Politics, Culture, and Other Wastes of Time

16 People Who Will Decide the Presidency (12 of 16)

Fri, 10 Oct 2008 06:31:12 GMT

Name: Mrs. Marisa Paredes*

Age: 48

Occupation: School Teacher

Residency: Las Cruces, New Mexico

Income: $38,000/year

Politics: Pro-Life Democrat

Voting for: Still Undecided

*-Fictitous name though I borrowed the name from an actual Mexican actress who appeared in the disturbing film "Deep Crimson" about a couple who went on a spree killing rampage.

Yes, I know the image is of Mrs. Edna Krabappel from "The Simpsons," but we have given her a different name and moved her to Las Cruces.

The city is one of the largest in New Mexico with a population of 75,000.

The mayor of Las Cruces is Ken Miyagishima.

The city is home to New Mexico State University.

In late September, there is a Whole Enchilada Festival which attracts 50,000 visitors. In 2000, the fiesta's 10.5 foot long enchilada was certified as the largest one ever by The Guiness Book of World Records (hold the big enchilada cracks).

"The New York Times" has cited Las Cruces as a major swing city along with Elko, Nev., and Fairfax, Va.

Las Cruces was the town where both Pat Garrett and Billy the Kid lived. It has three sister cities, including Lerda, Mexico, and Niemberg, Germany.

Bill Richardson, who is one of my favorite Democrats, is the governor of New Mexico. Up until the Soviet** invasion of Georgia, I held out hope that Barack Obama would select him as his running mate, but the circumstances favored Joe Biden more.

As for Mrs. Krabappel, she is a fourth grade teacher who naturally hates Bart Simpson. She is voiced by Marcia Wallace.

The teacher is alumnus of Bryn Mawr College and according to actress Tilda Swinton, she inspired the hairdo for her character in the latest Coen Brothers film "Burn After Reading."

Bart's nemesis (well, she is not the only one) is also a chain-smoker and a man-hungry flirt.

There are many pro-life Democrats here in North Carolina (not moi!), including Cong. Heath Shuler (D-NC) who was a Washington Redskins quarterback. Shuler ultimately baked Hillary Clinton in the state primary.

Along with guns and gay marriage, abortion reamins a sticky issue for Democrats, particularly in The South, where some people actually think Jesus rode an elephant. Although, let's face it-if the likes of Judge Samuel Alito overturned Roe vs. Wade on The Supreme Court, it would all but bankrupt the Republican Party.

Useful Links:

http://www.lasa-cruces.org

http://daphnewaynebaugh.blogspot.com

(I presume this is a cooking blog)

Many technical difficulties with this blog entry!!!! But, I was suffering from insomnia anyway!

**-Ooops! Yes, I meant Russian instead of Soviet. I was watching a doc about Jimmy Carter on PBS a few nights ago, so I guess my mind thought it was 1979 all over again. At least, I'm not adding "Eight is Enough" reruns to my Netflix que.

Tags: The Simpsons, Presidential Election, New Mexico, abortion

16 People Who Will Decide the Presidency (5 of 16)

Sat, 04 Oct 2008 16:09:06 GMT

Name: Gary Frink*
Occupation: Police Officer
Hometown: Kenosha, Wisc.
Salary: $35,000**
Political Leanings: Republican
Voting for: John McCain***

*-Pseudonym. The real Gary Frink is a friend of mine who lives near Harrisonburg, Va. He ran for Congress in his native Michigan as a Democrat and as a Republican. He lost both times. I wanted to use a photo of a real police officer, but when I realized that some of them had died in the line of duty, I opted to go with Andy Taylor from "The Andy Griffith Show." The actor Andy Griffith is a Democrat, but most police officers, especially in rural areas, tend to vote Republican.

**- Can not verify that salary.
***- Not Who I am actually voting for

The city of Kenosha is near the border with Illinois. Their chief of police is John W. Morrissey.
Wisconsin is very much like my home state of Virginia in terms of geopolitical distinctions. The rural parts of The Badger State tend to go Republican, but the urban areas and college towns are firmly Democratic. Madison, Wisc., is one of the most liberal state capitals in the country along with (ironically) Austin, Tex. And, like most liberal college towns, it reportedly has a great music scene!
TV shows set in Wisconsin include "Happy Days," "Laverne and Shirley" and "Picket Fences."
Experts are saying the race in Wisconsin is tight. John Kerry narrowly won the state in 2004, and projections are that Barack Obama will carry Wisconsin against this time around.
Our regular Saturday feature Images of Virginia series will return after this series of entries has concluded.
I am off to volunteer for Obama, which makes me feel guilty about the fact that I just turned away some Jehovah's Witnesses!

