John Q. Public chimes in from Northwest Arkansas

[hatrack]

We took a Labor Day weekend trip down to a B&B in a little Arkansas mountain town.

On the way back, we stopped for gas in a tiny little burg (Marshall, AR - pop 1,313 according to the 2000 Census). Back in a corner of the gas station/grocery, six or seven of the locals were vigorously - and I mean vigorously debating Katrina and the federal response over coffee and breakfast.

There were one or two who merrily spewed the Faux News talking points, but the rest of the table was disgusted, resigned and politely pissed off. One older man chimed in with "What if something like that happened here? You know what that means? It means we're on our own. And in that case, what in the world do I pay taxes for?"

When people are generally happy with the status quo, you don't hear things like this in little Arkansas coffee shops. When people are talking politics - and I mean vigorously debating what's going on - whoever's in power is in big, big trouble.

Oh, and gas in Marshall, Arkansas was $3.19 for regular unleaded.

[JuniperLea]

1. Maybe non-voters will become voters now

That is the real untapped power of America... that is, if we can get the count right.

[Arkansas Democrat]

2. I can vouch for that!

We buy our gasoline at a tiny little community store and we hear politics discussed a lot lately! Gas prices are the most discussed topic too!

[merbex]

3. My brother stopped to visit yesterday. He lives in a town in MA

called Duxbury but everyone around here calls it Deluxbury it is that wealthy. It is predominately Repug. The location is gorgeous,right on the coast with miles of beautiful beaches.

He's out on the beach and he's letting loose on some Repug friends:how Bush's response is a disgarce,how people were dying while he stayed on vacation and pretty much what we've been saying here all along.

They agreed.

They can't even defend him any more. One guy said this goes beyond party affiliation. This is a huge failure and that it wouldn't upset him to see Bush resign.

He's lost the country club crowd here. This tragedy seems to be giving those that had qualms about Bush the reason to totally abandon him.

It is a shame that it has taken the deaths of thousands of Americans to accomplish this

[Lost4words]

4. they wont bite the hand that feeds them.

sure thell talk in negative terms but when it comes down to it, they are his base. They are the group to benifit most from this maladminstration.

[merbex]

5. They are paying 3.39 a gallon here and that caused alot of talk

and combined with total ineptitude of Katrina response gives the cover to abandon him

My brother constantly reminds his "friends"in Deluxbury how much better they did under Clinton

They are finally admitting it

[JugDack]

6. Yup - everybody underestimates this factor.

It's like badmouthing your family. Everybody does it to some extent, but nobody really means it. They'll get over it soon and go back to quoting Faux talking points.