DUers from Red States, check in here...

[Memekiller]

How the hell do we turn our states around? How do we get people in our states to vote in their own interests rather than against gays?

DUer from TX

[cardlaw]

1. I think gay DUers

have to put themselves out there a little and show people that on an fundamental level, we're no different than they are. I think I've read articles that say tolerance and understanding is far greater among those who know someone who's gay than those who don't.

It won't solve the whole problem, but I think it could help.

[freetobegay]

4. If I put my self out anymore than I already have

It would be considered indecent exposure!

[cardlaw]

7. Pics pls

[Memekiller]

5. That's very true...

Here in Houston, we have a huge and very visible gay community. It's rural Texas that's the problem. So... ship busloads of gays into the small towns?

A pride parade!

That will go over well.

[PittLib]

23. To Wong Foo...

[yardwork]

32. I dunno. I know quite a few repugs who are "nice to gays"

but that didn't stop them from voting for chimp yesterday.

I don't think the responsibility is on gays or any other group to be more visible or communicate any better. Instead, I think we all have to band together, arm in arm, and support one another.

[kayell]

44. My experience in the South says that too

If a repub knows you already when you come out, they make some kind of exception in their mind for you, kind of like they did/do for the "good" blacks. If they don't know you and they can see that you're out in a highly visible way (activists, parades, etc) you are a frightening example of the decay of morals in this country. If you're out and they have some minor connection (neighborhood, bought their house from you, nearby work) they will probably talk about you as though you're kind of quaint. But all of them will vote against you apparently. And I expect some real nastiness to come about now that all of them know they have the power. They are showing signs down here that they feel that their great moral, gawd given victory will justify/obligate them to root out the moral transgressors. I'm getting pretty nervous.

Couple of (normally, nice polite southern lady) coworkers yesterday very, very smug, talking about really making some *wink, wink* major changes in the country.

There are good liberal people down here too. But this is not going to be pleasant for any of us. Frankly, if I was more obviously out, I would fear for my life, and I may in the long term anyway.

[Fifth of Five]

84. Fascists can be

very nice face-to-face, but they will not hesitate to condemn a group in the harshest terms, regardless of how many gay, black, or atheist "friends" they have.

[Kazak]

2. I've been brainstorming this lately...

What I've come to is this: we should decide comprehensively which states are solid red and which are softer swing states, and then start moving Dems out of the red states altogether, conceding them to insure victories in the swings.

Could work. :shrug:

[tedoll78]

11. I've been advocating the Democratic Relocation Project for a long time.

It would only take a half million to make Ohio pretty much ours.

Gore states + Ohio + NH = 284 --> room for error.

[bling bling]

3. I for one am planning to infiltrate all of their local organizations.

I am going to gain their trust and then do what I can to secretly stifle their movement without them even knowing it.

I don't know what else to do as they do not listen to facts or reason. I have seriously tried that. I have printed and distributed article after article with facts, stats, and truth. But they dismiss it all as rubbish with a liberal agenda. I have attempted rational, analytical, thought-provoking discussion. But they do not appear to listen and they speak only in talking points. They are brainwashed robots.

Must destroy from within.

[thinkingwoman]

60. YES...moles work

I posted this on another thread as well.

I live in a solidly red state and I personally know of two moles well placed in the local repuke party.

It will work.

[tanyev]

77. I think I could pass as a Repub

but how long do you have to keep it up in order to get enough cred to do any damage? Oh, the agony. And how do you pick which battles to forfeit and which ones are worth risking blowing your cover?

[bling bling]

81. Maybe we could to do a case-study.

Have you ever had any luck getting a Republican to admit they are wrong about anything or change their mind on an issue? If so, what was the tactic that you used that proved successful?

[The Traveler]

6. Taking a Christian riff

but whereas the evangelicals concentrate on Paul, we must concentrate on the teaching of Jesus himself ... as given in Matthew and James. Let us not forget who taught us to chase the money changers from the temple ...

