I meant one of the Castros, not both at the same time.

Even if that was what I wanted, we'd be back to square one with 2 candidates from the same state. That's another reason I think Biden would be ill advised to run for president even though he'd make a great one; yes he helped President Obama get elected, but that's different. All other things being equal, you have to go for the most electoral votes. FDR didn't like Truman but needed Missouri. The Kennedys detested Johnson but needed Texas. Etc etc.

Beautiful OP. Just beautiful.

I had to go w/o health insurance for many years because it was a question of eat or buy insurance. With a sturdy constitution and careful nutrition, I squeaked by until old enough for Medicare. But I'm telling you, it made me feel so much more valued when I could make a rare visit to the doctor when needed. If I'd had a child to worry about before that, I don't know how I could've stood it.

Right now my favorite VP candidate with Hillary would be one of the Castro fellows.

Then they could be pretty well assured of carrying both Texas and NY, 2 of the biggest.

If no Hillary - and I'd mourn her loss - some combination of Warren/Castro/Booker/??? There are others I like a lot but electibility must be considered. I used to want Cuomo but he's been getting some scandals lately (true or not) and you wouldn't want him for Hillary's running mate because they're both from the same state. Pragmatism must rule the heart if we want to win as many places as possible. For instance, no matter how much I adore Kucinich and Bernie Sanders, I wouldn't make a $5 bet on either one to win.

For me that's what matters most - getting the strongest candidates within a reasonable political circle so that we can WIN. Otherwise you'll find another bunch of Repukes sitting in Congress laughing their arses off at us while we shiver out in the cold with nothing but our purity blankets to huddle under.

It's not sensationalism when you're the kid who did his assignment perfectly

and wound up suspended for it. Or the people for whom he apparently was made an object lesson. All the kids learned was to watch out for stupid adults!

You tell 'em, Brother Bill!

You are a friend indeed to our mutually beloved Democratic Party.

Amen to that.

Personally, when I see a bunch of dirt poor, sick old people dying of neglect, I have a hard time working up too much sweat over someone making 80K a year, even if that is before taxes. Boo hoo. At least her last meal won't be a can of cat food before she commits suicide.

Even though I raised Egyptian Arabians in another state,

I could literally cry for joy to see Secretariat run. Most beautiful thing I ever saw, and in the Belmont he was still picking up speed at the finish line. Nobody ever found out completely how fast he could run when he wanted to.

Except I had a fine little mare one inch over pony size, and she could've run even Secretariat into the ground at anything over 2 miles. One time only I got to feel her absolute top speed was when a crop duster pilot friend of mine agreed to fly low overhead so she'd have something to chase that she couldn't catch. She screamed in rage when he pulled away; she'd already dropped before then and I mistakenly thought she'd reached her limit. But when that happened she dropped a little more and really took off. Never been on a faster horse, and I've done my share. Reason I know she could've taken Secretariat at 2+ miles is because I once let her run pretty much full out for 3 miles before it seemed necessary to make her slow down.

But then Sunshine was not an Americanized faux-Arabian at all. I don't like the big Russian or Polish lines. To be authentic and capable of anything useful except (ugh!) halter class, they need an unbroken bloodline straight back to the desert.

Tell your Mom I said hello.

Are you serious? Maybe I'll give it a try. I don't know much about the winger sites

because they raise my blood pressure too much, but I do enjoy the occasional hit and run, just to see them jump up and down screaming like wet hens.

Should I pretend to actually be the TP neighbor, though? Leaving out the part about crayons and the letter being found after a wind storm. I'll do it if there's the slightest chance they'll really publish. One of my friends says I need to roughen up the grammar and spelling first, which is a good idea.

Say, maybe I could pretend that it's a letter smuggled out of a psych crash ward, what do you think? Or would it be more believable if I simply tried to tell the story with a straight face, as if the writer were entirely sane or good at pretending to be. My guess is the latter might get through best.

Best thing about KY is the fine spirits and even finer horses.

I'm getting better (on my best days) at ignoring bullies, because I know they hate that.

As for virtual champagne, my friend, it all depends on the quality. Go for the good stuff, it's not really that much more expensive.