By KENRIC WARD, Scripps Howard News Service

ABC's new comedy, "The Goode Family," mocks environmentalist excesses with its biting portrayal of vegan dogs, hybrid cars, white guilt and cries of "What Would Al Gore Do?" But the political correctness of environmentalism becomes deadly serious when its devotees dodge the No. 1 contributor to environmental degradation: people.

In a nation turned blue, the South remains largely red. That's the takeaway from the 2008 election, and the Republicans' best hope for resurrecting their party.

Be honest. What have you learned from the first two presidential debates? Do you expect to be any more enlightened by Wednesday night's third and final showdown between Barack Obama and John McCain?