Southern by birth, Tarheel by the grace of God. ;-)
I wrote a long post here on FR right after Kerry lost the election explaining why he couldn't win a state south of the mason-dixon.
Do you have a link to that post?
I also am from Kentucky. I spent years in the military with people from all over the US. i lost my accent. When people would talk to me then ask me where I was from they would say that "I spoke so well" or that I was fortunate to have dropped the accent. Moving back home people thought I talked funny! I still say sir or ma'am, just like I was taught, and this is one of the things that I have noticed over the years, we southerners show respect for others, is this why we are considered 'backward?