Since trashing West Virginia is the topic of the day, get a head start on Kentucky.

[rug]

And after that, Puerto Rico.

Let it all out.

[damonm]

1. Nope - WILL NOT Diss Kentucky...

Anyplace that makes bourbon that good deserves my respect.

[CherokeeDem]

2. Thank you....

after numerous times I have had to defend my state...finally a voice of reason! That stuff is not bad as long as you don't have it in a mint julep!!!!!

[damonm]

5. No, no,no...

Make mine straight up or on the rocks.

[Jeff In Milwaukee]

6. Absolutely...

You have respect the bourbon. Don't pollute it with mixers of any kind.

I will grudging accept ice, but only during August.

[Beregond2]

7. Mint Juleps

are an abomination. Like mixing bourbon with Scope.

[emilyg]

3. Excellent reason.

[rug]

4. And Puerto Rico makes some killer rum.

[JoseGaspar]

8. How about giving West Virginia all the points in the world.

West Virginia has a long and distinguished political history, much of it progressive. It doesn't just end with the Civil War either. There is the history of the UMWA, and John L. and bloody Harlan and so much more. And none of it matters in the same way that none of the history of South Boston came into play once Southie decided to play the Race Game. It doesn't really have that much to do with education, either. It has to do with competing "interests". In America, you can't be both progressive and racist at the same time. You can talk all day about how it "doesn't seem Racist to me", and it won't mean a thing. You can talk about "insults" or "realism" or the overwhelming "need" to win or about somthing else and it still won't mean a thing. Since 1965, the course has been clear:

Democrat or Dixiecrat?

Choose.

[rug]

9. Thoughtful post. West Vrginia does have a strong history of fighting for workers' rights.

I remember South Boston in 74-75 with the schoolbus stonings led by Louise Day Hicks and R.O.A.R. I even got arrested at Columbia Point, "concerned in affray", on May Day after they attacked the demonstration. Much of Boston at that time was as racist as people around here in GDP say West Virginia is today.

Working class issues and racism cannot coexist. West Virginia is not about racism

[AllentownJake]

10. When is it going to be NJ's turn