A question for blue voters living in red states.

This is a sincere question. I'm not being sarcastic or taunting. That isn't my intention.

I am very spolied. I was raised in a blue family. I married a Dem who was raised by the worst of repukes, but they really aren't in my life, so I basically just put them on ignore and see them maybe once every six months. Even then, I ignore them and say very little because I just do not lke my in-laws.

I was raised by a military father, but even so, most of my childhood (5 years on) was spent in the great San Francisco Bay Area (my Dad retired from the military after 20 years when I was 5.)

I now live in the very blue city of Pasadena, with a blue mayor and a mostly blue city council who publically decreed that they would not honor parts of the Patriot Act that infringed upon the rights of their citizens.

I live in the very blue county of Los Angeles. All over town, I see more rebid anti-* signs in yards (still) and on cars. The same can be said for Pasadena. But all over the county, * is not welcomed.

California is blue. Although we are under attack by the rethugs and the possible introduction of Diebold, we are still blue. There are other states with a deeper shade of blue, but we're still up there.

Even my profession- educatin- is full of blue voters. If you are a *-lover, you tend to keep your mouth shut because in education, you're kind really isn't welcomed with that NCLB and all the other bs coming from the administration in regards to education. With arnold attacking teachers here in CA, the rethug educators are keeping real quiet.


My question to red staters. How do you do it? How do you keep you chin up, and keep from actually physically attacking someone? How do you deal with these people? Because I don't have to, I can't imagine having to deal with such hyprocrits and such stupidity every day.

How do blue voters deal with a rabid *-lover in the immeidate famiy, especially a spouse? It must be so hard.

I hope this post didn't come across wrong. I admire you for the strength I'd never have. You guys are the ones in the trenches... not me.

also Glenlevitt 18.

I try to laugh a lot. Seriously.

Houston here, too!
:hi:

Hi yourself!

Luckily there are enough blue people around. It's just that it's hard seeking them out. I used to assume most whites in Houston were red but now I know that's not the case.

it's Pacifica radio; unabashedly left wing. They just revamped their lineup; but it's got DemocracyNow! twice per day (9 AM and 6 pm); local independent news at 5:30; FSRN and Flashpoints M-F; other weekly programs devoted to GLBT, Native American, Amnesty International, Asian, Disability, Vegan, Latino, anti-drug-war, Arab, a prison show, Progressive Forum, and a wide variety of music.
kpft.org has the program schedule.

www.kpft.org


check out this radio show, if you like Mike you will like Glen and Stacy, the hosts.


THE OTHER SIDE HAS A NEW TIME:

9:00 p.m. Thursday nights

Next Show: May 12, 2005!

The Other Side
"A Liberal Dose of Progressive Talk Radio"
Thursday Nights
9:00 p.m. CST
FM 90.1 in Houston and FM 89.5 in Galveston

and for all you listeners around the world surfing the web, listen to the show LIVE at

www.kpft.org

EMAIL: theotherside@kpft.org

KPFT SPRING PLEDGE DRIVE CALL 713 526-KPFT TO PLEDGE YOUR SUPPORT TO THE OTHER SIDE, AMERICA'S MOST ASS KICKING LIBERAL TALK RADIO SHOW THIS SIDE OF NO ONE.

1. Pledge drive show...always rip-roaring...always fast paced..and always offensive to the easily offended.

2. We'll look at so-called "liberal" media, the conservative media, and the real mainstream media.

Remember that the callers are the co-hosts so tune in, call up, and preach on!

I think we all gravitate to people whose values we share. It's not hard to find good progressives in Houston. The city itself is borderline blue.

There are some great people in Houston, fighting the good fight. Besides, somebody has to keep a close eye on what the creeps are doing.

As for KPFT, Houston's Pacifica station -- check this out.

This Sunday, May 15th, David Ray Griffin will talk about his research on 9-11. Live, between 6 pm and 7 pm (Central Time).
90.1 FM in Houston, or www.kpft.com - listen online.

The show is Sunday Monitor. Some of their past guests include Kevin Phillips, John Dean, Daniel Ellsberg, Arianna Huffington, William Rivers Pitt, David Cobb, Sibel Edmonds, Gore Vidal, Scott Ritter, Congresswoman Cynthia McKinney, Jim Hightower, Ted Rall, John Nichols, Michael Parenti, Laura Flanders, Dahr Jamail, Chalmers Johnson, Amy Goodman, John Sayles, Thomas Frank, and Howard Zinn.

Jus' little ole me! That's how we cope here in Red State Texas...we realize that the whole damn state isn't red, but various shades of purple....Houston has its blue enclaves, as does San Antonio, El Paso and various points south. Austin is a sea of blue and a liberal oasis. Just know that you are not alone! :hi: :kick:

I happened to turn in on fund drive day, so I didn't get the whole story. Isn't this the station that just had Amy Goodman come speak?

and not a follower and we are damn sure of our values and have the strength to stick with it. *sigh* As they say, when you have lemons, make lemonade.

Mary

When one has all of the facts on one's side, it is easier for one to remember that the enemy is only the opposition's echo chamber.

... is long and lonely. It is really discouraging.

work in a Blue profession. That, and alot of wild sex keeps me sane.

further, knowing all these sexually repressed repugs are so not getting it lo l lol lol. told a friend today, sex is awfully yummy when you know you arent sinnin

"voted blue in a red state" and am "not part of a redneck agenda!" Love that line by Green Day.

VA is a pretty conservative state; however, the city I live in voted Kerry, for instance, and tends to vote Democratic. A lot of the surrounding counties, however, are considered * country. Someone I knew who lived in one of those counties told me that she had her Kerry-Edwards signs taken down numerous times and finally had it run over!? She took the run over sign and put it back up, just to spite them!? Can't say I blame her.

Thankfully, my hubby is also a Democrat, and my parents and sisters vote this way as well. My sister's husband tends to vote Libertarian and his parents are big * supporters, but I don't see them enough to let them bother me.

I look at it this way: A lot of people in VA and in the country in general didn't vote for the Shrub and are just as pissed off as I am. Of course, it also depends on the day. Sometimes, I get pissy and will give someone the big "L" for loser sign after I pass them if they have a "W" sticker on their car. I know; really mature, huh?:thumbsdown:

you get good at one liner hit and runs LOL

When I hear some BS being spouted I usually just drop a gem in the conversation ie on SocSec

RW "blah blah RW blah"
Me "Yeah if the Repubs hadn't spent all the SS trust fund, all that $$ I've paid in all my life would be sitting there waiting for me, instead it's all in Iraq God only knows where. BTW did you hear they LOST $100million in CASH over there? Man I coulda retired really nice on that."

