Taking the Pulse

[Mayberry Machiavelli]

Okay I'll start the ball rolling.

I live in the North Dallas area. This state and this area in particular = strongly Bush (I live a few miles from Pres. Geo Bush Hwy). All I heard at work was cheerleading for the war and pres this last year. I don't hear much cheerleading these days, but neither have I heard anyone come out and express doubts about the pres or that they are disgusted and voting dem or sitting out. When I hear the occasional comment it is more or less the same crap as several months ago. The only neg. comment I've heard against Bush is from a Mass. transplant, and from my other transplant friends (I'm originally from Washington, D.C. area, spent 15 yrs. in the Navy until recently). And from the bookstore clerk when I got Al Franken's book. Apparently my wife got mostly supportive comments when she wore a T-shirt with Bush with Satan horns, and a number of nasty looks too.

So North Dallas = strongly pro-Bush, with a ?small? seething undercurrent of resentment among the quiet resistors. I am new to the area though and don't have a strong sense, though I think I've gotten the basic picture in a couple of years.

Was in SF Bay area in NOV with family--small towns near Bodega with nuclear free zone signs. My whole family, and sister's in-laws from Sacramento--all strongly anti-Bush (but most or all are traditional Berkeley type liberals anyway). My mom usually votes Repub and voted GWB last time but will vote against this time. She voted for Clinton either once or twice. Dad always votes Dem.

Will be attending a Clark meetup next week in North Dallas area and interested to see actual Texans against the pres.

What's it like where you are? Any changes?

[CatWoman]

1. I posted this in the Lounge the other day

I'm in Atlanta, and work for the US Govt.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=105&topic_id=684982

[freespeechhere]

2. In Sacramento

and the politics here are a pretty eclectic mix. In California, the coastal communities are predominately Democratic/Green/Independent thinkers. The inland valley, however, is becoming staunchly conservative. California used to be strictly divided between Northern (liberals) and Southern (conservatives). The demographics now point to coastal (liberals) and inland (conservatives). It's a tough fight living in the valley...even though I put a big sign up in my front yard for "NO RECALL" and anti-terminator, I was the only one on my block. I am a fish swimming upstream, but often times I feel that my neighbors agree with me they just don't have the guts to come out and speak their truth.

[finecraft]

4. Here in Louisiana

All the Republicans I know are in severe angst...the whole WMD thing is starting to get to them. Several comments have been made about how everything in Iraq is so screwed up. I know one thing for sure.....these people would NEVER let it be known in public that they would not vote Republican. As more and more of Bush's garbage is uncovered, I think they will do one of two things:
1. Vote democratic, and swear as God is their witness that they voted for Bush, or
2. Stay home in November

[LibDemAlways]

3. I'm in the So. Cal. suburbs

on the LA/Ventura Cty. line. Ventura Cty. swings repuke, but my neighborhood is about equally divided. There are two Clark lawn signs in the immediate vicinity and I've seen a few Clark bumper stickers and a couple of Kucinich bumper stickers. This is the kind of place though where people have money and like tax cuts. You don't hear much overt anti-chimp talk.

I recently took a part-time office job and ended up in freeper hell. The idiots I have the misfortune of working within earshot of all listen to the vulgar pigboy and hang on every word. These are textbook shit-for-brains types who make squat, toil long hours for the millionaire boss who owns numerous commercial properties and apartment buildings while they live in apartments in dangerous neighborhoods, and blame their pitiful lot in life on Democrats.

I think when you take into the consideration the "haves" who'll vote for the chimp because they love their tax breaks, the fundie types who'll vote for the chimp because they've been brainwashed into believing he's got a line to God, the wingnuts who keep Rush and InsHannity in mansions, and the millions of misguided individuals who think the chimp is a genial, down-to-earth guy they'd like to have a beer with, we've got our work cut out for us. Factor in the media pouncing on the Dem nominee at every opportunity with Rove pulling the strings and it's an ugly scenario. We need a nominee who's going to fight like hell. Pink tutu wearers should step aside for the good of the country.

[Moderator]

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