happy halloween!
rednex
As most of the U.S. believes, rednecks tend to resonate in the South. Of course, if you’re a deep South kind of southerner, you’d believe that everyone from outside of the South is wrong when they try to describe the South (whether they’re wrong or right).
I’ve grown up in the South, and I promise you, they’re not just in the South.
Take for example, Democratic gubernatorial candidate Jim Webb, who is very proud of southern culture, but hates to be called a redneck. And, I have to agree… not everything that is southern is redneck.
Another example would be Florida… now in the Deep South, Florida would never be considered a southern state. There are a few exceptions that southerners take into account, like the Florida panhandle. However, because of the general population in South Florida, the state as a whole cannot be considered truly southern.
However, redneck mentalities can still apply, especially to the latest news of a potential name change to a recurring Floridian event: the Turkey Testicle Festival. While turkey parts may be deep fried, I’d say that any proud southerner would claim this redneck, and not southern. A southerner will fry almost anything… but there are limits, seriously.
They do the same thing in Kentucky, but they’re called lamb fries. So, pay attention to the menu before you order. Still, that’s just weird, and gross.
As I said, not all things southern are redneck… thank God.
smartest state & space
As one publication has recently produced a ranking of the smartest states, all Alabamians can now be relieved. No longer are is the state last, or next to last… Alabama beat out Mississippi as well as California and Arizona. 
Alabama did slide a few points from last year, but still, it’s not last in the ranking.
Of course, as you’d guess it, they left out the District of Columbia. Seriously, those kids count, too. Sadly enough, only 1 state (2 if you really consider Texas a southern state) made it into the top 25. But a few drag closely behind it.
In case you missed it in the news, Bush has now claimed outer space under U.S. dominion. Apparently, if you put the U.S. flag on the moon first, it’s ours. Now, let’s just give terrorists one more reason to hate us…
an earful
One of the reasons that I love living on the red line is that it tends to be much quieter than any of the lines, which is perfect for reading. And me, I enjoy reading… especially lately, since I’m trying to finish up All the King’s Men before I go see the movie.
But, sometimes there are people who invade that solace.
Common sense should tell you that if someone is reading when you sit down, you should respect that quietness, right? Especially if you’re on a bench waiting for a train and there’s plenty of other places to sit.
However, one such fellow decided that he would deny me any chance of reading while I was waiting for the train. It wasn’t that he was on the phone or anything… he was singing.
You see, it’s one thing if you’re on the phone or talking with a friend, I believe. But, to me, singing in public tells me one thing: you think you’re hot stuff and you want everyone else to believe it too, so you have the dying urge to let everyone in on your little secret and amazing voice. Who knows, I could be the next record producer, right? And, I might give someone the chance of a lifetime.
But, I have news for you… even if I was a record producer, I wouldn’t care if you were Beyonce or the Three Tenors sitting next to me on the Metro train station bench, I don’t want to hear you singing.
Singing in public like that, especially if you’re alone and you don’t have headphones in, only shows that you have no care for the feelings of others. It’s obnoxious… even if that hot stuff voice you have might have a delight to it, you’re only making others mad.
And now I’m speaking out against you Mr. Metro Singer… because of you, I lost good reading time, and you refused to notice each time I huffed. And you should know that because of you, I’m gonna break the heart of the next person sitting there because you pushed me over the edge. Because, Mr. Metro Singer, I also can sing, but I have common decency for others.
Or maybe it’s just the lingering Southern manners.
ah-nold will be back?
‘To link me to George Bush is like linking me to an Oscar’
– CA Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger (R) (The Tonight Show)
Don’t I remember him specifically screaming “Four More Years” at the RNC in support of Bush? And, you are a Republican… therefore, you’re linked whether you like it or not.
Seriously, GOPers will say anything to keep them elected or get them elected… even if it is the most absurd thing possible.
sanct-uary
A recent study shows that the Iraqi civilian casualties may have been incredibly underestimated by the current administration.
Better yet, N. Korea threatens that any sanctions placed by the US will be considered as a threat of war. While we’re already threatening (and planning) sanctions, reports claim that the White House isn’t even sure what the device is intended to do. Even still, Condi is telling folks that the U.S. doesn’t plan to attack N. Korea. Seriously, this administration is acting as if they’ve got no clue what each other is doing. That will surely encourage Americans that our government has our best interest at heart… they don’t even know what those interests are, and if they think they do, they all have different translations. What the U.S. really needs in this situation with N. Korea are unilateral talks, by sending someone with a little sense… say, maybe, someone without affiliation with the current majority party. John Kerry has been speaking out against Bush’s tactics with N. Korea, possibly rallying the troops for another presidential bid.
But instead of pointing fingers at one party or the other, Robin Williams believes that the entire system is to blame.
genius
‘[In journalism,] there is no truth. There is a version of the truth… and then an attainable version of the truth.’
-Bob Woodward
I don’t care what anyone says, Bob Woodward is pure genius, and his new book will uncover things that America never considered. For that, he should be revered as a modern prophet.
