But, of course...

[misanthrope]

...here's the second part of that Glen Browder essay on what he sees as the strategy to win Dem votes in the South.

The first part, for those that missed it: http://www.al.com/opinion/mobileregister/index.ssf?/base/opinion/1116149138148900.xml&coll=3

And this week's follow-up: http://www.al.com/opinion/mobileregister/index.ssf?/base/opinion/111675375623000.xml&coll=3

Summation: "The Dems can win some more votes in the South if they will stop bearing the standard for causes that Southerners don't like."

[Ms. Clio]

1. Or just become Republicans

It's really all so simple.

[FreedomAngel82]

5. Bingo!

You got it. That's what he was trying to say. We all know it.

[Ms. Clio]

6. You're getting warm and feeling very very sleepy now. . . .

Relax, don't try to resist.

We must all become Republicans, then we shall all know perfect and eternal bliss.

[Cleita]

2. Or if they want to secede again, this time we'll let them.

[in_cog_ni_to]

3. stop bearing causes that they don't like?

That's funny. That means what? Be anti-choice, anti-gay, anti-poor, pro-Christian, support prayers in schools, support the death penalty and anything else we stand for? And don't forget to fly the Confederate flag. No thanks.

[FreedomAngel82]

4. Oh good grief

Yeah like I'm going to give up my beliefs and rights to "win." Give me a fucking break. That would make the canidate a false one. Not a democrat at all but a rightwinger just with the letter "d" after it. I'd NEVER vote for that person.

[misanthrope]

10. The impression I get...

...from Browder is that, to him, the mere "winning" is the goal in and of itself and the principles are secondary. That mindset is predominant in the Beltway and the reason that corporatism has overrun this nation.

What does he propose Dems do when Repubs start their mudslinging and fear-mongering? Just sit back and take it with no response to defend their positions? Let the religious right keep doing what they've done so far?

Yeah, we all see how well that's working.

Browder may be learned and exprienced, but I think he's living in an alternate reality.

Maybe we should look back and see how Browder voted on matters when he was on the Hill.

[misanthrope]

7. My favorite parts...

...of this attempted coercion were:

"To speak the unspeakable: The Democratic Party must genuinely embrace the moderate South, get comfortable in the 'guy zone' of white Southern culture, balance traditional values with economics, and develop a heartland policy agenda."

"Serious Democratic presidential candidates inevitably have to venture into the 'guy zone' of white Southern culture -- guns, God and Old Glory -- and whoever enters that zone also had better walk the walk and talk the talk reasonably well to comfort a skeptical bunch of Southern hunters, preachers and patriots.

"I believe that most southerners feel relatively comfortable in their lives. However, they are uncomfortable with what's happening in American society."

" It may be ironic, considering the South's historic poverty, but cultural values (such as faith, family, community and patriotism) trump economic issues among most whites and among many African-American and Hispanic voters in this region.

"As long as Democratic candidates and the party ignore or insult traditional values (while noisily preoccupied with such issues as abortion and gay rights), the South will vote Republican."

There are other portions of this piece where he says things about tax reform and educational opportunity that make me wonder whether he has paid attention to the political history of Alabama, things that have failed time and time again.

I also note he tells Dems to stop talking about abortion and gay marriage so much. Well, Glen, it's the GD GOP that keeps bringing that up and doing so to use it against Dems in that very area of the country.

To me, this sounds like someone in 1962 saying, "The national Dems could win down here if they would just ignore the negro problem."

[Bluebear]

8. All this "win more votes in the South" talk....

The last two elections, IF you take the counts as is, were won by one state. I don't hear Republicans saying, "You know, we could win more votes in the north if we drank latte and drove Volvos."

New Hampshire went blue in 2004. Why not talk about and concentrate on Nevada, New Mexico, other states which barely went Bush?

[misanthrope]

9. Because that would...

...make too much sense, rather than dumping energy and resources into places like Alabama where 2 out of every 3 voters (63%) went for Bush.

I can understand focusing on more local races, or in elections where votes for candidates actually count for such, but until the electoral college system disappears, it would be a mistake for Dems to focus too much on a lot of the Deep South in regards to the POTUS.

Besides, selling your principles for ultra-pragmatism is still "losing."

[misanthrope]

11. Very salient point...

..."I don't hear Republicans saying, 'You know, we could win more votes in the north if we drank latte` and drove Volvos.'"

[Fleshdancer]

12. This is a double insult to Southern Democrats

I'm tired of people making the South out to be some mysterious, weird place where one must lie and distort in order to get our attention. Call me crazy, but people tend to respond to solid plans and honesty down here...just like everywhere else in this country.

If a Republican shovels the BS, then call it like you see it, don't apologize, and then explain what the better plan is..and yes, sometimes it's okay to interrupt the blowhards and pound your message. Sometimes it's ok not to be polite. Most people agree with us when it comes to policy and yet we let the Republicans pull, twist, and turn the discussion into 10 different distractions at a time because they know they will lose on the issues. Why do we constantly fall into this trap? For once I would like to see the Democratic Party not over think itself into a pit of inaction. We don't have the time for all this self doubt.

[misanthrope]

13. Don't know about your state...

...but the history of Alabama has shown that the socio-economic-political dynamic here has changed little in two hundred years.

Alabamians are always easy prey to demagoguery, xenophobia and forsaking social programs (including education) to the boogeyman of "higher taxes," even when it directly acts against their best interests.

Lewis, Yancey and Bibb would be just as successful now as they were two centuries past.