Gay marriage ... marriage is a SACRAMENT, and the matter is therefore between the lovers and their God. Freedom of religious expression is therefore the crux issue.

Take it to them on their own terms ... reclaim our country and save Jesus from His followers.

[FeelinGarfunkelly]

73. I agree

Hit them on their own turf. The Bible's all about interpretation, and there are a lot of Christians who believe in the teachings of Jesus. Of course, that's not the image that we get of most Christians. I say we need someone like a MLK figure. But Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton can't be it, simply because people already have a preconceived notion about them. Fresh blood..some young minister waiting to preach the Democratic gospel.

[Mayberry Machiavelli]

8. I'm "new" to TX (2 yrs.), from Northeast (Wash DC) originally,

via CA recently. I just feel very culturally different from most people who are not transplants. I am not religious and church is obviously the center of the social life of many if not most natives here that I know. Being a Republican seems to be a sort of second religion (or even the first religion) to many here.

I feel like a space alien and have a hard time relating. I don't know how to get through to some of these folks.

[Syrinx]

9. I guess we have to exploit religion too

Perhaps we could inject true Christian values into our campaigns. You know, real compassion, helping the less fortunate, true Christian values... not the hate the Republicans disguise as religion.

[sugarcookie]

10. I'm going to start voting in republican primaries

and vote for the asshole I hate less. Come election time I'll vote Dem again. If I can't beat them I'll dam sure try to screw them up.

From TX here too I heard we could vote for one party in primary and switch come election time.

update to fix spelling

[LastKnight]

12. uuum... i donno. invasion?

thats right... start moving in mass ammounts to red states. thats about all i can think of. we need some more californians in the midwest, they have plenty dems to spare.

ive tried talking sense to republicans. it doesnt work, they just yell back. they get all redfaced and its fun and all that, but they still just vote thier ignorance.

-LK

[StrongbadTehAwesome]

25. I've thought about the reverse, actually

get enough population in the blue states and leave the red states with only 3 EV's each.

[LastKnight]

33. we should be addressing battleground states, not red states.

im not going to be staying in south dakota. that much is sure.

-LK

[StrongbadTehAwesome]

35. well, I'm technically in a "weak Bush" state (MO)

that's supposedly been a swing state for the last several elections. but last night we went blood-red. Rethugs took the state for pres, the governor and lt. gov's seats, and (though these weren't really surprises), the Senate re-election, the state legislature again, and all the House re-elections except in STL and KC.

[FeelinGarfunkelly]

76. As Missouri Goes..

So goes the Nation. Someone earlier mentioned Ohio. I say half of ya go to Ohio, the rest come home to the Show Me State. As an out-stater I'm tired of depending on StL and KC for us to be blue--Springfield (yes, Ashcroft's turf) has several universities where I think more and more people are being turned into Dems. The only problem is that the Democratic leadership down there is getting old and can't fight the good fight like I believe most of us can. If Springfield goes blue, along with KC and STL, we can turn the whole state blue.

Plus even though we've got shitty roads, I think we've got some of the best natural places here, and the Conservation Department puts out this kickass FREE publication, Missouri Conservationist that's got neat pictures and articles. that's my plug for MO. for all you nature lovers. Cheap to live here, nice people (it's amazing how friendly even some of the Republicans are) and um. I don't know. But we need some DIVERSITY! PLEEEEEAASE!

[Cinletharwi]

13. La. checking in

Unfortunately I've lost all hope of changing things from within the status-quo's rules.

Ideology rules all today because of a vacuum of truth and honest, reasoned discourse on factual reality.

It seems to me that, despite the prominence of the rising theocratic force, Corporations are at the true source of our sick society. We're talking a bit about it here: http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=104x2589912
We can deal with the rise of fundamentalism only when there is a restoration of honest, reasoned public discourse with regard to the public good. That won't happen today, because it's not in the best interests of the Corporations which own everything - our media, our government.

Firstly, going after Corporate ownership of media. It's obvious the FCC has no intention of regulating them in accordance with public good, quite the opposite in fact. In that link I talk about punishing their corruption with the only means of power we really have: the dollars and labor we give them.

