"....I always wanted to be a hoss."

That is the title of the layout in this Sunday's Houston Chronicle on Dan Rather. Dan started out here in Houston at KHOU in the early 60's. The article is the usual "biography" piece. But I thought you might enjoy some Ratherisms you might not have heard.

•The presidential race is hotter than a Laredo parking lot. (2000)
•This race is hotter than a Times Square Rolex. (2004)
•This race is hotter than the Devil's anvil. (2004)
•Ohio becomes like a sauna for the two candidates. All they can do is wait and sweat. (2004)
•The presidential race has been crackling like a hickory fire for at least the last hour and a half. (2004)
•In some ways, George Bush's lead is as thin as November ice. (2004)
•Florida, that race, the heat from it is hot enough to peel house paint. (2000)
•It was as hot and squalid as a New York elevator in August.How tight is it?
•This race is as tight as rusted lug nuts on a '55 Ford. (2000)
•The election is closer than Lassie and Timmy. (2004)
•His lead is as thin as turnip soup. (2004)Keep it folksy
•In Southern states, they beat (Kerry) like a rented mule. (2004)
•One's reminded of that old saying, 'Don't taunt the alligator until after you've crossed the creek.' (2004)
•He swept through the South like a tornado through a trailer park. (2000)
•If he doesn't carry Florida, Slim will have left town. (2000)Misc.
•It would be Shakespearean for Al Gore to lose because of his home state.•Kerry's rapidly reaching the point where he's got his back to the wall, his shirttails on fire, and the bill collector's at the door. (2004)
•We've lived by the crystal ball. We're eating so much broken glass, we're in critical condition.
•Texas: 32 electoral votes, another of the so-called big enchiladas, or if not an enchilada, at least a huge taco