DU Arkies sign in!

[Tummler]

:hi:

I'm an Arkansan-in-exile now living in T*x*s.

Are the Dems beginning to take back Arkansas after the '90s period of Repug resurgence? From a distance, it looks that way.

[lastknowngood]

1. I'm an Arkansan living in Maryland and after spending three

weeks at home in Feb. I feel there is no way the shrub doesn't take our beloved state. Every church had a "gay marriage" evil save marriage as between a man and woman so fourth and so on. I swear if they were losing 1000 kids a day in the shrub's mistake they would still vote for him because of that one issue. Some people never look past their bible belt.

[Blue_Roses]

2. Moved to Arkansas from Texas

10 months ago! From what I see there are two Democratic US Senators, but the governor is a Republican.

[Cannikin]

3. Howdy!

[elperromagico]

4. Hot Springs checking in.

Yes, it does look as though we're having something of a Dem resurgence here in Arkansas. Hutchinson was handily defeated in his bid for reelection in '02, Lincoln seems a shoo-in for reelection this November, three of four US Representatives are Dems, and every statewide office with the exception of Governor and Lieutenant Governor is held by a Democrat. Huckabee's policies are not meeting with much success; I imagine if Arkansas had a recall provision, Huckabee would be thrown out on a rail.

What's more, a SurveyUSA poll has Bush and Kerry in a dead heat here in Arkansas (Bush - 47%, Kerry - 45%).

I'm feeling encouraged. :)

[gatorboy]

46. Chris from Hot Springs

Saying howdy to everyone! :)

[LDS Jock]

5. AR native but live in TX now

I grew up in Flippin, AR. Now I know probably no one know where that is so I'll tell you. It is south of Bull Shoals Lake, about the middle of the state along the northern border with Missouri. My mother's maiden name was Flippin too for that matter.

I am sad to read how the Ozarks are going so republican these days. But I have faith in the good people of Arkansas to see through the bs and vote for Kerry. Prove me right!

[leetrisck]

6. Oh yeah, Flippin, I know the place

but am in Missouri now.

[feminazi]

23. i have family in arkansas...is that good enough?

my mom and sister are transplants to mountain home. i've been thru flippin lots of times. i like visiting cuz i like the lake and the buffalo river, but that area is way to religious for me to ever consider moving there.

[dbt]

7. Little Rock calling!

I am cautiously optimistic about Dem chances of carrying the state this November, simply on the economy-gone-to-hell policies of the Regime.

Guber-nor Huckabee is the best argument for term limits that you can imagine. The Legislature remains a shining example of why some people should only have part-time jobs.

I am breathlessly waiting on the Anti-Clinton Library to have its groundbreaking ceremonies. I am told that the prinicpal investors will sit in La-Z-Boy recliners (with heat and massage option), drink beer and light farts while their womenfolk do the actual shovel work.

All the while, our churches (or are they really banks?) work diligently to save us from the homasexyuls.

:hi:
dbt

[democratreformed]

8. Ooh, I loved your one remark

about "churches (or are they really banks)" LOL Ha Ha!!!

Fellow Arkie from the big old town of Bald Knob. White County had a pretty good fundraiser this past Saturday night. Also, my daughter and a couple of other girls did the "Bake Sale for Democracy" to benefit Moveon.org. That was a success as well.

[democratreformed]

9. Bald Knobber checking in

Yes, I believe we are seeing a resurgence of Dems in some area. I truly despise our governor's policies and he has created lots of trouble for the Repubs, IMO.

[NuckinFutz]

10. Lived in Ozark for a while...

Graduated HS there. Still have family in the area.

[sinkingfeeling]

11. In the NW corner...Fayetteville

Dems may be growing in some parts, but you can bet all your money that Benton county will vote as a block for Shrub. With Wal-Mart running that county and contributing millions, they threaten Washington County's very existence.

