One way a union leader might have a chance in rural Trump county is to run as an independent. The escalating irrationality and nonstop contradictions are exhausting, so it’s been good to see labor leaders inserting some actual common sense in conservative counties. I’ve been following Dan Osborne’s campaign in Nebraska for a while now, and he appears to be gaining traction.
Over the summer, I went to the annual Crowley County Days in Ordway, Colorado. My in-laws are 3rd generation farmers there, and still farming, so it’s a regular event we all do when visiting family. A bit about the county: in 2016, Trump won 70% of the votes (1,069) and the median household income there is roughly $40,000.
The day began with a parade of mainly rodeo queens on horseback, emergency vehicles with their sirens on, and community floats. July is always sweltering hot, and that day it was well over 100 degrees. The route was lined with children holding empty shopping bags to fill with free candy. As in most parades, during the procession candy is gently tossed to kids sitting on the curb who run out to the hot asphalt to scoop it up. Other community members walk up and down the route passing out ice cold popsicles, or bottled water; it’s a nice hometown event and family get together. Sadly, this year the parade ended with four guys on four-wheelers waving a “Fuck your feelings – Trump 2024” banner. They didn’t have any candy.
As is custom, after the parade, the community gathered in the park for a plate of free bbq beef served with pitchforks from the back of a huge truck bed to four stations of servers. There are four of the largest cauldrons of pinto beans I’ve ever seen, and the cast iron cauldrons hang from tractors at the main park. The free plates include a huge pile of beef, pinto beans, sandwich bread, pickles and mustard. Other fun activities in the park include a car show, and music. The stark contrast between the angry maga behavior at the parade, and neighbors and families at the community bbq lunch was notable to me. I can’t speak for others, but I can’t imagine anyone wanting the kids’ parade to end like that, not even conservative Republicans.
My father-in-law is also running as an independent. He’s an incredibly hard worker who has worked full time while farming his entire life. As a former judge, stockman, and farmer – he really is a “voice of reason”: https://www.richardmedina2024.com.