I've lived here in Redneck country all my life. The lack of education and critical thinking skills here is epidemic, which suits the Powers That Be quite perfectly. Dean knew this.

Belief rules all here, from God to how things should be run. I always here, "I believe..." in answer to everything. Nixon's Southern Strategy is on steroids today.

I'm afraid there may be no way to politically pierce the ignorance of one's own bests interests. To attempt any appeal to them from the Democratic Party will not succeed, the demonization of "liberals" has been too successful.

Taking the discussion in that link into account, we may have to take this fight out of party politics and into humanist concerns directly. It will only be effective if Truth is the only agenda with which a grassroots organization seeks to inform the public about the state and implications of Corporate Power today. Otherwise, the Rednecks will ignore us as "liberals with an axe to grind."

[BamaGirl]

14. I think we should steal their message and make it ours.

Redefine their issues and key words to our purposes. Take back the Dixiecrats, and "out" the closet Republicans BEFORE they end up in office. In the South, we have to make family values our issue, not theirs. We also have to effectively convince them that we are not weak on defense or after their guns. I think it can be done, but it's not going to be an easy fight.

[Memekiller]

15. You take out the parts in the Bible about the poor...

...and there'd be nothing left. The parts about sex make up a pamphlet. We should have Jesus locked.

[reeree]

16. a slow and steady revolution

I'm living in Utah right now (originally from Nevada... a pinkish state), and I spent the four days before the election GOTVing for Democratic Congressman Jim Matheson. And we won! By a slim margin, but a victory nonetheless! And now the reddest of red states (I think only Idaho is redder) has a big fat blue section in the eastern half of the state. To me, that's the way to take back the red states, one district, one election, one issue at a time. Right now gay marriage is so hot, it's going to be impossible to force it on the country all at once. But it isn't an impossible goal... We need to take back the federal government in 2008, because that's where the fight for gay rights really has to come from. I can see a day when the national guard has to keep order at same sex weddings, sort of reminiscent of desegregation in the sixties. The rest of the country had to drag the racist states forward then, and now the rest of the nation will have to drag the homophobe states forward.

[Hamlette]

17. I'm in Utah, believe it or not, we were a Dem state 30 years ago

I don't know how we voted in national politics but our governor and legislature was Dem. We voted 79% for Bush yesterday. What happened?

I have a friend getting his PhD in Poli Sci. He's a liberal mormon, smart guy. He says it's all about abortion. Of course I'm sure it was the equal right amendment, guns, gay rights all added in now. But he said the church (read: state) turned on the abortion issue.

We won't go back on that issue but what blows my mind is that the GOP won't either! Here's the deal: only 9% of Americans want abortion illegal under all circumstances. Think what that means. 81% of americans favor abortion but only the dems are branded as the evil ones on that issue.

WTF is that all about? How did this happen?

It seems fixable. But we need to get on it. We could talk about how we don't agree with abortions either but the way to prevent them is education. Reduce that to a sound bite and we can start kicking back.

[reeree]

21. while we're on the subject of Utah

and Mormons.... the Church's official stance is that abortion is acceptable in rape, incest, and health of the mother cases... so this extremist view that all abortions should be illegal should be rejected by the rank-and-file. Bunch of idiots. (Oh and just so you know, I'm Mormon. But a thinking one, and I know my religion, and if every Mormon did, Utah would be a blue state again.)

[Hamlette]

31. that's actually my point

people are in favor of abortion but against democrats because democrats favor abortion.

I can't get my head around it.

All I can think is wedge issue.

[flygal]

40. I think they just go with the more "churchy" guy.

[DjTj]

18. Virginia is getting closer...

...four more years...

[juslikagrzly]

22. Oklahoma here

and I think there's no hope for us. Before we became a state, we were the national concentration camp for Native Americans. Our "famous" football team's nickname, Sooners, is the euphemism for the cheaters who snuck over the line during the white land run, and we just elected the most psychotic person to the Senate, Tom Coburn.

