Can you handle a little GOOD news?

[trof]

I live in Baldwin County Alabama.
It's the reddest of the red counties in a red state.
A year ago about a dozen formerly timid Democrats got together and decided to throw caution to the winds, gird our loins, come out of the closet, and organize The South Baldwin Democrats.
Dues $10 singles, $15 for families, but if that's a hardship we can work something out.;-)
"Bringing the two-party system back to Baldwin County" is the motto we adopted.

We began having monthly public meetings and programs.
More and more people showed up and signed up.

Last night, at a pretty swank (for Baldwin County) country club, we held our 1st Annual Jefferson-Jackson Day Dinner.
Almost 100 people attended.
That's GOOD.
About a dozen were from two high school Young Democrats clubs.
That's REAL GOOD.
We signed up 8 new members.
That's REALLY REAL GOOD.
Some of the new members are former independent voters who just couldn't take it any more.
That's FANTASTIC!

Our speaker was Stephen F. Black, grandson of the late Supreme Court Justice (and fellow Alabamian) Hugo L. Black.
Justice Black was an FDR appointee who served on the court from 1937 until shortly before his death in 1971.
"He fought for civil liberties, civil rights, freedom of the press, freedom of religion. He argued-- and prevailed time and again--that the 14th Amendment required every state to obey every part of the Bill of Rights." http://www.arlingtoncemetery.net/hlblack.htm

Stephen Black is definitely a chip off the old block.
Bright, articulate, and VERY PASSIONATE about what's needed in our nation.
One of the few people in our state who restores my pride in being an Alabamian.
Not a bad looking dude, either.
I think you'll hear a lot more about and from him in years to come. Hopefully on the national scene.

Check out one of his projects here: http://www.impactalabama.org/index.html

From the website: Stephen Black, President and Founder, ImpactAlabama: Stephen Black studied American history at The University of Pennsylvania where he completed his bachelors degree in 1993, before attending Yale Law School where he graduated in 1997. Following law school, Stephen moved to Birmingham to become involved in public affairs and to practice law at the firm Maynard, Cooper and Gale. After three years in private practice, he spent a year serving as an assistant to the Governor. After leaving the Governor’s office in 2001, he began his campaign for Alabama State Treasurer, securing a spot as the Democratic nominee but losing by 3% in the general election. Stephen has continued to practice law at Maynard, Cooper and Gale and serves on the Boards of the ASFA Foundation, the Alabama Civil Justice Foundation, UAB School of Education, Voices for Alabama’s Children, and Alabama Poverty Project.
Contact: [e-mail]

So...that's my GOOD NEWS for the day.
Oh yeah...we raised about a thousand bucks from the dinner.
:-)

[donco6]

1. What? And no firebomb through the windows?

Wow. Things MUST be changing. :)

[trof]

3. Not even flaming crosses in the parking lot.

;-)

[NMDemDist2]

2. excellent! this is the kind of organization we need on the ground all

over the country

are you in contact with the DNC?

[trof]

6. Kind of, I guess.

There is a county Democratic organization, but pretty low profile from what I can tell. The head of that didn't show up.
There are now 3 "local" clubs within the county. We had dinner attendees from the closest one to us (Eastern Shore) and from Mobile, plus the county prez of the NAACP.

[dbonds]

4. My family still lives in Cullman AL and

everyone I know there, and almost everyone they know is anti-bush. Even the diehard republicans. Even my dad wonders how he pulled off that election thing.

[FreedomAngel82]

35. Wow

Surprised!! I haven't been seeing many W stickers around here (Tn) either and we were a red state as well.

[pennylane100]

5. Congratulations!

This type of grass-roots movement is how we will take our country back.

[leftofthedial]

7. good news!

[libodem]

8. How very hopeful

what excellent results. I've talked to several Libertarian-type (whom I always thought swung more conservatively) and they are very disgusted with Bush.

[TayTay]

9. Congratulations to you

the the members of the this Alabama Dems group. You give us hope. Thanks for fighting the battle and keeping the faith.

[youthere]

10. Good for you!

:woohoo: :applause: :woohoo: :applause:

:patriot: :patriot: :patriot: :patriot:

[Pacifist Patriot]

11. Thank you!

I definitely need to hear some good news. You should be very proud of yourselves. Excellent work!

[Johnyawl]

12. Well done, Trof!!!!

A hearty congratulations to all the brave souls that are a part of this effort. You're doing exactly what Chairman Dean has said needs to be done to reinvigorate the Democratic party, and return us to the majority.

