this quote reminded me of something that happened to me once:
last summer I interned at the state Democratic Party office, and maybe twice a month the building would basically explode with a frenzy of in-person visits and calls going both in and out, and since my job often entailed calling out, I would once in a while pick up the phone to hear a conversation going on, someone else in the office picking up the phone at the same time, or accidentally answering an incoming call. since it's a political gig, we get a few nutjobs. here's my favorite:
Me, picking up the phone, hearing nothing, immediately jumping into call-taking mode.
Me: Arizona Democratic Party, how can I help you?
Caller: My that was fast.
Me: We try.
C: You know that Janet Napolitano? I really like her.
Me: Yeah, she's doing some great things for this state.
C: She should run for President.
Me: Well, I think she has her eyes set on other jobs for now, we'll see what she decides.
C: I saw her on TV the other day, she was really good.
Me, getting really annoyed: Yeah, she's pretty good with the cameras. You know, I was really impressed with the way she handled the pipeline breakage, no dithering, she just went on TV and told people exactly what was going on, why it happened, and what they should do about it.
(I started saying that because few political nutjobs can handle anything relating to a real policy discussion)
C: Yeah... Do you know she supports letting women get abortions???
(In my head, I'm thinking, do you remember who you're talking to?)
Me: What a woman does with her own body is between herself, her partner, her doctor, and her God, not between her judge, her congress, or her president.
C: But...
(Now I'm really getting bored and I'd rather get back to working)
C: I saw Robert Kennedy Jr. on TV the other day, he should really run for President.
Me: Well, I heard he was considering running for Attorney General of New York State.
C: Well he should run for president, he's so smart, and he's so handsome.
Me: Would you like to get more involved? I can transfer you over to someone in the building who could help you out.
C: Well, I'm in Gila County.
Me: Ok, I can give you the website for the Gila County party, would you like that?
C: Well, uh, I don't have a computer.
Me: Well, I could get you the phone number of your Legislative Distirct chair.
C: Um, I'm kind of confined to my house.
Me: Well, you could do some phone banking from your house, would you like to do that?
(Please, do anything except talk to me)
C: Ok.
(Ok, so, I was frustrated enough with the lady that I just gave her the number of the Gila County Recorder)
(Caller begins to say something)
Me: Ok, I have lots of work to do now, but it's been nice talking with you.
C: Oh, ok, thank you.
Me: No problem.
C: And next time you talk to Robert Kennedy Jr., tell him to run for President.
Me: Ok, I sure will. Bye.
One old whacko used to call me (this during the Gulf War) at WOLO to rail and scream about what a lousy president Bush Sr. was. (Cuz, you know, the president gets most of his council from master control operators in leaky, two-bit local television stations.)
Me, picking up the phone, hearing nothing, immediately jumping into call-taking mode.
Me: Arizona Democratic Party, how can I help you?
Caller: My that was fast.
Me: We try.
C: You know that Janet Napolitano? I really like her.
Me: Yeah, she's doing some great things for this state.
C: She should run for President.
Me: Well, I think she has her eyes set on other jobs for now, we'll see what she decides.
C: I saw her on TV the other day, she was really good.
Me, getting really annoyed: Yeah, she's pretty good with the cameras. You know, I was really impressed with the way she handled the pipeline breakage, no dithering, she just went on TV and told people exactly what was going on, why it happened, and what they should do about it.
(I started saying that because few political nutjobs can handle anything relating to a real policy discussion)
C: Yeah... Do you know she supports letting women get abortions???
(In my head, I'm thinking, do you remember who you're talking to?)
Me: What a woman does with her own body is between herself, her partner, her doctor, and her God, not between her judge, her congress, or her president.
C: But...
(Now I'm really getting bored and I'd rather get back to working)
C: I saw Robert Kennedy Jr. on TV the other day, he should really run for President.
Me: Well, I heard he was considering running for Attorney General of New York State.
C: Well he should run for president, he's so smart, and he's so handsome.
Me: Would you like to get more involved? I can transfer you over to someone in the building who could help you out.
C: Well, I'm in Gila County.
Me: Ok, I can give you the website for the Gila County party, would you like that?
C: Well, uh, I don't have a computer.
Me: Well, I could get you the phone number of your Legislative Distirct chair.
C: Um, I'm kind of confined to my house.
Me: Well, you could do some phone banking from your house, would you like to do that?
(Please, do anything except talk to me)
C: Ok.
(Ok, so, I was frustrated enough with the lady that I just gave her the number of the Gila County Recorder)
(Caller begins to say something)
Me: Ok, I have lots of work to do now, but it's been nice talking with you.
C: Oh, ok, thank you.
Me: No problem.
C: And next time you talk to Robert Kennedy Jr., tell him to run for President.
Me: Ok, I sure will. Bye.
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