I have followed the growth of this party with interest (and more than a little amusement) since its founding late 1999. So far, it has been a more entertaining soap opera than any found on television.

First, there was a national organization, which tried to create state chapters.

Then, the state chapters apparently said, "waitaminnit, we're supposed to be Confederates! No strong central control! The states take priority" ... and there was a falling out between the national and state (particularly GA and NC) Southern Parties.

Georgia even took over the main www.southernparty.org website for a while -- if you clicked on that link, you went to Jawjuh, by gum! No mention of the national organization (run by a husband and wife couple up in Virginia) what-so-never.

The national party has apparently regained control of both the Website and the logo (which features the original "stars and bars" flag); the Georgia Southern Party has had to make do with a rather utilitarian-looking thingie that consists of the Seal of the state interposed behind the letters.

In the interim: they had their first national convention. They had planned for 300 people, but only 100 showed up. The League of the South boycotted the thing, as did the aforementioned angry and ticked-off southern boys in those states who felt that the national organization has gotten too big for its breeches.

Ron Holland of my original home state (NC) has even written an essay decrying the attempts at strong central leadership. "We MUST be Confederates," says he, with all decisions made at the state level.

(Uh ... OK. How do they plan to elect a President? Anyway.)

Interspersed at random through the various screeds (sheesh al-MOTEY these people love to lecture!) are all sorts of oddities, including an endorsement of J. J. Johnson of the Sierra Times for Senate in Nevada (JJ is a subject unto himself -- I didn't even know he was running!).

It appears that the national organization is trying to recruit new members in those states where the original members have cried "Confederacy" and dropped out of the national organization. Georgia (the existence of which the national website refuses even to acknowledge, leaving a glaring hole in the map, but I digress) has even got a warning on its website: "if you tried to join at the national website, we may not have even been told!"

(Huh? What's that? Yeah, sure, I tried the Alabama Southern Party -- and got a 404. They're not home at all. Don't know where they went.)

No wonder we lost the war. :)

Whattzaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaap?

-- Anonymous, January 29, 2001

Answers

Poole:

I honestly don't know too much about these folks. My impression is that they are trying to recreate a society that never existed [except, retrospectively, in their minds]; this is a society that no one in the present south cares a whit for.

I remember traveling in the south, as a child, in the 50's. There were places where I couldn't even understand the language. Now, the people, in Hazard [let alone Atlanta] don't sound or act much different than the people in Columbus, Ohio.

Just sounds like another fringe group of dreamers to me. I doubt that much will come of it. Sort of like the Republic of Texas or the Montana Militia. Folks in their own little world.

Best Wishes,,,,

Z

-- Anonymous, January 30, 2001

Sounds like the Libertarian party with a drawl. [g] Same song, different verse:

In a televised interview Madalyn Murry O'Hare was once asked if the American Atheist Society (or whatever it is called) had local chapters. She replied something to the effect of, "Yes, we had quite a few once. But all they ever did at meetings was fight. So they all eventually disbanded."

Some things never change.

-- Anonymous, February 01, 2001

Someone once said that we Southerners are the most persistent argufiers on the face of the planet. During the Civil War, up to the very moment that Grant was accepting Lee's surrender, the Confederate Congress was still wrangling with Jeff Davis over everything from the proper use of state militia to taxes. :)

The Southern Party is an amusement because these people take themselves so seriously. They actually managed to get one person elected under their banner (city councilman or board of education, something like that), and crow that it's a turgid portent of things to come.

Meanwhile, they squabble over everything from the proper use of state membership rolls to who gets the dues. :)

-- Anonymous, February 02, 2001