Does anyone really give a shit about NC?

[G_j]

these threads were posted today:

Hundreds of abortion rights advocates have flooded the halls of NC's Legislative Building

http://www.democraticunderground.com/10023157727
----

North Carolina Outdoes Texas, Bans Abortion and Islamic Law in Same Confusing Bill

http://www.democraticunderground.com/10023160250
----

NC: bill that allows companies to withhold the chemicals they use in fracking

http://www.democraticunderground.com/10023160170
----

NC Numbers of shame

http://www.democraticunderground.com/10023157286
----

North Carolina First State To Eliminate Federal Unemployment Benefits

http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1002&pid=3156964

[nadinbrzezinski]

1. People do, just that we have a lot of news today

[ananda]

2. Well, I suspect the people who live there do.

..

[Peacetrain]

3. Really makes you wonder

the state governments are just dismantling the constitution..

[NaturalHigh]

4. Yes.

[WorseBeforeBetter]

5. I do.

But I live here, and experience the assault on a fucking daily basis.

[JDPriestly]

66. Those of us who do not live in NC, but rather far away in California cannot do anything about NC

except commiserate. NC Democrats have to get their message out in NC.

[WorseBeforeBetter]

76. Oh, I understand. Like I commiserated for WI...

and anywhere else under right-wing assault.

In 2010 and 2012, NC Dems outvoted Rs in straight party voting. The message is getting out, but gerrymandering is killing us. Sadly, many Dems did vote for the R governor candidate in 2012 because they believed him to be the moderate, former mayor of Charlotte who would be good for the economy and job creation (we have the fifth worst unemployment in the nation). They're being rudely awakened now: still-high unemployment, and federal UI benefits gone for the long-term unemployed. It's bad. Really bad.

[Buzz Clik]

6. I do.

[KamaAina]

7. Yup.

I get the stone lowdown from Pam Spaulding, formerly of Pam's House Blend , who I follow on FB. NC is this year's Wisconsin.

[WovenGems]

8. The rush

It almost, well actually it does, seem that the far right is trying to push through as much as they can because they their ship is about sail off the edge of the Earth. And it may just be a self fulfilling prophesy.

[ms liberty]

12. I've thought about the same thing myself...

They're almost frantic to shove their legislation through, as if they sense that the pendulum is swinging against them.

[AlbertCat]

20. It's revenge

For voting for Obama the 1st time and only being stopped the second time by lots of time and money. The current legislature is bought and paid for (By Art Pope) and they are merely jumping on their pet peeves to punish us. There's no governing going on at all. Just revenge. That'll show us!


The race to the bottom continueth apace!

[G_j]

82. You got that right

they are literally hurting people right out front, and that looks like hatred to me. Of who? The poor? It's about as mean as you can get.
Unfortunately for many other states they are following much of ALEC's cookie cutter plans.

http://www.ncpolicywatch.com/2013/05/17/shining-sunlight-on-a-secretive-lobby-group/

Shining sunlight on a secretive lobby group

Published on May 17th, 2013
Written by: Nancy MacLean

<snip>

As a U. S. historian, I am deeply alarmed at the growing power of this secretive body, founded by the longtime right-wing strategist Paul Weyrich in 1973 and bankrolled by some of the largest corporations in America.

<snip>

Breathtakingly unethical and cynical in the extreme, the effort worked. It helped build a mass base for the Republican right. As the religious right turned citizens against one another through a deliberately amped-up “culture war,” ALEC quietly built a powerhouse out of the limelight.

Today, as we have witnessed in North Carolina, the group can move the same legislation in dozens of states at once. In neighboring Virginia, Weyrich’s and Falwell’s home state, ALEC’s minions in the General Assembly have been even more audacious: as the New York Times reported in February of this year, Virginia GOP legislators introduced more than 50 ALEC-proposed laws, “many practically word for word.”

<snip>

Our nation has never seen a bolder private bid to transform public life—even in the heyday of corporate influence, the Gilded Age. Every school child (at least in public schools) encounters the irrefutable evidence that this period between the overthrow of Reconstruction in 1877 and the progressive reforms of the early 1900s was the nadir of American democracy; a period in which corporations controlled both major parties, virtually ran the Congress, and produced corruption on a scale that left even brilliant humorists like Mark Twain at a loss for words. What most people today don’t understand, though, is that this dismal era was the golden age of the ALEC version of “liberty.”

..more..

ALEC Exposed Website Resource

Through ALEC, Global Corporations Are Scheming to Rewrite YOUR Rights and Boost THEIR Revenue
Business money

Through the corporate-funded American Legislative Exchange Council, global corporations and state politicians vote behind closed doors to try to rewrite state laws that govern your rights. These so-called "model bills" reach into almost every area of American life and often directly benefit huge corporations.
In ALEC's own words, corporations have "a VOICE and a VOTE" on specific changes to the law that are then proposed in your state. DO YOU? Numerous resources to help us expose ALEC are provided below. We have also created links to detailed discussions of key issues, which are available on the left.
http://www.alecexposed.org/wiki/ALEC_Exposed

[calimary]

25. I've wondered that myself. It just seems like they're on a frickin' RAMPAGE!!!

I've never seen such an avalanche of bad bills - in so many states.

Really, what are the voters in these states thinking?????? This kind of shit is okay with them???



As a woman, I find that I tend to take this very personally, and I feel like I'm almost literally under siege!!!

[AAO]

46. I too take it very personally

I feel great angst and outright disgust with the bills and laws coming out of these FAR right-wing haters - in many states - including my own. Women's rights, LGBT rights, (ie: basic fucking human rights - remember, the rights we were born with, and made law in the U.S. Constitution?), the right of all people to have a job with a living wage. I could rant for an hour, but I'll spare you. Peace!