Which blue state would like a liberal, progressive, family of four?

[Buddyblazon]

27. Colorado....

we have been slowly moving toward blue for awhile.

We are getting lots of progressive transplants for years. Plus we have very mild weather, but still get all four seasons. We are one of the sunniest states in the nation.

Great place to live.

[walldude]

71. Colorado here too

We had a bright spot with Ken Salazars victory over Pete Coors, and we were Blue for Clinton.

[RoyGBiv]

38. You know what's funny ...

Well, not funny really, but "bizarre" sort of funny.

When this state was organized, it had strong socialist leanings. It even remained heavily populist, in the better sense of the term, for some time after that.

But oil and racism and then whacko religious zealotry took overy.

[Buddyblazon]

41. Thats what I've heard....

my Mom is fourth generation...my great great grandfather was born on a wagon train in Colorado territory (thats what they tell me at least). And the whole family has always voted blue.

[RoyGBiv]

19. Well, I have one suggestion ...

From a movie ... Nuke it from space. It's the only way to be sure.

But then that's not very helpful.

I'll just say, as my wits start to return to me and the depression starts to lighten somewhat, that my tactics will be changing dramatically.

With the paycheck I was going to use to buy a new video card, I think I'll spend on memberships and donations to various organizations, particularly new, grassroots groups that got their start with this kind of thought in mind. I'm also going to rejoin the ACLU and a few other groups of a similar mindset. I'll start giving again to the Southern Poverty Law Center, and I'm going to look up an old classmate of mine to see if he ever got that job with them he was trying to get. Contacts.

I am also shedding myself of my Democratic Party affiliation in this state. This is a hard, hard decision for me, but the events of today convinced me, finally, after years of resisting that it is the right one. (I'm still *a* Democrat, but not a Okie Democrat, not anymore.) My *state* party doesn't want me in it. I'm not conservative enough. I played for a long time with the notion that if enough of us more progressive minded people stayed with it, it would listen to us, eventually. But, as the years have progressied, and especially this year, it seems more and more that the only thing my local party does is fight *against* me and my kind more ardently than it does the Republicans. (Witness Brad Carson's nomination and subsequent failure. The party put more effort into his and similar conservative candidates' primary races than they did the general one, thus killing the campaigns of progressives like Kalyn Free and Monte Johnson (sp? on both ... too late for me to spell things well.)

I've had intense arguments with people on DU and elsewhere about the way to build a movement, a new party, a viable alternative, and I've done all that while supporting John Kerry. But, he's done, and now I need to put my money where my mouth is and start working toward what I believe needs to be done. The full-brunt rush to the White House without a base of solid support isn't it. That just turns out more Ralph Naders andn energizes the reactionaries. No, it starts smaller, with a county commissioner or a council member or a sheriff or a DA. It goes up from there. In the future I will support Democrats, but only if they are listening to me and speaking to my values.

Those are the things I can talk about right now. My mind is working overtime at the moment. I posted a pitiful rant earlier, and the responses, along with some sober reflection, have moved me forward much earlier than I expected. I'm not there yet, but I'm getting there, and I will have a plan.

[Kay Autic]

54. You could not be more correct for OK, Roy

I voted for Carson while holding my nose. I voted on all the other candidates and the state questions and then sat there for a good 5 minutes arguing with myselft whether or not to vote for the asshat. I didn't go to the watch party cuz he was there. I never lifted a finger to campaign for him either, hell I voted for Fischer in primaries!

I'm done with this state and it's freepers, their "moral values" are greed, fear, and hate. All the "born-agains" blasted gay marriage, but overwhelmingly voted for a state lottery.

I'm moving to Boston in the next six months. Fuck Oklahoma and fuck the Sooners (I'm an OSU alumni).