Useful Links:

http://www.kenoshapolice.com
http://www.theblueline.com

Tags: Andy Griffith, Presidential Election, Kenosha, Wisconsin, police officers

16 People Who Will Decide the Presidency (11 of 16)

Thu, 09 Oct 2008 17:08:02 GMT

Image: Mayor Joe Quimby from "The Simpsons."

Name: Thomas J. Carlson (This is actually a real person)

Occupation: Mayor of Springifield, Mo.

Age: 55 (Educated Guess)*

Voting for: Still Undecided

*-We won't bother trying to figure out the salary.

Photo: The Real Tomas J. Carlson

This is is the first of my blog entries in this series to be based on a "Simpsons" cahracter and the last one to use the name of a real person.

Missouri is always a toss-up state in presidential elections, or at least it has been lately. The Show Me State is the home state for both right-wing blowfish Rush Limbaugh and actor/activist Don Cheadle, who has vocally endorsed Barack Obama.

Springfield, Mo., is a city of 150,797, and it is according to Forbes magazine one of the 'wildest weather' cities in America.

Springfield is also where Wild Bill Hickok killed a man in the first quick-draw duel of The Old West in 1865 (hence the reason we're using an image of '60s cartoon character Quickdraw McGraw here).

The sister cities of Springfield include Tours, France and Isesaki, Japan.

The real mayor of Springfield (Mo.) was elected in 2001, and is serving his third term whereas Mayor Joe Quimby, who is based on Sen. Ted Kennedy (D-Mass.), was elected in 1986.

Interestingly enough, I found out that Mayor Quimby is a Democrat, but I found no such info on Mayor Carlson's party affiliation though I saw a very heated letter from a local Libertarian named Keith L. Rodgers, which made me realize why I'm not a Libertarian.

It is widely believed that the Springfield on "The Simpsons" is based on Springfield, Mass. Ted Kennedy actually campaigned to get "The Simpsons Movie" to have its premiere in Springfield, Mass., but it went to Springfield, Vt., instead.

My good friend Moviezzz is a huge fan of "The Simpsons," a show that for some reason I tend to watch whenever I'm vacationing in Myrtle Beach, SC, more than I do normally. Moviezzz also happens to live in Springfield, Mass.

Useful Links:

www.springfieldmo.org

www.news-leader.com

www.talkingmoviezzz.blogspot.com

Tags: The Simpsons, Springfield, Missouri, Mass., Vermont, Presidential Election, Rush Limbaugh, Don Cheadle, Ted Kennedy, Quickdraw McGraw

16 People Who Will Decide the Presidency (8 of 16)

Tue, 07 Oct 2008 00:20:47 GMT

(Photo is of Garrison Keillor, but he does look like a minister here, doesn't he?!)

Name: Rev. Tom Douglass*
Hometown: St. Paul, Minn.
Age: 61
Income: $35,000/year
Politics: Conservative Democrat
Voting for: Barack Obama

*- The Rev. Tom Douglass is not a real person. Yes, I know Garrison Keillor assuredly makes more than $35,000/year.

Most preachers here in the South, with the exception of Unitarians and black churches, tend to go Republican, but in Minnesota things are a bit more even.

(Photo is of Lake Itasca in Minnesota)

The state is currently leaning Democratic, which should help stand-up comedian Al Franken who is looking to oust incumbent Sen. Norm Coleman (R-Minn.) from his seat, in one of the more interesting senate races.

Americans United for Separation of Church and State is reporting that many churches are crossing the line with their congregation when it comes to political exploitation. One scandalous example is the Rev. Francis Pultro of Philadelphia who said during a Sunday sermon that:
"As Christians, it's clear we should vote for John McCain. He is the only candidate I believe a Christian can vote for."

The irony is that in 2000, McCain went to great lengths to distance not only his candidacy but also the GOP from the likes of Pat Robertson. It didn't work!

Useful Links:

http://www.au.org
http://www.npr.org

Tags: Minnesota, Presidential Election, religion and politics

16 People Who Will Decide the Presidency (10 of 16)

Wed, 08 Oct 2008 17:44:52 GMT

Name: Chrissie Hynde
Age: 57
Job: Lead Singer of The Pretenders and owner of vegan restaurant
Residence: Akron, Ohio
Politics: Very Liberal
Voting for: Ralph Nader?!

