Oct 15

I have had one comment from Whited Sepulchre, asking if I see any difference between Republican and Democratic party.
Actually, I don't think so. What I do think is that we need two parties, fighting each other.
I lived in the Rio Grande Valley of Texas during the fifties, when there was only one party in that county (Democrats). It was corrupt. That is the county where Lyndon Johnson got his extra votes.
On the other hand, I do not want to see a strong minority third party. That third party can hold hostage the government, as in Israel. The Orthodox Party keeps the religious laws in place.

I think the Republicans have had their turn. Now it is time to have the Democrats.
By the way, I never voted for LBJ. During the sixties, I votd the Prohibition Party in Michigan. In 1976 I was on a third party ticket.

Spanglish

My professional interest has always been culture change. And part of culture change is language change.
I am now obsessed with the juxtaposition of English and Spanish, particularly in Texas.
For more than twenty-five years I have noticed that TexMex seems to have lost the use of the Spanish estar (one form of to be). In formal Spanish, our English verb to be has two forms. Ser is used for a "state", as in Yo soy una mujer. Estar is used for place, as in Yo estoy en mi casa.
Tex Mex seems to be using only ser for both senses.
Last week I was trying to explain this to my companions in a restaurant. I asked the Hispanic waitress, "What does yo estoy mean in English?"
She did not know.
Later she came back and told me that it meant "I am here."
People use "Yo soy aqui."

Following Election campaign 10/5

I am shocked that McCain has given up campaigning in Michigan. Michigan is my home state.
I have never heard of giving up campaigning in a state. It has probably been done and I just did not realize.
Michigan is in such dire economic straits that nothing can be done. My son has a small business in Lansing MI. That was a one industry town, Oldsmobile, which has shut down. Period.

Vice Presidential debate

I have mellowed out about the illustrious governor of Alaska. After listening to the debate between her and Biden, I believe that the culture has changed enough in the past forty years so that Palin, even if president, could not push back the tide.
What gave me encouragement was her response to same sex marriage.

Biden answered properly that marriage is a matter for the states, altho he thinks same sex couples should have civil rights, ability to visit each other in hospital and such.
Much to my surprise, Palin agreed with him.