[coffeenap]

13. Well done! Inspirational!

[lady lib]

14. Good for you!!

Keep sending the message out about how Bush is bad for their pocketbooks and you'll win converts (unfortunately, it's all a lot of 'em understand).

[dkofos]

19. At least they are capable of understanding something.

That is a start

[lady lib]

21. Yup.

I'm just glad there's something that redirects their thinking.

[chieftain]

15. What you are doing is proving

the efficacy of grass roots organizing coupled with courage. It boggles the mind that so many people vote against their own economic interests. That is true throughout the country, but even more so in the red states. We cannot rely on the MSM to give us a fair shake, we have to make it happen ourselves. Congratulations, Baldwin County should become a significant part of the template we use to take this country back from the crooks and thugs who are now in power.

[dhinojosa]

16. Great work...recommending! :) nt

[chyjo]

17. Thsnks for posting this

Very Inspiring.

[TheFarseer]

18. That's really great

I think we can start a grass roots campaign in all 50 states if someone would take the initiative and do it. There's enough people that know what's going on and enough people willing to listen to the truth. There are far too many places where the democratic party just doesn't exist.

[Califooyah Operative]

20. that's awesome. nt

[lonestarnot]

22. Woohoo! Good work! Keep the bravado going...

[stevedeshazer]

23. Hot damn, that's great to hear

Thanks for the encouraging news! :)

[DulceDecorum]

24. ONE YEAR, just one year

A year ago about a dozen formerly timid Democrats got together and decided to throw caution to the winds, gird our loins, come out of the closet, and organize The South Baldwin Democrats.

I salute you.

[oscar111]

25. SWANK COUNTRY CLUB? avoid and get more folks to come

i never go to meetings of groups that pick such sites, as i feel they are against my poverty level friends.

meet at some cheap place

[oscar111]

26. REAL dems would never go to a country club LOL eom

..

[trof]

28. I guess a little explanation is in order.

Baldwin County is fairly affluent. Not so much in annual income (Unless you're a realtor/developer/speculator. Waterfront home and condo prices are through the roof.), but total assets. There are a lot of relatively well heeled retirees here, both year round residents and snowbirds. We thought about something less formal, like a pig roast, or just a burger and hot dogs cookout. Turned out the pig roast was about as expensive as what we did.

The banquet manager is a closet Dem. I think because of the job at a pretty much repub (but open to the public) country club, wishes to remain that way. But boy did he-or-she give us a DEAL.

We do other things to gather the troops at little or no cost, but thought we wanted the J-J dinner to be our one classy event.
I actually wore a coat and tie. Very rare for me, except for weddings and funerals. ;-)

Our theme was "Grow The Blue" and just about everyone wore blue of some kind.

The high school students were fed at cost and in fact have been more successful at fund raising than we have.
They sell Chik-Fil-A biscuits (whatever those are) to classmates before school.

[trof]

27. Black made a point about voting against your own best interests.

Wish I had direct quotes, which were much more well stated than my recollections, but...

Why would poor whites vote against their own best financial and even social interests? He said he (or his organization) had conducted a survey of 900 registered voters in Alabama, about twice the number generally considered to be a good representational sample.

If you ask a flat "Dem or Repub", or "Bush or (whoever)", it comes up 75-25 pro Repub/Bush.
But, if you FRAME it "What is more important to you, outlawing abortion or getting a decent education for yourself or your children?" it comes up 75-25 pro education.
"Is it more important to have prayer in schools or health insurance for you and/or your children?" it comes up 75-25 health care.

We ain't asking the right questions in the right way.
Oh yeah, at the dinner I bought a copy of "Don't Think Of An Elephant" by George Lakoff. All about "framing". I highly recommend it.

[FreedomAngel82]

38. I think

that's what we have to do. We have to talk about issues like that. All the republicans talked about this last election was 9/11, 9/11, Saddam Hussein, attacking Kerry, 9/11, 9/11. Whoopiedoo. You never heard Bush talk much about anything else. Look what has happened to this country because of their reckless spending.

[Tigress DEM]

39. Red State Road Trip showed the same thing.

People are buying the repug propaganda hook line and sinker.

Some Christian background would imply that giving up one's own best interest is needed to benefit the whole so the repugs can make them feel they are ordering their glory up in Heaven even if the numbers come out funky, but when you seriously point out the LIES people begin to "get it".

