But a 90 percent chance is pretty darned high. Could it just be hot air from Smith?

It’s certainly a possibility. After all, the city and surrounding jurisdictions can’t backpedal fast enough; losing all the money that the track brings in (tax revenue and tourism dollars, primarily) would be a huge blow. They’re pinned in a corner.

But the Observer also points out several reasons why it would make sense: Lowe’s is one of the older tracks on the circuit, though it’s been upgraded numerous times over the years. A new track would surely mean more luxury boxes, which is the quickest way to profit for any professional sports owner.

Moreover, some other municipality will be happy to step in and gobble up the revenue stream of a track with three guaranteed Nextel Cup dates (two points races and the All-Star event).

Neither side comes out looking great on this. Smith looks like a kid who wants to take his ball home in a huff. The city looks weak-kneed when facing the prospect of the move (though that may well be the financial reality of the situation).

If Smith really wants to move, it surely won’t be an overnight process. Getting to the ceremonial dirt-shoveling would be a years-long exercise.

Until Smith says for certain that he’s moving – no percentages – it’s hard to tell which way this will go.

A buzzer sits to the side of the podium. It has a green light so long as the speaker still has time to talk. When time is running out, it turns yellow. When time is up, it begins to flash red and buzz. Imagine an alarm clock set to its most annoying setting and you’ve got the sound. I just thought I would point this out because the buzzer reminds me of the hook from the olden days. You know, when the performer starts to bomb, a wooden hook comes from stage left and yanks the person off-stage. I think the buzzer is probably more humane. Everybody has the right to speak, I know. But for some of these people ... bring out the hook.

A man stood up to the microphone and calmly agreed with the illegal immigrants that they are hard-working. He seemed like he was going to be a calm, even-tempered man. The next words had a little bit of an edge to them though. “Where do you get off?” I would have put those letters in all capitals to signify yelling, but he wasn’t exactly yelling. Rather, it seemed like he was speaking with rage. That’s one of the problems with this issue. It inspires rage on both sides. How can anybody talk rationally about something when they feel like they are about to explode? 
Another man stood up and talked about how illegal immigrants directly affect him. These are the people I like to hear from. Too often I hear from people whose chief complaint has to do with how something appears. People don’t like people hanging out outside 7-Eleven. They don’t like to hear people speaking Spanish in the United States.
This guy was saying that in his job, he has illegal immigrants competing with him. That is a serious issue. How can a legal citizen, who wants to work for reasonable wages, compete against an illegal immigrant who is willing and able to work for less? This is why it’s so important to something about the businesses, which hire illegal immigrants. 

Those people who held the flag upside down were pretty gutsy if they were doing it on purpose. That was bound to get a rise out of somebody. Those who oppose the resolution need to be careful about their attitudes and actions. They are in a precarious position and should try as hard as they can not to unnecessarily alienate anybody. The more I blog, the harder it is for me to tell where I fall on this issue.