NPR and the Tea Party

I was listening to NPR this morning on the way to the dentist (aargh! Needed distraction--I feel like I've been living in that office lately). Two members of the Tea Party were debating. I didn't hear where the gentleman was from, but he said the Tea Party is based on the values of our forefathers--right to life, freedom of religion, marriage between a man and a woman, all the Christian far right values. The woman, who is from Waco, Texas, and I think the founder of the Tea Party movement there, made much more sense: she said they don't concern themselves with social issues, because the Tea Party is about economics. We wouldn't, she said, expect the NRA to take up the anti-abortion cause, and her Tea Party doesn't take it up either. The other day I heard commentators discussing the movement, also on NPR, and one wondered why they didn't just form a separate political party. The answer was that they feel they already have a party: the GOP. While some one pointed out that it's time for change in Washington--the same people keep getting elected and get set in their ways and their opinions (to my mind a valid point)--another suggested that it's not the established politicians who are liable to be defeated this fall--it's those who have only been in Congress for one or two terms. And then someone commented that if a number of Tea Party candidates are elected, as seems likely from the primaries the other night, Congress will find itself with a whole lot of newcomers who don't kow how things work, don't even know where the restrooms are in the capitol. If that happens, he predicted, it will be hard for Mitch McConnell to control and manage his caucus. All of this makes me think it should be interesting times ahead in our national government. Meantime, I'm worrying about state and local government and grateful that the city balanced the budget without closing three threatened libraries in "poverty areas." Since my mentor and good friend Fred lives near one of those libraries and uses it frequently, I asked if he wanted to consider moving, and he assured me not.
I think I inherited this interest in politics from my dad, who always voted for the best man, but the best man, as far as I know, always turned out to be a Democrat, and I was raised with real reverence for FDR. I remember when I was quite young playing outside the house and seeing a woman jump out of a car and yell, "Hooray! Roosevelt is dead." I rushed in the house to tell my mother, and she said something like, "Hush! Don't you talk that way!"
From the serious to the mundane: my brother and his wife called tonight. Cindy said she was on her third attempt to make mayonnaise and had I ever done it. I said I tried and failed, and my advice was that Hellman's low-fat with olive oil is really good and she should buy some. John got on the phone, thanked me for my non-help, and as we chatted he said Cindy reported that the mayo was thickening up but didn't have much flavor. I suggested lemon, and John said he'd add white pepper. I'm all for from-scratch cooking, but there are times when it's easier to buy it.
"Scuse me, I have to go bone a chicken now.

A worrisome day, a political rant, and a pleasant dinner

My oldest son, Colin, has Crohn's disease, and this morning Lisa, his lovely wife, took him to the ER because he was very sick last night. They scheduled a cat scan and admitted him, though it was six hours before he got a bed. He of course wanted to go right home, but they said no, he has a partial obstruction. Tonight I haven't heard the results of the scan--I imagine the radiologist won't read it until tomorrow--nor is there any word on the planned treatement. I'm worried, of course, as any mother would be. Offered to go to Houston if I couldl help Lisa with the children, but we're all in a wait mode. Colin has had mild flare-ups over the years and I'm sure he doesn't feel good a lot of the time but just doesn't tell us, but this is the first major problem he's had in eight years. Then, it took six months, changing doctors, and a lot of stuff before he had surgery. He had gotten down to 119 lbs. and looked like an Auschwitz survivor, but he's had a healthy weight since. I'm grateful that this time the doctors are on it right away, and his regular physician will see him. Still I'm waiting for word.
This morning a friend called to chat and in the conversation said she was ready to move to Arizona to support their anti-immigration law (I don't think she really is). When I admitted that the problem is really severe in Arizona but I wasn't sure this law was the right fix, she said, "Well, our government isn't doing anything and somebody has to start somewhere." Then on the Diane Rehm show I listened to Tea Party members who say the government should have no control over any aspect of our lives (I wonder if they realize what chaos would result if the government suddenly withdrew from everything--reminds me of the guy who said, "And keep your government hands off my Medicare." Duh?) Our neighborhood email newsletter has been abuzz (okay, pun, it's the Berkeley Buzz) with messages about the possibility of a historic overlay. Berkeley is one of those neighborhoods of charming older homes, many dating back to the  1920s, and yet we've had a few cases of people tearing down older homes and building McMansions that don't fit the neighborhood at all. On the Buzz, it's amazing how many people are adamant that the government can't tell them what to do with their homes (actually the overlay only affects the exterior and does not impinge on updating, etc.). But the conclusion I reached is the government is damned if it does and damned if it doesn't. People want the government so solve the BP spill, solve the immigration problem, create new jobs (magically, I presume), and solve all other problems--but don't let the government trample on my rights as an individual. I think people have to decide to have it one way or another. Okay, rant done.
I had a lovely evening tonight. Carol Roark and I celebrate July birthdays, and Kathie Lang Allen cooked dinner for us and included good friend and fellow publisher Fran Vick. Delicious chicken salad (a la Helen Corbitt), asparagus, tomato aspic, and, wonder of wonders, popovers! Plus a peach poundcake for dessert. We visited, traded gossip, and ate heartily. The gift exchange was lovely, and I am grateful to my friends for some lovely additions to my home.