I somtiems visit friends who have a farm north of Wilton. Does that count?

Oh, and I've ridden on my parent's john deer lawn mower/tractor. How 'bout that? Votes: +0

He has as much experience farming as Hillary has running the country. Experience through osmosis. Votes: -1

Let's get serious. Shafer has zero knowledge about agriculture. Being appointed Ag Secretary is just political reward. For the most part, that was how he got to be Governor. Merit had little to do with it. Notwithstanding the fact that no Ag Sec. in recent memory had much more knowledge about agriculture, although they all think they do. I find it rather insulting when those who know little claim to be the spokesperson----they really don't think there is much to know.

Shafer and Hoeven do have something in common----inherited wealth gave them position----sort of a sad commentary on how we are running our Republic.

If Shafer is a "good fit", just how is that defined? Shafer is just one of a growing list of those who represent special interests vs. our national interests. Good ole boys politics vs. the commonwealth. The consequence is an increasing disparity between those interests and the rest of us. Diminishing opportunity vs. growing advantage for those with wealth. Certainly a huge contradiction to the vision given us by the Founding Fathers. A contradiction that we can fix----not overnight, but a gradual return to the values that have made us great. It really is a choice--a continuing move toward a European styled society or one of freedom and the opportunity that flows from that freedom. Shafer, et. al. are not really bad guys---they just take care of their own. This administration, Bush, Shafer, and all their cronys connection and concern for the well being of the society we live in is about the same as a boar pigs interest in Chanel no. 5. Votes: +3

Back on the family farm lies an ICBM....Inter Continental Ballistic Missile that has since been retired. But I wonder....when we were growing up, were we a military family? I hope Uncle Ed will tell me. Maybe we qualify for a subsidy or something...military pension maybe? Votes: +0

If Eddie Albert were still alive (is he?), he would be more qualified to be Secretary of Agriculture. Why? Because he played Oliver Wendell Douglas, Wall Street farmer, on Green Acres. Votes: +2

TO NIMROD:

Eddie Albert died a couple of years ago----age 90 something. He was born and raised in the twin cities----an outspoken supporter of unions---experienced the pain of poverty.

Yes, he would be far more qualified to have been Sec. of Ag. He was an outspoken supporter of soil stewardship and a farm policy that supported a healthy, dynamic food production system. Not a Hollywood liberal but a real progressive. He had a vegetable and flower garden at his home in LA---worked it himself---consumed the production at his table. A really wonderful guy. Votes: +1

Ed, with your logic, would illegal immigrants be residents if they lived in a house? Votes: -1