Only in Idaho

Virtually every state in the union repudiated Bush and the Republicans. Democrats won the House of Representatives by a large margin and they also won the Senate. This was true almost everywhere, in the Northeast, the West, the Midwest, the South, and the Southwest. Everywhere but Idaho. Here in Idaho we voted in mysterious ways. For example, even though Idaho is a relatively poor state with an average income pretty low by most standards, we voted for Republican candidates who announced publicly they would not support raising the minimum wage, nor would they vote to repeal our somewhat medieval right to work laws. We also voted against raising money for education even though Idaho is at the bottom of the list of states with respect to how much we spend per student (there is a long history of voting against education in Idaho, cannonball making is still regarded as enough of a skill to get by). We did vote for a bill making marriage only for a man and a woman (even though that is already the law in Idaho so such a bill was totally unnecessary). Not only that, we voted against even establishing any other kind of union for gays. I suspect that by the 2008 elections we may have a bill making it legal to shoot gays on sight (this in spite of the fact that our senior senator has recently been "outed" but no one seems to want to admit it). We also voted for a candidate for Congress who was financed almost exclusively by an out-of-state millionaire in New York, as opposed to a fine candidate who was financed mostly by in-state contributions. I'm sure he'll fit right in with the new House membership. This is especially true as he is an ultra-rightist described as belligerent, uncooperative, and even idiotic by his own party. For Governor we picked the closest thing to a useless politician we could find. Twenty years in Idaho politics and Congress with nothing to show for it. He didn't even bother to campaign or make himself available to the press (here in our little town he sent his bus but did not bother to come himself, but he is, of course, incestously close to Idaho business). We elected as head of our educational system someone with no experience in education whatsoever, and someone to manage our finances who has no financial experience (I guess we learned from the Bush administration). We did somehow vote against proposition 2, sponsored by the same people that financed our successful Congressional candidate. In short, with this exception, Idaho voters performed in a completely irrational manner, voting even against their own best interests, and contrary to the rest of the United States. We're rugged individualists here and, dad gum it, we're gonna stay that way.

Two old men were walking through the forest when they came upon a frog that spoke to them. The frog said, "if you kiss me I will become a beautiful maiden and do anything you wish. Anything.

One of the men picked up the frog and put it in his pocket. His companion said, "what's wrong with you? Didn't you hear what it said? It will become a beautiful maiden and do anything you want. Anything."

"Yeah," the old man said, "but at my age I'd rather have a talking frog."

Try to maintain a sense of humor. I know it is difficult these days.

Rumsfeld finally resigned (was fired). It was only five years too late. Will Cheney be far behind? No, of course not. Cheney will never resign. He lacks decency. Bu;sh can't get rid of him. It would be like having a lobotomy.