Jennifer,

I’ll take your word for whether Austin is the only normal city in Texas and I’ll just put in Midland for good measure.

From your #2 comment I gather you’re not a fan of your governor. So, I’ll take your word for his not wanting to ever retract anything. More’s the pity.

Best to you, Jennifer

Darcus, the yellow rose referenced "The Yellow Rose of Texas", but I’m sure you got that. Glad your grandmother’s favorite flower was that one. I’m glad I clarified my statement to you. I’m also glad you have a sense of humor. Being from NC, I’m sure had this site been up back when Jesse Helms was here, there would have been NC-bashing all over the place and rightly so!

You’re just coming into this site as of April? Some of us have been here since the April or May (for me) of ‘08. And some of us are leaving as you are coming in. Good luck! Best to you!

This is a few days past your birthday, but for your love of animals and especially elephants, I’m posting this to you:

http://www.youtube.com/watch_popup?v=P3SbjjMChqw

darcus, after reading through this thread and seeing what a true-blue (pardon the pun) Texan you are, I commend you on supporting your state of Texas. When I wrote "the pretense to secede", I knew the Governor’s remarks about seceding from the U.S. had to be a "pretend, make-believe", if you will, remark. The remark had to be a joke, though some in Texas took it to heart as a possibility. I have had good business dealings with people in Austin and know the state has a lot of good people. I don’t think the Governor spoke for the majority of the people of Texas. I also know Liz Smith is from Texas and knows a thing or two about the way politics are played there. Ann Richards and Molly Ivins were national treasures and they too were Texans. My point to you is that I think the topic of Texas seceding from the Union was folly and I would love to see the Governor there retract that statement. I send a virtual "yellow rose" to you.

I’m proud of you, Liz, for calling Texas out about its pretense to secede.

Well said, Lizzie R. It HAS become scary to live in this country, though I will fight for it to remain whole and the union it was meant to be! It is just too much when people will come right out and vocalize or hold up signs that insinuate the desire for our President’s death. The FBI used to find people who did these kinds of things. Why aren’t these people being investigated now? Do these people use the excuse of “Free Speech?” Free speech goes only so far as:

“….The First Amendment holding in Schenck was later overturned by Brandenburg v. Ohio, which limited the scope of banned speech to that which would be directed to and likely to incite imminent lawless action (e.g. a riot). ….. the phrase "shouting fire in a crowded theater" has since come to be known as synonymous with an action that the speaker believes goes beyond the rights guaranteed by free speech, reckless or malicious speech, or an action whose outcomes are blatantly obvious.” Normal 0 0 1 146 835 6 1 1025 11.768 0 0 0

 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shouting_fire_in_a_crowded_theater

I, like you, want the hatred to stop. And, I do NOT want to see our government fall. I didn’t want it to happen when Bush was in office and I don’t want it to happen now. The question is, how do we stop the present fracturing? How do we stop the hate? I suppose this is an age old question. What I really don’t understand the most is why our country cannot do what it says it is supposed to do… be inclusive. I am directly referring to why can’t our country accept a black President because I think this is really the core of the rankor right now? Other countries have become "melting pots" for all races and colors…. yet we are the ones who brag that WE are the melting pot. I think not. I think for some really bad reasons we haven’t recovered from the Civil War yet. 144 years since that war ended and we still can’t get it straight?

Source please.

I, too, totally agree with you, Rose!

In re to Labor Day:

Charlton Heston Was Always a Member of the Screen Actors Guild (SAG) (and so was Ronald Reagan)

 http://www.sag.org/charlton-heston-was-always-a-member-screen-actors-guild

DeBurca, YOU GOT THAT VERY RIGHT!

I love what you wrote about your family! Keep telling us all about what it truly means to be an American! Keep reminding us how far we have come from the days when there were no protections in place for workers. I commend you on all you have written!

Frances, this is one of the best articles I’ve ever read on WOW. You’re a gem and thank you so much for publishing it!

Maggie, thanks for posting about Rep. Price’s townhall meeting. Had I not moved to a different part of NC, he would still be representing me. I think a lot of him.

Until you mentioned Arne Duncan, I hadn’t looked into what he’s been doing. Are you a teacher or were you? Just wondering. I agree that schools shouldn’t be allowed to fail. Unfortunately, however, some schools in NC are pushing the children so hard, even the English As A Second Language group, to pass the EOGs that it nearly breaks schools at the end of a long hard year. The schools I know about bust their butts to provide the necessary modifications needed so that children can take those tests on equal footing with the average student (although that’s hardly possible with ESL student who cannot yet speak English having to take the test in English). It’s still stressful, no matter how much is done to help those children pass. I hope Arne Duncan’s requirements are not going to have to happen in too many places because I think it would be absolute chaos. The last requirement you mentioned "Close failing schools and send those students to near-by high achieving schools" is already a choice in the school district in NC that I know about. Also, the one about "Replace a failing school’s principal and overhaul its entire operation" again is already one I know can and has happened in the school district I know about.

Again, glad you posted this information.

I finally have a question for Whoopi. Did the panel tell you they were going to put this up as a question? And I’d like to know why Sheila Lyda wants to know the answer to her question. For Sheila, what are you trying to prove by asking such a question?

"Who loves ya, Baby?" THE ENTIRE WORLD! And all those beautiful ELEPHANTS who trumpet when they see you coming! Happy, happy, happy birthday to you, Miss Lily Tomlin!