How does a moderate Democrat survive in Oklahoma, where there is a right-wing Republican around every rock and black-jack tree in the state? In reality, Oklahoma is a heavily Democratic state where local voting is often Democratic, but federal voting goes red. For example, we have a voted governor who is a Democrat, while we send Republicans to Washington DC.
Dr. Bob Colburn screwed up so much with his big mouth, in Oklahoma, he should have been "Rode Out On A Rail," a la, "O Brother Where Art Though." The man claimed that there were whole school districts which had been taken over by Lesbians. This is absolutely ignorant, but it wasn't enough of a gaff that the voters shredded his candacy.
Colburn shouldn't have a teacher in the state of Oklahoma voting for him. The man openly said that he would like The National Education Association and Oklahoma Education Association listed as a victim of a homicide. It has taken me aback that the man is working with Barack Obama in some areas of positive changes. Yet, every Baptist teacher in Oklahoma voted for Colburn. SOP when comes to Oklahoma politics. So, what can a Democrat in Oklahoma do to make some waves and, thusly, help make changes?
If you watched The Situation Room, where Wolfe Blitzer is the man, you've seen J. C. Watts hold the flag for the Democratic Party and watch James Carville hide his face in embarrassment, because of Watts attempt to come off as an intellectual. How did Watts, a father of several, but will never be up for the Father-Of-The Year Award, become a Sentor from Oklahoma? I'm wondering if anyone in the Senate even knew about this dead-beat dad. Watts became a Senator on his name recognition, one of Oklahoma University's greatest quarterbacks. After graduation, Watts, easily obtained a Baptist preacher's license and was a great draw by Baptist Youth Church events across the state. From there it was down hill to the Senate.
The Daily Oklahoman is as right-wing as the John Birch Society, yet the newspaper will allow letters-to-the-editor from "professional letter writers" such as me, to grace its editorial page, ... within reason. A writer can push the envelope a bit, too far, though, and can get banned from having any of their thoughts read in The Oklahoman. Now, I know that the editorial page has changed editors and upgraded, but I haven't tried to see if my ban is still enforced. I count it as a battle award.
A Democrat can find their article or LTTE, read on the pages of The Oklahoma Gazette and The Oklahoma Observer. I have had many articles published in The Oklahoma Observer, and it is bright blue in a state that is bloody red. If a Democrat wants to read Molly Ivins or Dale Hill, you will find them here. It is quite easy to have your article published by Frosty Troy. But ... Troy will accept subscription holder's articles, above non-subscriber, but is the paper of choice to read Ivins and other, liberal, non-Bush enthralled Americans. I've even had an article published in the Oklahoma Observer that spear-headed a change in how we handle early childhood learning in our state
The Oklahoma Gazette is shopper's newspaper. This is the one where you find the issue about "all the best eating places in OKC," or "the best hamburgers in Oklahoma," which by the way, is at Mears, Oklahoma. Don't expect to be paid by these two, but you can have your writing read. Of the two, The Observer is the way to go, if you have some editorial thoughts that need vented. The Observer survives on a shoe string budget, and it is worth your time for a Democratic haven in a state where the majority of your friends think you are going to hell.
Funny, I had a Republican friend who considered us as best friends, since we had so much in common. He played the fiddle, and I play the guitar and the harmonica. We both sang in the choir together and both struggled with faking the bass part, while playing venues of varying persuasions outside of church.
After retirement, I grew a beard, "like the LIBERAL you are!" His only problem with me was, "Hill, you are a 'baby killing Democrat.'" I wasn't chosen to be a pall bearer at his funeral - just Republicans had that honor. Me? I took it in stride. It is possible that, when I die, I could well not find enough pall bearers for my funeral. But, ... there are a few of us in Oklahoma.
Is a 34 year retired educator with a Masters Degree in Counseling - a free-lance writer with articles in Spanish and English Guideposts, Mothering, Oklahoma Observer, Oklahoma Gazette, Westview, Oklahoma Reader, The Lookout, Christian Standard ... . The author has the largest number of published "letters" in the history of Time magazine and NEA Today. Just had an LTTE in NEWSWEEK in December, 2007. Dale W. Hill is married with 5 children, 4 grand-children, one foster child, and 4 foster grandchildren. He and his wife, Marcella, live near Anadarko, Oklahoma, at which school he retired in 2002. Hill is a computer collector, writer, and musician. Hill is a historian of Country Music, with 1972 Ovation and Martin BackPacker guitars. Favorite diatonic harmonica is a Hohner Special 20 and all chromatics, that "...scream The Blues!!"
I too, am a blue in a red state, though we're getting a tinge violet around the edges. Our popular Governor is a Dem, and a great Democrat may very well beat CONrad burns for the Senate. We have a 'democratic' senator already, who looks kind've red to me. Maybe if Democrats take more seats in the Senate he'll swing back to blue.
by
Pat Herrick (0 articles, 0 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 167 comments)
on Thursday, September 21, 2006 at 1:22:34 PM
I noted that I had JC as a Democrat. That's his dad, who would never vote Republican and has raised all of JC's kids. I think CNN has chosen JC, because he's a X-Black Republican. You think?
I get what I deserve, when I am putting stuff up earlier in the morning. Sleep Dis----order. Retired teachers didn't get a dime, this year, I don't think.
Dale
by
Dale Hill (58 articles, 0 quicklinks, 102 diaries, 347 comments)
on Thursday, September 21, 2006 at 8:55:00 PM
I knew that, but I forgot it. He's been doing some stuff with Obama, but I'm not holding my breath on him. Sometimes he drives with a few loose screws, I think.
Thanks - I should of looked his name up. I seldom write on this computer with the Internet as a source - arthritis, and do my writing on a PB 1400, save it to a zip drive and then move it over here.
Hope you caught the night that Jay Leno had him on the screen, doing the crossword puzzle. Jay is a sucker for a laugh and this one made him bend over laughing.
Dale
by
Dale Hill (58 articles, 0 quicklinks, 102 diaries, 347 comments)
on Thursday, September 21, 2006 at 8:48:51 PM
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