[calimary]

102. You're not ranting anything that I myself haven't ranted, too.

Or that thousands of us here posting a lot on DU have ranted, also.

I've had this conversation with two people I know and see fairly often, who are just stuck in republi-CON-ism. One brought up that way, and one probably just rebelling against a liberal-leaning parent who - um - really wasn't all that great at parenting.

"Okay, you hate the Democrats and liberals and you believe in the GOP way of doing things...

...but you're a union member and you need those benefits because that's the only insurance coverage you can afford." (Silence.)

"...Um, you don't like government intrusion into your doctor's office - AND you have a daughter of childbearing age and you don't want the government up inside HER vagina either..." (Silence. Followed by a little half-hearted stammering about baby-killers that kinda fades off.)

"...Um, you're actually concerned about climate change and the party you embrace doth not know science, logic, climatology, or other assorted nuisance facts..." (Silence.)

"...Um, you hate racism..." (Silence.)

"...Um... you were bothered seeing all those lines around the block for hours, waiting to vote, and you thought it looked like we're a Third World country..." (Silence.)

"... Yeah, um, you disapprove of the efforts to curtail the right to vote, you actually think that's kinda not fair..." (Silence.)

"...Um, you're actually OKAY with the idea of restricting the right to vote - when it should really be open to as many people as possible?" (Silence.)

"... And you hated the war..." Them: "...but, but, but, Democrats voted for it TOO..." Me: "And who led the way? Who told the lies? WHO was out there on the front lines, and sold that bullshit to America?" (Silence.)

"...Um... you want your pot holes fixed - you know we all pay taxes to cover stuff like that. (Silence.)

"...Um... you'd have a shit-fit if there were no more food-safety inspectors and you wound up buying bad meat to feed the kids that night." (Silence.)

"...Um - you fly a lot. Don't really need all those air traffic controllers anymore, right? They cost too much. And that airline doesn't need maintenance - let 'em go ahead and cut corners to save a buck! Stupid regulators..." (Silence.)

"...Um - you didn't have ANY insurance at all were it not for the Affordable Care Act." (Silence.)

"...Um - those disability benefits you DEPEND ON, because you're unable to work and you live alone and that's the only regular income you have - DAMN those stupid liberals who fought to get that for you, correct? Let's just get rid of that!" (Silence.)

"...Um... all those meds you have to take, at least you know they're safe. But hey, we don't need all those stupid federal drug inspectors and testing then, how 'bout it? Costs too much. Heaven forbid we have to pay taxes to cover that stuff." (Silence.)

"...Um - because you depend on state aid and welfare, that means you're nothing but a lazy moocher, then, doesn't it?" (Silence.)

"...Um - those stupid fire fighters and first responders that gave their lives recently in that awful fire. But that just costs too much and we have to cut taxes even more, correct? I mean, who needs 'em?" (Silence.)

"...You believe in Jesus Christ and what He taught - like in the Beatitudes and elsewhere, in which He talked about the needs of the poor, homeless, and hungry. You say you're a Christian, but those people are just lazy moochers." (Silence.)

Then I go back to...

"...Um, you hate the idea of government intrusion into your private life or ANYBODY'S private life..." (Silence.)

Then one of them might say ... "but, but, but... right to life... baby killers... it's a baby from that moment ... my daughter, ... but God if she got raped... " Me: "... and WHOSE decision should that be - that affects HER body? Hers? Or yours, even though she'll be 26 in a few weeks? Or some politician's - who's probably a man?" (Silence.

They just don't have answers. They just don't. They can't really respond. They do anyway, of course - they've got lots of talking points and Pox Noise indoctrination and other crap to spew, but it doesn't hold water against these annoying little nuisance things that keep popping up, called FACTS. The truth, reality, facts - just don't fit the picture that's been painted for these poor folks, the way they've been indoctrinated.

At that point you'll probably start getting such retorts as "... well, I dunno..." or "meh, whatever." That's when you usually hit a brick wall. And they do too. Because they don't have good comebacks for any of this when it punches them in their own noses. The standard pull-the-string-and-the-dolly-talks talking points don't fit here. It has the unfortunate effect of forcing them to think, HERE in the real world. And that's uncomfortable. Besides, it doesn't fit with the Pox Noise propaganda they're dutifully swallowing every day. The best you can do is rattle their cages. With one of my friends - all she watches is Pox Noise. I can tell, because stuff she says comes straight out of the mouth of that-guy-whose-name-rhymes-with-Vanity. The only time she hears any other side is when she's over here at our house. And it's very confusing to her.

I guess that's where it starts. Rattling their cages and making them uncomfortable. I think you probably have to do that repeatedly before any of it cuts through and leads them to start questioning, seriously, the propaganda they're being fed. Or maybe even switching the channel from time to time to something OTHER THAN Pox Noise. But some of this is deeply ingrained.

Sometimes all you CAN do is rattle their cages. Make it just a wee bit more uncomfortable and difficult to continue mindlessly embracing these totally UN-Christian "ideals." They don't change easily because nobody wants to admit they were wrong, or worse - that they were gullible and allowed themselves to be fooled and led down the garden path. But that's where it has to start. It has to be brought down home, and the point made intimately and personally - to apply directly to THEM. Part of the problem we have to fight against is the whole notion that it's "those OTHER people" out there somewhere in Teabagger Fantasy Land who are to blame. It has to be brought home - that THEY are directly and personally affected.

