Here in Nashville, if you see the random Country Music star in the Kroger, you basically leave 'em alone.  Most people here have the attitude of  'To my folks, I'm just as much of a star as this girl/guy is to their folks.'

It's one thing to yell, scream and sing with them when they're up on the stage.  That's the fun point of going to their concerts.  But when they're in public, Nashvillians tend to leave 'em alone.  It's the tourists that hassle them.

So... does this posting mean you're about to retire?

If Edwards actually sees the inside of a 'Crossbar Hilton', I'll be thinking:  The 'Breck Girl' goes to prison to get a boyfriend!  Sometimes... sometimes... the forces of good win out over evil.  (Or in this case, good wins our over silly, coiffured, vanity.)

I wish we could find/elect some kamikaze politicians who would go up there, knowing they were there for only one term, and do the right thing anyway. Outside of term limits (which the entrenched politicians would never pass on themselves) successive waves of those kamikaze politicians would eventually turn this ship back to the correct course.  Know what I'd call those kamikaze politicians?  Heroes.

I agree with most points here, but even during the Ellis Island days, there were limits on immigrants based on their origin.  Were they unfair at times?  Sure.  But at least we had limits.  Open borders and the Illegal Immigrant Invasion means we are losing our country.  Reform is a three legged stool: Close the borders.  Chase, prosecute, deport the Illegal Immigrant Invader.  Prosecute those who would house and employ the Illegal Immigrant Invader.

Everyone has a right to their opinion on this matter.  I earned mine by working as a US Army Soldier, welding railroad iron into anti-vehicle barriers on the Arizona-Mexico Border (near Sells) during 2007-2008.  (Along with sweating out the desert heat, dodging the scorpions, gila monsters, illegals, and the occasional stray round fired at us from the Mexican drug cartels or the Mexican Federal Army.)

These Arizona laws WORK!!  Just ask the rising influx of illegal immigrant invaders now swarming into my state of Tennessee!

Food, clothing, shelter and safety.  When times are hard, many people take care of these four things for themselves.  Thus, all the frilly, superficial shops, restaurants, bars and theaters that are on wobbly ground close during a recession.  It's just the nature of things.  Drive by some of the shopping plazas that you remember were booming ten years ago.  Count for yourself how many of those storefronts are now empty.

Ha, ha, ha... funny close!  But Nick's entire comment makes me glad I live in the Southern US.  Sure, restaurants here go through the same cycle.  But for reasons other than the Mafia, corrupt officials and corrupt cops.  Sure, we got 'em down here, but not as bad as up north.  Mostly, 'The Sopranos' are entertainment here, not a way of life.

No where is Herman Cain mentioned.  I'd just love it if he, really did, just swoop in here and pull a 'Bill Clinton!'  The nation would be all the better for it!!

The Big Lie all over again, just with a new and different loudspeaker to broadcast it.

Ya know... I was always wondering if I was a racist.  I mean, I treat people fairly, as individuals, based on how I perceive their strength of character.  Now that I will vote against an individual on that same criteria, I'm being called a racist. 

Well... now I can stop losing sleep at night over this question, now that there's a definitive answer.  Thanks PBS host Travis Smiley for helping me identify myself.  I owe ya one!