Yes. Wilmington is a very LIBERAL town. I was down there this week and all the Obama hippies were out. Also lots of limo liberals. Big film industry down there. That being said it is a great town otherwise.
I used to go to UNCW. One of the problems that we had was some US Marines and British Merchant marines would show up on the weekends and wreck the dorms and start fights. I love our guys and I respect the jobs the marines do, and I am 100% pro military. However, there are some bad apples who give the rest a bad name.
It has nothing to do with liberal or conservative, it has to do with the fact they show up en masse and harrass the college gals. Which is not good for a clubs long term viability, if they get a reputation for being filled with nothing but military guys, they quickly go out of business.
This has nothing to do with politics, just folks protecting their businesses. That’s the facts jack. Have family in both Jacksonville, NC and Wilmington, and that’s the way it is. Its not a political statement.
Liberals eventually take over all the great little cities. The infrastructure of most of these cities were the result of conservatives hard work. Liberals flock there because of it’s beauty and cleanliness and then start their work liberalizing it. Next comes the reduction of law and order and the welcoming of people with drug and other addictions. Homeless flock there and drug deals are visible on street corners. Beggars are allowed by mandate. The arts crowd rule the day and taxes rise. Churches lose appeal and lose members. It has happened most profoundly in North Carolina. Asheville, Durham, Chapel Hill, Boone, and soon Raleigh. Charlotte remains fairly conservative however.
I remember a story about a town getting fed up with the army base nearby and withholding services. The base commander supposedly had his entire base paid with $2 bills. The town got the message.
You always have the issue of 18 to 20 year old military guys with little money but more than the high school boys snaking the available honeys and causing anger.
Also blowing of steam in bars, that's why there is Shore patrol working with the local police.
I have been to tied up at Seattle where they had a host a sailor program and some of the hostesses were hot. So it's a mixed bag. I'd give the local bars a break until I found out just what caused the “lock out”. Anti-military sentiment or rowdy sailors big difference.