Well, well, well. Even hard-core * supporters reading the writing on the

[Moonbeam_Starlight]

wall!

My husband works with several REALLY die hard * supporters. As in, he could be filmed eating baby toes in the Oval Office and they'd explain how it was for national security and isn't he wonderful and strong?

So today they tell my husband they honestly think he's going to lose. Husband checks to see if they are just yanking his chain (they don't know how anti-* my husband is, though). They aren't. They are being genuine, shaking their heads, saying things like "he's just messed up too much" and comments about that evil lib-rul media, of course and how they are going to be his undoing.

Husband asks them again what they think his chances are. They all agree on a 25% chance of * being re-selected. Then they say they hope Kerry really wants "that mess in Iraq". !!!!!!

I have some friends who had a * bumper sticker on their SUV. Then it was gone. I asked what happened. He said it was "tearing up and stuff" and they were "gonna get a new one". That was a couple of weeks ago. No sticker. Edited to add the original sticker was only on the vehicle a couple of weeks. It couldn't have torn up that quickly.

I live in north Texas.

Dare I hope?

[ElementaryPenguin]

1. Thanks for the post. Bushler is indeed toast!!

If he's getting whomped in Texas...

[Gothmog]

2. You should dare

Bush will carry Texas no matter what and that is very frustrating. However, I am very encourage about what is happening. Bush appears to have reached a tipping point where the media and the public are no longer giving him the benefit of the doubt.

[Moonbeam_Starlight]

3. Oh I have no doubt TX will still be red

I've got a few more years before me and my fellow REAL Texans turn it blue.

But I tell you what, it's gonna be interesting to look at the actual numbers. Bet the Kerry numbers will be higher than anyone thinks from TX and places like Oklahoma, too. The Okies are sick and tired of him and starting to grumble.

I love it when red states get pink.

[fudge stripe cookays]

4. Where are you Moonbeam?

We're in Rowlett.

I was just saying to RedQueen the other day that we need to have a DFW meetup.

If Austinites wanna come up for the weekend, or any of the folks in the outlying areas, they can come too!

What do ya'll say?
FSC

[Moonbeam_Starlight]

8. I'm in a suburb to the southwest of Dallas

but yeah, I'd LOVE a DU get together!!! That'd be fantastic. It would remind me of my Dean meetup days last year.

[fudge stripe cookays]

12. Hey! I'm a Deaner too!

Let's PM-

I bet we know each other! ;-)

[Mayberry Machiavelli]

10. I'm certainly game.

[Jade Fox]

5. Yeah, but are you husband's co-workers still going to vote for Bush?

Its one thing to think he'll lose, and another to help him do it. :)

[Mayberry Machiavelli]

6. Hey Moonbeam. I'm here in Plano, the strongest of Repub strongholds.

Today I heard something that made me feel that maybe things really are changing.

First let me explain about Plano to non Dallas DU'ers. It's an affluent suburb north of Dallas. Due to the combined factors of relative wealth, the regional chauvinism of being in Texas, and the cultural Bible belt issues all in one place, I feel that support for the Repubs and for Bush in particular is probably stronger here than in any other place I can think of. This is even more so in my cirlcles--I work in a field where basically everyone makes in the six figures, and the majority makes multiples of that. So while not ALL of my colleagues are shrub supporters, they JUST ABOUT all are.

Anyway, an older gent, well into his 60's (maybe even in his 70's) but not quite retired yet, and a fundamentalist type judging from previous conversations, was working with me and having a conversation with another colleague. I didn't catch the beginning, I think they were talking about some news or talk person's analysis of the election. Basically that an "even" race or JK slightly ahead with 16% undecided essentially translates into an easy win for JK because the huge majority of undecideds historically vote for the challenger. And they were ACCEPTING of this reasoning, not challenging or attempting to deny it. They said that "Bush needs to either try for better government here in the U.S. or in Iraq, but he can't have both." And the older gent said that Bush may well have lost the election already. Especially if he doesn't get us out of Iraq.

This is a big step, because it represents a move from the first crack in the armor, people in Plano even conceiving of the idea that Bush could POSSIBLY lose, which first appeared some months ago, to the EXPECTATION that he will likely lose, which is definitely beginning to set in... We're not there yet, but we're definitely at the "Bush is in big trouble" phase. And some (like this gentleman) probably secretly thinking that he HAS lost.

