That’s the catch-phrase here in my adopted city, the “liberal bastion” of Austin. A lady told me last week that the only bad thing about Austin is that 15 minutes after leaving the city you’re back in Texas with all the conservatives. I told her that was one of the best things about it. But it’s not just politics - last week I was sitting at a stop light at Red River and 6th Street, right in the epicenter of keeping it weird when I was passed by four people on unicycles. I had about gotten used to the flocks of Segways that roll by every once in awhile, but four unicycles is still something to remark on. Kind of like the ostrich in my front yard a few years ago. Keeping it weird.
The Won stopped in Austin for a fundraiser last night. Oh sure, the El Paso trip was earlier in the day but he was preaching to Mexicans and illegals out there. Here was for grabbing money, and Austin is the only place in Texas weird enough to give him any. The rolling roadblocks to ease the motorcade through town were advertised all day so his arrival at 5 PM rush hour wouldn’t have any effect on the traffic. Hundreds of police cars blocked intersections 30 minutes before the motorcade rolled through so I had plenty of time to sit and watch what I used to take part in. I counted a bunch of Suburbans, including the latest cast of my brethren providing communications – hard to miss with that dome on top. I finally passed and it seemed a few people were excited to see it.
But. This morning I was at Jim’s, an old Austin establishment getting some breakfast at 5 AM. I’d about finished my migas when a couple of older gents came in and got their regular table and commenced the coffee drinking and problem solving. Of course I had to listen and it wasn’t hard to hear – “You know I like Obama, but I don’t see any reason that he couldn’t have met with Perry….he is the governor” – “Yeah and I don’t see any reason they haven’t released that federal money for the fires – didn’t take too long for Alabama – he had time to come and get some money here” “Yeah, I’m gonna have to think about that some”. And I heard more grousing like that today hanging around places where those things just aren’t said. After all - This is the place where “Obama is Awesome”.
