The Loneliness of a Lonestar Liberal

[katinmn]

To all the Texas DUers, this article should make you feel proud. I didn't know that activists around Crawford have successfully reelected Democrat Chet Edwards to the U.S. House, and are keeping him as Bush's congressman. I learned a few other things, too.

Keep up the good fight. :)

http://www.alternet.org/story/22254/
Progressive activists in Texas face strong and often hostile opposition. But they say they're going to fight to turn Texas blue again.

It's not easy being a progressive activist in Texas. Not only are the state's progressives up against a conservative majority and completely ignored by national politicians, they're also stuck with the media's label of "red state voters" who have completely different values from "blue state voters."

"I'm a redneck. I was raised Pentecostal and listen to country music. So what?" says Diane Wilson, 51, a member of Code Pink and author of the forthcoming book, An Unreasonable Woman, about her battle to save her hometown from industrial chemicals. "Redneck progressives are capable of a lot more than the media would have you think."

The repetitive use of the term "red state voter" makes it easy for the country at large, including progressives living in Democratic cities, to lose sight of the fact that Texas is a diverse state full of activists.

-more-

[DemonFighterLives]

1. Glad to hear that they are getting active

Stopping the plastic co from dumping in the ocean was a great achievement.
How would you like to live in Crawford? Dubby cutouts and stickers all over the place. :puke:

[tavalon]

2. But they have a great paper n/t

[DemonFighterLives]

6. You're right!

I wouldn't puke on that. Just the dubby grafitti all over the place.

[katinmn]

3. kick for Texas liberals!

[Mugsy]

4. Texas' bad rap.

Hey, I know my home state is bad... seriously Conservative, home to two Bush's (Sr and W but not Neil or Jeb) and in Houston they even named the airport after Daddy.

But we are also the home of Molly Ivans, Jim Hightower and me. Kerry received nearly 40% of the vote in Texas, whereas states like Nebraska voted 80% for Bush in the '04 election.

The mayors of Houston, (and iirc) Austin, San Antonio and El Paso are all Democrats.

Voter turnout was so low during the 2004 race that if every seventh Democrat that voted had brought a friend with them, Kerry would have won not only the electroral, but popular vote as well.

It's not as hopeless here as one might think.

[katinmn]

7. Agreed. DeLay's gerrymandering made it possible for many of the

Repubs to get where they are today, both statewide and nationally. I hope he eventually gets his comeuppance.

[GOPFighter]

13. I was in El Paso the day before the 2004 election...

...and Kerry bumper stickers outnumbered Bush stickers by a wide margin.
:applause: :applause: :applause: :applause: :applause: :applause: :applause: :applause: :applause: :applause: :applause: :applause: :applause: :applause: :applause: :applause: :applause: :applause: :applause: :applause: :applause: :applause: :applause: :applause: :applause: :applause: :applause: :applause: :applause: :applause: :applause: :applause: :applause: :applause: :applause: :applause: :applause: :applause: :applause: :applause: :applause: :applause: :applause: :applause: :applause: :applause: :applause: :applause: :applause: :applause: :applause: :applause: :applause: :applause: :applause: :applause: :applause: :applause: :applause: :applause: :applause: :applause: :applause: :applause: :applause: :applause: :applause: :applause: :applause: :applause: :applause: :applause:

[Liberal In Texas]

5. Despite some of the Texas bashing here by some DU'ers

there are more progressives around than many realize.

As the population becomes browner, more of our candidates will be getting elected (that's if we get the rigged voting boxes fixed, but that nation-wide problem is another story.)

[katinmn]

8. The Texas state forum is the most active on DU

and it looks to me like Texas liberals are the more active of the activists.

I just know you're going to take back all of Texas.

[frictionlessO]

9. Excellent find Kat!! Reco'd for our Texas Progs! Redneck and all!

That is some frontline shit they have to put up with. Strong are they in the force, yes?

[katinmn]

10. Thanks for the nom.'

I don't like to see Texas or ANY state bashing.

We all have our crosses to bear -- Coleman is Minnesota's.

[frictionlessO]

12. A'yup. Makes no sense in garnering like mided folks either and

further more really lowers us to their level. I'll fight beside any prog TX, MS, LA... any of 'em!

[Lisa0825]

11. Thanks for the article!

We Texas Dems are an active bunch, and it's nice to have that recognized here, as much shit as we usually take!LOL

[crispini]

14. Amen, and awright!

And, as an aside, this is why Texas DU'ers get pretty defensive on here when the usual redstate Texas bashing starts up. What most people don't seem to realize is that we are working pretty hard down here, and we already get PLENTY of flack from other people IRL about our politics. So to come on DU -- which is like a refuge at times -- and get YET ANOTHER ration of shit -- well, it's just too much at times.

But we're here, and we're not shutting up, and we're not going away, and we expect an awful lot of THANK YOUs when we turn this state blue. ;)

[Horse with no Name]

16. Just in case anyone didn't know

Crispini is one of the BEST activists.:hi:

[katinmn]

19. You already have my thanks for all the work you do.

We won't let anyone get away with posting generalizations on DU!

[Texasgal]

20. Agreed!

To all the Texas Libs who are busting their butts to change Texas politics.... a BIG THANK YOU!

[0rganism]

15. The "red-state-voters" label is dangerous in blue states, as well

In resorting to these kinds of blanket state-by-state generalizations, we can lose sight of the fact that there are hardcore conservative activists trying to oust Democrats and overturn liberalism at the local level in states that vote for Democratic candidates.

[crispini]

17. Oooo. Very good point.

Complacency in our traditional liberal strongholds is NOT a good idea.

[Bridget Burke]

18. California is a great state. But--"Governor Schwarzenegger"?

(From the State that gave us Presidents Nixon & Reagan.) Nobody has the room to be smug.

[0rganism]

21. yep, best example there is

That one's got it all: quality and quantity, high irony and slapstick rolled into one big burrito of poor planning and overconfidence.

[katinmn]

22. kick for the late shift