[Moonbeam_Starlight]

7. Oh yeah

lemme tell you, I lived in Plano for a while, and I grew up in Garland (Land O' Gar).

When they start talking like that THERE, and it gets fairly widespread, Texas is turning pink.

It cracks me up.

I am in a burb to the southwest of Dallas, more blue collar, more minorities. I drive around with anti-* bumper stickers all the time and I haven't yet received a negative reaction. Not one. Now I have gotten honking, smiles and thumbs up. And my truck and van have gone all over the Dallas/Ft. Worth area.

[sendero]

9. I live in...

... far north Dallas but unfortunately I don't have any anecdotes.

But as long as a year ago a friend who has coffee with a bunch of (mostly retired) guys who rent houses, and were all Republican, mentioned that they were all fed up with Bush* and would not vote for him again.

That's why I simply do not believe the polls. I think if the election were held today, Kerry would win in a landslide.

I don't know why the polls are so wrong, and I don't care. But I firmly believe they are, and the big poll in November will prove it :)

[anarchy1999]

11. Beautiful! North Texas, as in where? Plano?

n/t
check out www.halliburtons.com

[Disturbed]

15. Thumbs up.

Kudos to all Texans that have the spine to speak out
against the Neo Fascists and the phony Texan, shrub.

[Skittles]

23. I saw a Kerry bumpersticker in Plano

I about sh** bricks.

[Richardo]

35. Saw my first Kerry sticker in Houston yesterday...

...'bout broke my jaw dropping it to the floor. :)

[fudge stripe cookays]

13. THREAD HIJACK! DFW'ers look here!

Ok, since we're all in this thread right now, let's talk meetup!

I'm thinking a Saturday evening; weeknights are REALLY bad for reprehensor and I--

What's better for everyone? Beers? Margaritas? Dinner? Somewhere central? Maybe Blue Mesa in Addison? Flying Saucer? Sherlock's?

I'm ready to meet everybody! There are more of us here than we originally thought! And we all need to beef up our grass roots connections some more, right?

Besides--once all the mean Texas-haters see pix of all us brave feeper-fighting souls here in North Texas, maye they'll lay off, huh?

Let's do it!
FSC

[anarchy1999]

16. All excellent suggestions, lets make it happen.

S and D No comment needed. You said it all. I just need more of you guys every week on Fridays at Halliburton. DU'ers need to make their presence be known. Then we can go to wherever. Come have "fun"! That's what we call it these days, right, FUN?

[fudge stripe cookays]

20. I WANT to come to Halliburton, but it's hard for us.

We only have 1 car, and we live in Rowlett.

We have to hurry home to walk the dog, then we'd have to head back west.

I'll see about trying to have the hubby take the car, so HE can go home, walk the dog, then come pick ME up in prep for some protesting and hanging with more EvilDUers.

When's good for everyone?
June 12th? Anyone? Anyone? Bueller?

FSC

[Ishoutandscream]

32. How about Doc's in Rockwall on the lake?

Cheap drinks, nice atmosphere.

[fudge stripe cookays]

33. Well, because we're coming from all over the Metroplex

(mostly us and Plano),

I thought we'd go for something a little more central this time. But I'd definitely be up for a smaller gathering of Dems at Doc's. I have quite a few Dem friends from our Rockwall Dean meetup that would probably love to show up!

FSC

[Mayberry Machiavelli]

17. All those options sound good. I like Flying Saucer, Blue Mesa etc.

[Moonbeam_Starlight]

37. Let's DO IT fudge stripe!

I can bring a couple or ten of my Dem friends, too. My burb has a pretty active Democrats group. Yee-HA!

Saturdays are good for me too and I LOVE the idea of beers and margaritas.

I need to connect with some liberals in person. I mean, I know several, but I need to get to know some more who live in DFW. It's like a huge shot in the arm.

[osaMABUSh]

14. I just stuck a Kerry sticker on my cube wall - waiting for reactions

Technically it's probably against company policy to post political signage but I had each day of the "Stupid White Calendar" plastered all over my wall last year and nobody called me on it.

Anyway, I'm anxious to see who pipes up - pro Kerry or pro Bush. I Think I'll get more pro Kerry comments. Got to get these people thinking and talking about it.

[charlyvi]

18. I live in Alabama.....

The last place God made, and though I'm pretty sure Bush will win here, everyone I talk to seems to think he has fucked up royally. Some of them are still going to vote for him though. Go figure????

