked money machine.
The citizens of the 4th District deserve a better congressman.

~~~~~~~~~

I guess that was all it took!

[degreesofgray]

55. I am also in Doc's district

he is the biggest do-nothing worthless representative--and I'm glad to say you can add my vote and my parents' votes for his challenger. I have this fantasy that enough of my fellow 4th district voters will see what I've known since 1994 when Hastings was first elected, but I'm not holding my breath since this is a conservative area (though more libertarian than strictly GOP--some Dems do win here). I am, however, hoping for a win by either Burner or Goldmark tomorrow!

[neoblues]

12. What was the tipping point for them? nt.

[ClayZ]

15. They are in Doc Hastings District

I just posted the article I sent him this morning. I guess that was the tipping point.

Or maybe he actually watched Keith Olbermann. I have been telling him he can't get all the news at FOX.

I am sure there will be more to this story!

[SeattleGirl]

18. That's wonderful, ClayZ

:bounce:

[Nite Owl]

19. It's always great to hear

of a republican that has seen the light but this is so special for you to have it be your own parents. This should be a Happy Holiday in the ClayZ family!

BTW I've been hearing a lot of the 'I'm done with them' especially from older folks and vets. There were all sorts of stories of similar stories in '04 but this time it isn't a specific issue, and it isn't * alone, it's the republican party.

[buddysmellgood]

20. His heart grew ten times bigger that day.

[file83]

21. That is so awesome.

Good for them - it's never too late to find the truth.

[Swamp Rat]

22. WOOHOO!!!!!!!

:woohoo:

[nadinbrzezinski]

23. Awesome

Great to hear.. and thanksgiving will be something to truly give thanks for

[texpatriot2004]

24. That's wonderful nm

[radfringe]

25. and pigs flew over Minneapolis last evening... my folks

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=364x2588674

[ClayZ]

28. Yay!

Pigs are Flying and Hell is Freezing Over!
:pals:

[Generic Other]

26. It is hard to work through all the lies and admit you've been duped

You should be proud that your parents have finally seen that the GOP is the party of crooked deals and dirty wars.

And FEAR FEAR FEAR.

[mmonk]

27. wonderful

[demwing]

29. So did they vote Dem?

or Constitution party, or some other entity?

Either way, good news for your family. I have a feeling that there are several snowball fights going on in the underworld this year. :)

[ClayZ]

32. He said he wrote me in (I think he was kidding about that)

However if he really did, he voted DEMOCRAT! hahahhaha

I heard my mom say in the background that she voted for my husband. They laughed when I said, "YOU BOTH VOTED DEMOCRATS"....

[johnnyrocket]

30. Excellent! Good news is nice every once and a while.

[goforit]

31. Wow!!! If I could only have the same situation in my family.

[ClayZ]

33. Keep your fingers crossed...

Hell froze over on the West Coast!
Pigs flew over Minniapolis last night!
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=364&topic_id=2588007&mesg_id=2589297
I hope they are headed your way!

[Erechtheides]

34. !!!

Bless them. I suspect (and fervently hope) that there are many, many more out there who feel the same way. The only thing stopping people now, I think, is fear of admitting that they were wrong.
The same thing that's keeping us mired in Iraq.
Maybe a little room for "flip-flopping" is crucial to any kind of informed decision-making.
This must be why the Bushies hate science so much.

[Piedras]

35. My Mom, a republican, voted Democratic this year.

My Mom, a republican all her life, voted Democratic this year. I love her.

[ronnykmarshall]

36. Feels good, huh?

I remember how happy I was when I parents re-registered as democrats.

[Rocknrule]

37. There was still good in your father. The GOP didn't drive it from him fully.

This is how you must've felt:

[roamer65]

38. Good to hear that they've voted for democracy.

Sounds like they just couldn't stomach the fascism anymore. Cool.

[AtomicKitten]

39. well buy yourself some ice skates and enjoy

awesome story - thanks for sharing

[casus belli]

40. Great story! Congratulations mom and dad! n/t k/r

[Voltaire269]

41. Congrats mate, now go and and give him a big hug!

There is nothing sadder than a divided house

[Tulum_Moon]

43. Got that right!

I refuse to have anything to do with my repugnant relatives unless they see the light. Some of them are such fundies I cannot be in the same room with them.

I envy you Clay! Congrats! I am waiting for those kind of calls myself with the way the tide is turning. :toast:

[roguevalley]

42. parents rule. I am so happy for you. I love them too. Tell them someone

in Alaska loves them

[AspenRose]

44. Still waiting for my husband to come around

You've given me a little hope. Thanks...

[Bake]

45. Why did you say "I ruined the last four ..."

Why was that YOUR fault and not your parents' fault? Seems to me you were on the right side of it.

Bake

[ClayZ]

57. It always started out politely, sort of.

And ended up with all of us mad. They are too old, and maybe I should have not tried to persuade them so passionately!

I would always just get out of hand, no matter what angle I tried...


Until now!

[Jokinomx]

46. Congrats....... and your not the only one.

My dyed in the wool republican Father in Law... stated this time around he actually voted for a few Democrats. This is the first time in his life...(80 years) that he has.

We are making progress my friends... slowly but surely.

:toast:

[Danascot]

47. My Mother-in-Law is a life-long R

I've tried to make her see reason 'til I'm blue in the face but she's afraid of Democrats(!).

She always makes a big deal of Christmas and started asking me what I wanted weeks ago. In past years I've always told her truthfully I don't need or want anything. I usually suggest a donation to a charity. This weekend when she asked I said off-handedly that she could vote Dem or at least stay home as my present. She'll never vote Dem, but she is seriously thinking of staying home as my gift! Hey, whatever works, one less R vote, I'll take it.

[ClayZ]

58. That is a great gift!

Tell her we all appreciate it! haha

[Sequoia]

48. Thanksgiving and Christams get togethers should be fun now.

A friend of mine told me she was voting straight Dem too.

[DemExpat]

49. Woo Hooooooo, ClayZ! Your post gave me goosebumps.....

I do know what you are feeling at this time!

:kick:

DemEx

[roguenkatz]

50. My Mother-In-Law Too!

My wife and I went to her place over the weekend and watched in astonishment as she check off all Dems on her absentee ballot. She is an avid Fox News watcher and Bill O'Reilly fan. She even swalled that War on Christmas crap they were dishing out last year (and she's not even religious). The times they are a-changin'!

[blue cat]

51. I'm so happy for you

Can't say the same thing about my family.

[Hugin]

52. Yay for Dad!

Yay for you!

America is waking up.

[yorkiemommie1]

53. YAY!!!

I will send dh over so your father can teach him what I can't!

[Brundle_Fly]

54. you have my family!

Mine hasn't seen the light yet though.

HERE'S TO HOPE!!

[HappyWeasel]

56. A good day!!!

These are truly great times....hopefully our votes WILL NOT be thrown out....

[ClayZ]

59. Welcome HappyWeasel

Yup, it comes down to "who counts the votes"....

[mnhtnbb]

60. Wow. Never too late. Never give up! Congrats to you.

[aaronbees]

61. Wonderful!

Hope it foretells more good news on Tuesday :)

[lonestarnot]

62. Woot!

:applause: