Self: So, Phoebe, what's up?
Phoebe: I think Mo Rocca is a Republican.
Self: So?
Phoebe: But I like Mo Rocca.
Self: ...and?
Phoebe: But...Republican...
Self: What would you have said a year ago?
Phoebe: Why?
Self: To find out--
Phoebe: No, that's what I would have said.
Self: Right.
Phoebe: Okay. So now we've agreed.
Self: But would it make any difference?
Phoebe: Probably.
Self: Why?
Phoebe: I don't know. I guess it would mean we disagree on a lot.
Self: Did it make a difference in seventh grade?
Phoebe: I never asked.
Self: Why?
Phoebe: Didn't know enough about politics at the time to consider my knowledge comprehensive enough to formulate opinions.
Self: Do you now?
Phoebe: Enough to formulate opinions I think.
Self: And you have decided...
Phoebe: On being a Democrat.
Self: While I can't say I disagree, you have to wonder about when you could've gone Republican.
Phoebe: Fat chance.
Self: Why not?
Phoebe: With Bush as their guy? No.
Self: But you liked McCain.
Phoebe: That's probably because he's my Senator, and he's actually making improvements.
Self: But you like him.
Phoebe: Yes.
Self: And he's a Republican.
Phoebe: Well...yes.
Self: So there you go.
Phoebe: But Bush--
Self: But you like McCain!
Phoebe: Yes.
Self: Does McCain like Bush?
Phoebe: Well, he said he supports him--
Self: Could he have been lying?
Phoebe: I guess, but he probably wasn't--
Self: Because a politician's never lied.
Phoebe: I suppose his integrity is what makes me like him more than I would like a Republican Senator.
Self: And doesn't he criticize Bush a lot?
Phoebe: Yes, yes he does.
Self: So there you go. A Republican, who may support Bush, but is critical of those activities with which you really disagree.
Phoebe: Most of them.
Self: So how different are you from him?
Phoebe: Well, fiscally--
Self: But how much do you know about fiscal responsibility?
Phoebe: Admittedly not as much as I know about foreign policy or cultural issues.
Self: Right, so maybe you shouldn't be judging on that.
Phoebe: Yeah, I guess.
Self: What do you find the most important about politics?
Phoebe: Cultural issues.
Self: Why?
Phoebe: Civil rights. If we got down to fixing our cultural issues, theoretically, it would fix a lot of our other issues too.
Self: Theoretically so would women's suffrage.
Phoebe: Theoretically it did help a lot.
Self: But really, did it?
Phoebe: It got us a step closer. But it's not over yet.
Self: But what does John McCain think about that?
Phoebe: I don't know, how am I supposed to know what every Senator thinks about everything?
Self: Don't you think, knowing what you know, that he would agree with a lot of the civil rights things you say?
Phoebe: Gay marriage--
Self: As you said, fixing our cultural issues would, theoretically, fix the other problems. So wouldn't fixing some cultural issues fix the others, therefore starting a chain reaction?
Phoebe: Theoretically, but then that's not actually a scientific theory and, well, neither is Creationism.
Self: Anyway, you know even John Kerry didn't support gay marriage.
Phoebe: No, but he supported gays having civil unions, and he was against banning it, which is a step.
Self: But my point is, you like John McCain.
Phoebe: Yes.
Self: You agree on a lot of issues.
Phoebe: Yes.
Self: So you freely admit that.
Phoebe: Yes.
Self: Okay, so what's the problem with Mo Rocca--even if he's a Republican?
Phoebe: Theoretically?
Self: Yes.
Phoebe: Nothing.
Self: But really?
Phoebe: ...yes...
Self: Something?
Phoebe: Well...no.
Self: So there you are then. You like Mo Rocca.
Phoebe: I don't know much about Mo Rocca's politics. I know more about his job than anything.
Self: Which is--
Phoebe: Media gadfly.
Self: But that's not the point. Even if he's a Republican, will you still like him?
Phoebe: I...suppose.
Self: You seem reluctant.
Phoebe: Look, I liked somebody for years, and then found out he supported Bush, and that actually went down the toilet.
Self: Stupid move, self. You're getting too self-involved and partisan.
Phoebe: Well, that wasn't the only reason.
Self: But would you have stopped liking him if he'd agreed with you on the Kerry thing?
Phoebe: But we're so different--
Self: Okay, so you're both totally different. But John McCain agrees with you on a few things and you like him.
Phoebe: Yes.
Self: And you've heard Mo Rocca speak critically of the Bush administration.
Phoebe: Yes.
Self: So obviously you agree with him on some level.
Phoebe: Yes.
Self: Are you a Republican?
Phoebe: No!
Self: Just checking. But if Mo Rocca is a Republican...
Phoebe: So you're saying, don't hold Bush up as the benchmark for the Republican party?
Self: Absolutely.
Phoebe: Oh. Okay. Party.