We are not really sure who Hynde is actually voting for, but we feel confident that it is not Bob Barr or John McCain. Contrary to popular belief, there are some people who call themselves liberal who will vote for third party candidates like Ralph Nader and Cynthia McKinney.
One thing I love about people like Hynde, who has been arrested for protesting with PETA, is that they make middle-of-the-road Democrats, like myself, look very moderate. The problem is that trailer park Republicans who watch Fox News 24/7 and never leave the house think Hynde is like the rest of us! But, I would agree with folks like Hynde in that someone like Sarah Palin who cares nothing about endangered polar bears or wolves is not worthy of being veep on those merits alone. Ironically, The Pretenders are frequently played on Rush Limbaugh. I guess he paid the licensing fee.
After years of living in the UK, Hynde now lives in her native Akron, Ohio. The city's minor league baseball team is the Akron Aeros, who have Orbit (pictured) here as the team mascot. It is a swing city in a swing state, and it was once known as the rubber capital of the world until hard times hit the rust belt.
In a "New York Times" article about The Pretenders, who have just released a new album "Break Up the Concrete," Hynde told reporter Alan Light that she had opened a vegan restaurant in Akron called Vegi-Terranean, which has proved to be a surprising success.
Ohio has voted Republican in recent presidential elections, but this year it is a yellow state.

Here is The Pretenders' song "Don't Get Me Wrong" which seemingly could be any politician's theme song.

Useful Links:

http://www.akronaeros.com

Tags: Chrissie Hynde, The Pretenders

16 People Who Will Decide the Presidency (9 of 16)

Tue, 07 Oct 2008 18:21:34 GMT

This will mark my first use of a real person in this series. The info came from yesterday's "USA Today." Alas, I could not find a photo of the subject on the web. Hence, the reason there is a map in his place.

Name: Dante Butler

Age: 28

Job: Facilities Mgr., in Jacksonville, Fla.

Voting for: Barack Obama

Butler, a married African-American with a 16-month old daughter, was among young voters who were profiled in a story about the new enthuiasm of voters under 30 in "USA Today."

He told the daily newspaper that his top concerns were the economy, the Iraq war, social security and jobs.

Butler said that he feels John McCain is an extension of George W. Bush, while Barack Obama shares his visions about universal health care and an exit strategy for Iraq.

Florida is a toss-up state which (as everyone knows) decided the 2000 presidential elections, with a little help from Clarence Thomas.

"The New York Times" has it listed as a 'yellow state' along with Virginia, New Hampshire, Ohio, Nevada and Colorado. But, Obama has gained momentum in The Sunshine State as he has done in poll after poll while the devastating economic collapse of Wall Street last week.

SIDEBAR: A Republican driving a van in the Roanoke, Va., area actually tried to literally run me off the road all because I have an Obama bumper sticker on my car! The driver also tailgated me as I was driving a school zone with flashing lights. He then gave me a thumbs down sign as he turned away. I promptly gave him a 'thumbs up' in return.

Tags: road rage, Florida, presidential election, Florida Gators, Barack Obama, John McCain

16 People Who Will Decide the Presidendy (7 of 16)

Mon, 06 Oct 2008 15:32:34 GMT

(Kerri Russell from the film "Waitress," which also featured Andy Griffith whose picture is in another blog entry in this series)

Name: Betty Gonzalez*
Occupation: Waitress in Nashua, NH
Age: 29
Income: $20,000/year
Political Leanings: Independent
Voting for: Barack Obama

Sarah Palin's supposed folksy charm is not working with all women according to the latest polls, and John McCain's dubious choice, which actually seemed to be working favorably towards the 'maverick' senator, looks to be one which will potentially backfire on him as of this posting.
While Betty Gonzalez is fictional (though there is a person of that name on Facebook who resides in another swing state- Florida), a real-life waitress caused many problems for then-candidate Mitt Romney (R) as he stopped at The Red Arrow Diner in Manchester, NH, during the primary campaign.
Waitress Michelle Griffin expressed vehement anger at Romney and 'all politicians' because she could not afford health care. Romney appeared dumb-founded by the confrontation which was initially reported in "The Washington Post," and mentioned here on this blog.

Nashua is New Hampshire's second largest city , behind Manchester, with a population of 87,150. It has twice been named the best city to live in America by "Money" magazine.
Nashua is the hometown of Sen. Judd Gregg (R-NH) who worked with Sen. Chris Dodd (D-Conn.) in the bail out package last week in the U.S. Senate. The city, whose mayor is Donnalee Lozeau, is also the hometown of singer Mandy Moore who appeared in the comedy film "Saved!"