[PotatoBoy]

20. You people in red states!!

You can change things around you by making your stance known... but educate people, don't bully them. Wish I knew how.. :)

You could also help yourselves here: http://www.cafepress.com/selfx
and totally deck yourself out :)

[DuaneBidoux]

24. Lefty from Houston

Ain't going to happen. It might be genetic. As I've been posting these people are going to have to see the SERIOUS fruits of their stupidity come home to roost in their own bank accounts and in their empty stomachs. I'm ready to start making it happen.

[Memekiller]

26. I think we give them the evangelicals...

That's their base like we have the blacks and unions. We have to think about the people who go to church and go hunting, but aren't hard core cultists. The ones who could be convinced. We only need a few percent.

[JBoris]

30. We need to cure apathy here in FL

and I think trying to un-spin the bible is hopeless, those Bible-thumping, clear-cutting, gun-toting, oil-spilling, homophobic, atavistic shrub voters can have their damn bible interpretations we need to mirror the freeper's moves not try to steal them, if they go further right we should go further left. I know that potential voters in my age group(18-25) are turned off by Dem candidates trying to sound like the right. They got the south we should have the America's youth, and the young vote simply does not respond to moderate views.

[Mend]

68. Please Boycott Florida

We have lived here for over 25 years and have watched it go from Democratic to fascist. There are alternative vacations, even a Wally World in California, and unless you want to come and watch hurricanes, please stay away. We are not spending, hope you won't either.

[Memekiller]

28. We should point out how they're being used by the GOP...

Repubs put up amendments and stuff, knowing they won't pass, because they think evangelicals are stupid and vote for them for the lip service.

[HoosierClarkie]

29. Practically speaking...

we tried something new this year in my county. We contacted local newspapers and met in a parking lot with decorated vehicles and made our own parade around the county. We honked, put out flyers and signs all day long. It may not have swung voters, my county did not even vote for Bayh, but we let the repugs know we were there. This might become a statewide thing. We could not get some rental car companies to give us cars for parades when they found out we were Dems. So, we took matters into our own hands. Yes, Indiana is a hard place to live as a Dem.

[Swamp Rat]

34. Free lobotomies

Louisiana is full of reptiles.

[dreiser]

36. Midwest Lesbian

As a gay woman born and raised in St. Louis, Missouri I find it entirely depressing that the reason being touted for Bush's election victory is his support for banning gay marriage. What I find more upsetting perhaps is the idea I should move because of this fact. I personally love living in this state, I even moved back here after living in traditionally more liberal places like Chicago, NYC, LA, and San Francisco.

Some of you might ask why I love it here when my state, along with many others in this region, have overwhelmingly rejected the rights of my partner and I to have the same respectful treatment that a heterosexual couple would enjoy when they make a lifetime commitment to each other. It's simply because despite what any of my east or west coast friends might say I don't feel my home is a bastion of bigotry. Yes, it's true there are more people here who are ignorant and cruel when it comes to their beliefs about my sexual orientation than in NYC or LA but I don't feel that's a valid reason for me to leave the place I love. A place filled with earnest and kind people who have given me so many wonderful memories in life.

In fact, I'd go further to say that if I left it would be giving in to what I feel is a somewhat small majority and letting them win. I refuse to even the consider the concept of allowing people with tiny minds to drive me from my home. To those who made my state turn a sad color of red on November 2nd I say this...

Sorry but you won't be getting rid of me and my fellow Democrats, hell even my fellow homosexuals, that easily. I'm staying put and I plan to fight for my rights and the rights of others. So whether you like it or not, you're going to have a very proud and very out midwest lesbian living in your midst for a long time. And I'm very sure that I am not alone.

[NoodleBoy]

37. Arizona

still red, pretty much because of McCain. Shit, anything he touches practically turns to gold, according to people from across the spectrum here.

[dorktv]

42. Starky got 23%...I was expecting 10% so you never know.

[NoodleBoy]

58. good indicator of the hard-care Dems in the state, if anything.

[dorktv]

86. Well we are going to switch the state...you with me?

[flygal]

39. MT voted for a Dem governor

and has a dem senator! THERE IS HOPE for those 3 little EV's. And hopefully in a few years the furor over gays will die down. I have to think this - it's the only way I get on with my day.