I’m just saying…
poll tracks
The National Journal has included another set of polls, in which the AP had a pretty good section of questions that were definitely something to shout about if you’re leaning left in the upcoming November election.
ASSOCIATED PRESS/IPSOS PUBLIC AFFAIRS
Midterm ElectionsConducted 10/2-4/06; surveyed 1,501 adults; margin of error +/-2.5% (release, 10/5). A response of * indicates less than 0.5 percent.
Overall, do you approve, disapprove or have mixed feelings about the way Congress is handling its job? (If approve/disapprove) Is that strongly approve/disapprove or somewhat approve/disapprove?
Strongly approve 4%
Somewhat approve 12
Lean toward approval 11
Still have mixed feelings 3
Lean toward disapproval 19
Somewhat disapprove 16
Strongly disapprove 34
Not sure 1(Asked of registered voters) If the election for U.S. House of Representatives were held today, would you vote for the Democratic or Republican candidate in your congressional district? (rotated)
Democratic candidate 49%
Lean Democratic 4
Lean Republican 4
Republican candidate 34
Other candidate (vol.) 1
Undecided (vol.) 5
None/Will not vote (vol.) 2
Not sure 1No matter how you will vote in November, if the election for Congress were held today, would you want to see the Republicans or Democrats win control of Congress?
Republicans 34%
Democrats 53
Neither (vol.) 8
Not sure 5Who do you trust to do a better job of handling ________?
Terrorism: Democrats 41% Republicans 41 Both equally 8 Neither 4 Refused 6 Handling the situation in Iraq: Democrats 47% Republicans 37 Both equally 9 Neither 3 Refused 4 Handling the economy: Democrats 50% Republicans 36 Both equally 7 Neither 3 Refused 4 Taxes: Democrats 49% Republicans 37 Both equally 8 Neither 2 Refused 4 Health care: Democrats 56% Republicans 27 Both equally 11 Neither 2 Refused 4 Social Security: Democrats 52% Republicans 30 Both equally 11 Neither 3 Refused 4 Same-sex marriage: Democrats 44% Republicans 35 Both equally 10 Neither 3 Refused 8 Immigration: Democrats 44% Republicans 36 Both equally 13 Neither 3 Refused 4 Gas prices: Democrats 52% Republicans 27 Both equally 14 Neither 3 Refused 4 Political corruption: Democrats 40% Republicans 25 Both equally 24 Neither 6 Refused 5Enthusiastic 5%
Satisfied, but not enthusiastic 31
Dissatisfied, but not angry 42
Angry 20
Refused 2Who do you trust to do a better job of protecting the country?
Democrats 42%
Republicans 41
Both equally 5
Neither 8
Refused 4How important will recent disclosures of corruption and scandal in Congress be to your vote in November?
Not at all important 18%
Slightly important 15
Moderately important 19
Very important 25
Extremely important 22
Refused 1
presidential blunders
As National Journal’s Hotline states, the President’s numbers aren’t looking so hot.
A UNH Survey Center Granite State Poll; conducted 9/15-24 for WMUR-TV; surveyed 515 adults; margin of error +/- 4.3% (release, 10/2).
Bush as President
Approve: 36%
Disapprove: 60%Bush Handling Economy
Approve: 39%
Disapprove: 55%Bush Handling Situation in Iraq
Approve: 34%
Disapprove: 62%Bush Handling Foreign Affairs
Approve: 33%
Disapprove: 65%
What is worse is the following question from the poll:
Direction of U.S.
Right direction: 34%
Wrong track: 56%
In addition, the National Journal listed that the President’s approval rating has actually gone down from the 36% to 33%.
These numbers are frightening considering the midterm elections coming up (with Foley scandal included), the President condemning N. Korea for their nuclear testing, and a growing instability in Iraq.
It’s amazing how a country that prides itself as the forefront of everything can have so many issues: vegetable recalls, scandals within the party that promised to ‘clean up’ Washington when they took over in 1994, failed rescues from Hurricane Katrina, the administration’s assumption that global warming is a hoax, and troops that are spread so far thin that there is no promise the U.S. is safe from outside attack. With the problems looming, and an economy whose prices are climbing with no end in sight, how confident should the American people be that they are the greatest among all peoples, when we can’t even figure out how to respond to a hurricane warning.
To quote one of my colleagues today at work, ‘in 50 years, I don’t know if there will even be a United States.’
funny linkage
Here is yet another reason I can’t stand Bill O’Reilly… the man doesn’t know who is what from the simplest of things. You’d think they’d correctly make this call…
Unfortunately folks, Foley isn’t a democrat… and in the news of late, that’s a great thing.
And, if you really don’t like Bush, consider visiting San Francisco, where a 40-foot statue of the President will be “jailed” at an anti-Bush rally.
Finally, I’m awaiting to see what will start developing on the Hill with the whole Foley scandal, and if Hastert will go down with it. I guess we’ll find out.