[AAO]

130. Now that's what I call a rant! All of it completely true to my experiences.

Which one is your kid?

[calimary]

131. OMG!!! Now where'd you find that sweet little photo? }:D

Michael's the one behind the other three, making the sign! In back of the two-studs-and-a-teddy-bear.

This was at Hooligans in Jacksonville NC a few weeks ago! One of my current FAVORITE photos from them on tour.

Left to right - Ted (Stud #1) on bass, Michael the front man/lead guitarist/principal songwriter, Matt (resident teddy bear) on drums, and Josh, (the new guy, second guitarist and backup vocalist, and you could consider him Stud #2).

They're my babies! Well, one of them was. The others are my "sons without stretchmarks." All of them are or will be 23 this year, except for Michael who just turned 21. Even so, they're seasoned veterans by now, and have earned the title of "national touring band." They've been touring since 2010! And dammit, they're astoundingly good! Objectively. And when the shirts start coming off, as they really get cranking, it can become a kind of religious experience! Ever since Ted started doing that, I've regarded it as a kind of public service - beautifying America as it were. They're like a litter of puppies around the house, too, with Andrew their tour manager - who actually took this photo from the back of the stage. He's a real cutie, too!

All of them are complete and total sweethearts. Not a diva in the bunch! And they work their asses off! Not just onstage, either, but in the crowd and with the fans, outside where the line forms before the doors open, all the way to the bitter end when people start to pack up and load their tour vans. Michael even did that during this past winter, in places where fans were waiting outside in three-degree weather. He didn't care. Wanted to go out and meet everybody and introduce himself and pass out free stickers and wristbands and stuff.

ACIDIC ROCKS!!!!!

Naaaah, I'm not proud or anything...

[AAO]

136. You actually seem quite restrained for a mama bear.

[calimary]

137. Thanks! };D

Dang! I LOVE these guitar and drums smilies! AND the "You Rock!" one, too. Glad it's back! It was gone for awhile.

[G_j]

9. a bit harsh, I know

but it is so frustrating watching the terrible destruction going on here, while over 600 have been arrested protesting it,
The wrecking ball swings on..

[ms liberty]

10. Well, it all depends...

When it's another one of the "southern states" against which outrage should be expressed along with the desire that all these "southern states" should just secede, then yes, DU does care. Of course, this is the segment of DU that sees the south as one homogeneous whole rather than the separate and distinct states and histories that we are.
When it's the NC citizens standing up and protesting vigorously against the stealth takeover of their state by teabagging Neanderthals, and you know, defying the stereotype of ignorant hicks who hate everything liberals like me, mr liberty and our friends and loved ones (almost all of whom are native to NC), then no, not so much.

[AlbertCat]

21. Yes, South Bashing is rampant....

.... here and on Rachel Maddow's blog.

For some reason people think OK, ND, SD, AK, OH, WI, WY, AZ and some other state are all in the South.... or something.

The election of a black man has brought and organized all the bigots in the US of A and now you can see they are EVERYWHERE. Blaming the South is SOOOOOO 19th and 20th century. (BTW.... the bigots were everywhere then too)

[KoKo]

26. I've wondered if that was part of it.

Quote from you:
When it's another one of the "southern states" against which outrage should be expressed along with the desire that all these "southern states" should just secede, then yes, DU does care. Of course, this is the segment of DU that sees the south as one homogeneous whole rather than the separate and distinct states and histories that we are.

The other part is that DU as a whole isn't into "Activism" so much these days. There are reasons for that...too complicated to get into.

Personally, I'm not inclined to talk too much about activism and where it takes place because we know that sites like DU are monitored. Some others may be reluctant to get too involved because we know that what we post could give information to people who want to undermine Activism by Democrats. Sort of like the recently revealed 'Surveillance State' is putting restrictions on Investigative Reporting.

I remember the early days when DU was a buzzing hive of activism. These days are very different.

Thanks for that insight in your post. Southern Bashing does happen here..but, I think it comes from those who have interest in dividing us. We know that's part of the strategy by Political Ops...who can be on both sides and inbetween and part of a strategy by others who seek to manage opinions for their own purposes.

[YeahSureRight]

62. Sadly Liberals and Progressives are a minority in the South and have to live under GOP rule but that

is also democracy in action.

Face it they hate you and what you stand for and punish you anyway they want so you can vote them out of office or move to a better state.

Now .....What do you want the rest of us who don't live there to do?

[AlbertCat]

71. What do you want the rest of us who don't live there to do?

You can wipe the smug out of your eyes and see that things are not normal down here. This "you voted for them" is not that simple when millionaires like Art Bell and the GOP deliberately target the state because we were a very blue shade of purple.

[YeahSureRight]

79. I have always known my entire life the South was a miserable place to exist and yes I did live

in the South for a while but I got the F out so I did not have to live in such a miserable place. (to me it is miserable if you like it enjoy)

If I had the money to buy governments I would have left this nation long ago.

Now what do you what me to do about NC or the South?

[octoberlib]

11. Of course, I live here.

If NC was a country, we'd have an authoritarian system of government. The only things stopping these sociopaths are Federal laws. God help us all if we ever get a Republican President again with an R majority in the House and Senate.

[KoKo]

34. NC has an interesting history. And, it's not South Carolina, Texas or Mississippi...

NC went for Obama in 2008 and Dennis Kucinich managed to get an impressive number of votes here in 2004.

Where we are today is in part corruption in the Dem Party...(we had Edwards) and Mike Easley...and lack of Obama supporters follow through after 2008 when his organization became about HIM and not supporting the Progressive/Activist Base that had been forming since 2000 Selection. It's complicated and I'm not going to get into more about it here on DU. But, I was involved ....and saw much of what went on.

