Hey Louisiana DUerss, I've got a question. Where is everyone from?

No..wait..I've already asked that. My question is: Is DU Louisiana Forum active enough for you? What happens here in Louisiana affects the WHOLE COUNTRY! We need to get involved locally. Posting here in DU LA is a start...it's something. I, for one, would love to hear about what's going on in other areas of Louisiana. I know we live in a red state but communication between Louisiana progressives can't be taken for granted right now. Lets all reintroduce ourselves and continue to post on this forum.

I'm in New Orleans and I borrowed my nick from Funky butt, the bar on Rampart (no legal affiliation whatsoever.) I'm looking forward to participating in a more cohesive grassroots network here in LA. I was pretty depressed about how red this state turned out to be on Nov. 2. I can't think of a better time to do something about it!

I'm in Baton Rouge and I feel like an island.A tiny one at that!
I don't know any Democrats,Progressives or any other tolerant people around here.Oh wait Democrats and Progressives are not that tolerant either,judging by that smoker thread the other day.
I'm pretty depressed!

I couldn't find the thread to re-read it, but I'm totally not trying to offend anyone. I'm not a smoker so obviously a tax on smoking wouldnt negatively affect me financially. Actually, the way this one is set up, it could mean a much needed raise for me.

Anyway, I started this thread to try to get reacquainted with each other. We have several people signed up for our Beaucoup Blues event from Baton Rouge. Believe me, there are some progressives over there. I expect a pretty large BR contingency at our event. Maybe you could come and meet everyone. http://www.beaucoupblues.com

I went to the Texas forum and it is really moving. Lots of posting over there and they even have meetups! Don't be depressed bluedonkey, you're really not alone over there.

It seems the Yahoo Louisiana forum is much more active that the LA forum on DU....we have an active Progressive Dems Meet-Up group in Lafayette, and I assume from all the yahoo posts that other meet-up groups are active around our state too, they just don't access DU the way that we do!

We have plenty of meetups here in town. I, personally, am not a big fan of these meetings. The DU meetups that I've read about sound a lot more fun than sitting around a coffee shop table explaining to the latest newbie why we shouldn't all just abandon the democratic party altogether. LOL

I visit the yahoo groups and post there from time to time. Before Nov 2, I was a pretty active poster there and it helped with many actions I was working on. I just don't really care for the way it's set up and it kind of sucks looking at all the ads. I will stay active there as well as here.

Blue, I understand how you feel. Even so, thanks to a little nickel-and-dime snooping, I found several precincts in Baton Rouge that you'd feel comfortable in (or so I would think).* Apparently Precinct Set 1 (precincts starting with 1) and parts of Precinct Set 3 (likewise starting with 3), seem to be reasonably tolerant. The problem is that I don't have a precinct map of East BR Parish, so you'll have to get one from the Registrar of Voters or LSUs Political Science department. I know some moderate-to-liberal areas are there, I just can't locate them on the map.

*From the website of the Louisiana Secretary of State, Elections Division (now THAT IS a damn good use of our tax dollars -- for once!)

P.S. That's how I "discovered" a non-neoconservative (if not actually Liberal) district in that Freeperville known as Shreveport - the Highland Neighborhood (around Centenary College) if you are curious. Sadly, NO, BR, S'port, and a tiny pocket in Lafayette are the only places in the state that I'm aware of that qualify as Liberal safe zones. If you are North La but far from Shreveport (east of Monroe), there is one in Jackson, Miss that might fill the bill -- the Fondren/Belhaven Neighborhood (near Millsaps and Belhaven Colleges)

I haven't been in here since the Jazz Funeral for Democracy. Most of my local interests involve playing music, eating and drinking... and local elections. Also, I, unlike folks in the Lounge, prefer to stay anonymous. The DU meet-ups look like a lot of fun, but here in New Orleans I can party with like-minded friends every week, if I had the time.

Check out the plans for June 15 in my home town on the other thread.

ONWARD!