8 things Lonesome Dove taught me about voting Democrat in red Utah!

8 things Lonesome Dove taught me about being a Democrat in Utah…

1.  “If you only come face to face with your own mistakes once or twice in your life it's bound to be extra painful. I face mine every day--that way they ain't usually much worse than a dry shave.” 

It is one thing I have come to expect as a Democrat in Utah.  If I am wrong, it does not go unnoticed.  It is the price of being the odd man out.  People never tire of reminding you.  Openly admit your mistakes.  Concede when you are wrong.  Own your flaws and they lose their power. 

2. “You ride with the outlaw. You die with the outlaw.”

The #1 rule of politics!  You are your candidate, and your party.  There is no middle ground. You will pay dearly for every mistake your candidate, or party ever makes.  You will be assigned personal blame for anything that goes awry.  There is no leniency.  Everything they do will reflect on you.  You will forever be defending every action made by your party.  There is no separation.   It is an unwritten law.  There is no gray. 

3.  You teach people how to treat you.

The way you see yourself is mirrored in the way others treat you.  People will not look to you for advice if they still feel you are trying to convince yourself of your own capabilities.  Be confident. Even if you aren’t, fake it. Never let them see you sweat.  People like leaders.  Be one.  

4.  “If you want one thing too much it’s likely to be a disappointment.”

Disappointment is bitter.  It is also avoidable.  Expect nothing.  If you have no expectations, you will never suffer disappointment.   Accept the fact people are human, and will usually let you down.  

5.   “A whore with a heart of gold."

Women are allowed one of three roles: wife, whore, or widow.  They are weaknesses.  They ruin men.  Women are to be protected, paid, or prettied up.  They are unnecessary evils in the lives of men. If it weren’t for the desire of men for a good poke, surely they would have no part in the life of a cowboy.  They exist to tame, trap, or tease the good old boys. The same can be said in politics.  Women are rarely taken serious, and the control they do have is sexual.  They are regarded as delicate, fragile beings needing to be protected by men.               

6.  “Time and again he would walk up on the wrong side of a horse that was known to kick, and then look surprised when he got kicked.” 

When people show you who they are--believe them. Allow people be who they are, not who you need them to be.  You will not change the hearts of most men.  It is often insurmountable to change ourselves.  To change another person is almost impossible.  Possible? Yes. Probable? No. 

7.  There is safety in numbers.

Cowboys rarely travel solo.  They stand very little chance against the frontier alone.   Birds of a feather flock together.  People with like minds will be your safe haven.  The political arena is a battle field in Utah.  It is not for the faint of heart.   As a Democrat, not a day goes by that a flippant comment, joke, or the occasional scathing tirade comes my way.  Most days I don’t give them a second thought, I can’t.  It would ruin me.  It is nice to have a group of similar spirits. "You want to go where everybody knows your name. And they're always glad you came. You wanna go where everybody knows your name." A group of Democrats I can relate to, with whom I can speak freely, not having to guard my words, or incessantly worry about defending them is an incredible source of strength.

8. “It's a fine world, though rich in hardships at times.”

You don’t always win.  Most days you just do your thing, but there are also days that will hurt.  The countless hours given to a campaign that fails, a bill that never makes it off the floor, or a candidate that lets you down are times you will feel broken, jaded, and sad.  You will feel cheated and disenchanted by the road ahead.  It is all part of the game.  You take the good with the bad.  Your successes will be fewer than your failures.   But, you will see success, and when you do, your failures make your victories all the more glorious.