[Ripley]

26. Hey neighbor!

I'm in T-town. They are utterly dumber than doorknobs aren't they?

The problem is that most of them here are pro-lifers and will vote for Smirk only on that issue, no matter how much he picks their pockets clean and pollutes their air and kills their children and spouses in unjust wars.

The good news is that a lot of the less-fundy righties here see the quagmire and it's cost as well as the deficit and realize this train has to stop!

:hi:

[jburton]

19. My Plano story

I was driving to meet a vendor last week and saw this on the freeway:

Large Oldsmobile with a large older white gentleman inside. It had the standard "Bush Cheney 04" looking sticker on the bumper.

Nothing too unusual, right?

Well I finally got stuck right behind him in traffic, and got a closer look at the sticker. It actually said "Bush Cheney 04: Four more wars!"

This made my day!

[Petrodollar Warfare]

28. I saw a good bumper sticker last Friday....

..."RE-DEFEAT BUSH IN 04'"...but that was in Maryland...but I liked it ;-)

[marlakay]

21. congress.org

About time the bushies take the back seat! Anyway, I have been going on congress.org the last few weeks and we have been ahead until today. I guess the republicans must have saw how behind they were on pledges and put it on a major blog. Please post go to website and post your vote.

Thanks.

[i_c_a_White_Ghost]

22. Welcome to Du marlakay

:hi: stay awhile you might enjoy yourself

Yeah that poll was freeped a while ago

[newyawker99]

24. Hi marlakay!!

Welcome to DU!! :toast:

[callous taoboy]

25. I live in an extremely conservative town:

In 2000 you could stand on any corner, throw a rock and hit a bush/cheney bumper sticker. I have not seen ONE sticker for those dipshits yet.

[SiouxJ]

27. Same thing where I am

I have only seen one Bush/Cheney sticker and it looked like an old leftover one. I have been surprised at the number Kerry stickers I've seen too. There are a few of them floating around the streets here. This is full on Shurb country so the lack of bumper stickers speaks volumes.

Also, I talked to at least one die hard repuke friend who recently re-registered as a Dem. I didn't believe him at first, thought he was yankin' my chain but we had a long talk and he swore it was true. He's union and said he thought they were being screwed by the repukes. He told me he had even been arguing against Shrub in social situations with his buddies lately (and explained in detail). The real shocker was when he asked for some of my Kerry bumper stickers before he left!

[callous taoboy]

30. Most excellent.

Help me with this one I saw yesterday. Written in smallish letters:
"If you can read this bumper sticker you probably voted for BUSH."

A suggestion that Dems are too dumb to read? A slam against Mepublican tail-gaters?

[SiouxJ]

31. I would hope the latter

the small letters make me lean that way.

:shrug:

[GreenPartyVoter]

29. Oh my! *lol*

"My husband works with several REALLY die hard * supporters. As in, he could be filmed eating baby toes in the Oval Office and they'd explain how it was for national security and isn't he wonderful and strong?"

That was wicked funny. Thannks for the chuckle. :)

[msmcghee]

34. Hi y'all . .

This is off topic but . . . I enjoyed reading your posts. I lived in Richardson when I was a young teenager in the fifties. Played tenor sax in the Richardson High marching band - that went to Washington DC to march in Ike's second inaugural parade representing the state of Texas. We played "The Yellow Rose of Texas" and looked and sounded right smart that day - in January 1956 (I think).

In the summer I'd sometimes ride my bike to Plano and back, stopping along the way at any farmhouse to ask for a cool drink of water from the well. I remember lots of cotton fields and it was really hot.

I know it's not anything like that now. I remember the sign going into town (Richardson) that said "Population 5280" because that was the number of feet in a mile.

Any way, I left Texas at 15 years old and ran away to live with my grandparents in California and now live in the Pacific NW.

Just wanted to say "Howdy". Now, back to your interesting discussion.

[OKNancy]

36. I haven't seen in new Bush stickers

I've seen a few old worn out ones from 2000. It might be a little early, but I noticed when going to my Unitarian Church, there were a lot of Kerry yard signs in the neighborhood by the church.

( Tulsa, OK )

What I think is happening is that it is now okay to say bad things about Bush. It's like we have permission now. More and more I don't hide my feelings here in Republican Hell. I still won't put a bumper sticker on my car ( for business reasons) but I'll sure be putting up a yard sign.