[SoCalDem]

47. Maybe after Bush chops down all your gorgeous trees

and pokes oily holes everywhere...and puts roads all over your open spaces..

Maybe that..and the resulting sludge in the rivers and lakes.. maybe THAT will do it..

It's a pay-me-now..or pay-me-later proposition.. later is gonna be a mess.:(

[doni_georgia]

43. I've probably said this too many times, but get involved in your local Dem

party. Change has to start locally. I suspect I am not the only DUer from a red state where the Democratic party is nearly non-existant in their county. I have already recruited 6 people to go to the next county Dem meeting with me. They usually have only 5-10 people at meetings, so my friends and I will double their numbers by showing up.

[kayell]

45. When SC chose DeMint-ed over Inez I abandoned all hope for this state.

Talk about the politics of hate. His 23% national sales tax idea is the least of his problems.

Anyone in a solid blue state need a educational horticulturist/damn fine gardener?

[Corgigal]

66. Ha ha

I feel completely the same way. I got a family and two daughters to think about. The idea of a bunch of moron macho men running policy can be very dangerous for them. I have ordered a relocation pack to New Jersey.

Let me get up there and I let you know what the markets look like.

[mandyky]

46. Richmond KY checking in

Been here since 1995, originally from upstate NY.

Tuesday we got our Dem House member re-elected, and Dr. Dan only lost by 1%. KY has been known to be blue. I think they voted Clinton twice.

There are pockets of "liberalism" in Lexington and Louisville. I think Dems might do outreach in Appalachia, and have a rural plan and do better here.

[nonconformist]

51. Hi mandy, I'm from Harlan

See my post below on how my county ended up. This county is full of old-school democrats that have become fundie obsessed freaks. Sadly, I think Appalachia is out of play unless things change drastically. This realization has been highly depressing for me.

Like you, I'm a transplant. I'm originally from Michigan, Detroit area. My husband grew up here though, and when this county went red he said, "this is not where I grew up". That about sums it all up.

[mandyky]

62. Nice to meet you!

Yikes, sorry to hear about your county, but I know your hubbt's feeling - this ain't the America I grew up in either

[shayes51]

48. Unless Bear Bryant rises from the grave

and declares he's a democrat, I'm not sure Alabama will go blue again in my lifetime. I sure hope I'm wrong. I got so sick of hearing that so-and-so will protect our conservative Alabama values. We've elected some weirdo governors, and let's don't forget Roy Moore! But I do have hope for more sophisticated southern states like Tennessee, Georgia, Florida, North Carolina, and so on. I read an article this morning that said maybe democrats should use the word "culture" rather than "values." Culture of hard work, good environment, etc.

[HughBeaumont]

49. Can't do it.

Too many counties loaded with fat suth'uhn sister-fuckers in this state. Just look at the breakdown of Ah-High-Ah. The blue/periwinkle counties are where all the intelligence, cultural progression and economic superiority lie (my city lies between Lorain and Cuyahoga, up north). All of that red shit is a desolate wasteland of farmlands and cowtowns loaded with Kid Rock and Travis Tritt fans who still think it's 1988, cash their paychecks at the bawr and to be quite frank just haven't evolved in terms of reason and intelligence.

They interviewed some of the small town denizens in the PD today and they collectively said that "when ya come raht down t'it, Boosh just c'necctd with us better far 's morls are cn'crnd." Again, I ask, WHAT MORALS?? Why can't these assholes just admit that it's all because he flat out hates homosexuals like those inbreds do? I guess morals don't include his decisions and policies being responsible for the deaths of over 105 thousand people. Fucking IDIOTS.

[jakefrep]

65. Hey now...

I live in one of those cow towns. I was among the 35% or so that voted for enlightenment and reason. This area has been solidly red for eons. We haven't had a Democratic Congressman since the thirties.

