Maddow warns GOP’s presidential vote rigging plan ‘is gathering steam’
Following up on her Tuesday segment, MSNBC host Rachel Maddow explained how Virginia Republicans planned to set up the presidential election system in favor of the GOP.
“We have been documenting over the last few days what appears to be a coordinated effort by Republicans in a number of key states to change the rules for electing a president,” she said. “To change the rules so essentially Democrats running for president cannot win.”
http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2013/01/23/maddow-warns-gops-presidential-vote-rigging-plan-is-gathering-steam/
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After a 6 year hiatus, Maine's super cold winter temps have returned, with the added bonus of switching back and forth here near the coast from 40+ last week to -10 (not including wind chill which made it closer to -30 to -40) the last few nights, with the swings roaring through sometimes in a matter of hours.
So I've been thinking of heading further south, and Virginia is on my list of places to go. And being a small farmer type, red rural is where I'm likely to head.
Here's to demographics changing faster than the GOP can gerrymander them away 
bless yer heart for thinkin you'll change the demographics faster than the GOP can gerrymander. 
People forget that VA (and NC) are 50-50 states, which means there's a lotta blue--so come on down and help tip it.
I always thought it meant...
NC is on my list too. My biggest worries about moving south, being rural, are ticks, poisonous snakes and tornadoes. Also extreme heat, which I hate as much as extreme cold...
--that's the problem with Southernisms. They keep ya guessin.
Forthright Northerners (bless their hearts) try to apply a formula they can cope with. But Southernisms are always open to interpretation in context. Whenever a Southerner says "Come back and see us" (ie. y'all come back now)--they may mean --"I hope we never see you again," or they may mean "If you're in the neighborhood, feel free to drop in," or they may mean, "You're welcome again IF I invite you." You have to interpret which it is depending on the level of warmth and previously earned feelings of trust.
If you're in rural areas where Southern speak is alive & well, you'll have plenty of fun getting used to it.
Ticks--my friend got Lyme in Wisconsin. "Tick check" after being outside (you have 12 hours to do that--if you pull off a tick during that time, you are unlikely to get sick).
Snakes--just know their habits. Don't hate on 'em --cause then you'll see one for sure.
Tornadoes--head for the toilets if you're in a Big Box store. Hurricanes--you get warning so batten down.
Extreme heat --I think you can adjust to--hydrate often and slow down in the afternoons. Walk more slowly. I was in DC with some New Yorkers this past weekend for the Inaugural and was reminded how fast they like to walk. Stop that. The race is to the tortoise in summer in the South. Slow down and smell the magnolias.
Consider NC as well as VA. Very similar states. Good luck. If you have any more Q anytime --shoot. (And I DO mean that 
way too fast for me.
Here in Maine, in the summer we slow way down since the heat -- it might get all the way up to 80! -- could kill ya. Although the drivers speed worse than in winter, and that's bad enough.
But in the winter, we move fast to keep from freezing in place. If you see someone moving slowly, they probably have hypothermia. Ayup!
My neighbors growing up were from the south -- Georgia, SC and NC. I remember the slowness, but not most of the colloquialisms, other than Y'all come back. Oh, and the time the SC neighbor asked us if Y'all want a cookie? and her 4 year old daughter answered, "Me'all's had mine!" 
I grew up in Pennsylvania, so know all about ticks. I still remember the day, as a teenager, I couldn't take my August cabin fever any more and ventured out of the a/c. I walked out through the 1st floor attached garage, down the middle of our driveway (surrounded by mowed flat lawn) and down the middle of the street with not one bit of tree shade. I was outside for 20 minutes, 30 tops.
Back inside, I started my standard, post-excursion, tick search. I quit counting at 18. 18. 18 and counting creepy-crawly, blood-thirsty little monstrosities. I moved from standard search to strip search. From there, in desperation, I filled the tub, climbed in, held my breath and went totally under while feeling through my hair. Aaaaack!!!!! That memory alone gives me pause...
Up here we have ticks, but not many. Not 18. At once. And our -10 nights this week may kill off a bucketload of them.
Anyway, before moving I'll have to inherit something or at least get a decent price for my house up here. Time will tell...
Ever wonder why so many right-wingers claim that the US is a republic, not a democracy? It's because in their heart of hearts, they DON'T believe either in the idea of one man, one vote or the idea that a majority of American voters should be allowed to choose the people to represent them.
This appears to be the real, unspoken agenda of today's reactionary right. Not simply repealing the 20th century, but apparently any notions of extending citizenship and the right to vote past Justice Taney's bounds from the Dred Scott decision back in the 1850's.