[elperromagico]

12. I was in Fayetteville on the day of the Iowa caucus,

and was shocked to see a huge "Dean for America" sign in a car window. That place is so Republican it hurts.

[lins the liberal]

13. Harrison checking in

In Boone County where the last election the repubs gained control of the quorum court, and have been causing trouble ever since.

[leetrisck]

14. Hi there - from down Jasper

way - just don't live there any more but wish I did. You're right about Harrison politics

[LDS Jock]

15. Harrison and Jasper

Now I'm getting homesick. I'm from Flippin. Miss the Ozarks.

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

22. Hi from Newton County!

I work in Harrison and didn't know there were any DUers there! Glad to know there are!

[Art_from_Ark]

49. Actually, Fayetteville itself is not so republican

The main state university is there and so the city has quite a few progressive-minded people.

Springdale and Bentonville, on the other hand, tend to be rather reactionary.

[nathan]

45. RE: "In the NW corner...Fayetteville"

I'm in Fayetteville, too. I personally know of maybe five people in Washington county (not including my whole diehard democrat family :D) who are voting for Kerry in November. Everyone else doesn't really seem to care, unfortunately.

[twenty2strings]

54. fayetteville, here!

:crazy:

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

16. Newton County here!

We have Newton County Friends for Peace, which staged demos last year and had a running series of letters to the editor, and CPR-Citizens for Political Reform, a new group of people from across the political spectrum who are united in wanting to get rid of Bush!

[dbt]

17. Welcome, you Arkies!

Wherever you may be--or be from! It's SO good to have y'all here!

I have fond memories of Bush The Elected circling Arkansas frantically aboard Air Force One in the waning days of the 92 campaign.

How dearly I remember Marilyne Quayl wrinking her patrician nose on TV and asking "Do we want the rest of the country to look like...Arkansas?!?!"

Now, bu$h himself can't seem to get enough of being here. What does his visit to El Dorado make? Six, seven times that he's been here?

Law me, but the Pugs sure find us attractive!

:evilgrin:
dbt

[jesus]

18. Well....

You know I'm from God's country. Live in Little Rock now.

[dbt]

19. Welcome, jesus!

So what would you drive?

:evilgrin:
dbt

[jesus]

20. A GMC Sonoma...

Momma works for a subsidiary of GMAC and, though I'm rich in spirit, I can't afford to pass up the discount. Didn't want a full size and, hell, it's Arkansas. Has to be at least one pickup in the family.

[IronLionZion]

21. self deleted nevermind

[javadu]

24. Hello All!!

Greetings from Fayetteville!!! I've been here about 2yrs. (from repug Missouri) and it is good to be in democratic country!!

[demgrrrl2004]

25. Arkie Dem Girl Signing In!

My name is Susan Altrui and I'm the Deputy Field Director for the Democratic Party of Arkansas Coordinated Campaign. Previously, I was the National Volunteer Coordinator for Clark for President. We've got a lot of work to do in Arkansas, but I feel confident that we can bring victory to the Dems here in AR! I'm heading up a lot of volunteer efforts all across the state. Please contact me if you would like to be involved. The more volunteers we have, the more work we get done, the better our chances are for success! We are also launching a Neighborhood Leaders program next week. Our Neighborhood Leaders are the grassroots organization of the DPA. Please call me at 501-244-9999 for more information or to get involved. Looking forward to meeting all of you soon! :)

-Susan Altrui

[democratreformed]

26. Hi Susan!

How are ya. Me 'n Renee sure miss all of ya'll from the Clark campaign.

[demgrrrl2004]

27. I miss you too!

Wish we still had Clark around. It would make this election a lot easier! I'm confident we can still bring victory to Kerry in AR. It might be more work, but we can do it!

[democratreformed]

28. Oooooh, I miss General Clark really bad

Just yesterday, one of Renee's profs told her he WOULD HAVE voted Dem if Clark had gotten the nomination. Oh, the loss!!!!