[nonconformist]

50. DU'er from Kentucky - fuck this state

I worked my ass off around here. I live in SE KY in a county where over 75% of registered voters are Democrats. I canvassed until I had blisters, made phone calls until my ear was numb and talked to everyone I could around here.

I knew KY would go red, but I felt pretty good about my county at least going blue. It went for Gore, Clinton, and the dem in the governor's race. It ALWAYS GOES BLUE.

60% of my county voted for Bush.

We're moving as soon as we're able. I refuse to raise my children here.

[ncrainbowgrrl]

52. Deep Blue county dweller in a red state

Perhaps if the residents of blue counties could figure out some way to get some purpleness goin', we'd be able to get some of the states to go blue. Here in NC, we have pockets of dems- we recently got some more progressive democrats elected to the state senate/house.

[China_cat]

53. Does anybody else remember

when we'd have dragged before the House Unamerican Activities Committee for being suspected of being 'red', let alone bragged about it?

[prayin4rain]

55. Texas here.

I just don't know. My republican friend was finally telling me why she liked Dubya....oh god I wish she hadn't. It is disgusting. I just don't know how to reach them. Alot of times they say things like "I dunno...I just like him"....morons.

[spatlese]

57. Texas checking in too

I hate it when they think that * is 'one of them'! He's NOT!
:mad:

[kwyjibo]

83. My cousin from Midland said the same thing..

When I asked her why she was voting for bush, she said "Cause I like him, and I agree with what he has to say."


Which means "I don't know, I guess cause my daddy said to and I live in Bush's hometown."

I'm so glad I don't live in Midland anymore. I would not have survived the last four years out there in the middle of god-fearing nowhere.

Austin is a liberal oasis in a very very SCARY state.

[Zero Gravitas]

56. Its hopeless

at least here in kansas. Too many reality challenged bigots who equate sactimony about other people's sex lives with "moralilty" Too much ignorance about the real world.

I don't know what it will take for them to pay attention to the real world.

[Mend]

70. Starvation and Homelessness.....Major Illness, No Insurance n/t

[LiberalAndProud]

59. We need a candidate who is "one of us" ...

We are under the mistaken impression that elections are about the issues. For those here at DU, that is true. That is not the case for most of the Bush voters I have spoken to in post-election interviews.

Why did you vote for Bush?
1. I can't put my finger on it, but Kerry just creeps me out.
2. There was no difference between them. Both rich. Both Yale. Why make a change for more of the same?

Bush managed with his blue jeans and brush-cleariing antics to appear to be more like us in middle America than Kerry.

In the end, the election is a personality contest. Wealthy, elite candidates cannot speak to the hearts of the proletarate.

If elections were about issues, we would have a new president today.

[one_true_leroy]

61. well...

RW radio does an excellent job of making the trad Southerner feel embattled and threatened. Most people here, even the Repubs, are very decent, nice people. Those of you in the great white north probably have no conception of how far tolerance has come down here below the Mason-Dixon. Despite the advances, this is a culture (especially the further afield you are from a city), that prides itself in history (odd, in regards that most of these people haven't had family in America long enough for the Civil War to have affected them). I think the RW plays to this. The South, an agrarian, very religious, simpler folk, was invaded by the evil, industrial amoral North, who raped their women, burned their homes, and took away their land. That's still (STILL??!!) an unhealed wound to a lot of people, and Rush and cronies pick that scab..."if we let them win this battle (gays, abortion, guns, whatever), they'll be coming for you next. they'll make you a gay, communist, gadless, blah,blah." To them, they ARE voting to protect their interests. Kerry was from the hub of the North. W's from the heart of the most Southern of Southern states, the state all Southern states want to be. Though this is a SUPREME deception, it holds. All hat and no cattle, but at least he's got the hat.

[ignatius 2]

63. DU er from Indiana. We are for the most part a blue collar state.

I really don't kow why this state votes republican 95% of the time(presidential elections.) I know that the birth of the KKK was here in Indiana and that many of the smaller towns are bible thumpers.

