One Democratic stronghold efficiently scattered....

[holboz]

I'm sure this has probably been discussed at DU and I missed it; the boards are moving very fast these days. I was thinking of the evacuated hurricane victims and why officials are taking them so far away: Houston, San Anotonio, and even here in Northwest Arkansas.

Then it occured to me what these three areas have in common: they're Republican strongholds, aren't they? well, I know NW Arkansas is. I'm pretty sure most places in Texas are. To be honest, I was shocked to see evacuees brought to NW Arkansas...it seems a dreadfully long way from home.

I know it's probably too early to address voting/residency issues in the face of a bigger crisis at hand, but it will most CERTAINLY need to be addressed before 2006.

Anyway, having said that I'm proud that NW Arkansas has been opened tothe evacuees for saftey and shelter. In spite of this being a stronghold of the Rethugs, there are lots of good people eager to help. I think the people who come here will fare better than those taken to sports stadiums and convention centers. There is a real effort to help these people get their lives back on track. In fact the local newspaper reported yesterday that some relocated victims have already taken jobs and enrolled their children in local schools. I think little steps like that will go a long way in helping these poor victims reclaim some dignity and normalicy in their lives. God bless them.

Sorry this post is all over the place in terms of content...I just needed to get it out.

[The Backlash Cometh]

1. Thanks for bringing it up.

These people should have a right to call Louisiana their primary home address. But the Dems better act now to protect that right.

[wli]

2. There are likely to be more similarly scattered. n/t

[NVMojo]

3. thanks for being alert ...this is important to understand ....

[Justitia]

4. Houston is pretty Democratic (city proper), as is San Antonio.

The outlying areas (suburbs) are red.

Houston is very diverse - over 92 languages spoken here, very cosmopolitan. Houston mayor, Bill White is a Dem.

San Antonio (where I grew up) has a majority Hispanic population (about 70/30, I think) and a large military presence (Ft Sam Houston, Lackland AFB, Brooks Army Med Ctr).

Dallas (city proper) is also Dem leaning. Dallas mayor, Laura Miller, is a Dem.

Austin is historically a liberal oasis.

Any dems from LA will only strengthen our blue city strongholds, as long as they gravitate to the larger cities.

[Totally Committed]

5. I said this on another thread, but...

I feel this is gerrymandering on a human scale. With these people scattered (read: diluted), and being sent to solid Red States, where they will be absorbed, or, because of lack of a "permanent adress, be denied the right to vote at all.

The DNC should have a program in place to assure all of them are registered to vote absentee from Louisiana well before the elections in 2006 and even 2008.

TC

[Neocondriac]

6. two strikes agianst New Orleans...

It's Black and Blue. Mostly Black people with Blue leadership. Plus the Christian Right has always viewed N.O. as a moral cesspool.

[checks-n-balances]

7. Nominated. I hadn't thought of this angle before.

As someone posted above, it's gerrymandering on a human scale. These neocon rethugs are helping people on the surface, but only to benefit themselves with their own agenda.

Just when these "people" have gone as low as they can go, they go another step lower.

But maybe the newcomers to these states will be able to teach the already-residents a thing or two some truths about their plight. Maybe some past rethug voters will see the error of their ways. If they have hearts.

Maybe.

[GeorgeBushytail]

8. But they will spread their anger

Everywhere they go they will talk about their experience. Communities they move in to will be very aware of who they are and word will spread.

Hearing a person describe what they went through has to be more powerful than a TV clip.

I predict some of the Southern states go blue in 06 and 08.

[LastLiberal in PalmSprings]

9. Move the Dems out, developers buy the land for pennies,

then build multi-million dollar homes to be bought by -- guess who? -- Republicans.

[formernaderite]

10. well up here in DC....no fear all the rich are dems.

weirdly in the white community it's the working class in the exurban areas that are repub.