Two items, a bit related, neither Flames, especially.

I hang out a bit in THE cafe and store in a very rural part of Oregon. The town is 150 years old, but has seen better days. One church is still active, two deserted, and the old school is a community hall. Of sorts. The immediate population is over 20, less than 50. Half of 'em are related to at least 1 other family in the area, sometimes 3 or 4. If one person sneezes, everyone wipes their nose, mostly on their sleeves. Loggers, farmers, and retired loggers and farmers dominate the morning coffee table, the only place like it within 20 miles. Even farther, 40 miles, to find a Starbucks. Not well-educated people, but ask 'em about a piece of machinery and you will get full details, with 6 variations, three of 'em concurrently.

The area hosts a Harley ride-in one weekend in the summer, a weekend I'm not there. The locals seem to enjoy it.

The folks I have met and talked with are universally anti-Bush. One guy, the only one who smokes, retired from his big-city job as a meat-cutter and moved to the area. He drives a very small car, and I asked him where he golfed. I had to explain that, and the hoots go on to this day. He's a Bush supporter, the only one who's a regular, and is endlessly teased about it.

I would have expected it to be the reverse.

And the other evening I was driving down a boulevard, a major thoroughfare, in between small towns. It's an area like older sections of Southern California, strip malls, Home Depot, large supermarket, very old motels converted to residential uses dominate. The houses are about half a mile back from this road.

I passed a noisy group of 20 to 25 people of all ages holding hand-made signs. "Stop the surge", "down with war", etc. Clearly a grass-roots demonstration by people following their consciences. There was no "regular" demonstration planned of which I was aware.

There is still an America out there. It's not all concentrated in the hands of corporations and their corrupt minions, including the leadership of many fundamental religious organizations. Ralph Reed comes to mind, and there are others.

Warms the cockles of an old dog's heart.

Arf (What are "cockles", Bow? I don't know, it's a saying. Leave it to you!)