To the subject at hand, the same phenomenon (sp?) occurs from time to time in country music. In order to increase market share, the country songs start to sound more like pop music. Then, every once in a while, the classic country fans stage a revolt, Alan Jackson or LeAnn Womack comes along sounding like country again, and things settle down.

I’m pretty sure that Mr. Helton was trying to demonstrate that NASCAR wasn’t a bunch of overall-clad, tabaky-chawin, barefoot hicks. Not having heard or read his comments directly, I can’t condemn or defend them. I think NASCAR should split the difference and market the sport to the inner-redneck inside ALL of us. Kind of like Jeff Foxworthy with horsepower.

With regards to the National Anthem, some country singers can butcher that piece just as easily as a Black-Eyed-Pea. Francis Scott Key wrote some profound words, but he sure picked a lousy tune to put it to.

The last time I was called a commie was by former State Representative Lois McMahon insulted the coalitions of environmentalists that were arguing to save the CAO environmental protection laws in the CAO public testimony. Her husband called us Nazi so I was not sure what side on WW2 we represented in their minds. God I hope she gets the nomination for state Senate. That would be perfect.

Usually due to Goodwin’s law of the Internet whenever some one calls another side a commie or Nazi the reasonable discussion is pretty much over.

My political party was founded by President Jefferson and President Jackson not Karl Marx nor Karl Rove.

In the words of Edward R Murrow Good Night and Good Luck.

That is much more open than the secretive and sketchy pork for Nascar proposal. It is apples and oranges. As a progressive Democrat I believe in good effective accountable government that looks out for the best interest of the people and taking the financial responsibility and opening up the pocket books for a billion plus out-of-state corporation is not under the core necessity of our state government. It is pork and corporate welfare and that is the frame that I am sticking to.

Kitsap county needs real improvements in regional transportation and the money could be spend on that rather than the trickle down Voodoo economics plan and the lies of Reganomics. The entire idea that this is going to create jobs and improve public infrastructure by handing a check out to the billionaires from Florida through a trickle down effect is exactly what has failed on the national level. We could have a real regional transportation upgrade plan or a expanding college opportunities in the state rather cutting a check to NASCAR.

It is the mentality of pork for corporations at the public expense that left Southern States in such sad financial condition.

I simply don’t buy the concept of giving billionaires public money for something as trivial as a racetrack is going to help our county.

You keep changing your whining parameters. In your original ranting, you talked about “Washington State culture,” then when I showed you how prevelant NASCAR and auto racing is in Washington State, you changed it to “native to Kitsap.”

You still haven’t looked up the definition of pork. As a government contractor, I would have thought you’d know it by heart. They aren’t making money off of the state and region, they’re making money off of the TV package, advertising, licensed marketing and from attendees of racing events. The state and region MAKE money from the deal. As a graphic artist, you could ride the gravy train, too if you didn’t find it so personally revolting.

The track is a real and attractive economic option for Kitsap, and I’m sure Hwy 3 will be widened as part of the package.

It’s possible none of us will survive the Peak Oil Crisis. But one of the NASCAR race teams is sponsored by a company that makes and markets E85 (up to 85% grain ethanol). How’s that for a solution?