I have also lived and voted as a Democrat in NC, NYC, NYState, CT and grew up in SC.

Have watched the Northeast to the South politically. And, was in CT when Bill and Hillary were there in Law School when Joe Lieberman was an Activist! LOL's!

[octoberlib]

49. Is there still a lot of infighting in the state party?

I'm worried about this. They need to be concentrating on elections and finding a viable candidate for 2016. Thanks for your reply, btw. Very interesting.

[JDPriestly]

68. Yes. Note that strong Democrats are destroyed by the right in the South.

Siegelman in Alabama and Edwards in N. C.

Sanders of S.C. was just as wayward and unfaithful in his marriage as Edwards, but the GOP and Obama took Edwards to court over an issue on which the GOP and Obama ultimately lost, and Sanders won his election this year.

The financial fraud that Sanders perpetrated on his state of S.C. was pretty clear. But he got by with it. Edwards had apparently not committed any crimes that could be proved and had to submit to the ordeal of a slanderous, libelous trial.

Guess the Republicans and "moderate" Democrats took care of Edwards real good. Bet they are proud of themselves. Meanwhile, North Carolina has turned into a hotbed of hate and ignorant conservatism. Thank you "moderate" Democrats.

[bluemarkers]

75. Everyone read post 34!! Yes KoKo is exactly right!!!

We had to listen to coverage of the Edwards scandal for several years as it dropped out of the national consciousness. The door was cracked open, and teabilllies ripped it off it's hinges. Easley's missteps was like throwing rose pedals on the red carpet. I kid you know. Perdue had no chance because the billies had a taste of red meat and they have acted like the Neanderthals they are ever since. They are disgusting.

[HiPointDem]

13. kr

[KamaAina]

14. Time to bring back the Regulators

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/War_of_the_Regulation

The War of the Regulation (or the Regulator Movement) was a North and South Carolina uprising, lasting from about 1765 to 1771, in which citizens took up arms against corrupt colonial officials. Though unsuccessful, some historians consider it a catalyst to the American Revolutionary War....

In 1764, several thousand people from North Carolina, mainly from Orange, Anson, and Granville counties in the western region, were extremely dissatisfied with the wealthy North Carolina officials, whom they considered cruel, arbitrary, tyrannical, and corrupt. Taxes were collected by local sheriffs supported by the courts; the sheriffs and courts had sole control over their local regions. Many of the officers were very greedy and often would band together with other local officials for their own personal gain. The entire system depended on the integrity of local officials, many of whom engaged in extortion; taxes collected often enriched the tax collectors directly. At times, sheriffs would intentionally remove records of their tax collection in order to further tax citizens. The system was endorsed by the colonial governor, who feared losing the support of the various county officials.

The effort to eliminate this system of government became known as the Regulator uprising, War of the Regulation, or the Regulator War. The most heavily affected areas were said to be that of Rowan, Anson, Orange, Granville, and Cumberland counties. It was a struggle between mostly lower class citizens, who made up the majority of the population of North and South Carolina, and the wealthy ruling class, who were about 5% of the population, yet maintained almost total control of the government.

The primary aim of the Regulators was to form an honest government and reduce taxation. The wealthy businessmen/politicians who ruled North Carolina at this point saw this as a grave threat to their power. Ultimately, they brought in the militia to crush the rebellion and then hanged its leaders. It is estimated that out of the 8,000 people living in Orange County at the time, some six or seven thousand of them were in support of the Regulators.

[G_j]

16. wow

that is some amazing history!
I am not a native and don't remember ever reading about this in American history.
....remarkable thank you!

[KamaAina]

17. I'm not, either

never even been except for driving through.

I think I read about it in Howard Zinn's People's History of the U.S. Either that or the People's Almanac.

[G_j]

29. I suppose I have then

because I read the People's History many years ago. I did remember the "First in Freedom" phrase, but "Regulators" not really. Must reread some history.

[AlbertCat]

27. Also...

(from Wiki)
"On April 12, 1776, the colony became the first to instruct its delegates to the Continental Congress to vote for independence from the British crown, through the Halifax Resolves passed by the North Carolina Provincial Congress. The dates of both of these events are memorialized on the state flag and state seal."

It used to be the motto on license plates "First in Freedom" because of the Halifax Resolves. But for some stupid reason they changed it to "first in flight" because two yankees from Ohio came to the Outer Banks because the wind blows 60 MPH all the time there.... and there're no trees. We weren't "1st in flight". Folks had been flying around in balloons for quite a while before the Wright Brothers. 'First in Motorized FlighT" doesn't sound so good and is too long to get on the plate..... Why they just didn't leave it with an act WE actually did here and is true I'll never know.

I love my state. But every time we get ready to "step up to the plate" and rise out of the ol' timey Southern horse shit (and we have several times), someone ruins it.

[KoKo]

39. Thank you for this bit of NC History. It's an interesting state...

and why it's so tragic to see this attack to drag us back. There's more about the Civil War and NC...and how fractured it was at that time. NC has an independent streak that it's neighbor to the South (totally ruled by Charleston Planters and Entitled) lacked for a long while. So long that the "Revenge of the Tea Party" Repugs has some roots in backlash against the Planter Class...until THEY BECAME what they Fought Against with the "Planter Class" from Charleston.

It's complicated! We used to have a good amount of Historians here on DU in the "old days" ....but, alas... time and changes in the site...resulted in many of them leaving for other activities.

[sheshe2]

15. Kicked and Recommending! n/t

[Coyotl]

18. Thanks to the TEArrany Party!

[pampango]

19. I do. Even if good people live on the "wrong" side of a line on the map is no reason not to care

about them.

