Notes from Republican country

[existentialist]

My wife and I just got back from a visit to a Republican area of this largely Republican state of South Dakota, and I have a few notes, partly from earlier visits, but all relevant to the 2008 election:


First, I remember an elderly (as in late 60's or maybe seventies) Republican lady speaking out about the County Republican Chairman a rough quote:

"And I told him hell no I wasn't going to the Lincoln day dinner, and don't be looking for any other contributions from me either. I may be a Republican, but I'm not a very good Republican, and I'm sick of this mess." . . . "And just how did he (the County Republican Chairman) get that contract with the state anyway?"


Second, from not so long ago from my Grandmother who will turn 97 next month and whose main regret is that she can no longer maintain employment, is presently living in an assisted living facility, but whom, (at least on good days) is very much of good mind and even reasonably well informed:

"One of the things I'm looking forward to this year is voting for Hillary Clinton twice."


Third, from my father (son of the above Grandmother)--my father who has always been a registered Republican not from party loyalty, but because, as he and my mother explained to my siblings and I at a young age, "We register Republican because in South Dakota you have to register in one party or the other if you're going to vote in the primary, and most of the time it's the Republican primary that's most important." Thus they remained registered as Republicans even in 1964 when my father was the de facto campaign manager for the person who was the Democratic candidate for what was then the second congressional district of the State of South Dakota):

"I'll vote for Obama over McCain. I don't know if I'd vote for Hillary Clinton over McCain or not. I don't like either one of them." He then mused about possibly changing he registration to vote for Obama in the primary, but he didn't think that he would.


Fourth, there was the gentleman in a Korean War Veterans commemoration cap who we gave a ride home from a local restaurant because, having recently had a stroke, he could no longer drive. He exhibited major short term memory problems also clearly related to the stroke, and actually spoke not one word of politics. But when we got him to his home he still had on display a John Thune campaign posture from 2004.

Here is a person, who, if he votes at all, is probably going to vote Republican, and probably a Republican straight ticket, but who likely won't make it to the polls at all (or vote absentee either) without significant assistance and encouragement from local Republican organizers--and it is clear that local Republican organizers are going to be stretched very thin. If they do what is necessary to get this man to vote, then it will be at the cost of failing to make similar efforts somewhere else.


Fifth, a loudmouth at another local restaurant: "I don't like McCain, or Obama, or Hillary." "Obama scares the hell out of me. Hillary scares the hell out of me too." "I don't think we've ever had such a sorry excuse for a slate of candidates." "I think the Democrats are going to win because the American people, Republicans and Democrats alike want change."

All these are for what is worth in a state that is extremely unlikely to make a difference in the Presidential election--save just possibly in the Democratic primary, but which may make a difference in one House and one Senate race where Democrats are heavily favored, but in a state that's just Republican enough that maybe they should not be taken for granted.

[SharonAnn]

1. Thanks for the info. I was born in SD and have lots of relatives there, all Republicans

At least they were. I don't know what's happening with them now. Maybe they're becoming normal these days.