I've been lucky enough to have traveled throughout Pennsylvania, especially when i've lived in Maryland first, and a few years later, in Upstate New York and now in Iowa (traveling back to the Northeast when I can). I also went through Pennsylvania frequently when I lived in St. Louis. I had originally visited the state when I lived in Atlanta (a long road trip, but something I enjoyed doing).

I've mentioned this before when discussing Ohio — a truly enormous state could be created by combining Ohio with Pennsylvania (whose common boundary merits revision, but that's a side issue here). Then New Jersey haters could consider with delight the states of Ohio-Pennsylvania and New York divvying up “the cask.” (dividing and annexing New Jersey — the Delaware & Raritan Canal would be the elegant solution, but the Hudson watershed boundary makes as much or more sense). Ohio-Pennsylvania would then be a sea-to-sea state with much more waterfront than just around Erie. (”From Toledo to Cape May”)

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“Nice pic Shaun, very Atom Heart Motherish.”

In fact, the Piedmont (from the Fall Line west to the start of Appalachia) is some of the finest country not only in the USA but in the world. And yes, progressive rock does it (as well as so much else) justice.

The photo also reminded me of the Pennsylvania farm guide that I went out to my truck to get to check the title. (”The Joy of Farm Watching” — here with me now) Much of the farming, of course, is on the Piedmont.

There's a related Web site on line.

http://www.farmwatching.psu.edu/

Also, if you are “inspired” by the view in Shaun's photo, go to the Top of the 80s Restaurant in Hazleton sometime and see the view from there. Just go see it.

I heard an interesting statistic on the radio, in PA only 7% of voters are registered independents. I would imagine that is due largely to the closed primary system. While this might seem to give Hiliary an advantage I have to wonder how many registered Democrats are true rust belt Democrats and how many are independent leaning. Plus how many registered Republicans are Rush dittoheads and how many are more interested in what works not what passes the litmus tests. Some of these Republicans have already switched their registrations and are not going to be big Hilary supporters, more may join them. Yes there are a lot of Older people, in Pa but there are a large number of college students and professionals in research and high tech firms who don't really like the anti-science tilt of the Republican party, but aren't huge fans of Hiliary either.

As the lady says “fasten your seat belts, it's going to be a bumpy ride.”

I thought the same thing and, as a matter of fact, played that album last night for the first time in forever.

As it was, I chose the foto because the gal cows I spoke to were Holsteins.

If he does this, he will break through the suspicion of him in Appalachia. He will show older voters that he's not some young punk with no understanding of the world. He will show he's no “black radical.” He will show his in-depth understanding of health care and economic issues.

Will this give him a victory there? Maybe. But it will certainly prevent a major loss. And it's a good idea anyway because he continue doing the same thing in WV and KY afterwards.

Penn. is about 10% black which puts in the category of not enough blacks to really help Obama but enough exposure to blacks in cities like Philly to create a divide between black and white voters.

There is once again the rust belt question that hurt Senator Obama in Ohio. Also, New Jersey and New York went for Clinton.

Primaries help Clinton and closed primaries help Clinton.

There is enough factors to not give either side a huge advantage.