:rofl:

I get the "butbutbut Terraists! " and I just laugh and say "I'm not afraid of those guys, are you?" and then they have to puff up and it's over LOL

What's really interesting is when I do a bombing run, how often there will be many others standing around will take up for me and my points and start ranking on the Repubs

You just fight the good fight, tell the truth and shame the devils ya know?

My in laws are very nice people, but dumb as a box of rocks and buying into the whole right wing justification for liberation by slaughter. There are times I just want to choke them to death.

But you cannot have a conversation about reality around here.

But California is no picnic either. Last time I was there on business I was surrounded by a bunch of Arnold lovers. I came home and hid my birth certificate (I was born in Oakland)

Glad no one took this as flame bait or provoking anyone!

In Ca, we certainly have our arnold lovers. He's been polling real bad lately- a bit above 40%- so hopefully, we can keep the momentum going! It's going to be tough, especially with Diebold coming our way.

Mr. kt always reminds me that even in red states, there are usually a good 30%-45% of the people there who voted in favor of the American people and the troops- and not for * and his minions.

During the Kerry campaign, Mr. kt and I worked in Las Vegas. Clark Country went blue- but the rest was red. It was tough. I feel for you guys!

Hang in there and keep fighting the good fight in the trenches.

Here in Colorado, the Democrats control both houses of the Legislature for teh first time since 1962. And we picked up one Senate seat (Ken Salazar) and one House seat (John Salazar - Ken's brother) that were in GOP hands.

Our asshole governor - Bill Owens - can't run again because of teh term limits the GOP pushed through when they controlled the Legislature. I'm looking forward to Democrats controlling the Governor's Mansion after the 2006 election, too.

It's taken a while, but people here in Colorado are learning that the GOP is not their friend.

lol lol that is so funny. my hubby promised me every three months he would get me out of here, and colorado is a favorite. it is liberal like calif in my book in comparison to the panhandle of texas

and yes, i am looking for this state to become more wise. especially with all their natural beauty, they need the dems for that

I live in central rural Missouri, and there are a lot of us here.

How do you do it?
Carefully and quietly. I live in the Bible Belt so that should be enough to explain.

How do you keep you chin up, and keep from actually physically attacking someone?
Old fashioned Buddhism with the occasional koan.

How do you deal with these people?
Try to be nice and show them that not all former MI residents are anti-American and need jobs too. So far, no go. We're demonized too much.

Nuthin' like a good fight. If I weren't fightin' the repukes, I'd be fightin' the military industrial complex.

And yer right. Me red, red county in me red, red state is the trenches. But, the "blue boil" of Austin can be so out of touch, bein' all couched in comfort. The work to be done is in places like this. And I rather like being a thorn in the sides of me neighbors. Eventually, the facts will rip their shirts, and I will (God help me not to) smile mightily.

Meanwhile, I find comfort on a grand scale in the youngsters. There will be salvation if only we get off our arses and reach out to them. In so many ways, they are far smarter than the old farts.

Dealing with a rabid *-lover is easy. I've a bunch of them close by by blood, all professed Christians. My pharorite phrase, is "Just who would Jesus bomb?" Challenging one's integrity goes a long way, but it does so quietly. O' course, best that your own closet be clean and spotless. Now, there be the hard part, but no impossibility.

Back to th' grog!

:toast:

I live in a blue county, so that helps. My family are all very conservative, and they always have been. My Mother and Father know my political beliefs and we try not to ever discuss them. The election was a very difficult time of strife within my family unit, but we survived on love.

I try to find the good things about my family and not focus on the bad, I think that if I lived my life consistantly eating, breathing politics, I would be a very unhappy and depressed individual.

Serioulsy, I have posted this before, so sorry for the repeat. I know that I may be the only left voice some of these people hear for weeks, so I make sure that I am heard (diplomatically of course).

I am very involved in my community - I think it is a good thing that they see that liberals are not all the evil inhuman things that they are made out to be by fox, coulter and limbaugh. They know me, they trust me with their kids - hopefully by knowing a progressive, they think "maybe moonbat lefties have a point or two that might be valid" - ya' know.

Or I could just be flattering myself that they listen to me. I don't know. I have several republican friends that I have verbal "sparring matches" with. I have changed their opinions on a few things. They have never changed mine, I am sorry to say! I must be stubborn. Anyhoo - this is all over the place already, so I will stop before I butcher our fair language any more.

Sorta like me. Liberal and living a life they have trouble matching to the stereotype hate radio portrays liberals as being. And I have enjoyed some satisfaction in the fact that some around me have broadened their minds a bit, look to new sources of information and voice a lot of dissent with the junta policies.

And Montana is not as red as many outlanders think we are.

But I do miss a sense of community. That is one of the reasons DU is so important to me. Besides the good info, sources and sounding board this place provides, it is just plain reassuring to know that I am not alone in my views. That is important for all of us to remember when we post. We are NOT alone. And for all the posters we have who actively participate in the chaos and creation here, there are probably many more who just come here to read, learn, be inspired and be reassured that they are not alone in their views. That is incredibly important. Especially to folks in red states.

One of the worst parts of being blue in a red state is when posters on the DU dismiss the entire populations of red areas as being not worthy consideration. Makes a lot of assumptions based on no facts and provides fodder for those who try to portray liberals as elitist. I hope those few liberal bigots picking on red states realize that a return to our more populist traditions will win us more friends AND ELECTIONS than acting like Ralph Nader.

We in red states, living every day to disprove the myths and spin about liberals so we can influence the views of our neighbors do not like being sabotaged by blue staters with superiority complexes. It does not help our efforts to have blue sand kicked in our faces by those we need to count on for help winning the hearts and minds of our neighbors. We don't like being dismissed and disregarded by some.

We LOVE Howard Dean. :D And so do a lot of our red neighbors!

That truly wasn't my intention. I was sincere. I wouldn't have the strength. And since dealing with repugs isn't a part of my daily life at all, I'm not sure how I could handle it. Whenever I read comments from poster regarding being in red state or being surrounded by rethug idiots in the family, I always think "How do they handle it?"

So, I thought I would finally ask.

Please take this post as it was meant- just a sincere question from a spoiled voter in a liberal oasis. :)

Your thread is actually very helpful and constructive. Many thanks.

