the mom and dad take

[pop goes the weasel]

I just had a nice visit with my low-income white Texan working-past-retirement-age parents, who have well-off staunchly Republican friends. They say several of their friends have announced that they are fed up with Bush and want to see someone else elected.

My parents, who are liberal only in comparison to their friends, seem to think that Edwards or Clark would stand a good chance in gaining these disaffected Republicans' votes. My folks have also completely bought into the media take on Dean, don't think Gephardt can win in a right-to-work state and, while willing to listen to me say flattering things about Kerry (I'm a DK supporter, however) find him so unpleasant that they won't listen to Kerry himself. As for Kucinich, sadly, they seem to be waiting for him to have a radio show. They will listen to him, agree with him even, but are not considering voting for him.

My folks and their friends are the sort of voters that the Democratic Party is trying to get back. Back to the party, in the case of the friends, and back to the polls, in the case of my parents. Right now, if what's going on with them is at all an indicator, I think things are going to go well for the Democrats. So, how is it with your parents?