[Iliyah]

22. Many do plus me

and I've been reading the newspaper sites and overall and on cue that are not covering this and barely covering Texas, a short mention about OHIO and WI and other GOPers run states gets a bypass. Anything remotely negative centering or concerning a Dem and then administration are blown out of portion with glaring eff up headlines and of course NSA related BS too.

So yeah, NC has my support.

[rl6214]

23. I think we all should whether we live there or not.

[NRaleighLiberal]

24. Oh yes....big time!

[MynameisBlarney]

28. I do!

Most of my family and a LOT of good friends live there.
I care about NC quite a bit.

[SleeplessinSoCal]

30. Everyone should care if they are following the GOP tactics in 2013

They can't win honestly on the issues. They have to minimize the number of black and poor voters. But even that wouldn't bring them victory because poor whites are suffering too under the lack of action for working Americans by the Tea Party sponsors, corporate america. The Tea Party is mostly to blame. These are Tea Party actions, but are becoming more mainstream GOP actions. Their only hope is to get to the polls the angry fundamentalist Christian voter, who sat out the last election or two.

So these actions that are being attached to a bill outlawing "Sharia Law' is not only draconian, but full up with irony and is the actual goal of the fanatical right.

[MuseRider]

31. About as much as they do about Kansas.

You all have been good and Koched. We were Koched already since they base in Kansas.

Now you will become stupid, you should just move. No real attempt will be made to understand what happened but you will be punched repeatedly by those "good" democrats in other states that you really should move to.

You can do something wonderful and it will sink like a stone. Everything has to be bad, and those sink pretty quickly too.

I am so sorry. I was just talking to my husband this morning about what was happening to you.

It is a hard club but welcome anyway.

Many of us care. Most of us are too tired of the shit on this site and the treatment to care much but we do.

[KoKo]

53. Agree they focus on the Tool..Art Pope...but he's connected to ALEC & Koch...

It was a Multi-Pronged attack against States they though they WIN and OVERCOME.

How NC that went for Obama in 2008 could come to this is complicated but ALEC AND KOCH and ART POPE were WAITING! THEN....like SNAKES...they STRUCK US DOWN.

Dem Party Scandals also played into this....and Obama for America being disbanded and not supporting is another leg on the stool of our downfall..

[MuseRider]

94. You are there?

I am so sorry to all of you who live there. This is the kind of takeover that is allowed. Once you have been declared unneeded you are abandoned and this happens.

It really sucks. We are living a terrible reality here as Brownback and the Koch's use us to experiment and we are now nailed to the economic plan of a former Reaganite who failed miserably. We are forecast to be under water starting next year I believe.

This is going to happen to almost every state as time goes on as long as the democrats do not step in and start working on voting issues. We are being clobbered left and right by so much that it is almost impossible to focus on any one thing and they are all important. This is how they win. We have to get in front of this.

I foresee a teabagger administration in our federal future. It will not be kind.

[KoKo]

107. Thanks for your perspective "Muse Rider." Yes...they swooped in when

ALEC could be implemented after Koch Brothers and some Dem Mismanagement took their price.

Yes..."We are being clobbered lef and right by so much that it is almost imposibble to focus on any one thing and they are all important. This is how they win."

Indeed...they come in and turn over everything we thought we'd gained through hard work...and with "Citizens United" Supremes Decision...they run Roughshod over us...and we didn't see it coming. Our Party should have seen it coming... Why didn't they? After all the work we did to Elect A Dem President and what we could do to get the "more and better Democrats in with supporting "Act Blue" and all the effort we did on working against the computerized voting machines trying to get Verified Ballot Voting Reform and those Diebold Computer Machines out!

NOW they are going against our Voting Personhood with Identity Cards and charges of "Voter Fraud" when they can't find any voter fraud but they RAM THE BILLS THROUGH... and On and On.

[MuseRider]

109. I bet our lovely Sec of State has been visiting with regularity.

Kris Kobach? If not yet he will.

I am so sorry. The shock never goes away but the pain of posting here and getting smacked around by the very people that could help you is almost worse.

When you have to fight your own party to just make a few comments there is no chance in hell of ever making a difference. Sadly.

It was mentioned by someone to be earlier that those of us with this particular outcome in our states should get together, perhaps a group. I think he did not want to do that with me because we are quite different on a few other topics. Maybe we should really think about it.

I am spending the 4th with some of the party movers and shakers. We are great friends but politically could not be more different. It will be interesting to hear what is said. Missed the party last year so I have some catching up to do.

[KoKo]

112. It's hard going back and working with them for me...but, there are so

many groups popping up since the "scales have been lifted from their eyes" that it's going to get more diversified than it was years ago...I think. I HOPE, anyway.

It's now gotten so bad that those asleep now understand it's COMING FOR THEM!

Interesting times ahead. I hope that as hard as it is...the REAL Change will eventually be coming...but, it will be a hard fight ...given that we are now up against Laws that have been changed to give us citizens a much smaller voice than we had years ago...when "Selection 2000 Occurred."

We keep at it.

[Tikki]

32. NC tried to ban the Tesla sales from the state...so far that bill hasn't passed...

...we'll see.


Tikki

[jeff47]

110. You've got that backwards

Tesla sales are already banned, because Tesla is not using a NC dealer to sell their cars. Automakers are not allowed to sell directly in NC.

The bill to allow direct sales has not passed.

[Tikki]

114. How is that fair...you can't tell me there isn't some rich guy in NC who ordered a Maserati or...

whatever from Italy or Germany and went over seas and picked it up and now drives it in NC.

