There's a neighbor and friend of mine - a few years older than me - who won the Congressional Medal of Honor in Korea. He's a member of a group called the Chosin Few and served with the 1st Marines in that frozen hellhole. To this day, he flies the American flag, 24/7, and the Marine Corps flag below on a lighted flag pole - all very proper and respectful.

I've known this guy since 1980. He's a lifelong Republican, but in no way one of the nutters of the modern 'base'. This is an area of Maryland where, before suburbanization, was agricultural and Republican and he was born and raised here and lived here all his life. He's a Republican just because he is.

His property is pretty prominent, being located on a corner where everyone coming or going has to pass it. And every campaign season he has his modest set of campaign signs on the lawn.

The other day, it was hot and I was taking SparklyJr to work. She had a late shift, so it was about noon. He's out in his yard doing some gardening. As I passed, I rolled down the window and yelled something neighborly, inane, really, like "hey, get out of the heat, ya mad man!' He waved, We smile, and I was gone.

One the way back, it occurred to me that he has no lawn signs. They're everywhere else, to be sure. But he had none. Hmmmm. I decided to stop and ask him about it.

"Hey", I said, 'no Ehrlich sign?"

"Ya know, Stinky, I'm just not sure this year." My heart started to race.

"Ehrlich may not be so bad, but I just can't go for Steele. I don't like Mfume, either, so if Cardin wins the primary, that's who I'll vote for."

Mind you, this guy has *never* failed to have Republican campaign signs on hs lawn in the 25 years I've known him. Never ever.

He just felt like talking. I shut off the car and we walked over the bench he has under a tree. He offers me a cigar and i take it. I light his and then mine. We puff.

"I don't even recognize the Republican Party anymore. I mean, (wife) and I go to church every Sunday. We're religious, but that's all I hear from them anymore. Religion and hate. Not so much the local people, although there's some of it here, too. But the national people."

We puff a bit more. (It was a very good cigar!)

"Lemma ask ya," I say, "what about the next presidential election?

"I voted for Jimmy Carter. I voted for Kennedy. I could vote for the right Democrat again."

I still have a few stickers on my truck left over from the 04 primary and a Veteran for Kerry sticker from the general on my car.

"I've noticed that ("my guy") sticker on your truck. I could vote for someone like him."

I smiled. 'Nuff said. We talked some more about his yard and lawn bugs, the heat and the shitty looking property that has gotten worse since the new people moved in. He asked when I started shaving my head and if I use a blade or electric.

I took another puff.

"Blade. I do it blind. In the shower."

"It doesn't hurt?"

"Nope. Its the most liberating thing I ever did. Of course, Sparkly thought at first I looked like a drill sergeant, but now that its been a few years ...... "

It was good cigar, indeed ......