Of course, I think we can help Kerry win as well. But, you're right - it will take a lot more work. We're ready, though.

[Tummler]

29. I neglected to mention that I'm originally from Little Rock

Also, I've been posting at DU for over two years, starting with this account which I abandoned when I got tired of the screen name. In all, I have only ~500 posts if you combine both accounts, so I still get friendly "welcome to DU" replies from time to time.

Hi again :hi: to all the DU Arkies!

[Riptide]

30. I lived in Rogers when I was in high school....

I moved there from Montreal, Canada (how's that for culture shock?) I graduated from high school in Rogers, then moved to go to college in the Delaware

Where I live now in Pennsylvania is pretty republican, but nothing like Benton county. I honestly think my family were the only democrats in the whole place!

[LonelyLRLiberal]

31. Hi, y'all! Lonely LR Liberal here

Nice to know I'm not so lonely after all. Anyone ever organize a LR DU event?

[democratreformed]

32. Not that I know of.

But, I would be willing to come from Bald Knob if you want to arrange one.

[Radical Activist]

33. New to Little Rock

I'm new to the list and new to Arkansas. I'm glad I get to be in a swing state where I can help beat Bush this year!

[democratreformed]

34. Welcome to Little Rock and to Arkansas!

I hope you enjoy it.

[Tummler]

35. Off topic: this thread is nearly ready for a GrovelBot sighting

Who wants to cast the final incantation to summon GrovelBot from the nether realms?

[democratreformed]

36. Here you go:

Welcome, grovelbot :-) to the great state of Arkansas.

[Tummler]

That should have done it ...

But no GrovelBot. Whatsamatter GrovelBot, Arkansas not good enough for ya?? :silly:

On edit: GrovelBot, forgive me for doubting you! :spank:

[democratreformed]

38. he he n/t

[DU GrovelBot]

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[liberalron]

39. Though I am now living in Michigan

I am, and will always be, an Arkansawer (no self respecting person from Arkansas would call themself an Arkansan). I'm just an ole "Leftist Hillbilly".
Grew up Marshall when Searcy County was one of the two counties in the state that were Republican, so not sure what happened to me. Also spent years in Fayetteville, where one can still experience one of the best bands that America has ever produced- The Cate Brothers Band.
I have children and grandchildren in Arkansas (Washington County), so please look out for them and vote Progressive/Democratic.

[democratreformed]

40. Hi liberalron

from a fellow leftist hillbilly - and proud of it too!

[liberalron]

41. You from Searcy?

[democratreformed]

42. Close - about 10 miles away

in the big old town of Bald Knob.

P.S. My granny lives in Searcy.

[rogerhall]

47. I was ...

Living in Little Rock now. :}

Greetings to White County!

[democratreformed]

48. hi rogerhall!

I'm an old country girl from Bald Knob. My granny lives in Searcy, though.

[jmcgowanjm]

43. Greetings from Monticello-was PinkTomato capital

We let Warren take it.

But the Maters are still just as tasty.

[LiberalHawg]

44. Fayetteville checking in!!

Transplant from Texas who absolutely loves Fayetteville now. I gotta say having lived in DFW for 18 years and Washington county for two, at least a good amount of Washington County folks are sensible and informed. DFW is goosestepping compared to NWA. Any other UARK english majors here.

[Craig3410]

50. I'm in Fayetteville.

[sinkingfeeling]

52. I'm in Fayetteville also!!

[cssmall]

77. Calling from Fayetteville as well!

[Arkansas Democrat]

78. I'm south of

Fayetteville in Chester!! Actually I live a LOT closer to Cedarville and Van Buren.

Worked at the Crawford County Democratic Headquarters in October and November 1st and 2nd of 2004!!

[southernlad]

51. Little Rocker here! GO KERRY! (n/t)

[Cannikin]

53. 'nother Little Rock here! Hope the rain keeps the bushies home!

