Crazy State Power Rankings

So after much consideration, I've decided it's silly to have a One-time Crazy State Contest. I think what is more appropriate is something more along the lines of ESPN's power rankings. Where I rank all 50 states in order or craziest to least crazy, and it's subject to change whenever I feel like it. I'm not going to rank all 50 right now, but here's my preliminary top 11.

1. Kansas

No one has suceeded yet in convincing me that any state is crazier than Kansas. Is this completely subjective on my part? Yes. But this is my list and I reserve the right to be completely subjective.

2. Missouri

There was a strong lobbying effort to put Missouri on top, and it came close. The recent effort to make Christianity the official state majority relgion didn't hurt it's cause either. But the state is still home to the Cardinals, and I'm still letting it off the hook.

3. Florida

I mean, come on. This state almost singlehandedly brought our country into a Constitutional Crisis, it contains Katherine Harris's make-up, and we had to sit through the whole Elian Gonzalez fiasco a few years back. Florida has a legitimate shot at taking over #1 some day soon.

4. Virginia

Besides the fact that any state willing to let me live in it must be crazy, this state has Jerry Falwell, voter fraud scandals involving pork rinds, and the Capitol of the Confederacy.

5. South Dakota

Definitely a strong, late entry to the list. In fact, South Dakota has a legitimate shot at becoming, in 2006, what Kansas was in 2005. I imagine some Christian fundamentalists are already make plans to move to this legal-abortion-free zone where they'll feel more comfortable.

6. Texas

Do I really need to state a reason, beyond the obvious?

7. Oklahoma

Again, this is completely subjective. I just feel Oklahoma's craziness in my soul.

8. Pennsylvania

Definitely would have been higher last year. But the Dover School Board's been voted out, Terrell Owens is likely on his way out of the state and Rick Santorum may soon be gone as well.

9. Ohio

Because they're REALLY trying to become the next Florida.

10. California

It's all about Governor "Jingle All the Way."

11. Maryland

As a Northern Virginia resident, I have to mention Maryland, right? Well, Jeff, a Marylander friend of mine, provided me the state's decidely anti-Union State Song relic, still around from the Civil War.