The blue sand kickers are the ones who post things like "GOOD! Serves 'em right" whenever there is a news story about something bad happening in a red state. Those twits do not make us any friends, influence many minds, nor win us any elections. And they need to be slapped down about it. I often think some of them are not progressives at all, but rather moles here to make posts that hate radio can read on the air: 'Listen to how the DU and DEMS HATE you...' kind of stuff planted to make us look bad.

That shit really pisses me off. Those of us in red states work damned hard trying to win people over with showing them daily what progressives really believe in and work for. We have to overcome the constant barrage from hate radio, neocon pols who lie about us and MSM who ignore us. When we start to make progress and some bozo with the good luck to live in a blue state makes generalized, AND BIGOTED, snide remarks about 'Red Staters' it undoes all our work. What is the point of that?

No, Kerrytravlers, your thread was very helpful for many of us to vent and hopefully raise awareness. And with Dr. Dean taking the time to go into red states to get the message out, I have high hopes for the future!

But everybody's good work and efforts will be for naught if we do not fix the problems with counting the ballots accurately and in a way which can be audited and making sure that folks in highly DEM areas do not get bushwhacked again when they try to vote.

Again, thanks for letting us vent & enlighten our blue state team members!

Some Bush areas that were really 55% or even 60% were probably bumped up in the tally to 65% or more.

Some Kerry areas that were really 80% were probably sliced down to 70%, by fraudulent tallies and other means.

Some that were neck and neck probably were pushed over into Red territory.

So, regardless of what the tallies say about where you live, open your eyes. Engage people in respectful conversation.

It's only been in recent months that numbers of people have had the guts to say that they are against the war, they don't believe Bush, etc. etc. Lots more people remain silent, until they know they are in safe company. A silent majority....

will admit. Why else do they work so hard on their election methods? They know most 'red states' are not really red. They paint them red, one way or another.

We have to make elections honest. THAT is the only real 'Homeland Security' issue. We know of its importance by how much effort they make to avoid the whole issue! ;)

One thing liberals can do easily is to get on the rolls of those who work the polls on election days! Do not let somebody else do it. Do it yourself, that way you help ensure fairness.

And get rid of those machines!

Every one in a while, I tell Mr. kt I want a huge saw to cut off Texas and hel the South succeed... and then he reminds me of all the hard working progressives and liberals who make up that 30-45% of each "red" state.

You guys hang in there. Many of us in safe, blue areas venture out during electin cycles to work in red states... and then we truly admire how brave you guys are!

was formed. There was that little problem of slavery. The South didn't want any prohibition against it in the Constitution. The Constitution writers must have seen at least a few problems with their wonderful language about freedom and liberty co-existing with slavery. But the South said if you prohibit slavery, we're not in the Union.

What a different course history would have taken if the other states had said at the outset, "NO SLAVERY. Like it or lump it."

We're still paying for the centuries of slavery -- all of us. Just my opinion, but (and I have at least one slave-owner among my ancestry I found out recently), I think the knowledge deep down that one has profited from another's enslavement is corrosive. It makes people less likely to challenge and think, because they are busy defending their own selves from themselves.

ALL of us in this country who are not Native American profit from the occupation of North America by settlers from other lands. Virtually all of us benefit in our standard of living from the colonial-like economic policies forced upon many nations through the IMF etc.

Anyway, don't get too caught up in the Red State/Blue State stuff. We're just human beings, in power relationships with other human beings. Some of us are living our lives trying to promote fairness, no matter what our zip code or country.

I just read so many posts about idiot neighbors, co-workers, family members, I always wondered how yu guys did it. I have to admit, I"m shielded from most of the direct person-to-idiot voter contact because of my situation!

I have loved reading all the posts. You guys are really, really great and all really super-smart! I am really impressed!

That is what I try and do in my community. I let my actions speak louder than my words and then follow up by voicing why I believe the things I do. I'm not the only Democrat in my community who is using this strategy. I feel we do have a responsibility to teach those who are uninformed, and I find it to be much easier if I involve myself with the people of my community on many different levels.

Jokingly a few of the local Republicans say I speak softly and carry a big stick. I take it as a compliment.

I live in a very conservative area too. How do I handle it? Basically, I am a big asshole to everybody. Especially in class discussions. I argue with anybody stupid/wrong.

I used to be so nice to everyone and didn't argue with them. But I finally realized that they don't give a damn about offending me with their ignorance and ad hominem attacks.

I am by far the most liberal guy in my class, but I'll argue insane points from their perspective and make them reason it out from my point of view. For instance, I argued before class with three people that I thought that I should be allowed to purchase and drive a tank. A big-ass tank with a machine gun turret and live ammo. "Why would you want a tank?" "Two reasons: home protection and so I can blow shit up in my spare time."

The thing about these people, though, is that they're mostly good people who think they're informed because they watch the news and pay attention in church. They really aren't taught what they need to know in all of the classes. It is possible for them to go through their collegiate career without ever having their beliefs challenged by some jackass like me.

I feel as though it is my job in class to at least show them they're ill-informed and maybe spur them to actually think for themselves for a change.

It feels good though to know that I am more often than not the most informed person in the class/room/store/job. It makes things less challenging.

I suppose this makes me an elitist prick :)

although the state is Repuke. I'm convinced I could never do it otherwise.

I'm married to a Dem. This is a guy who, being raised in North Carolina, put an "I'm from North Carolina and I do not support Jesse Helms" bumper sticker on his car when he lived in Pennsylvania where we met and married.

I try to indoctrinate my 9-year-old niece, who lives in NC. She is the daughter of my only sibling, a brother, and he has become more and more of a flaming wingnut over the years. I figure if my niece declares herself a Dem (wanting to emulate her favorite aunt, doncha know!), I will have lived a good life.

I commiserate with other Dems, like my friends, my mother, and my brothers-in-law.

Finally, I do my part to keep the wine industry of your fair state, California, in business. :+

My personal feeling is that this is where I can do the most good. A little explanation is probably necessary.

We live a small town in Central Texas, about 25 miles SE of Austin. Austin was blue in the last election, and this county (Caldwell) was actually fairly blue as well, but in many ways it's also the prototypically conservative, good-ol-boy type of atmosphere that is so often parodied and stereotyped when one thinks of rural Texas. The churches hold a lot of power here, and the political infrastructure is very much in the hands of the old money families that have been here forever.

That said, it's still a fine little place to live. Everyone knows each other here, the town in still fairly tolerant in many respects, and the whole place has a relatively good feel to it. I can get along with anyone in this town, for the most part.

