BILL RICHARDSON, THE REAL JOKE

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Some things never cease to amaze me. A word of explanation to our foreign readers, first. America has a Presidential election every year. But before anyone can even think of running for that office, they go on a "campaign trail" where they attempt to raise vast sums of money (some raise more money for this one time thing, than a number of countries spend in a year.) and convince the public to vote for them. It's sort of a popularity contest, sort of a "I can tell bigger whoppers than my opponents can" event, or a "see if you can catch me in lies" event.

Every time a campaign gets underway, I am reminded that "No one ever went broke underestimating the intelligence of the American public" and "There's a sucker born every minute."

Every few days some inept polling group lists the "popularity" of the various contenders. I put no stock in these surveys since they are so easy to load to get the answers the people are paying for want.

It seems that an actor and television comedian named Stephen Colbert (the last t is silent) declared on his comedy show that he will run for President.

Mr. Colbert puts a lot of stock in satire and dry wit on his show. But this one is especially funny to me.

In polls held since he announced his candidacy, he will get more votes Bill Richardson.

It seems Colbert appeals to the younger generation (if it was a run off between these two, he'd get my vote too) and those who have a sense of humor.

I am still laughing at this turn of events.

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I just had to include this bit of humor, too:

After Fight, Airport Embraces SUX Code SIOUX CITY, Iowa (AP) - City leaders have scrapped plans to do away with the Sioux Gateway Airport's unflattering three-letter identifier - SUX - and instead have made it the centerpiece of the airport's new marketing campaign. The code, used by pilots and airports worldwide and printed on tickets and luggage tags, will be used on T-shirts and caps sporting the airport's new slogan, "FLY SUX." It also forms the address of the airport's redesigned Web site - .http://www.flysux.com Sioux City officials petitioned the Federal Aviation Administration to change the code in 1988 and 2002. At one point, the FAA offered the city five alternatives - GWU, GYO, GYT, SGV and GAY - but airport trustees turned them down. Airport board member Dave Bernstein proposed embracing the identifier. "Let's make the best of it," Bernstein said. "I think we have the opportunity to turn it into a positive." He noted that many airports, including some of the busiest, have forgettable three-letter codes. "I've got buddies that I went to college with in different cities that can't even remember their own birthdays, but they all know the Sioux City designator - SUX," he said. Mayor Craig Berenstein, who in 2002 described SUX as an "embarrassment" to the city, said he views the new slogan as a "cute little way" to make light of the situation.