I traveled through New Hampshire last year en route from Maine to Vermont, where we went up Mount Washington. I noticed several Moose Crossing signs there, but I didn't see any moose. Perhaps, Sarah Palin will go up there and shoot them?! (Sorry, if it's seems over-the-top, but I really don't like this woman at all.)
The Red Arrow Diner serves chocolate cream and coconut cream pies for $11.99!
The moose photo is taken from the web site of the Bear Mountain Lodge, which is located in Bethlehem, NH.
Both "The New York Times" and "The Washington Post" report New Hampshire as a swing state. McCain is popular there, but TheGranite State has become increasingly Democratic in recent years, and that has even been acknowledged by the conservative publication "National Review," which I have begrudgingly read from time to time.

SIDEBAR: We normally run the quote of the week once a week, but this week, we are focusing on this series. However, I loved this quip by billionaire Edgar M. Bronfman Sr., who headed Seagram's, on the presidential election, which was published in yesterday's "New York Times:"
"I'd vote for Mickey Mouse before I voted for John McCain and Sarah Palin."
Hey, if he's not worried about a potential increase in taxes, why should we?

Useful Links:
http://bearmountainlodge.net
http://redarrowdiner.com
http://www.nashuanh.gov

Tags: New Hampshire, moose, presidential election, John McCain, Sarah Palin, Edgar m Bronfman Sr, Red Arrow Diner, Mitt Romney

16 People Who Will Decide the Presidency (6 of 16)

Mon, 06 Oct 2008 02:54:34 GMT

(Musician is actually in New Orleans)

Name: Adam West*
Age: 31
Occupation: High School Teacher/Musician
Income: $28,000 year for the day job. $280/year for the night job.
City of Residency: Roanoke, Va.
Politics: Democrat
Is Voting For: Barack Obama

(The famed roadhouse and historical landmark The Coffee Pot on Brambleton Avenur in Roanoke, Va.)

My hometown Roanoke, Va., actually matters in the presidential election! Alas, I now live in Burlington, NC**, hence I will not be able to vote in November even though I am in Roanoke so often that many people wonder if I've really left.
Sen. Joe Biden (D-Del.), the Democratic veep choice, was meant to come to downtown Roanoke today for a rally, but due to the dire sickness of his mother-in-law, Sen. Evan Bayh (D-Ind) came to town instead. I was there, and it was for the most part a good stump speech which illustrated the clear differences between Barack Obama and John McCain, from health care to education.
Virginia is up in the air at the moment. It is a state which is home to the ultra-conservative Liberty University (founded by Jerry Falwell) in Lynchburg, but it is also home to The University of Virginia in Charlottesville, which is considered to be one of the most liberal state schools in The South.
My hometown of Roanoke is known for Las Vegas singer Wayne Newton, one of the leading celebrity Republicans around, but it is also the residency of Democratic political pundit Dave "Mudcat" Saunders, who wrote "Foxes in the Henhouse."
Roanoke has even caught the attention of the British newspaper "The Guardian" which has profiled the politics of The Star City. Roanoke is thus like Virginia in that it is a mostly conservative city with a strong progressive element.
Case in point, Bill Maher's new movie "Religulous" which takes a highly critical look at religion is showing at The Grandin Theatre in Roanoke. It's not playing in Lynchburg, a city that is a mere 60 miles east on Rte. 460. And, it probably never will.
For that reason alone, I'm glad I grew up here as opposed to there!
Amen.........

*-Adam West is a pseudonym. The real Adam West was the original television Batman.
**-I don't actually live in Burlington, but rather another town in NC.

Useful Links:

http://www.roanoke.com
http://www.grandintheatre.com

NOTE: The Rootstone Jug Band will be playing in Roanoke at The Water Heater on Oct. 13. They also play at the Golden West Cafe in Baltimore on Oct. 17

http://www.rootstone.net

Tags: Roanoke, Va., Barack Obama, Preisdential Election, Jerry Falwell, Wayne Newton, Baltimore

16 People Who Will Decide the Presidency (4 of 16)

Fri, 03 Oct 2008 16:50:53 GMT

(This is actually from a tattoo parlor in Japan)

Name: Ken Wu*
Occupation: Tattoo Artist
Income: $18,000/yr.
Hometown: Altoona, Pa.
Political Views: Don't Care
Will Vote For: Bob Barr (Libertarian candidate)

*- All the names are pseudonymous, but our researchers have discovered that there is a Ken Wu in Taiwan who is a stock market expert of sorts!

Pennsylvania is a swing state which has gone blue in recent years, and the Obama-Biden campaign is assuredly hoping that holds true on Election Day. Hillary Clinton won the Democratic primary there, but Barack Obama is doing well, particularly in urban areas.
"Washington Post" blogger Chris Cillizza is projecting Pennsylvania to be a blue state again, though the race is still quite competitive there.
Altoona is a railroad town which has seen economic hardships in recent years.
I went to Altoona to see my friend Regan, who may not be living there any more, some four years ago when John Kerry won the state.
The city of 50,000, near Penn State University, is also known for the Blair Mansion and the Altoona Curve minor league baseball team. Scenery-wise, it bears a strong resemblance to my hometown of Roanoke, Va., which also has its share of mountains and rivers.