It would be wrong to abandon this town to the truly conservative elements. THIS is where one has to model progressive ideals. THIS is where a progressive has to be active and outspoken. THIS is exactly the type of place that can use an influx of new ideas and new energy. THIS is where positive change can happen if people are willing to be role models.

Plus, there's always the fact that this is MY town, MY county, and MY state, too. I sure as hell ain't gonna let anybody run me outta here just because we have a Democratic Underground bumper sticker on our car.

I am in a very blue county (Pima) in a very red state (AZ). The * supporters were very visible here, but they were in the slight (minority).

The map that shows by county red/blue is much more representative than the red state/blue state map, which is an artifact of the winner-take-all electoral vote system.

The map that shows each county as a shade of purple based on the percentage of people that voted each way is much more accurate. Even is the "reddest" states, where Kerry did not win any counties, had a some percentage of people who voted Democratic.

The Real Picture of the 2004 Election:



go here: http://www.princeton.edu/~rvdb/JAVA/election2004/ and click on the small purple map to see a much larger version where the details are easier to see.

but I've survived here almost 58 years, except for a couple of years in the United States Army (70-72). I just refuse to put up with any crap from those people, including that from my idiot relatives.

and hang out with them. I just tune out or patronize fundies and ditto-heads. Not worth fighting with them.

I smile to myself a great deal. Maintain my composer and detach emotionally from the real rabid ones. I keep my John Kerry/President bumpersticker on my truck. And it helps to be 6'2" tall and 225lbs.

Mainly, living in a red state helps to clearly define my views and values. I keep informed and can always handle myself in a debate with obscure facts that blow many of these clones away. And it helps to have a Democratic Congressman representing our district. That usually shuts them up.

I don't generally have to deal with the people here spouting off too much because we live on a basically blue Air Force base We pretty much stay off politics as a whole, because you can get in big trouble here for talking bad about the "Commander and Chief", but when it has come up, everyone has been blue.

My father, on the other hand, is a fundie. He has no interest in politics, or the country as a whole, as long as he can sleep at night believing that he has spread (or forced, depending on how you see it) Christianity across the country. Needless to say, we fight a lot about politics. Fortunately, he is uninformed and can't hold an argument any further than repeatedly saying "Well, that's not what my bible tells me to do." I love him, but a lot of the time, I wanna smack him. I feel most for my poor little nephew that he and my step-mom are raising. (Sidenote: my step-mom is a fundie, but she doesn't feel the need to spread/force her beliefs on anyone, she just quietly believes as she believes, and lets everyone else live their lives.)

Thanks for the Purple Map- a good reminder that good, progressive people are all around.


My hat off to all of you who are there fighting to bring America back. You guys are really doing the work of the angels! Those of us in progressive areas really spend most of our time preaching to the choir.

Nahhh.... that was straight up fair and transparent, right? :shrug: :eyes:

I haven't seen nearly as much press on New Mexico as I have Ohio and even Flordia- but I have just stopped keeping up on that at this point in time because it drives me to the point of insanity. My brain can only handle so much of this at one time.

What's going on in New Mexico in regads to the electin and counting the votes?

I live in southwestern lower Michigan. This is such a red county that many time there simply are no Dem's on the ballot. This is the home of Representative Upton, the "boob incident" guy. There are churches everywhere and it votes solidly Republican in every election. I have been voting Dem for 35 years so I'm used to losing in an election around here. I used to cross over for a good Repub or someone I knew who was running for a local office but not any more.

I keep mostly quiet in public, but I'm a terror in a personal argument. I used to try to be nice, not any more. To hell with em if they get offended, they have had no problem offending me for years (also they are so easy because they are so uninformed). Also I like to make fun of Bush any chance I get. I had to endure 8 years of jokes about Clinton. I know it is petty but it gives me a kick to get them back on this moron who provides so much material.

With the exception of my Employer, and a very small cadre of like-minded Bluish folk, I have NO contact with anyone in this gawd-forsaken land of mouthbreathers.None. Thank Random Chance for Business over the Internets.

I have ONE friend. and less that a dozen people I can stand to be around.

Since my last marriage turned me into a hateful cynical wretch, I'd say it worked out just about perfect.

Good point. The only two people I really get along with are one from California and the other from Mass. I'm from New York. The south has a lot of progressives moving in. We were blue once and even the pick up drivers in this state aren't too proud that voted for Bush. Kill enough of their kids they might even start to change their vote. He's not getting my kids though.

With business associates, I just have to keep my yap shut. They suspect/know that I'm a 'traitorous' dem, but I don't say anything. It is fun to watch them....first cheering and yipping about the glorious war in IraqNam, now, just fretting, bitching, moaning, not really saying too much anymore.

A few friends who are not insane.

Converted a couple of people.

Waiting for the tide to turn, keeping my powder dry.

Go to New Orleans as often as possible, nice blue spot in my red state.

I'm lucky enough to have a liberal Canadian for a husband who is just as involved in American politics as me (without voting).

We used to live in a much more liberal area of Dallas. Two and a half years ago, we moved to Rockwall County, which is 85% Republican. I detest it here. But I LOVE my house. And we got an amazing deal on it.

We have local DUers we hang with, friends of local DUers we've met, former fellow Deaniacs, and local Rockwall County Democrats. When we moved out here, and I thought I would lose it, I did a google search and found out that we DID, in fact, have a Democratic club. It has saved my life, knowing that there are others out here like me.

And we have attempted to blend these groups of friends together for Move On parties, our Halloween party, etc. so they all know each other too. Several months ago, we had so much going on, I felt like Gertrude Stein or something. Our house practically felt like a "salon" of like-minded thinkers.

Other than that, I have converted my mom, a lifelong Republican (so much so, that this unrepentant racist and homophobe became an open-minded, nicer person working next to blacks, gays, and others at Dean's HQ in Austin). That alone was enough to let me die happy.

I purposely wear shirts to piss people off. Going to the grocery store in my "Up Yours Bush! I'm Keeping My right to Choose!" or "March for Women's Lives" shirt always makes the Stepford Wives out here wrinkle their mouths at me.

And I keep 3 buttons on my purse: Bush as Alfred E. Neuman saying "What Me Worry? Our Worst Nightmare", "Doing My Part to Piss off the Radical Right", and "Don't Use Religion as an Excuse for Your Hatred."

I love seeing the results I get. For the most part, they are overwhelmingly positive. The one negative one I got the other day was met with, "Well, you know, opinions are like assholes. Everybody has one," with a jaunty wave as I walked off.

Other than that, I garden, scrapbook, do genealogy, and just try to stay happy any way I can.

