Gosh, Mary Anne that sounds so bitter...everyone here has nothing but praise for most of your posts - even when we disagree - and I'd like to think we are all mostly friends here despite all the rhetoric. The HZ barbecue would be quite an amusing scene.

I bet you there is a big difference between this couple and many of the folks here. First of all - we read all the other sources of news - as a matter of fact I almost NEVEER turn to Fox news on the web because I know what they are going to say. I peruse the Village Voice, Mother Jones and Utne, All the German left/green rags like Der Spiegel, BUNTE and GEO and as many other global views as possible.

You think we want you here just to dump on you an hour rant about Daschle? Well, I guess we sort of do - but I'm sure others besides me would like to hear all the things going on in your life which you care to share.

All our little heads probably wonder how the archery is going for the yougest, how the eldest daughter likes New York - and even the amusing bit about the woman programmed by her husband and afraid of her own zip code.

I bet you something else too - I bet Tom's wife isn't as conservative as Tom - Phil's wife isn't as... well... leaning conservative - as Phil. Ed's wife is probably not as conservative as Ed....and I doubt any of them are programmed, like the couple you met.

As a matter of fact most of us participate here because it is fun - or at least it should be. I jab a bit at Bowser because he jabs at others - if someone doesn't jab I am almost a choir boy. (oops that's religious again ;-) Well you know my views about religion - how many of those conservatives in your town believe in no deities?)

Also, you should look beyond the covers - you of all people should be able to know that the cover is not indicative of the contents. I think your town is so religious that the women are subjugated as if it were still 1930. It's some sort of twilight zone. You were clearly meant for California. Your views would not be the exception - you would be the norm.

There are some lovely libraries in SoCal - the UCLA library is truly a work of Art. And you can walk through the campus for half an hour from end to end and not bump into a conservative! (I am not exaggerating.)

Your clientele is way too limited. You're torturing yourself unnecessarily. You see in most libraries - folks like us (conservatives) would be very outnumbered. Yours is one of the very few libraries which is frequented by fanatical, intoloerant, religious rednecks.

I haven't read the funny pages in ages. When Calvin and Hobbes folded - I folded up the funny pages.

Sorry you feel about us the way you do...

Best wishes,

SDAI-Tech1

;-)