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Joan,<br>
<br>
You said:<br>
<br>
"A strong, smart, savvy Democratic candidate (please, God, give us one
in 2008) might play well enough in Moscow and Couer d'Alene and a few
other places to do some real damage. Kerry came close to Bush up here
in Latah County, largely because he was "not Bush." So, hell, a little
proportional representation couldn't hurt."<br>
<br>
Well, I have to agree with you about the "damage" clause at least. But
really, I have no partisan dog in this fight as I generally understand
the bipartisan nature of pusillanimous snollygosters that run for
national offices. <br>
<br>
As for the debate of proportional or direct representation, I'm
sticking with Hamilton in Federalist 68. What the hell do I know? I
live in Montana.<br>
<br>
If you and your party do find a strong leader, I doubt that you'll have
much worry about influence. After all, John Kerry sits up at night and
thinks "How did I lose to this Boob?" A perfect commentary to our
current and continuing talent crises. Still, I'll read the speeches on
the net.<br>
<br>
Knowing, however, that you have "the entire 1967 series
of "The Avengers" on VHS" reaffirms my opinion that Lincoln was right
about "the better angels of our nature." Some things simply must
transcend the twaddleage of political discourse. I'm obviously envious.<br>
<br>
David Budge<br>
<blockquote type="cite"
cite="midBAY10-DAV24A0C38CB78295EBC2EA85C5700@phx.gbl">
<div>Hi David,</div>
<div> </div>
<div>Okay, at first your scenarios scared the hell out of me. But
then I remembered that I have Dish Network and the entire 1967 series
of "The Avengers" on VHS. Listening to banal speeches like the one
Bush treated Montana to yesterday is entirely optional. </div>
<div> </div>
<div>As regards GOP candidates speaking only to southern Idaho and
thus increasing that region's power over the rest of us, well, how much
more of the state could they possibly control? We here in Moscow are
already dictated to by the likes of Senator Bear-Claw on the Senate
Education Committee. (And judging from his reported pronouncements,
I suspect that, unlike Jethro Bodine, Senator Barraclough has yet to
grad-jee-ate from the sixth grade. He's a complete ma-roon.)</div>
<div> </div>
<div>A strong, smart, savvy Democratic candidate (please, God, give
us one in 2008) might play well enough in Moscow and Couer d'Alene and
a few other places to do some real damage. Kerry came close to Bush up
here in Latah County, largely because he was "not Bush." So, hell, a
little proportional representation couldn't hurt. I'd just like to see
a Presidential candidate every once in awhile without having to drive
to Spokane or Seattle.</div>
<div> </div>
<div>Joan Opyr/Auntie Establishment</div>
<div><a href="http://www.auntie-establishment.com">www.auntie-establishment.com</a></div>
<div> </div>
<div> </div>
<blockquote
style="border-left: 2px solid rgb(0, 0, 0); padding-right: 0px; padding-left: 5px; margin-left: 5px; margin-right: 0px;">
<div
style="font-family: Arial; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 10pt; line-height: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size-adjust: none;">-----
Original Message -----</div>
<div
style="background: rgb(228, 228, 228) none repeat scroll 0% 50%; -moz-background-clip: initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: initial; -moz-background-origin: initial; font-family: Arial; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 10pt; line-height: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size-adjust: none; color: black;"><b>From:</b>
David M. Budge</div>
<div
style="font-family: Arial; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 10pt; line-height: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size-adjust: none;"><b>Sent:</b>
Friday, February 04, 2005 12:07 PM</div>
<div
style="font-family: Arial; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 10pt; line-height: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size-adjust: none;"><b>To:</b>
Joan Opyr</div>
<div
style="font-family: Arial; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 10pt; line-height: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size-adjust: none;"><b>Cc:</b>
Vision2020 Moscow</div>
<div
style="font-family: Arial; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 10pt; line-height: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size-adjust: none;"><b>Subject:</b>
Re: [Vision2020] Plan to Divide Electoral Votes Progresses</div>
<div> </div>
Be careful what you wish for. I'm an Idaho ex-pat living in Montana
(5th generation Idahoan, 3rd generation Moscowvite) and an interloper
to these various dialogues at vision 2020. So, yes, Montana is
listening, but paying little attention. George Bush was here (well, in
Great Falls) yesterday with a long, droning, reiteration of his stump
speech ala tort reform and SoSec reform. Verbal valium of the banal
form - no thanks. Think of the awful hours of listening to radio
campaign ads and the deleterious effect on television (if that's
possible.) Think how, given Idaho's population concentration in the
south, Idaho's voices from the moral conservatives then becoming even
more pronounced in public policy debate.<br>
<br>
As to the argument about Maine and Nebraska; Kerry took all of Maine,
Bush took all of Nebraska. Seems both states suffered unnecessary
noise pollution. <br>
<br>
Dave Budge </blockquote>
<br clear="all">
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</blockquote>
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