Stuff from Around Arkansas, January 16
Immigrant Song: Illegal immigration enthusiasts continue to thank the stars that laughably ineffectual Secure Arkansas organization is the public face of their opposition. (Times Record)
Penny Saved: Sen. Bobby Glover files bill to cut grocery tax by one penny. Good start, but keep going. (AP)
Out of Commission: Sen. Hank Wilkins proposes to cut useless and dysfunctional Arkansas Martin Luther King Jr. Commission by half. Good start, but keep going. (AP)
McCain Country: Here’s that Washington Post article that everyone is talking about detailing the lack of enthusiasm for Barack Obama in Brinkley, Ark. Now quit wasting time talking to reporters from DC and get back to finding that damn woodpecker. (Actually, you can skip the story, which is the usual “east coaster comes to flyover country and does discount sociology on the locals” thing, and just check out the photo gallery, which is pretty great.) (Washington Post)
World of Wonders: In northwest Arkansas, students learn of school closings via Facebook and text messaging. I look forward to when these modes of communication are finally used widely enough that they’re taken for granted, so that newspaper people will stop writing credulous and wide-eyed stories about them like they’ve just discovered fire. (Benton County Daily Record)
Debt Man Walking: Bill Halter’s ’06 campaign still owes him $448,000, meaning Halter went nearly a half million dollars in debt to be lieutenant governor of Arkansas, meaning Halter is a complete and total retard. (KTHV)
Touche’ on your Halter comment…
Your item kickers are killing me. Kicker? I barely even knew her!
Debt Man Walking on a Green Mile!
I’m Friday, it’s out.
What a week.
When I read the Washington Post story, I couldn’t help but be reminded of a conversation that I had with a supposed “conservative Democrat.” I was talking to him, trying to find out what he stood for as he had expressed a desire to run for elected office. I ask him, “Why run as a Democrat if you are conservative? Don’t you know that by running as a Democrat you are endorsing the national platform that is liberal?” He said that he didn’t mind that so much, as he agreed with much in the platform. “Abortion?” I ask. Yep. “Gay marriage?” “Not an issue with me, won’t ever happen in Arkansas.” “How about the war?” I ask. Against it he said. I click off an issue and he agrees with the Democrat’s platform. So I ask, “Why do you say you are a conservative?” He responds, “Because I don’t want to give the N*&##rs everything,” using a horrible word for African Americans.
I just sort of knew this fellow, so was surprised that he thought he could use such a word around someone he really didn’t know well. I had to admit that I felt concerned that he would think that I would approve of such language and had to ask several people if I came across like the sort of horse’s ass that would say such things. In the end, I decided that he was just that type of person that he didn’t care if someone knew he had those feelings. It made me realize that he was comfortable with that language because that was the norm for folks like him and folks like him were conservative Democrats. They considered themselves conservatives because they disagreed with the national platform on civil rights. He had a lingering resentment that was deep seated and extended back for generations. It saddens me that they are so ignorant as to think that racism is conservative.
True story. I know that not all conservative democrats racist, but I suspect that many are. Nothing said in this story is overtly racist, but there are hints of racism in some things said and it tends to reinforce my own prejudices against those whites claiming to be “conservative democrats”.
Look, I have trolled many a board with this:
“Not all Republicans are racist, but all racists are Republican.”
Don’t tell me I have to stop. Please!
Anyway, 90% of the Democrats in this state are DINOs. Your buddy voted for McCain, surely, making him no Democrat at all. Probably LOVES him some Palin, no?
Sure he’s a democrat. Just because he votes for McCain as a protest vote against a black man doesn’t mean he’s a republican. If he votes for democrats 99% of the time, gives money to democrats, says hes a democrat but then votes for a republican, then I’d say he’s a democrat.
One vote does not a republican make.
That is the cool thing about this country, you can vote for whomever regardless of political identity. They may be DINOs but they are the main force that makes up the party in Arkansas. Maybe the non-DINOs should run them off or start a new party.
And no John, you can continue to troll all you want.
Kinkade, for shame! I would never display a battle flag that was in such poor shape.
Arkansans vote against themselves (and O’Bama) because of ignorant selfishness and bankrupt values. This story gets pretty close to it; but nothing is quite black and white. She should search youtube for Arkansas Voter Interviews for a more complex but no less troubling view. Don’t look to Paul Greenberg for insight though.
Did anyone see his rambling article about how the anti-O’Bama vote was related to celtic roots or some sh:t.
I don’t know about that boy.