Someone who is claiming to be close enough to God to KNOW what God says isn't usually lying every waking moment.

I've found that his own words and deeds lined up and viewed make people just blanche. There are a lot of people out there who think he's just the village idiot wandering around aimlessly, but still a nice guy.

What "nice guy" gets a photo op with kids from the Boys and Girls Club of America, stating to the press how important their work is and then cuts there funding two days later?

There was a thread here that documented that and it had quite a few other examples, I wish I could find it again.

[Catherine Vincent]

29. That is some good news.

Not all Alabamians are bad. Rock on!

[dandrhesse]

30. thanks, we hear so much that is bad, congratulations on the hard work

[The Quizzical Toad]

31. Good for you!

Keep up the great work! Every little bit helps!

[nothingshocksmeanymore]

32. That is SO wonderful

It is gorgeous where you live and while there are decent Republicans and creepy republicans, there SHOULD be a Democratic presence...the more you make it available the greater it will build.

Kudo to you and Mrs T for being the warm, welcoming souls you are and for generating this.

:toast:

[trof]

40. Thanks, hon.

how you doin'?
:hi:

[nothingshocksmeanymore]

43. Great...but craving an oyster po' boy

[Tigress DEM]

33. WoW!

:wow:


I remember on March 19th reading about a high school student who held the "smallest protest against the war in Iraq" in the red state of Florida standing alone with her sign at a Taco Bell.

I told her to be proud of herself and let her know she was part of a larger effort that was shrouded in "hush" by the press.

765 protests across America in all 50 states took place that day. Mostly in the hundreds, a few in the thousands and some of only a few determined souls banding together, but all in spirit standing together against the criminal behavior of an administration gone mad.

I've read about AARP seniors fed up with *ush. I've read about Republicans quitting their party in disgust lately. I've had Independents and DEMs pump me for information because they are starved for the truth.

And still I see posts on this board that say if we aren't crushing the opposition underfoot we aren't succeeding.

Sigh.

If that is success, I don't want it.

But YOUR kind of success IS good news. It is the kind of Democracy that is real and lasting and unassailable no matter what persecution arises.

It is the kind of Democracy that says, you can take my job, my land, my life, but nothing you do to me makes me less of a human being than I was before you turned to me with evil intent.

It is the kind of Democracy that raises up in any field where a weed can grow and says "Just TRY to ignore me, for I will never be silent while ONE person is oppressed by tyranny.

Because MY GOD says THESE ARE YOUR BROTHERS AND SISTERS, Take care of them, Feed my Sheep and when you do good unto the least among you, you do good unto me; I KNOW where my duty lies. Working my fingers to the bone so some rich man can escape paying his taxes and afford ANOTHER yacht or villa IS NOT a commandment of MY GOD, but the plan of the Devil to make us all feel trampled underfoot.

Sorry for the RANT - listening to MLK from another thread and it seems like a bit of 'preaching to the choir' was in order.

:hi:

[FreedomAngel82]

34. Glad to hear the news!

I hope more people join up! My own local democratic party headquarters has even been doing some things. They're going to host an event featuring Ford junior so things are getting going slowly but surely. I'm glad to hear that from a red red state like Alabama!

[DearAbby]

37. Wonderful News

:woohoo:

[Adelante]

36. Fantastic work

You and your club should be extremely proud.

This is a Southern Strategy we can all get behind. :D

[Tom Rinaldo]

41. That was a wonderful report. And inspiring

Taking back our country takes a lot of hard work and it involves exactly what you all are doing, which doesn't mean it can't be fun also. Sounds like it was a great event that was the result of some real initiative being taken to not just accept the status quo.

[judy from nj]

42. That is great news.

That kind of hard work is just what the Democrats need to take back this country. Congratulations, and it sounds like you had a great time also.

[trof]

45. We did have a good time.

I teared up a couple of times during Stephen's speech. I don't think I was the only one.

[gordianot]

44. Fantastic news.

All of those Democrats in the same room without devouring one another. Now that Republicans are eating their own, it appears to me Democrats in your world are headed in the right direction.

It gives me hope we might re-establish some grass roots.

[Dr Fate]

46. In my experience, Southerners make the strongest DEMs.

Because we KNOW exactly what we are up against.

[trof]

47. Sending thread link to Stephen Black.

Many thanks for the inspiring and encouraging comments.
I also sent a link to members of our Dem club and have received many complimentary replies.
You guys are Aces.

