And you people don't think anything ever happens in Bakersfield...
Just a quick rundown of the stuff you're missing by not living in the nuttiest part of California:
BILL BENNETT is coming to town this weekend to speak at one of the nation's largest "business" conferences. Yes, Bakersfield. Keynote speaker is John "Eagle-sore" Ashcroft. Both Matalin and Carville will be there too, as well as Neil Armstong (my one regret is missing him.)
Local paper is calling on him to apologize for his black-abortion remarks. Instead, he'll meet privately with local black citizenry. A protest is planned, I still believe.
INTELLIGENT DESIGN may be the next controversy here, as the local fundies and Republicans (hard to tell 'em apart) have near-complete control of the high school district board. They've been beaten back before, but this time they have two more seats and I suspect the ACLU will be getting involved. I'll be keeping folks posted.
GEORGE H.W. and W. BUSH's Bakersfield home will be turned into a museum by a local Republican power-behind-the-scene type. They lived here a couple months, when W. was still an immature brat. (No, 'way before last week.) Wonder whether people will come by in years to come to laugh, if that's still permitted...