9/11 did change things...The nation has turned to the right...

[fujiyama]

We have to admit it. Two post 9/11 elections and we got our asses kicked. Sure there may be some fraud, but looking at almost every state, even those Kerry won, Gore won them by a larger margin.

NY: Gore 23 points. Kerry 18
NJ: Gore 16 point. Kerry 7
CT: 17 points. Kerry 10

Granted, CT was Lieberman's state so that had an effect. Kerry got Maine and NH by bigger margins. Gore lost NH last time.

All in all. This wasn't just the south. Sure we got slaughtered in the south, FL being the closest at 5%....but take a look at the senate numbers 55-45. It's lopsided.

The nation has turned to the right after 9/11...In all ways...but it has taken a disturbing fundamentalist trend. I'm fearing the war of civilizations is almost self fulfilling. A Fundamentalist Christian ideaology of world domination vs. militant Islam.

[ithacan]

1. that's how fascism works...

and that's the GOP's and the "Christian" Right's exact game plan.

[in_cog_ni_to]

2. I blame Diebold.

I just cannot believe that 3.7 MILLION more Americans wanted that idiot as prez.

[RafterMan]

3. Yeah

I was hoping NY would come through. We delivered the EVs, but sent a bad message.

I share your fears.

[punpirate]

4. There was no 9/11 in...

... 1980. None in 1984. None in 1988. None in 2000.

This has been going on for a long time, and 9/11 isn't the dominant factor you think it is. This is part of a long-term, concerted plan of the far right wing to control the government. They've done it with marketing, PR, advertising, television and radio over a 35-year period.

They've been pushing the country rightward for a long, long time.

[Awsi Dooger]

5. Clinton warned of that after 2002

When someone aske him who was responsible for the lousy 2002 midterms, he said, "The people who knocked down those buildings."

I've witnessed it in Las Vegas for three years. Hotels lost business and my friends who work in casinos were layed off. Prices went up in gift shops and fast food courts due to the lost business. The city became gripped in terrorism fear, based on reports the 9/11 terrorists met here and the big hotels might be a future target.

All of that more than trumped Yucca Mountain or other conventional issues. I mentioned that on DU many times. Clark County only went to Kerry by 28,000 votes. I knew we were finished statewide at that point.

[derbstyron]

7. and shrub played on this fear

shamelessly.
I hate him for that more than anything else.

[Sara Beverley]

6. Take this seriously folks. Learn who inhabits the "red states."

Learn who they are. Where they came from. How long have they been there. How long have they been citizens. No time to go into details today but this is the best kept secrect of the Republicans. You have lots of "new" citizens living in these "red" states. Get to know them and their backgrounds. Money escaping from socialist-leaning countries in south America, the Balkans, Russia, China even many Arab and Indian people of the same social persuasions. It's not the Mexican you need to worry about. It's those wealthy, fascist (racist)-leaning immigrants who have ushered in a new "new frontier." Your eyes have been diverted from the real ball in the air. Wake up!!
We need to find ways to embrace, convert, and include these people. But then, since you didn't know they were there, how could you?