Lost Jobs and Military Funerals Haunt Bush in the Heartland

[UpInArms]

http://www.villagevoice.com/print/issues/0349/perlstein.php

Rock River Valley, Illinois—Piety is easy to find on the highways of Red America. Stop at a cemetery and you may find that the marker towering over all the rest reads, "In Memory of the Unborn Children." Down at the lower frequencies, the ones occupied in more urbane locales by the edgy college stations and NPR affiliates, your radio lectures at you: The music you'll hear during your visit is safe for the whole family. . . . Family friendly 91.5, WCIC, celebrating 20 years of music and ministry. Neighborliness is unavoidable, a saving grace: Pull into a motel and the lady asks for your cell phone number because there was a rash of folks forgetting their cameras this summer and she wants to be able to call you if you leave something behind yourself.

<snip>

Though even in this, Oglesby, Illinois's local den of iniquity, Republicans aren't hard to find, either. "I thought Bush would be a good man for the job at the time, and thought he'd be a good president," says the terse young man, whose nickname is Stony. "So I voted for him."

Stony is the kind of guy liberals love to worry about, the kind they fret they can't win over by next year's election. He works the midnight shift as a "picker" at a nearby grocery warehouse—the very job Tom Wolfe depicts as the soul of thankless blue-collar humiliation in his latest novel. Stony talks proudly about his union and, quietly, mentions his fears that his workplace "could have a shutdown any day. You never know."

Liberals: Worry less. Stony no longer supports George Bush: "Because of the war. Too many people dyin'." Neither does his drunken friend, who pipes up: "I hate him. Because there are kids getting killed every single day."

...lots more worth a complete reading...

[bluestateguy]

1. Bush won't even be on the ballot in Illinois next year

I wouldn't worry about Illinois.

[metisnation]

4. thats right

No one messes with blue in Chicago! The people here will stand up for what is right and just and you better believe that we will fight for it!

Union Yes!

[ochazuke]

2. Applealing to the people mentioned in this article

I think Edwards has the best shot, maybe Gephardt, but Dean or Kerry won't reach them. That's just the way America is.

[blackcat77]

6. A straight talker like Dean...

...would appeal to these folks more than you'd think. Certainly better than a media creation like Kerry.

There is a great deal of dissatisfaction with Bush here in the midwest. That doesn't mean that people will automatically vote Democratic, but it does mean that Bush is not an automatic winner either.

[roguevalley]

3. These guys I grew up with. They are the most vulnerable along with

children and old people. They mean well and even if they
aren't the best educated, they do their best. I remember
lots of them. If they can't support dog butt, then no one
will. God bless these two poor damned guys.

[madrchsod]

5. dam i know those

guys from dixon. both those guys were on my soccer team..the gorals lived right down the street from us. there`s alot of people who are fed up with bush. yup-that`s my hometown....