The State of Jefferson?

Here is an interesting story, something most people wouldn't expect to read in modern times:

"A move to secede on California-Oregon border", San Francisco Chronicle

To paraphrase, a handful of counties in northern California and southern Oregon have been pushing for succession from southern Californian Hollywood nymphomaniacs and Portland-Salem eco-psychos for the past 67 years.  They are pushing for their own statehood, and want to call themselves "Jefferson"...check it out at www.jeffersonstate.com.  Can you blame them?  Not really.  I'm sure that there are tons of conservative counties in blue states across the country that want to secede, and probably, rightfully so.  California's state tax is astronomically high, which kills small towns outside of metropolitan areas, which are dependent on their local economies.

These days, it doesn't seem like a realistic concept, does it?  Heck, Puerto Rico can't even do it, its still a commonwealth.  Alaska's Independence Party didn't get it done when they elected a pro-succession Alaskan governor back in the 1990s.  I'm sure there have been countless efforts that didn't garner any steam, mostly from red-state rubes, right?

PORK, PORK, PORK, PORK...PORK!

Ladies and gents, here are the "Top 10 Sweetest Items" included in the Senate's latest version of the bailout bill. Lets do this David Letterman style...

10) Extension of economic development credit for American Samoa = $33 million

9) Extension and modification of duty suspension on wool products; wool research fund; wool duty refunds = $148 million

8) Provisions related to film and television productions = $478 million

7) Deduction for state and local sales taxes = $3.3 billion

6) Secure rural schools and community self-determination program = $3.3 billion

5) Income averaging for amounts received in connection with the Exxon Valdez litigation = $49 million

4) Extension and modification of research credit = $19 billion

3) Increase in limit on cover over of rum excise tax to Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands = $192 million

2) Seven-year cost recovery period for motorsports racing track
facility = $100 million

Drum roll please...this one takes the cake...

1) Exemption from excise tax for certain wooden arrows designed for use by children = $2 million

In the debate, McCain says he is against pork barrel spending...and he voted for it.

Source: Taxpayers for Common Sense