This law makes me think it is about being an all electric car and nothing else.


Tikki

[jeff47]

115. Well, the law is from a very long time ago, so it's not targeting Tesla

The law is from something like the 1930s or 1950s. The idea was NC dealers have to comply with NC law regarding things like warranties. Those folks from Detroit might flee across the state line, after all!

And since Detroit's business model uses dealers, nobody tried to change it before now.

As for your example, people can go buy a car elsewhere and then bring it to NC. The automakers just can't directly sell within NC.

[Tikki]

117. So someone can go to California and buy a Tesla and then register it in NC and all.

At least that can happen!!!

The Tesla sedan is starting to show up all over my part of So Cal..they are beautiful.

Tikki

[HipChick]

33. What is NC?

[KamaAina]

41. North Carolina

[HipChick]

48. I try not to go south of the Potomac

[KamaAina]

52. Y'all ought to go some time

Chapel Hill is widely considered one of the coolest spots in the land. The entire Research Triangle area, also including Durham and Raleigh, is filled with Yankee transplants, to the point where the Raleigh suburb of Cary is said to stand for "Containment Area for Relocated Yankees".

That's the whole point of this thread: that the most progressive Southern state has been hijacked by Koch-funded teahadists much like Wisconsin, Michigan and other northern states have.

[AlbertCat]

73. I try not to go south of the Potomac

Why is that?

Explain.

[MuseRider]

96. And there is a large part of the problem

You think this is not yours as well? Do you think letting this happen and replying with that kind of snark is helpful? Wait until it is your turn. Will you like this? This is happening all over the country, one state at a time and you respond like this?

Do you think your attitude is helpful?

[mnhtnbb]

35. I do. I chose to live here. Not in Alabama or Mississippi or South Carolina

or Florida or Tennessee or Kentucky...or any other southern state.

North Carolina has a remarkable history of fighting to break free of tradition.
The Republican goons running the government in this state are determined
to take it back 50 or 60 years.

We are NOT going to let that happen...but alas, since NC is one of 12 states
that does not offer recall as a solution to government which isn't representative,
we'll have to wait for the next election.

[Heathen57]

36. We all should,

and I think we do, but there is so much other happenings that it is hard to get it all in.

What has happened in NC, is a preview of what will be tried in every state where the GOP has the advantage. We have to make sure it is known so we can push back, both in the courts (these laws are unconstitutional) as well as the elections.

[otohara]

37. Does NC? After The Special Election Gay Marriage

Where 60% voted against LGBT citizens...Because as usual Dems don't vote in midterms and special elections I figured NC was fucked. Then they went for Romney...and now they're in shock

[WorseBeforeBetter]

127. That was a disgusting vote.

http://results.enr.clarityelections.com/NC/40067/90676/en/summary.html

The NC NAACP supported marriage equality, but many conservative black churches were rabidly opposed. Preachers like this:

http://www.queerty.com/nc-pastor-obama-promoting-evil-decimating-black-america-with-marriage-equality-20121007/

http://www.southernstudies.org/2011/09/nc-lawmakers-pushing-same-sex-marriage-ban-enlist-help-of-gay-hating-preacher.html

And I knew when I saw the full-page Billy Graham ad in the Sunday paper before the election that it was over.

I'm not sure where the hate in this state comes from, but it's appalling.

[otohara]

129. OMG He's Sick

This makes me sad - my kid is living in NC.
He's starting to like Asheville but is worried about the direction of the state.
None of his friends voted in that special election - I gave them so much shit about it. They are in a band and
think they can sing this country into change. They don't even know what's going
on in their own back yard. But not anymore.

[WorseBeforeBetter]

132. Sing away, young-uns, but VOTE!

The only thing that gives me some "hope" is the number of moderate Republicans I've encountered who are disgusted with what's going on. With unemployment benefits cut and $80M less being pumped into the economy each month, there will be an extremely unpleasant ripple effect: decreased demand, businesses struggling, more unemployed, higher crime. I mean, it's not like NC's economy is strong as it is, or we don't have the fifth worst unemployment IN THE NATION. A budget is still being worked on, and the hardcore wacko Republicans want to tax food, prescription drugs and Social Security; hopefully THAT won't be forgotten in upcoming elections (that can't come soon enough!).

[Fire Walk With Me]

38. Moral Monday rules! And solidarity to Occupy Raleigh! n/t

[KoKo]

43. It's a Good Crowd down there...Very Diversified.

Dedicated and Inspired. Many older with interesting history in Civil Rights...along with Young and In-Between.

University Professors, Physicians and other Medical Personnel and New Activists from all Walks of Life!

The Courts are Flooded and will be trying to try all these people. One solution proposed was to give them "Citations" but it was said that a "Citation for Civil Disobedience would only allow them to further 'Occupy the Legislative Building' and disrupt legislation...so they all had to go through the courts. And the MASSES KEEP COMING! 's

[Fire Walk With Me]

51. I love hearing this! Keep kicking ass and WIN!

[roody]

40. Yes, and please keep posting about it.

[stuntcat]

42. me :(

[AtheistCrusader]

44. Not yet.

They've gotta hit rock bottom first.

[merrily]

45. I think you will see lots of posts about gay issues, abortion, etc.

as long as the heat is on Obama.

[Ilsa]

47. I've been following the Moral Mondays protests, but

the MSM has largely ignored it. Ed Schultz had a caller to his radio show telling him about the arrests, but he knew nothing about it. I think he's going to investigate this further. I'm hoping he'll come to the NC battleground for his weekend show or radio show.

