The Increasingly Republican States of America

[xchrom]

http://www.theatlanticcities.com/politics/2011/11/increasingly-republican-states-america/356/

President Obama has at best a 50-50 shot to win reelection, according to Nate Silver's most recent analysis. And the outcome of upcoming Republican primaries are uncertain at best. So the pundits will sift through today's off-year election returns for clues that might have any bearing on the race for the presidency. Did big labor defeat Ohio’s union-busting SB5? Did New Jersey voters show their love for Chris Christie by sending more Republicans to the statehouse? We'll just have to wait and see, but one thing is clear: America is becoming a more Republican nation.

Polling data by the Gallup Organization identifies the percentage of state voters who "lean Republican" or "lean Democratic," taking the partisan inclinations of self-declared political independents into account. Measured this way, Republican identification now tops 50 percent in six states: Utah (58 percent), Wyoming (57 percent), Idaho (56 percent), Kansas (50 percent), Nebraska (50 percent) and Alabama (50 percent). The number of states where 40 percent or more of voters lean Republican has doubled, rising from 17 in 2008 to 34 in 2011. In only one state, Hawaii, do less than 30 percent of voters lean Republican.

[xchrom]

1. i'll give this 1 kick. nt

[GSLevel9]

2. Let's face it... throw Los Angeles, NYC, Philadelphia and Chicago in the ocean and this is a 70%-30%

nation...

[KamaAina]

12. You'd have to throw the Bay Area in there, too

and how are you going to throw Chicago in the ocean?!

[marmar]

22. I think it's more than those 4 cities, but point taken.

[progressoid]

3. This is just fucking depressing.

At bottom it reflects great cleavages of income, class, religion, and diversity that continue to divide Americans by state and region. Republicanism is most pronounced and is growing fastest among America's least well-off, most blue collar states with the bleakest futures. Democratic identification remains strongest in richer, better-educated, more-diverse, and more prosperous states.


Democrats have abandoned the working class and let the Republicans con them into thinking the GOP stands for them. :grr:

[xchrom]

5. i could not agree more -- we're bringing this on our selves. nt

[Odin2005]

7. And the Latte Liberals wonder why blue collar people vote for Pukes.

[nadinbrzezinski]

10. And this don't work either

Given that many latte liberals are working class and reluctancly vote for wall street bought and paid for democrats.

[Odin2005]

16. I mean "Latte Liberals" to mean upper-middle class social liberals who...

...care more for the latest vanity cultural issue than the needs of working-class people, which they dismiss as idiots.

[nadinbrzezinski]

19. Free clue...they no longer are as pervasive

The whole middle class is under atack

Second free clue, where exactly do you think the whole progressive movement came from?

I really try to stay away from frank lunz developed memes, but that's just me.

[mattclearing]

21. The "Latte Liberal" is a right-wing straw man.

Urban Democrats defy stereotypes, and many of them drink black coffee.

[KamaAina]

13. So it's a vicious cycle

the more the repukes ruin the economy, the more people will be less well-off with a bleak future. :eyes:

[kctim]

4. Drop 'the government is the answer to EVERYTHING' rhetoric

Acknowledge the difference between urban and rural views and beliefs.
Make the 2nd Amendment a non-factor.
And those numbers would reverse.

Such a basic concept that would put Democrats in power for good.

[xchrom]

6. can you provide a list of names and links to democrats

who think the government is the answer to everything?

[nadinbrzezinski]

9. Let me add that request.

[kctim]

17. The OP is about the Party, not individuals

With that in mind, what has been the Democratic Partys answer to most of the major issues? More government control. This is fine when dealing with some issues, but brings resentment when it infringes on individual rights. Combine this with how political partys take the views of the extreme and apply it to the Party as a whole, and you get things like ALL Democrats are liberal socialists who want government to provide for them. Of course thats so far from the truth that it is laughable, but EVERY tax hike, EVERY mandate to support another government program and EVERY government dictate on personal lives, just makes the claim more accepted.

What the people of LA, NY or Chi-town want or fear, is NOT always what the rest of us want or fear.

[xchrom]

20. If that is your impression of the modern democratic party then

I hope you are not a democrat.

[kctim]

24. Why's that?

Do you really believe Democrats cannot believe in using effective government where it is needed AND respecting individual rights at the same time? We do around here.

Not respecting that basic and most important part of our Constitution is exactly why people believe ALL Democrats are liberals and progressives trying to implement socialism. It is also why Claire is probably going to lose or luck out a sweaker next year here in MO.

Expecting a Skelton Democrat to vote for a liberal or progressive Democrat isn't how it works. They won't vote for one out of fear of Republicans, but they sure as hell will vote AGAINST them out of fear.

[Odin2005]

8. The gun issue needs to die. I'm sick of the gun-haters alienating rural voters.

[Populist_Prole]

14. Word

[kctim]

18. Amen to that

A needless thorn in the Dem Partys side.

[marmar]

23. Please drop the Republican talking points.

nt

[uponit7771]

11. That's why we have a electoral vote system and I'm glad we do, state by states measures of KKKons is

...irrelevant.

[IDemo]

15. Surprising it isn't closer to 96% here in Idaho

It's very rarely I run into a kindred Progressive. Or at least one willing to be vocal about it.