This Texas Democrat has something to say......(m)

[Moonbeam_Starlight]

I hope you wonderful people will indulge me here, I have been wanting to get a few things off my chest for a long while...

First of all, I really don't give a rip what the GOP or any bush supporters think about what the Democrats do or say. I really don't. Their opinions don't determine my decisions, or how I feel or think about ANYthing. You can gauran-damn-tee ours don't for them.

Secondly, I want new Democrats in Washington. With the exception of precious few, I want to see Democrats for whom I can tell the frigging difference between them and the repukes. No lame-ass, jelly-spined, sallow-skinned @ss-kissers. This ain't no pedicure party. I want some Democrats willing to grab their balls (or ovaries?), stand up to the GOP and their tactics of HATE and FEAR and FIND their damn voice and start showing them what angry REALLY looks like (and they thought DEAN was angry? HA!).

No more of this response to the SOTU like I saw in January. What the HELL was that?

Underneath it all, the bush supporters (I hesitate to even say GOP anymore, as I know a hell of a lot of republicans who aren't going to vote for chucklenuts come November) are scared. That's right--yellow-bellied SKEERED. Shout BOO at 'em and watch them scatter. Better yet, shout as loud as they do and watch who gets quiet first.

I've read the Democrat party platform and I've read the Republican party platform and it doesn't take two brain cells to rub together to see which one is more moral, stronger, more compassionate (compassionate conservative my ASS), better for our country AND for the world. The Democrat one could use some improvement, but when compared to the GOP one, it's like comparing the Renaissance to frigging Dark Ages. Which one would you rather live in?

Seriously. Anyone who even TRIES to defend bush to me, I'm on them like a monkey on a cupcake. (And of course, I smile, too!) And THAT, my friends, is how our elected Dems should be. Never let up. Never stop. Adopt their tactic and pound em at EVERY turn with the TRUTH of what they are doing and have done.

First, we get a Dem in the White House. Then we start cleaning up the Congress. Yep. Let's go, people. Get people registered to vote.

Lastly, I don't want to hear any more crap about my state being red. If everyone eligible to vote in this state voted in November (or even a large portion), I gauran-damn-tee you Texas would be as blue as the big sky over it (except not over Dallas because of all the pollution).

[bluestateguy]

1. Then support mandatory voting, as I have advocated

If people won't vote they should be forced to the polls, with a police escort if necessary. That's the only way. After 2002, if the Democrats could not one one of those damn elections, I simply am going to look for bluer pastures elsewhere. I am making plans to leave Texas in the next year.

[Eureka]

4. In Aus it's compulsory

to turn up. Officially we have 'compulsory voting' but since it's a secret ballot they can't actually make you vote, but you get fined if you don't show up and get your name ticked off.

I think the easy part is voting, the hard bit is getting people off their backsides and down to the booths.

[bluestateguy]

14. And is Australia a totalitarian state?

We really ask very little from citizens in this country. Asking them to vote once a year or evey other year would not be a pathway to tyranny.

[Eureka]

17. I don't think so :-)

Last time I checked we weren't quite at the totalitarian level, although give the current govt some time and I'm sure they'll organise something.

As someone who has survived the last 15 years as a registered/compulsory voter, I can't provide any evidence anecdotal or otherwise, that would lead me to make any connection between compulsory voting and tyranny (unless a tyrant gets elected, but thats different, and of course, so long as the voting is secret)

To me, having to vote every once in a while is a small price to pay for living here.

[calimary]

24. Welcome Eureka, AND Welcome Moonbeam!

Two more for the Good Guys!

Love your posts! Love your dedication!

Glad you guys are here!

California Hugs from

calimary

[Q]

40. Mandatory voting is a nice idea...

...but you would be forcing people to choose between the lesser of evils. You're assuming people don't vote because they're 'lazy'. Well...some don't vote as a form of protest.

[physaf]

51. You've really hit the nail on the head here.

There have been many times I've not voted simply because there
were no REAL choices.

[aquart]

11. Brilliant plan. We can use homeland security to escort the citizens.

And make sure they voter for der Leader.

[Moonbeam_Starlight]

15. Hey I don't blame you and I understand it a LOT believe me (m)

in fact, my husband and I, my best friend and her parents all have this dream of moving to Portland, OR. Problem is unemployment is currently SKY high there (something like 7.6%!!!) and the housing costs nearly knocked my butt out of my chair.

For what we paid for a 11 yr old, 2000 sf, 4 bedroom nice home here in a burb of Dallas, we could get a 30 yr old 900 sf, 2 bedroom falling down shack in Portland and Portland isn't even as expensive as Seattle or CA.

We were also looking at areas like Minneapolis, etc.

The trick is finding jobs.