FSC

Otherwise, I would surely go barking mad.

Also, thank goodness for progressives on the Internet, and Thom Hartmann and AAR on the radio.

I'm in a Blue area of an idiot-Red State, so I don't run into too many of the idiots.

Molly IVINS was a speaker recently.

I guess I'm in Blue so the questions don't apply here. However, with TWO idiot wingut senators, whenever DU asks for "contacting your senators" I have to call Senator KENNEDY's office.

I know I'm on the side of the truth. I'm a very proud person and I'm very proud to be democratic. Nobody can shame me and I don't take bullshit from anybody even if I'm not brave enough to speak up yet. You didn't come off wrong to me. It's a sincere question. I love where I live even if it is a more red then blue. We have an indie mayor who's more democratic in his policies and my governor is a democratic gov (Bredesen) who kicks ass.

be informed and you are. and...........put on a huge ass lite filled smile. cant wait til you do. tis the best to be empowered to speak out. now i cant stop myself, grocery store, convience store, friends, family, lol lol

i am a californian living in the panhandle of texas. i dont know a single democrat. my children went to a private christian school until this nov. the only dem was my mother and she passed away 7 years ago. all other relatives are repugs. i dont like in laws either, they are repug too, lol lol. husband is a midland texas repug

he voted kerry. he is a big reason i survive. lol

i have bumperstickers all over car, and this week my boys want to add more. my fundie friend told me this weekend talking to a calif implant of 8 years, she told him about me and my car. he said he is not brave enough to do. i am awfully brave. it was a big deal putting on a kerry sticker then i felt empowered. how do i survive

i am informed. i know what i am talking about. i am walking in christ conscious, so anyone try to challenge me, they dont get far.

ok the reality.....................i am going mad, mAD, MAD i tell you

I ask them sensible questions. Shuts them up all the time. Fantasy's of murder help too.

I never pick a fight, but when someone starts on that neo-con horseshit, I give it right back. Same with imposing religion. I don't criticize it unless someone pushes it in my face.

relatives who are so adamantly rightwing that family gatherings slide into anger and hurt feelings. I valiantly made an effort during the Clinton years while relatives ranted. But after Bush won, my husband and I found certain family gatherings more grueling than celebratory. They were to be dreaded, not anticipated.
Now, we've decided life is too short. We choose to be with those who respect us and our feelings. They may be different politically, but they don't attack and revile us for our beliefs.

there are a LOT more of us here than you think.

Here in Houston, Harris County, Texas, we have a great number of Dems and a lot of interaction.

Here are two links that you might want to do a quick click on, to get a small idea of how we survive. One is the list of Democratic Clubs in Harris County and the other our May calendar. Keep in mind, that this is only one of the five counties which Houston is a part of. There are clubs in all of them.

We get such a bad rap here, that I just had to brag a bit.

Mary

http://www.hcdp.org/localclubs.html

http://calendar.yahoo.com/public/hcdp_2000

are like little pockets of sanity. i love my ridiculously liberal town of aspen! people here would not TOLERATE a W sticker on a car-- should anyone be brave enough to apply one! before the election, people plastered kerry or anti-* stickers everywhere-- you simply knew everyone felt the same. one person had a list ON THEIR CAR of the names of every soldier that had died in iraq so far. people here are so political. and i love it. ********on the other hand, it's always quite a shock to re-visit PA, where i am from, twice a year for a month each time (off season). funny; they are a blue state, but you almost wouldn't know it. i just hammer (mostly relatives) that complain about high gas prices, expensive or zero health care, no jobs.....my response- calm, cool collected is: "well, you voted for him." i used to lose it. and i can be obnoxious. just awful. my uncle mocks me for being a "colorado left wing bleeding heart" he actually asked if i read rush's latest book, to which my response was "RUSH LIMBAUGH??? that's your mentor? your example of a fine republican?? the DRUG ADDICT??? you MUST be joking!!!" this man, who has a doctorates and is a teacher, insisted that "painkillers are not drugs-- pot & cocaine are." so naturally, i had to throw in the old "wasn't your fearless leader a coke-head?" it does go round & round, but what satisfaction i get from it all!!

Whenever something bad happens that can be linked to Republican policy, I make a smarmy comment about people "getting what they vote for."

When a study revealed the state of Louisiana to be ranked near the bottom of the nation in an education study, I said to my GOP family members, "wow.. and let's see who's #'s 1 through 10.. well, well.. they're all GORE STATES. Incredible! Let's now see who's at the bottom. Golly gee... Bush states! What're the chances?"

And of course, I do it in a hillbilly voice, so as to amplify the mocking tone.

Yes, I'm a liberal elitist. Yes, I do know better than they do - one need only look at the quality of life in the Blue States and compare.. the Blue States, overall, have it goin' on compared to the more, umm, "special" Red States..

So my final answer is "mockery." :P

but sometimes it's so lonely being among * lovers that the only relief is when I can get with like thinkers here on DU. I cry a lot, even watching cspan. There is a hint of paranioa with the Kerry sticker on my car. It's just really lonely.

I live in frist country.

after all the work and all the money, my county still went 55-45 for Dubya. If I had done nothing, the result would have been the same except I would have a new kitchen now.

I have a few Dem friends I keep in touch with, DU helps and then I try to keep track of what is going on by visiting a variety of other websites regularly ...otherwise, it gets depressing at times...

I get my digs in on occasion, too. Like I pissed off the city council (all leg-humping Repukes) last Fall when I did a FOIA on them over the cost to the City for Dick Cheney's visit when we can't afford to fill potholes around this conservative town.

_________________________________________________________________

Oh, I almost forgot. I am very prepared with smart ass remarks for my Repuke friends in federal funded jobs who are seeing MAJOR cutbacks to their favorite pork programs as we speak!! We had a wailing and gnashing of teeth here locally last week when some Senate Committee dealing with Veterans issues failed to show so our conservative town could demand federal funding for our own VA clinic. Well, Bushie don't have the money for our vets. He's making uncared for vets right now in Iraq so why should he care for the vets from other wars? Not a one of these red state buttheads put the blame where it lies ...on the Bush administration. I like to remind people when they don't get the obvious....