[holboz]

55. Bentonville, Arkansas checking in

Democrats are endagered species 'round these parts!

[holboz]

56. ECs ooze from the NW corner

My husband and I are working on moving back to England because this place is driving us crazy. (I'm American but he's English; we met when we were introduced to one another by some mutual friends in London). Is there anyone else in this area who feels this way?

The most difficult thing that my husband and I deal with is how much religion is thrust into our faces by the residents of this area. My husband has worked at 2 different places and in both instances he's been smothered by co-workers overanxious to talk about their faith, what they're doing at church, etc. In fact, just today my husband said one of his co-workers had a friend from his church stop by & the co-worker elevated the volume of the conversation when they started talking about religion and church. The co-worker started naming the names of the other Christians at the office and said, "Those are the people I can talk about my faith with in the office."

I know loads of people who are youth leaders and Sunday school teachers (including members of my family) and these people tend to be the most arrogant, hypocritical people I've ever known.

The churches around here keep getting bigger and more grand. They're spending millions to build impressive mega "worship centers" (I guess we don't call the churches anymore). It looks like they're all trying to outdo one another. Imagine the fantastic things they could do in the community with the money they're using to build these "worship centers". They all look very corporate with flashy teen and youth "clubs", recording studios, and stadium seating. Churches around here are starting to resemble country clubs...a place where people network and go to be seen as "good Christians" by the community.

I don't know if it's the Wal-Mart factor in this area. The population around here has swelled because of companies setting up offices in Bentonville so they can establish a better & more convenient working relationship with the Wal-Mart home office. I wonder if there is some sort of pressure placed on these newcomers to get involved in a church because it flatters one's image? (e.g., "He/she must be a good person to do business with because they go to my church!)

I hate to say this but because of our personal experiences with these types, we've become very very wary with anyone who wears their faith on their sleeve. We're small business owners and it seems like all of the ultra-religious types we've entered into contracts with have been massive a--holes.

And if I see another bumper sticker that says, "Christians aren't perfect, just forgiven" I think I'll puke.

Sorry to ramble but it felt good to get this off my chest!

[Born_A_Truman]

59. Hi Holboz

Believe it or not I was a bartender in Bentonville in the 70's (bootlegger too~~private club, dry county) so I had first hand experience with that part of the country.

I did love the beauty and the lakes and there were lots of people my age (at the time) who were great and fun to be around.

Don't know how it is now, but back then they kept voting to keep Benton County dry but you'd see all of them up there at the Missouri line liquor stores hiding their faces, buying their booze. LOL!

[holboz]

60. We're still a very wet dry county!

Hi! Bentonville in the 1970s...wow. I'm trying to imagine what that must have been like. Probably lovely, quiet, and you could drive around without the worries of a huge construction truck throwing rocks on your windshield. (I've had 5 such incidents this year) Don't know if you've been back lately - if you haven't then you wouldn't even recognize the place, aside from Glasgow's restaurant. I think that's about the only building that's survived the onslaught of development along Hwy 71B (a/k/a Walton Blvd.)and elsewhere around town.

I've been here 12 years and it looks absolutely nothing like it did when we moved here. The population was about 9200. Now it's something like 26,000...Rogers has almost 50k people. Those lovely green hills are now smothered in retail development and million dollar homes. My god, we even have a Starbucks and Krispy Kreme (the only ones outside of the Little Rock area, if I remember correctly).

But as far as being a dry county, some things never change...you can go to any of the 4 or 5 liquor stores right across the state line and you're treated to a parking lot full of Arkansas license plates. What a shame; we could use that revenue in our own county!

[Born_A_Truman]

61. Haven't been there for several years...

When I lived there it had no freeways, and Walmart had a couple of big distribution warehouses. I lived right off the square near the original Walton's store when I first moved there.

I tended bar at the Holiday Inn on 71 in the private "Waterhole Lounge" that was in a building adjacent to the hotel at the time. It was brand new at the time but has since been sold, renamed, and the lounge was closed.