Anyway, I am rambling. Someday, I do plan on leaving. But for now, I am going to stay and fight. I totally understand the feelings and motivations of those who do leave, though.

P.S. I am ALL for mandatory voting!

[Ishoutandscream]

44. Moonbeam - what "burb" are you in?

I'm in Rockwall. Looking for some good dems around here.

[AgadorSparticus]

26. should you leave TX, come to AZ--we need your vote!

[Kazak]

27. We should at least make it harder to "not vote".

A fine maybe. :shrug:

[alittlelark]

33. How about a $20 tax rebate

That would get some folks to the polls!

[Bucky]

35. I dislike the idea of mandatory voting

Sure low turn-out is a bother. But imposing mandatory voting seems vaguely fascistic to me. You help the case none by advocating police round ups and escorts for non-voters. Certainly the right of free speech includes the right to not express an opinion. You cannot compel civic duty in the name of civic responsibility. The compulsion is itself a rejection of personal freedom.

[nolabels]

36. "I dislike the idea of volition voting"

Rather if you want be part of anything, you must participate

Two stipulations:

1.imprisonment for anyone not voting and no release until a vote is cast, even if means waiting till the next election

2.All ballots must have the choice of {x}none of the above

Note: on stipulation #2 if a majority of votes are cast for {x}none of the above, then all candidates and officials participating in such election shall be transfered to Re-education facilities till they can demonstrate a compunction for not taking the wishes of the public at large in contempt

[demsrule4life]

39. Would you really want that?

I think as a voting block Democrats vote more then repugs do. So you want to force repugs to vote?

[bullimiami]

48. we dont need mandatory voting

but weekend or weeklong voting or even just a national holiday would increase the turnout enormously.
BUT...
It would increase the minority turnout more and that is not in the best interest of the overseers.
It is just the newer version of poll taxes, tests etc...

[proud patriot]

2. and done with a smile ... Welcome Underground Moonbeam_Starlight

:hi:

[Mayberry Machiavelli]

3. You rock, Moonbeam

Keep up the good fight. From a "new" Texan (less than 2 yrs.). What was the story with Ann Richards losing anyway? Was she a popular governor here? She seems so much more like an authentic Texan than Shrub's transplanted Andover/Yale Yankee ass that I'm really always surprised that people buy this Texas shtick of his. This from a transplanted Wash, D.C. Yankee via California...

[TiredTexan]

8. You didn't notice Ann Richards is missing

a crucial part of anatomy to survive here in the Lone Stud (oops, Star) state?

Sexism, racism, homophobia is alive and well down here. She didn't stand a chance against a good ole penis possessor.

[salinen]

5. Moonbeam

knocks it outta the yard. You are a Texas Ranger.

[Moonbeam_Starlight]

9. I actually WAS one of those Texas Rangers for Dean (m)

but I went in late September, the first group to do it, to Iowa.

Eye-opening, incredible experience and I wouldn't trade it for the world.

Thanks!

[October]

6. Welcome Moonbeam

Monkey on a cupcake! LOL

[KelleyKramer]

7. Well Damn! Welcome to DU ..

I see you are new to DU, after reading your post ... Just in case you havent already you should check out www.bartcop.com methinks you will like him, a LOT.

He has a word for the Washington Dems.. He calls them pink tutu Dems.

Plus ole Bart is a southwestern southerner.

[Moonbeam_Starlight]

12. Really??? Thanks, I will check him out!! NT

[uhhuh]

10. I think you're right on

But I haven't seen the Democrat Party platform. Is it like the Democratic Party platform? If it is, I think I could get behind it too.

[Moonbeam_Starlight]

13. Yeah same thing (m)

Democrat, Democratic. What did I say? LOL.

[mourningdove92]

16. Hey Moonbeam, I'm a Texan too.

I have this dream....this dream of seeing Texas vote dem this year. Am I crazy? I tend to agree with you. If all the dem voters would get off their dead asses and get to the polls, we might just hand Dubya his most humilating defeat.

I'm going to my first Edwards meet-up in Fort Worth on Tuesday. Woo Hoo!

[Moonbeam_Starlight]

19. Oh. My. Gaud. (m)

Can I just take what you said and turn it into the weirdest erotic dream, like, EVER?

November, 2004. The returns are coming in and we are noticing a STRANGE aberration in the Texas numbers. It can't be. It just CAN'T be. Texas......Texas......is.......BLUE??????

The FUX news reporters gagging on the bile coming up in their throat. My neocon friends choking on their own tongues.

And chucklenuts.....oh chucklenuts......the look on his face. The look on rove's face. The look on cheney's face....the look on rummy's face. I would PAY, as in PAY PER VIEW, to see that. I really would. And I would be crying, tears of joy streaming down my face. And all my big ol' flaming liberal friends and I would hug and jump up and down and scream until we lost our voices and look at the returns over and over and over, heaving blustery, dreamy sighs each time.