__________________________________________________________________

...and I still have my Kerry/Edwards bumper sticker on my car and my blue ribbon magnet that says "BRING OUR TROOPS HOME!" ...and as each week goes by, I get people asking me about these two things ...and I say, I knew I was on the RIGHT SIDE when I voted in November and that's where I stay! Love the looks and less argue with me today then 4 months ago...could it be the psychotic look in my eyes!!! HAHAHA!!

today... couldn't take it anymore...started screaming..."why don't you just hold a @#$@ gun to my head!"

glad you are running for city council mojo..blow them all away!

by very Democratic parents. My Dad was a union organizer and a union arbitrator. I walked many a picket line in my youth. I married a Texan who is a Dem and whose family are all Dems. I've only been in Texas for 12 years and in San Antonio, I don't feel that isolated from the Dem Party,although perhaps I should since Bexar County went 67% for bush**. My family spread from CAlif to Az to NV are all Dems........the latter two states being red! My Dem family are equally split between red states and a blue state and we stick together!

If I ever live in a red state, I hope I'm near my DU friends!

As if Nebraska wasn't "red" enough.

I have not yet engaged in politics here. My collegues appear to be free-thinking in general. Boise actually has a very liberal air to it. Lots of Volkswagen vans and Montesory schools. lol

My experience in Nebraska was that I could make almost anyone of them see things my way. Then they go off and vote Republican. The rest simply doesn't want to hear. Cheney went to school in Nebraska so he must be a good guy. :eyes:

Alabama, and that's next door to Ga! You learn to make good friends with the few Dems you meet and rarely talk politics with neighbors or aquaintances. I've gotten into a few discussions, but most of these folks just have tunnel vision, and don't want to change that! I find here, they're still pissed about desegregation, and I sadly can't predict when that will ever change. They're pissed about abortion and gay rights too, but you just don't hear about the rest of it.

I live in Dayton, Ohio. My county was blue but as we all know that didn't matter(or did it?). The * crap is everywhere and I can hardly take it. Actually I can't. I talk to people and I don't get the mindset or logic. I can't imagine living somewhere where the majority of the population is like-minded. It's probably good that we live here now as my wife and I have been very active in campaigns and fund-raising to beat this crap back, but it is very disheartening. Barring a sea change of the general political persuasion here we will be blue state bound eventually.

... my vote wasn't counted.

which is West St. Louis county. It's all about money here, so of course it's red as can be. I just don't care what these pretentious bastards think. I'll wear my dem. t-shirt around here all I want. It makes me laugh how these yuppies react to the shirt, they gasp and look like they're about to blow their stack. One woman even had the balls to say this to me: "How dare you wear that shirt here in Bush country." To that I replied "As long as this is still a free country, I'll wear this shirt any damn place I wish."

...my company carefully, which makes for some mighty small social circles.

And I watch what I say around whom. That's why this place comes in handy, to blow off steam.

near either Madison or Boise

but i don't think i could take it, living in such a red state as idaho.
and Garbage is from Madison.

but we've both always been northern illinois flatlanders- and it sure would be nice to live near mountains for a change...

decision, decision...

What can I say? I was raised in the age of SpellCheck. lol

Actually, I think it was the reddest last year, about 75% for *. My friends are Dems or independents. My family members and husband are Dems. His family is rabid, but I've refused to associate with them for several years so that isn't a problem lol.

My question to red staters. How do you do it? How do you keep you chin up, and keep from actually physically attacking someone? How do you deal with these people? Because I don't have to, I can't imagine having to deal with such hyprocrits and such stupidity every day.

I don't associate with those people. I had a couple of issues with the kids' school this year, but they are kind of afraid of me and those issues were taken care of very quickly lol. I damn near hurt a teacher and he knew it. What prevented that from happening? My kid was in the room. No more problems from that quarter. It isn't something I have to deal with every day anyway. I get a lot of respect actually, even from the most rabid repukes I know. My husband was deployed for two consecutive years and everyone watched me and my kids deal with it. I was in the Army myself. I shatter their illusions of "liberal". This is a good thing obviously.

I'm from Atlanta and went home last this past weekend for a family wedding. Man, I hate that drive. There were two big bonuses to it this time for me. I got about 36mpg on the trip and gloated plenty at the trucks/suvs that insisted on whizzing by me lol. The second was the bumper stickers. After the election, all the K/E stickers seemed to disappear really quick and the stupid W stickers came out of the woodwork. I noticed a lot of K/E stickers this weekend, and I'm not talking about in Atlanta or the immediate area. I mean, in the boonies that make up most of my drive. Even better, I am seeing far fewer * stickers, even here in the reddest area of a very red state. I was surprised at how few * stickers I saw, especially once I hit Gwinette Co.

Hopefully people are coming around. I think I see some signs of that. Ask me again after our local elections this year lol. When I do talk to people outside of my own circle there seems to be a high level of frustration with politics on every level. I haven't heard any blame the liberals crap in awhile though. They are all well aware of who is in charge.

I don't bumper sticker my car for fear of vandals and/or harrassment by the cops. I do still wear my Kerry t-shirt and DU t-shirt (The revolution will not be televised...) in public. There are plenty of people around who hate the shrub and all of his friends, so I find them to hang out with. Most of the time, I just come here. The red voters won't listen, they won't be swayed. Of course, they're upset that jobs are disappearing to other countries, that gas is sky high, most don't agree with privitizing social security...I don't understand why they still think shrub is the man, but I don't care. Plenty of us are raising blue kids. Both of mine will tell you that dubya is a moron, and they formed that opinion on their own, at the ripe old ages of nine and eleven. There is hope!

i was afraid. then i had a kerry sticker, and i had a blast, no harm to car. got a lot of stickers, gonna put three more on in the next couple days. having a blast, and not a problem

I am currently in Okla-Hell-ma. It can be a lovely state and there are a few really cool people here, but for the most part it is Hell!

How do you do it? It is not always easy. But, during the pre-'election' days, I would shout "Kerry/Edwards" every time I saw a sign or bumper-sticker. My partner thought I was nuts, at first, then I got him doing it! :) I also am very blessed that I have a partner whom I love and loves me. I am still unemployed (almost two years) and he takes it in stride. He is a sweetheart and a good person, with a huge heart and loves me despite the fact I can be neurotic and high-maintenance!

How do you keep you chin up, and keep from actually physically attacking someone? Like I said, I have a great man in my life, that helps. I am little so physical attacks are generally not an option. The only time that would change is if someone went after my sweetie (or my pets, which are all so life-savers). If that were to happen, then all 5'7" of me would be all over someone like stink on shit! I may not emerge victorious, but the SOB would be scarred for life (and be unable to reproduce). Most of the time, we just make jokes, to ourselves, about stickers. Although, I have had the urge to smash bumpers of cars with the "one man + one woman = marriage" stickers!