I posted about NC here: http://www.democraticunderground.com/10023153093

[KoKo]

60. NICE...thanks..and question WHY NC is not in the headlines...

Because...it should be.

[YeahSureRight]

50. NO Because it is a state issue and belongs in the state group

[KamaAina]

54. Was Wisconsin a state issue?

[YeahSureRight]

57. and it belongs in the WI group too

[AlbertCat]

74. Because it is a state issue and belongs in the state group

If you think this has to do with a single state....well, don't dribble your juice....

[YeahSureRight]

81. well that was rude of you

[WorseBeforeBetter]

86. And #50 wasn't?

[YeahSureRight]

124. No my post did not include a personal attack.

[WorseBeforeBetter]

126. It was still rude, personal attack or not.

Threads about the rightwing assault on certain states need to be out in the open, not buried in state forums that get little traffic. If you don't like them, use the Trash feature.

[Enthusiast]

134. PLUS ONE! nt

[demwing]

90. Speak for yourself

I almost defended you up-thread. Glad I didn't.

[MrSlayer]

55. This seems to be what they want.

Else they wouldn't vote for these idiots. I feel the same way when I hear people complain about Scott Walker. You elected him and then refused to recall him, you must be getting what you want.

In my home state of PA we're getting killed by Corbett and his bagger bunch but the idiots in my state gave them the power. We'll see just how masochistic we are next year.

Elections have consequences and apathy kills. But really, even when "our" side wins we still lose. It all seems like such a waste of time anymore.

[AlbertCat]

78. This seems to be what they want.

What about this do you not get? This is NOT NORMAL. We voted for Obama the 1st time and we were poised to do it the 2nd time...but the state has been BOUGHT. Do you understand? Suddenly it's all super-conservative????? Bought by the Kochs and Art Bell.

It is NOT what we want.

Get it?????

[MrSlayer]

85. No. If people don't want this, then why did they vote for these people?

Obviously, it's not what you want but what about the rest of the state? The majority that did vote for these jerkoffs?

Are the Republicans there upset too? Are they having buyer's remorse? Or are they rubbing it in like the simpletons they are?

You can't buy an informed voter and you can't keep an uninformed one if they don't like what you're doing with the purchased vote.

[Lex]

92. So then what? Don't discuss it?

That makes sense.

[MrSlayer]

99. So it IS bragging and face rubbing then? No surprise.

You can discuss it but don't act like this isn't exactly what the majority want or voted for. Believe me I sympathize. My state is as backward and racist as any in the Deep South, it's embarrassing and what these scumbags are doing is reprehensible but it's also what the yahoos in the state think they want. So I and other progressives just have to eat it.

The thing is the fracking is going to kill them before it kills me. The chemicals are not getting into my water, they're getting into theirs. The lower taxes aren't hurting me but the policy is going to hurt them. They're going to be sorry for all this misery they're asking for because they don't believe it's going to touch them but it is. These horrific policies know no color, religion or any of that. It'll be too late when it happens but I'll get to say "I told you so!" to the idiots before they die of self inflicted diseases.

That's pretty much all we have left. This game is over. It's been over since November 1980.

[Lex]

103. "but don't act like this isn't exactly what the majority want or voted for"

No one is "acting like" that in the first place.

[MrSlayer]

106. I don't know.

The tone of the OP seemed to have been one of shock or surprise that everyone isn't running around with their hair on fire because North Carolina is acting like North Carolina.

Everyone saw the posts, shrugged, and moved on. No one expects better from the state. I don't expect any better from the country anymore. Reaganism won the long game.

[Lex]

111. "No one expects better from the state."

That is inaccurate. You have given up. Not everyone has. Many with courage will fight to the bitter end and not shrug their shoulders in defeat.

[MrSlayer]

122. Reality is reality.

You don't go on throwing the ball into an empty field when the game is already over.

Don't mistake foolhardiness for courage.

[Lex]

123. The field is empty because

the ones with no courage went home.

[octoberlib]

116. Actually, the majority of the people didn't vote for these assholes

Dems won vote-wise but Repubs got more seats due to gerry-mandering. The Republican Governor came about in part because of scandal and disarray in the state Dem party. Moral of the story? You can't let your guard down even for a minute with these whackjobs.

[tiredtoo]

56. This rush to pass radical right wing laws

is going on in all the states that fell under control of the tea party in the previous mid-term election. They are all ALEC written laws and may in fact be a last ditch attempt at getting things done before they are all thrown out on their asses next election. One can hope so anyway. In Michigan the biggest blow IMHO was the right to work (for less) law. Like I said this is a nationwide sickness.

[formercia]

58. We should all care about NC.

I do.

Lots of nice people live there and they don't deserve to be abandoned.

[aquart]

59. Y'know...they did it to themselves.

2010, Dems sit on their hands in massive hissy fit.

Dems don't bother with local elections. Too unimportant.

Republicans grab House and statehouses.

What a surprise.

Tell me again how the parties are identical. I won't beat the crap out of you. Except in my head.

[KoKo]

61. You know NOTHING ABOUT THIS....

Maybe do some research before you put out some kind of TP!

You are usually better than this!

[aquart]

65. Mayhap. I've been wrong before.

But thousands of women believed Republicans couldn't harm them so they didn't bother to vote or voted Republican or third party. If you say that wasn't the case in NC, I'll believe you.

[AlbertCat]

83. Does the name Art Pope ring a bell?????

You really don't know what you're talking about.

[aquart]

89. A billionaire has only one vote unless you give him yours.

I was gonna back down but now I won't. Big rich guy came and stole my government? That's the excuse?