I'm a little too into it, eh? ;-)

It is this dream which drives me to set up tables in front of Sack-N-Saves and Dollar Trees and ask people if they are registered to vote.

[mourningdove92]

23. Oh yeah, and the next, day we would tar and feather Perry and

ride him out of the state. Since this is a polite forum, I won't bother mentioning what we would do to Delay.

It CAN happen.

[LoneStarLiberal]

32. Don't Forget Craddick

Don't forget Perry's pet Legislator, Craddick. He is deserving of special treatment as well...

[WolverineDG]

52. another texan heard from

i'm getting a funny feeling about texas too, that it might not be quite so red this time around. since 2000, we've had the whole illegal (imnsho) redistricting issue, the const amendment re: "tort reform" (interestingly enough, malpractice rates did NOT go down once it passed, i guess the insurance industry lied again :grr:), and now all the lies coming back to haunt the bush administration. folks here (well, those who still have some sense of reality) are getting upset & while some aren't ready to vote dem, it's only a matter of time.

fwiw, i remember the debates between ann richards & bush. i swear, no matter what the question was, his answer to every question was "come see my stadium in arlington" while ann was able to answer the questions & sound logical. surprised the heck out of me when bush won!!! :crazy:

my advice to dems is don't write off texas....

[Lisa0825]

18. Hi Moonbeam!

welcome from one Texas Ranger to another!:-)

I went to NH in September and Iowa in January.

:hi:

[Moonbeam_Starlight]

20. Wooo--hoooo! Hey Lisa!!!!

[TiredTexan]

21. I live in Ft. Worth and work in Dallas..............

Where do you hale from? And welcome aboard.

[Moonbeam_Starlight]

22. I hail from Dallas (m)

but I'm over it.

I live in a burb between Dallas and Ft. Worth and LOVE Ft. Worth. Cowtown rocks.

I have now realized burbs are not for me. I think people have been conned for many years into thinking they are the best of both worlds--city and country, but I have come to the conclusion they are neither.

[LoneStarLiberal]

30. Denton Checking In

Keeping it real in a sea of Bush/Cheney suburbanites...

[AgadorSparticus]

25. Love the post, moonbeam!

Especially, the monkey on a cupcake. ROFL. Well said, mama!! I want to see more passion and energy in the party too. I want to see more pride, more conviction on our officials too. We deserve it and we demand it!!!!

[Wickerman]

28. I'm on them like a monkey on a cupcake

love it Moonbeam - welcome to DU!

Nicely stated, btw

[LoneStarLiberal]

31. Along the "Monkey On A Cupcake" Lines...

Or could that be ..."like George W. Bush on a pretzel?"

[bvar22]

29. Hi Moonbeam...great post.

Some of my very favorite people are REAL Texans: Ann Richards, Molly Ivans, Jim Hightower, and both my parents....all solid New Deal Democrats. None of them have much use for the pink tutu corporate owned DLC wimps.

I'm in Minneapolis. PM me if you want the 411 on jobs and housing.

[Bucky]

34. You made this other Texas Democrat's day, Moonbeam

You remind me of Molly Ivens. I can pay no higher compliment.

Let's go beat those Bush bastards.

[opihimoimoi]

37. Texas is a Great State, why they cotton to this Bush fella is beyond this

Opihi.

Come, we cook some ribs, lemme pour the beer.

[VOX]

38. All right, Moonbeam!

I'm with you 100%, point by point.

If all Democrats had your attitude, there'd be no stopping us.

Welcome to DU -- :toast:

[GOPisEvil]

41. Woo-hoo! Let's give 'em Hell!

:hi: Welcome!

[Tennessee Gal]

42. Great post! And take a look at Tennessee...........

when you are ready to move. We definitely could use more Democrats here!

[peekaloo]

43. Rave On!

I'm still laughing about that "Chucklenuts" reference you used in LBN yesterday!

:hi:

[SammyWinstonJack]

45. Democrat Party platform?

The Democrat one? :eyes: :shrug:

[ElsewheresDaughter]

46. Moonbeam welcome to DU!

:toast: :party: :beer: :bounce: :grouphug:

[CatWoman]

47. Moonbeam

I like the cut of your gib.

I saw your response in my LBN thread about *.

You're on to the "*", aren't you?

Again, Welcome to DU!! :hi:

[sunnynair]

49. Off topic

Check this out

http://www.nypress.com/15/22/news&columns/signorile.cfm

[silverlib]

50. Welcome Moonbean!

Another Texan on this board. Yea, Texas - the next Blue State!