[Clark2008]

48. Let's hear it for Southern Dems (and Indies!)

:woohoo: :bounce: :woohoo: :bounce:

[ClassWarrior]

49. That's AWESOME trof...

You're doing God's work.

NGU.

[wryter2000]

50. Good for you!

Believe me, I know I have it good in Oakland, CA. I applaud your courage and effort. :yourock:

[Cha]

51. I'm so happy for ya'll!

Progressive baby steps, Congratulations! :toast: to the Baldwin County Dems!

Stephen Black sounds like a good guy to have on our side..what a legacy!

[trof]

52. Yeah, I think we'll be hearing more from him.

Did I mention he was nice, too?
We chatted for a few minutes.

[AlabamaYankee]

53. Congratulations!

I'm currently the vice President of the Lee County Democratic Club, my main duty being the recruitment of speakers. How would you like to come up to Auburn some time and tell us how you did it? Our club is made up of basically retired Auburn faculty, but the College Dems are an amazingly active group.

[melnjones]

54. Sweet.

Thanks for sharing a hopeful story, we don't hear enough of them, unfortunately. And congrats on all your successes!:toast:

[Lydia Leftcoast]

55. That's the spirit, Baldwin County!

:thumbsup:

[prodigal_green]

56. Wait, you mean

we're supposed to do something besides post on DU?

Excellent work!! Sometimes I feel a little left out living in a blue district in a blue city in a blue state. It's easy to get lazy.

[IronLionZion]

57. Gimme a break Trof

It's awesome that you guys are getting together and organizing in your county. That's exactly what this party needs. Chairman Dean has pledged to help so-called "red" states like Alabama. I don't know about Baldwin County, but I do know that Alabama is hardly red. If anything, Alabama is a dark blue state at the state level. The Dems hold a strong majority in your state legislature.

24 out of 34 State Senators are Democrats
http://www.legislature.state.al.us/senate/senators/senateroster_alpha.html

62 out of 104 State Representatives are Democrats.
http://www.legislature.state.al.us/house/representatives/houseroster_alpha.html

Even 2 out of 7 US Reps are Democrats although both your US Senators are certifiable assholes.

Sure, every last one of them may be a conservative blue dog Democrat, but a Democrat nonetheless. You're not alone in your state. Somebody is electing those Dems to office. Talk to them, see how they manage, and most importantly you gotta keep on keeping on.

Fukineh Trof! That's great news!
:hi: :toast:

[quaoar]

58. If there are Democrats in Baldwin County

It makes me hopeful that a thorough search might turn up a few in Shelby County.

[Mich Otter]

59. Organize to Win

In every state, every precinct and in every neighborhood people need to step forward and help organize to make a real change in America.
Don't worry if the group starts small, just start it and "they will come". People want something to do.
Individually, we can all contribute by writing letters to the editors and speak to anyone and everyone who is in a position to influence public opinion and policy. What can you do today to help reduce the ignorance and selfishness the conservatives keep spewing?

[Robert Oak]

60. May you be an inspiration to others! Great job!

so very good...

I have dreams that FDR and Wallace and the rest who saved
capitalism are rolling over in their graves these days...

[Eloriel]

61. Beautiful

Really did my heart good to read all that. Congratulations on your incredible successes.

[nevergiveup]

62. Profiles in Courage ...... Chapter 12

Folks with courage like you are why we will take back our country .... Thank you Thank you Thank you

[BlueIris]

63. Good job.

Converting, or reaching, the "intractables" in the reddest of red areas is tough. Go, Alabama!

[Skittles]

64. I AM LOVING IT OLD FART!!!!!!!!!!!!!

OUTSTANDING!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :thumbsup:

[VOX]

65. This is great, trof!

Thanks for posting! :thumbsup:

[JNelson6563]

66. I was so excited while reading your story!

Excellent news! Thank you so much for posting this! I hope many who are in similar situations are inspired.

This is exactly how it is done. A few like minded souls get together and decide they are going to change things and then they push forward.

You had a great speaker, high turnout, made some needed cash and set a precedent for successful Democratic event in your town.

:yourock: :woohoo:

Thank you for all your hard work. Please keep us posted on your progress. I predict a bright future for Democrats in Baldwin Co.

Julie

[Eloriel]

68. And Julie should know -- she's a

political organizer par excellence in her neck of the woods.

:kick:

[BamaLefty]

67. Awesome!

We can turn AL blue, seriously...

[Jade Fox]

69. Sweet.

[Telly Savalas]

70. Great work! Thanks!