Bigotry and so called morality are the driving points for repugs in this state. Somehow we need to show that Dems are moral, that protecting all human beings rights is the epitome of morality and that tolerance and respect for others is Gods way and that is the democratic partys way.

You would think that being a union, manufacturing state we would vote more to the left.but sadly not.

[deadparrot]

64. Missouri....the rural vote between KC and St. Louis controls us.

I think we could kick Talent out if we tried in '06, though. Voter turnout is really low for midterms, so if we could get a heavy GOTV in St. Louis and KC, we could do it.

[huskerlaw]

67. Nebraska, here...and we're hopeless

Not a single county went blue. The county that contains the city of Lincoln came the closest...it was almost white. That's only because of the University and the professors from the east and west coasts. I'm moving as soon as I find a job elsewhere.

[lynintenn]

69. you can hear the reason on tv

[lynintenn]

72. STAND BY AND WAIT

The republicans are getting ready to eat their own.....flat tax

[fishwax]

74. The hell with turning Oklahoma around

I'm planning on getting out of here within the next year. It's not that I don't want to stand and fight, it's just that the place is pretty hopeless. I have a lot of love for the state, and there are many many wonderful people here. But every single county in the state went for bush, and we passed the gay marriage ban with over 75%. We voted to elect a senator who has called for the death penalty for doctors who perform abortions and attacked schindler's list as the worst thing ever shown on tv b/c it contained nudity. There is a sickness in this state.

I was planning on likely leaving the state anyway after this school year, but Tuesday night sealed the deal. Like I told some friends yesterday and today, as the shock of Tuesday has worn off: there may yet be hope for America, but there is obviously no hope for Oklahoma.

[Cerridwen]

75. NV here, I'm a native of Las Vegas

We're the schizophrenic state; ultra conservative LDS (Mormon) and Catholic contingent with a good smattering of fundamentalist Christian organizations (Eagle Forum and others) but we enjoy making money off the sins of greed (gambling), drunkeness, adultery ("What happens in Vegas stays in Vegas") and fornication (legal brothels in some counties and illegal but "winked-at" prostitution in major population areas).

We also have mining (mega-corps) and ranchers in rural areas which are pockets of conservative and wild-west, macho man "values."

Reno/Carson City can't decide if they're part of the "old money, blue bloods" or a San Fransisco bedroom community.

If you've got a hint how to make this state even close to sane much less completely blue, you let me know, k?

[abumbyanyothername]

80. I worked very hard in Henderson

for John Kerry.

The key to winning elections is to get more voters to the polls.

The key to doing that is the "Amway" version of politics practiced by the 'pugs this time around.

You must EACH identify 10 target voters among your acquaintences and write their names down on a list. Make it a point to have a political discussion with each of them once a month -- a discussion, not a lecture.

Try and have 3-4 people that lean our way but didn't vote this year on your list. Try to have 2-3 who can get really fired up on your list. Those 2-3 should be asked to form their own list of 10.

Make sure that everyone on your list knows how to vote, where the polling place is, whether there is early voting, etc.

Try to reach out to 1-2 new voters and "adopt" them -- take them to the polls yourself.

That is how we win.

[pstokely]

78. start at the local level

get involved in the state parties

[tnliberaldemocrat]

79. God only knows how to turn this thing around

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=104&topic_id=2598942&mesg_id=2598942

My thoughts in a long post

[Skittles]

82. Texas here

not a chance in hell

[Ilsa]

85. I'm from/in TX also.

Wednesday I was listening to NPR while they were taking phone calls about the election as they were waiting for DimSon to speak. A woman called in from Louisiana and she said the most frightening and ignorant things. She talked about Devine Right of Kings and that since * was put into office by God, he is infallible. She also said that there was no mention of separation of church and state in the Constitution. She was clearly an embarrassment to any sane Rethug.

I wonder if enough Dems played that part -- of a crazy right-winger, if people would start to see how dangerous the Bush cabal is and finally move to the center. LTTE, phone calls, etc, could be the venue. Of course, there is the possibility that they'll buy it hook line and sinker.