Chatty occasionally hears really interesting stuff on her walks – because nobody pays much attention to walkers…

    Today, she was taking her regular route, but later than usual. It was getting dark, and she was walking toward a house when she heard yelling on the front porch of the house she was approaching:

    "I am not a racist!!!!!!"

    OK. Chatty’s ears flared at these inflammatory words immediately, because the two men were arguing so vehemently and LOUDLY that she thought she might have to call 911. Seriously.

    And, Chatty being Chatty, she lingered, cell phone at the ready.

    "I’m not saying you’re a racist, all right? – Settle down, man, settle down!"

    "You called me a racist!"

    "I did not! I only asked WHY are you punishing HER???? What makes HIM right???"

    "Because I can’t TRUST her, man! She’s used to cheatin’."

    "That’s not her fault, ass****!"

    "Yes it is!"

    "No it isn’t!!!"

     "Yeah, man, it’s HER fault I can’t trust her!"

    The yelling continued for a while, but Chatty was confused. These two men seemed SO angry, yet they continued the conversation – ON THE FRONT PORCH - without coming to blows.

    Chatty had figured out by now that it was none of her business - that no call to 911 was necessary - and had started to leave.

    But, as Chatty was walking away, she looked back and noticed that the man who "wasn’t a racist" was African American, and that the man who wanted to know "why are you punishing her?" was not. Then, for the first time, names were mentioned - and in that instant, all became crystal clear.

    These two men were arguing – OH SO LOUDLY – about the front-running candidates for the Democratic nomination for president.

    Yes.

    It was only a noisome political argument – what a relief.

    They went inside, and Chatty walked on – because the show was over.

    But now - although Chatty has NO intention of using her blog to discuss politics - this incident has her wondering about one thing...

    If this kind of passionate dialog about the Democratic contenders is happening on front porches in Chatty’s quiet neighborhood in Arizona – traditionally a "red" state (and home to John McCain) - what’s going on in the "blue" states????