(This marks the second time that we have used the Curves' mascot on this blog. I don't know who the person standing next to the mascot is. The mascot sure looks like Gumby, doesn't it?)
I found out that the mayor of Altoona is Wayne Hippo, but there is not a member of city council named Rhino.
Altoona is also the corporate home to Sheetz, a major gas station company serving states like Virginia, North Carolina and Ohio. I think every other gas station in Altoona is a Sheetz station. Their gas is a few cents cheaper than the likes of Shell and Exxon, but basically, it's still an armandaleg.
There are at least two active tattoo parlors in town, including Custom Skin Art, located at 614 7th Street in Altoona. Their phone number is 814-949-9227.

Useful Links:
http://www.altoonapa.gov
http://www.altoonacurve.com
http://www.kenwublogspot.com
(The blog belonging to the real Ken Wu).

NOTE: See earlier entry on the Pittsburgh band Rusted Root, posted a few days prior to this entry. Pittsburgh and Altoona are about two hours away from each other.

Tags: Altoona, Pa., presidential election, Altoona Curve, Barack Obama, tattoos

16 People Who Will Decide the Presidency (2 of 16)

Wed, 01 Oct 2008 15:40:41 GMT

(This image is actually of New York cabbie Joseph Morrone)

Name: Travis Bickle*
Occupation: Taxi Cab Driver with Charlotte Flyer Taxi in Charlotte, NC
Age: 47
Income: Depends on the fare
Politics: Independent
Will Vote For: Obama on a coin flip

*-These are all pseudonyms. Any resemblances to real people dead or otherwise including the New York cab driver pictured and a certain Robert DeNiro character are......well, you know the rest!

We continue our series which focuses on 16 people in potential swing states (I'm not sure if North Carolina qualifies, but....!) and the types of folks who will hopefully be going to the polls on Tuesday.
North Carolina is home to lots of right wing truck drivers and liberal folk/rock singers. It really is a state that could go either way in theory, but the uber-fundamentalist Rev. Franklin Graham, who lives in Boone, will probably get out the Christian Coalition vote and make the state go red once again as it has since the 1980 presidential election.
But, there is a substantial African-American vote and cities like Durham and Asheville will definitely go for Barack Obama, whose appearance in Greensboro over the weekend will hopefully help make this more interesting than it has been in recent election cycles.
Taxi cab drivers in Charlotte are actually in crisis mode at the moment because of a gas shortage in The Queen City.
Cab driver Al Wheeler explained his qualms to WSOC-TV (Charlotte): "Now you need a place to park, and you sit there and turn off the engine. You don't idle."
Charlotte is also the birthplace and residence of the Rev. Billy Graham, who seems like Susan Sarandon compared to his son Franklin. And, it is the city where the late western star Randolph Scott was born.
The city is undergoing a lot of changes, including a major growth in its Hispanic population and the fact that major banks are having problems will probably affect the city's economy since it is a major industry in Charlotte.
Mayor Pat McCrory is running against lt. governor Beverly Perdue for the governor's mansion. It is reportedly a very close race though it's overshadowed by both the presidential election and a tight U.S. Senate race between Sen. Elizabeth Dole (R-NC) and state senator Kay Hagan (D).
Charlotte is also home to a variety of major and minor league sports teams including the Charlotte Checkers, who open their season soon. I saw a game between them and now the defunct Roanoke Express (my hometown team). It was just like a scene out of "Slap Shot."
Though I don't reside in the Charlotte-metro area, I will be voting in North Carolina for the first time in my life. Even though John McCain is more to the center than George W. Bush, I am strongly leaning towards Obama.
We'll see what happens in the Tarheel State, where we even get to vote for the state treasurer on Election Day?!

Useful Links:

http://www.charlotte.com

http://www.gocheckers.com

http://www.creativeloafing.com

Charlotte Flyer Taxi is a real company, and their number is 704-370-6050, if you need a lift.

PERSONAL NOTE: We will be moving this blog soon. Anyone who can give me helpful advice on how to do that can feel free to email me at tango74@aol.com

Hopefully, we can get more traffic than AOL!

Tags: Charlotte, taxi drivers, gas shortage, Charlotte Checkers, minor league hockey, Presidential Election, Barack Obama, John McCain, Pat McCrory, Beverly Perdue