How do you deal with these people? Most of the time, I keep to myself. I only go to the local pet store (they love me there) and the grocery store. I literally will go days without leaving the house. Of course, being somewhat agoraphobic doesn't help. However, being gay, I have a pretty thick skin and a smart-ass mouth. I can be sarcastic in such a way it baffles people. If that fails, I have a big mouth and it scares people. They look at me, all 5'7", and think, "he is either full of shit or crazy." I then tell them that I know what they are thinking and do they want to find out which one I am?! :evilgrin: It usually makes them scamper off. Sometimes, I actually can reach some of them...I have been able to do that with a few people since I have been here; that is a good feeling.

Anyway, I feel the worse thing is coming to DU sometimes. This place is a refuge for me and, although I know that there are 65,000+ people here, sometimes it gets really frustrating having to deal with people making assumptions about all people of a Red State (area). BTW, I don't think you did that, as you did a great job on framing your questions. The absolute worst, which has fallen to the wayside, is people saying; "well, just move." Unless there is an underground railroad or grant for "blue-ies in the Red," we just can't up and move. For the most part, I do really enjoy DU. I just want others to know some of us love the state we are in and others, well, we just don't have the funds to flee...yet!

I have a bunch of people who hate George Bush but wouldn't vote Blue for anything because they're scared they'll get their guns taken away.

Morons.

There's at least one hardcore freeper here, who I'm actually friends with somewhat - one of the English teachers. Ugh. It's very funny because he tries to have the kids be subversive and thinky, but he's such a Freeper. Very frightening.

I just don't talk politics. The few I've gotten into discussions with were idiots who didn't know a damn thing about it.

I live in a red county and have a red family. :( If I could move to the coast...would I be happier?

Blue states are pricey!

especially in vehicle damage.

But, if you are a shittalker like myself, it can be great fun. I may be have changed a mind or two, but I have definitely made 10 times that walk away with their dicks in the dirt.

To clarify though, i do have a blue guv, but the line stops there. I can also boast about having "The Worlds Toughest Sheriff," Joe Arpaio.

Just saving up to get the fuck back to Cali

I moved here 3 years ago from Houston. I've never gotten over the culture shock, that I moved someplace even MORE conservative than Houston! At least Houston has pockets of liberalism. There are NONE here. Everyone I know at work is a Republican. I have not made any good friends here, because people I meet, their views make me ill. I've never seen a bunch of more racist, homophobic, misogynist bigots in my life -- and I'm from Texas!

Honestly, I don't know how I do it. I go for long walks with my dog on the beach and at the muliple local nature reservations and state parks. I meet peple from other areas of the state, such as Miami and Tampa and Orlando, who are more liberal. I go visit friends and family as much as I can in other states.

What i don't do is engage these people at all in political discussions. I learned the hard way that it only makes a hostile work environment. So politics is an off-limit topic in our department (I'm the manager). I put my liberal stickers on my car (Iraq is Arabic for Vietnam and Bring Our Troops Home) and volunteer for local and national democratic campaigns.

Bella, who loves the beauty of Florida, but hates the politics.

All of my immediate family is as far right as a person can get. This is up to and including being members of the Klan. How do I fit in at family gatherings? I am myself. They all know I am gay and liberal. If anyone says anything I disagree with I will debate them until they agree or walk away. I have had signs stolen from my yard,and bumper stickers removed from my car. That is ok, I just see it as a way to continue supporting blue businesses by replacing them. I was born and raised here, and I guess I will stay down here. I actually tried living in the Northeast but I missed home too much. Interestingly, I found racism to be just as bad up there as it is here in Alabama. We can't just leave the South. We need to stay and fight.

You're oversimplifying the voting returns if you consider only states. Democratic voters tend to live in urban and suburban areas, Republicans in rural and exurban areas. Most of us live with other blue voters, just like you do. The county I live in is 65% Democratic, and that includes exurban and rural areas. You are assuming that the electoral college, and it's allocation of electors according to states, determines the daily experiences of ordinary Americans. Why?

a group of women trying to start a battered women's shelter. One night they had a meeting and invited the local representative, who was a woman(Repuke) and the mayor. The representative didn't show but the mayor did. He started his little speech saying he admired everyone's bravery because around here there are 3 things you don't mess with-- 1. a man's truck. 2. A man's dog and 3. A man's wife. Problem was he wasn't joking!

Afterwards we had a serious discussion about raising children in that environment and as a result moved to a deep blue university town in Florida.

And It's Hard Work..Really Hard Work. I'm Surrounded By These Morons Here In Virginia. My Mother In Law Is A Militant Repuke..She's Not Welcome In My House. As Far As Co-Workers It's All Gun Rights 24/7 Guns Guns GUNS GUNS...They're Loony...Send Help !!

... only to be shot down by D hard-liners who would rather lose than be criticized.

Otherwise, I say fuck society and live as I want. I am taking a break from politics and am about to begin Operation Garage Paint Freedom.

a website trying to educate everyone else around you and hope to God that it works.

I actually enjoy the challenge. I'm like a liberal ninja kicking conservative redneck ass.

i work with many of the kool-aid drinkers. We don't talk about it too much as of late. We used to but it got really bad to where we were yelling at each other. I finally decided that these people will never see the admin for what it is UNTIL it directly effects them. i just try and get along here at work and surround myself with like minded people outside of work.

I think the best policy is just to avoid political conversations, especially with people you don't know very well. Even if someone outright asks me "Who did you vote for?" or something like that I tell them in a very nice way that it's none of their business. I try to be positive and I keep pretty busy. I've been living here for a little over three years and I'm just now learning how to enjoy living here.

you don't know. All it is is a waste of time.

Ironically enough I have a sister who is a Republican in Minnesota and a brother who is a Republican in Wisconsin. This is not my home state, but SD is. Red SD, home of McGovern, Daschle, Johnson, and Herseth.
I previously lived in a part of Wisconsin which was supposedly pretty red, although it elected the gay Republican Steve Gunderson and the gay Democrat Tammy Baldwin. Tommy Thompson was governor of Wisconsin for about 12 years and Democratic Senator Herb Kohl is not very liberal.
In short, I think the whole blue/red divide is simplistic balderdash. Is California totally blue, then why did it give us Nixon and Reagan? In Kansas, I see far more Kerry stickers than I do Bush stickers. There is very little political discussion in my daily life. Although the local paper sickens me often after I wrote several LTTEs they started printing Gene Lyons once a week (at least I imagine that I had an impact). But the Wisconsin State Journal used to carry Cal Thomas and George Will.

