Great article. DaveGar, is your real name Bob Moser?

http://www.thenation.com/docprint.mhtml ... 12&s=moser

Jacob Levenson, writing in the Columbia Journalism Review about media coverage of the South during the 2004 campaign, echoed Zinn in identifying an important reason the myth persists even today: "The country, and by natural extension the press, often use the South as a convenient box to contain all sorts of problems, situations and conditions that are national in scope: race, white poverty, the cultural rift forming between the religious and the secular, guns, abortion, gay marriage...the contours of American morality, and the identity of the major political parties."

obviously I agree with this. And this

It ain't wise, and it ain't right. I can't say it better than Chris Kromm, director of the liberal Institute for Southern Studies in Durham, North Carolina. "For Democrats to turn their back on a region that half of all African-Americans and a growing number of Latinos call home, a place devastated by Hurricane Katrina, plant closings, poverty and other indignities--in short, for progressives to give up on the very place where they could argue they are needed most--would rightfully be viewed as a historic retreat from the party's commitment to justice for all."

I read through about 3/4 and skimmed the last part. I agree it is well written and the liberal guy "Todd" he mentions reminds me alot of how I feel now.

Republicans were meddlesome, superior, pro-corporate Ivy Leaguers endlessly devising fresh ways to screw us over.

I think this is how alot of people in Nebraska see the Democratic party now, minus the pro-corporate thing, although they will get blamed for the state's anti-corporate farming act being struck down by the courts.

There's really nothing worse for the Democrats than to be viewed as elitist and then refuse to step foot in the South and even heartland states like my own.

Southern blacks are just Sixth Columnists who have to use the backdoor to go to meetings. You can quote me on that, too.

The whole region just needs to piss off. Secede, again. We won't care this time.

Oh come on, Monty. America needs the South. It ain't like the Rust Belt is carrying its weight anymore.

what's the matter Monty, mommy made meat loaf for dinner again? the movie theater making you work a double shift?

The South voted Democrat, and voted for slavery and segregation. Why, afterall, Lincoln was REPUBLICAN. Do your research on HISTORY, please.

Been to any Fugees games lately?

Oh, yeah. That's right. Stupid-ass mayor of Columbus, GA, -- only the second worst Columbus in U.S. (though moving up fast on the Ohio capital) -- doesn't want any child emigrants from Afghanistan, Bosnia, Somalia, et. al., playing that frankly, unamerican game of football (soccer) on his beloved gridiron football fields.

Fuck that shit.

&, oh yeah, for sake of full disclosure: fuck those douchenozzles phoning in bomb-threats (& worse) to the the Arab-owned wholesaler in my fair burg, West Allis, because some dimwit employee (since shit-canned) chose to be impolitic in his correspondence with a prospective customer.

Huh? I dunno, where I live you can't throw a rock without hitting a soccer field and the high school teams always play in the football stadiums.

if theres anything that can be said about the south of america, its that populism has deep roots. however, as it always does, strict populist policies leads to tyranny by the masses, and leaves everyone worse off for it.

Of course, Bill Clinton, Al Gore and Jimmy Carter aren't from the racist/sexist/homophobic South? Right?

Who's worse off if the masses push for populist policies?

The south is SO terrible that after the last 2 censuses, New York and Ohio will have lost an agreggate 4 congressional seats. Texas, Florida and GA will be up I believe SEVEN. This isn't because we are fucking more (tho we are undoubtedly more attractive) its you carpetbagging fucks who get sick of union control, expensive land and high taxes who move down here.

Stay out of teh way of the Southern Thing.

(I have not read the article by the way, but i plan to)

anyone whos not part of the majority. in the south, the most noteworthy example would be the blacks. extrapolating from that, it allows ill advised policies that may appeal to the masses, but are unworkable.

A, Al Gore's not a "real" southerner, he's a dyed-in-the-wool Washington librul who lived in posh hotels & went to private school in yankee (well, not "yankee", but close enough, too close really) country; get your talking-points right.

B, Bill Clinton attempted to rise above the Sixth Column morass, & look what it netted him? Ken Starr's bug up his ass, & his entire home region turning on him.

C, Jimmy Carter WASN'T a very good president, & certainly wasn't cut out for it. He was just the right balm at the time to heal the wounds of Nixon. He's better served as a statesman & humanitarian.

No, they all are. George Wallace, Martin Luther King, Sam Nunn and lots of other folks are too.

you guys can have Ohio if you want.

I want no part of Ohio, Western PA, all of Indiana or other places that make Mississippi look civilized

i gotta admit for all the problems i ran into during my time in nc, id much rather live in chapel hill or wilmington or asheville than detroit, cleveland, or pittsburgh

don't tell my wife.

Blue islands, red sea.

Also, nice companion selection. DTW, Cleveland, & PGH are as emblematic of the non-South as Chapel Hill & Ashville are of the South.

Pittsburgh is pretty nice, though. Cleveland doesn't seem half-bad either, as long you don't just "whip it out & start having sex with myself".

Detroit is a toilet. But it's given us some great music (save for the Stooges, of course).

hey - i know the blue islands shit but i cant handle the cold and i like to be in semi-near proximity to the outdoors other than burned out old steel mills.

Monty, whatever your severe anger is about the south, could you explain how you can possible KNOW what you're talking about? Did you ever live in the South? I certainly haven't. I just thought it was a very well-reasoned and well-written article.

Sensei, the Republican Party under Lincoln and the Republican party under Bush share almost nothing in common other than name. I would have been a Republican if I were alive back then, probably.

Loogs, there's something seriously the matter with Monty re: this subject. It's either genuine hate or he's looking to piss people off, neither of which are exceptionally rational.

I know squat about what the "real south" is any more than a person from Alabam could have a clue what's it's like to be from northern Maine. I just liked the article.

Bingo.

Loog and Bloor apparently didn't give him the attention he wanted and he's bitter.

Give LA one year. We'll be a Democrat state again. Put it in stone.

As for Monty, you obviously don't have a clue.