[Art_from_Ark]

63. Hey Holboz

I remember Bentonville in the '60s. I got a toy guitar for my 5th birthday at the Ben Franklin store just off the square. In elementary school, I always had a good time at the BC fair in September. I also remember riding my bicycle a few times between Rogers and Bentonville on 102, and encountering only a couple of cars along the way! And the Peel mansion on Sam Walton Boulevard was affectionately known to us kids as "The Haunted House" because it looked so spooky and lonely.

[sinkingfeeling]

69. Glasgow's !! I used to eat there at least once a week during my

'tour of duty' at WM HO! I was not a Wal-Mart employee and my manager always took us to Glasgow's for lunch!

[aaronbees]

57. Hey people

Texarkana checking in here ... wish we'd gone for Kerry but they had a great campaign here. So, hello, Arkansans :)

[Dont_Bogart_the_Pretzel]

80. Hope

I live in Hope but work in Texarkana.

[Mikimouse]

58. Here in Fayetteville...Hello all!...n/t

[Razorback_Democrat]

62. Fort Smith signing in

Steve from Fort Smith here!

[Bok_Tukalo]

64. My (very large) family lives in Arkansas near DeQueen

Like you, I live in Texas.

I'm the one that got away.

[ArkySue]

65. Hi from Little Rock!

The Democrats are on the move in Arkansas! We've got the 4th most Democratic legislature in the nation. We are the only southern state with 2 Democratic Senators (well, almost Democrats). 3 of 4 Representatives, and all state constitutional officers except Gov and Lt. Gov. are Democrats. We will have a Dem Governor in 2006! Our new State Chairman seems like he is going to do a good job, too!

[amissmiss]

66. New to DU

Hi everyone. My name is Tiffany, and I'm new to these message boards so I figured I'd say hello. I'm a twenty-four year old Arkansas native who lives in the nw corner. I went away to college for awhile and since I've been back I've found it exceedingly hard to meet new, like-minded progressives. Anyway, if anyone would like to talk, please drop me a line.

-Tiff

[newyawker99]

67. Hi amissmiss!!

Welcome to DU!! :toast:

[Enquiringkitty]

68. I live in London, just west of Russellville. Hello Everybody!

[medeak]

70. was born in Russellville!

a long time ago... live out west now but all my kin are there.

Howdy!

[the arkansas liberal]

71. Danger, Will Robinson..

I made calls for the Benton County Dems election eve -- I was assigned the registered Dems to remind them to get out the vote, etc. All the cards I had were of older folks, none younger than 50! It is alarming to think all our blue dog dems are getting older without a crop of youngin's growing up to take their place! We must take the responsibility to get the next generation interested! Work with them to help them understand the dangers lurking around the repuke corner...

[amissmiss]

72. The real danger...

I'm twenty-four and living in the Bella Vista. I think the problem the Benton County office is having with garnering democratic youth has more to do with poor organization than youth apathy. I joined the Benton County Young Dems only to be sorely disapointed that there were no meetings (or at least none I was made aware of as a member). I joined the Washington County and University of Ark Young Dems (even though I'm not a student there) in order to have a connection to other dems my age. As a result, during the last election I did my volunteering primarily at the Washington County office. I wish the Benton County office would have gotten it together. I'm lonely for democratic company in my own age range!

-Tiff

[Pepperbelly]

73. Sherwood, here. Hidy, homeskillets!

:hi:

[arkie dem]

74. Springdale signing in

Home of Jim Bob Duggar and state sen. Jim Holt. Two of the biggest fundie assholes this state has ever produced.

[ardem]

75. Little Rock

Larry from Little Rock checking in.

[AbbyR]

76. Here I am...

I sleep in Pine Bluff, work in Dumas and live on Highway 65 <sigh>

AbbyR

[jsamuel]

79. Springdale here too!