ONE VOTE. That's all he has. It's time to remember that. If he'll let you get near the polls.

[AlbertCat]

104. It just not that simple.

Millions and millions spent lying to people.... who are busy living their lives and trust what they see and hear a lot in media. Y'know, regular folk. The Dems can't compete because they don't have the resources. And it really is ONE MAN, Art Pope, who did this and is now the appointed NC Budget Director. It's been a specifically planned scheme.

So you can stop talking down to me and other NCers like we're children. He has way more influence than one vote. Grow up and stop pretending it's all fair and democratic.

[Enthusiast]

135. Plus one! Democrats do not have an entire TV network dedicated to right wing lies.

The AM hate radio, Fox "News" and almost every print newspaper give the righties an insurmountable advantage.

[JDPriestly]

63. North Carolina Democrats need to get out and educate people.

I know it's hard to struggle against ignorance and hate, but that is our job as Democratic activists.

Sorry it is so tough in North Carolina right now. I'm happy to see that Democrats are finally showing strength there.

[KoKo]

70. We've always been here...but circumstances and "stuff" from our own Dems

set us up for what would come. It's a fascinating state ...as I've said in my earlier posts on this thread.

I'm very proud of our "Moral Mondays" and the work we did voting for Obama...but his VAST MOVEMENT...cut out and left us Activists/Grassroots out of it all. And that allowed what has come to us in the form of McCrory and the TeaBag Party funded BIG TIME by OUTSIDE INTERESTS.

So ....we slog along after the demise of John Edwards..(whose best Message was "Two Americas" but he had flaws and faults and then Scandals in Dem Party Leadership.

We needed help and what we got was the Union Busting Dem Convention in Charlotte, NC for 2012.

Even the DU Administrators who attended that Convention reported the FARCE of that Convention. They hid out eating food and posting from Free Internet at "Myrtle Beach.Com."

At least the DU Admins new WHAT THE SCOOP WAS back then.. Notice how little we see of them these days on this site compared to the EARLY DAYS.

[G_j]

98. I can't believe we survived Jesse Helms'

the liberals have been fighting hard and long in NC! Measurable advances have been on most every front, the economy included, up until the last melt down.
Now, It looks like they are working hard at turning around any kind of recovery we have been seeing.

[Doctor_J]

80. Heh. How exactly does that happen while the airwaves and newspapers are saturated

with lies, propaganda, and hate?

[AlbertCat]

84. North Carolina Democrats need to get out and educate people.

That takes money.

You gonna match Art Pope's donations????

[octoberlib]

118. Democrats were in control of the state for a century

until 2010. That's why there's so much shock at what's going on. We're not used to it.

[Martin Eden]

64. I Love the Mountains & Waterfalls of North Carolina

When I hike & backpack there, I leave all the political insanity behind me (even though I'm hiking in a politically batguano insane state).

[bearssoapbox]

67. Kasich Khomeini is putting it to Ohio.

The latest is the abortion bill that he signed into law on the back of the budget bill.

No debate. No nothing.

The bastard even had a 4 year old boy sit on his lap and "dot" the 'i' in his name when he signed it.

[Solly Mack]

69. Yes.

[kentuck]

72. Yes.

I care about NC.

[Doctor_J]

77. What would you suggest we do about it?

What would you suggest anyone do about it?

[lordsummerisle]

93. stop voting in republicans for a start n/t

[Doctor_J]

95. Umm...no one on this board votes for Republicans

What else?

[lordsummerisle]

97. It wasn't meant as an accusation

it was more of a "duh" comment; and I wouldn't be so cocksure that no one on here votes Republican...But seriously, when you vote in a Repub governor, House and Senate and you get results like this, what do you expect us out-of-staters to do...?

[KoKo]

105. This is a NC Post those here didn't vote for Repugs..unless there are

interlopers trying to insinuate themselves into a group which knows itself.

[lordsummerisle]

108. Well, OK

I gave my recommendation, what's yours?

[G_j]

101. I suggest we are all in this together

and that what happens in Texas or anywhere else right now is a big deal.
Not the least of which there is an very real attack on women's rights going on in many states, right now as we speak. We need solidarity.

[Doctor_J]

113. that doesn't answer my question

What are residents of other states supposed to do about the runaway fascism in NC?

[tabbycat31]

87. I moved there yesterday for a job

And people in the state ARE concerned. Personally I was watching NC the same way I was watching Wisconsin in 2011 (a state I also went to).

[octoberlib]

119. Glad you're here! nt

[tabbycat31]

133. Thansk

Now to find a place to live

[KansDem]

88. Perhaps Carolinians of the Northern persuasion...

[blm]

91. Just got on, G - this is all about GOP gerrymandering their way into ruling NC

with complete control over the agenda - their fascist agenda is safe.

Unless the gerrymandering is targeted and overturned, there is no hope for NC....not anymore.

[tiredtoo]

100. Here is another link about something good going on in N.Carolina

inspiring video check it out.
http://www.usw.org/districts/new/page?district=9&type=news_releases&id=0096

[octoberlib]

120. A message to the NC General Assembly

[NC_Nurse]

128. She sums up my angst quite nicely. Bravo.

JUst returned from GA to find NC has elected the Christian Taliban and Corporate whore McCrory is running the state as a Koch-puppet (with Art Pope's hand up his ass and moving his mouth). Sigh.

[SamKnause]

121. Anybody out there ?

Yes, I care.

The same thing is happening in the state I live in, Ohio.

[TBF]

125. I haven't been on DU much lately but yes I am watching this

It is astonishing really - I remember how hard women fought in the 70s for these rights and they are systematically being repealed state by state.