I mind my own business, its pretty useless trying to talk any sense to the Freepers in North Carolina.

And yes, we did give you Reagan and Nixon...sorry about that. We're getting paid back by havving arnold... God help us. (P.S.- I loved that, "you are terminated" - which is exactly how we feel here in CA.):) CA is NOT totally blue, just my situation (as I described in the orginal post.) We have our fair share of kool-aid drinkers. Just south of LA is Orange and San Diego counties. Very red and very unfriendly to Dems. Lots of W04 stickers down there. Same with the central valley. Lots of red. But then, LA, San Francisco and the surrounding Bay Area and most of Northern CA seem to cancel our reds out (whew!) Of course, with a new SOS who is a rethug... I see a change possibly occurring as he sweeps Diebold in. :scared:

I just posed the question because I was curious how people who have to deal with the rabid nutcases handle it. I have loved the responses. I never really wanted to saw off Texas or the South. That was very sassy of me, but not serious. I kept the subject line simple to attract those people who identified with being in a conservative area- which is exactly the responses I got. And it gave people a place to vent and also let some of us who don't have to fight the battles in our front yards a chance to see what they are doing to effect change, as havocmom replied to me. :hi:


havocmom's response: <http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=104&topic_id=3626838&mesg_id=3629392&page=>

The only time I get to say anything "Democratic."

are pretty moderate. But I am in a metropolitan area. In the more rural areas of the state, there are some pretty die hard conservatives.

I saw more Kerry stickers and yard signs in my community.

:P

Seriously, we fight a good fight in the Red states. I'm in NC and it was a beautiful sight to see so many dedicated Democrats volunteer during the campaign. It's encouraging to know that when we help to educate the least educated or help to shed light on some of the most bigoted minds, we may be making a small difference.

We have a LOT of local elected Democrats in my area which also helps us to stay inspired and motivated. (My county went to Bush though).

I have had a few altercations though! LOL! Nothing violent of course, I'm not a violent person and female. It doesn't hurt to get a little fired up sometimes. It's all part of being on the front lines. ;)

BTW, I'd like to extend an invitation to all Blue staters to come to NC for the next campaign. We'd love to have your help!

New Orleans is a dark blue city with all dem officials in office. The trouble is that they're all corrupt as hell. There really very few good guys, only the bad vs the worse. The only safe Dem congressional district in our state (most of New Orleans included in it) is held by Bill Jefferson, who even though he has a safe seat, has NO spine whatsoever compared to Conyers, Rangel, McKinney, and other members of the CBC.

Our 1991 Governor's race is probably the greatest best example of this. It was the crooked Democrat Edwin Edwards or the KKK leader Repuke David Duke. Edwards won (thank god), but like so many other races in our state it was the Crooked Dem vs the Nazi Republican. The only reason that our entire state government hasn't fallen to the GOP is because they haven't gotten their act together yet (although they are definately starting to with Vitter).

On the bright side, living in New Orleans, there is certainly a mix. Some of my friends are liberals, some are big dubya supporters (and most of the ones that are can't form a coherent political argument other than "Kerry was a flip-flopper"). Usually I just avoid politics when talking wtih friends (unless only amongst liberals), sometimes we argue but we get over it usually. I don't befriend anybody who is so passionate about their political beliefs that they will hate me because of them.

One of my good friends is a hardcore Republican but unlike all of the others he actually is joining the military and isn't a chickenhawk and so I respect him for that. He can also actually form a coherent political argument. I think (or at least I hope) that once he gets into the military, he will realize how much * has fucked things up and will come to our side, at least until the GOP becomes a sane party again.

Interestingly enough, we do actually agree on a few things that should be done, like finding new energy sources so that we don't fund the same terrorists that we are fighting.

A good friend of ours grew up in New Orleans and tells wild tales of politics in Louisiana.

P.S. This is where Mr. kt and I took our honeymoon. We fell in love and can not wait to return someday- hopefully soon! We have nothing but fabelous memories. We experienced our first tropical storm! And we have the pictures to prove it! What a blast! We spent about 8 days there and just loved every second of it!

Then we went to Las Vegas for 4 days and Disneyland for three... what is it about us and honeymooning in red(dish) areas?!?! :) Must be the friendly people and beautiful and exciting locations!

One of them (at least for me as an 18 year old), is that you can get into bars pretty easily without being 21. There's always something to do here, etc. If I hadn't lived here for all of my life, I would definately consider going to school here.

But how could one not love New Orleans!

Remember, most red states only went red by small margins. There are plenty of liberal-minded people here in the red. That's why I hate the whole idea of "red vs. blue." It leads one to start thinking of the whole area as one monolithic political idealogy.

In each red state, at least 30-45% of the voters went blue. And in blue states, we certainly have our very red areas.

The purple map posted above does a great job of showing that.

I have ventured into unfriendly territory during the Kery campaign when I traveled to Nevada to work on Clark County. I remember feeling really beat up. I was called everything- communist, socialist, baby killer, terrorist... you know, all those wonderful terms of endearment.

I was able to leave the trenches and return to my little liberal oasis... although we do have arnold (payback for unleashing nixon and reagan upon the world... sorry!)

Now, I never meant to imply that red and blue states are actually that simplistic. We all know that voting preferences are not necessarily indicated by where one lives. And during the Democratic Natinal Convention, there were plenty of very excited and enthuastic Democrats who live in states that went "red" per the electoral college.

But, I do think it's fair to guess that people who live in areas that are particularly red do face a high barrage of * hatred on a more consistant basis than say someone who lives in a very blue area. It's refreshing to hear what you guys are doing to combat the stupidity.

I would also think it's fair to guess that since many of you must always be on your toes when a hateful remark comes your way, you know your facts inside and out and the facts just lie there, on the tip of your tongue. You are probably far quicker than I am at recalling information at the snap of your fingers.

For me, politics plays a major role in my everyday life. I figure if you're on DU, it is probably the same for you.

Hang in there and keep fighting the good fight!

kt

This has been a real pleasure to read. Thanks for your post, kt, and the care with which you chose your words and your tone.

I grew up in Alabama and recently returned after nearly 20 years of globetrotting. I get frustrated at times (Dick Cheney is speaking at a college graduation in my town this weekend - there's a great example), but never feel alone. There are plenty of intelligent, like-minded Democrats in my county - all it took was opening my eyes and reaching out a little.

Thanks again for your sensitive post and to everyone who has replied with positive spirit and thoughtful comments.

:thumbsup: