One Christmas present the GOP really wanted out of the bailout mess....

[Are_grits_groceries]

The auto bailout or nonbailout is as convoluted a mess as I have seen in Congress. Ostensibly the GOP is trying to break the unions because the unions back the Dems consistently.

I also think there is other method to their madness. If you check out the “voting Shift” map, a great deal of the country was voting bluer. Even in a lot of the South there was a shift toward the Dems. They weren’t Democratic yet, but the numbers were growing. The Rethugs flatout lost VA, NC and FL and they had to spend more time in GA than they would have liked.

http://elections.nytimes.com/2008/results/president/map.html

The South is the Rethug base, but because of population shifts, younger voters and a more concerted Dem effort, it is not a slam dunk anymore. Yes, I read all the Southern bashing threads, but there is some change afoot. I can tell you that from living here.

So what is a poor Rethug to do? Notice that the Senators out front on the auto bailout were Southern. They had auto plants in their states so that is a good reason for them to spout off. However, there were a lot of Senators who weren’t Southern who didn’t vote for the bailout who weren’t front and center.

I think those blowhards lead the way because A) They are good with hot air and it plays well with their constituents and B) What is a good way to upset the trends I pointed out? Yes – Start a regional war. If you pick on a region and not the specific people you are bound to get everybody up in arms. It is a defensive mechanism and it works well in the South because we have tended to bunch up anyway. So, make us all get mad and hunker down against the “Yankees” and voila. You may shift the map again.

It appears to be working. On DU, Southerners have been called every name in the book on threads. Instead of pushing back and trying to make a common cause, worker to worker, it’s easier to damn all of us. The South has a bitter history of trying to fight for unions. Look up textile mills and unions and you’ll see. I understand why people are madder than hell about the bailout. I think the auto industry should be helped.

A lot of politicians aren’t thinking about the economy and jobs. They are playing other games. In my opinion, they are also playing with fire if they let the auto industry dump in this economy.

Now, flame away.

[dkf]

1. I would have thought Southerners loved their American Trucks

more than anyone else. Isn't it Northern elites that like their Toyota Priuses etc?

I must have these generalizations all wrong.

[Are_grits_groceries]

2. The people I know including my brother have

American trucks. However, when all the hollering starts nobody tries to point out
that simple fact. They just hear people scream at them for being Southern, and nothing
else gets through.

[dkf]

3. In this case Southern Senators have their own agendas

I highly doubt Southerners would like being forced to buy an
Foreign car brand. I don't know why they aren't calling out Shelby and Vitter.

[Kalyke]

11. They are.

SPRING HILL, TENN., Dec. 12 -- As the workers and residents of this small town that launched the Saturn automobile see it, there are several villains in the collapse of the automakers' rescue plan.

But what stuns many in this place defined by the General Motors auto plant and its 4,200 workers is that no person played a larger role in the demise of autoworker hopes than their own Sen. Bob Corker (R), who is now regarded by some here with the kind of disdain reserved for traitors.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/12/12/AR2008121204128.html?hpid=sec-business

[dkf]

14. HA!

Even Cheney knows its bad politics to sink the American car industry.

[eilen]

4. that may be true

but the perception exists because the states are consistently going to Republican senators because the people are voting for them --maybe they enjoy voting against their interests or are just brainwashed by the churches there, who knows.

[dkf]

7. Would you have thought Southern Senators would doom

the American car? I highly doubt that would have occurred to the typical voter in those states. I'd like to see some polls on this.

[Are_grits_groceries]

9. After Johnson signed the Voting Rights Act and

other civil rights measures, the South stupidly started voting for Rethugs. The Dems just ceded the field. So for years, all you heard are Republican memes. They will take your guns being a favorite one still used. If that's all you grow up hearing, what will you believe? The Rethugs scare people good with guns and gays. Then they forget about economic issues. It didn't work as well this time because of how bad the economy is.
You still have the problem in the South of not building up a strong Dem party. There needs to be support on the local level where the Rethug memes can be countered. It's happening now to some degree, but not like it should.
In SC, the Dems had an idiot on the senate ticket. He was a Rethug who then became and ardent Ron Paul supporter. He switched parties and was voted in because the field was so weak. He still got 40% of the vote against Lindsey Graham. Graham and DeMint are not beloved. The Dems have to get their act together and find decent candidates.
Linda Ketner, who is an out lesbian, almost upset the male, white incumbent in SC District 1. She used her own money, and the DCCC didn't help until the end. If she can come that close on her own, things are changing. A good chance was missed.

[Kalyke]

12. Churches and right-wing radio.

We don't have any liberal radio in the South, that I know of.

[eilen]

16. My brother and mother have Sirius radio

and thus have access to Air America although my brother just listens to Howard Stern (what an 8th grader, lol). However, anyone with an internet connection can listen to Air America and Nova M. at home (not in a car).

[pampango]

6. It would be interesting to see if most of those Southern foreign vehicles were sold in the North,

MidWest and West. It would be weird if Southerners actually still bought more American cars and trucks, while they produced "foreign" ones.

[Are_grits_groceries]

8. Maybe I can find some info.

I know foreign vehicles have made inroads. However, I know people who swear by American models. I don't
think a lot of people think about in terms of dooming American brands.

[Kalyke]

13. If you do, I'd like to see it.

I think you're correct because I know for a fact that I see far more American cars on the road around here than foreign ones (mostly I see Fords).

I tried a quick Google search and didn't come up with anything.

I rec'd your thread, btw.

[Are_grits_groceries]

15. Thx. I mulled this over. I don't trust those good ol'boys. nt

[Fumesucker]

5. My son in law told me he was glad Obama won..

He is a former Marine and the son of the local sheriff and we are in quasi rural GA well outside Atlanta.

He's a good guy but got the Repub koolaid from his family big time.

If he thinks Obama was the right choice, there are going to be a hell of a lot of others that agree with him.

Edited to add: My daughter also voted for Obama as did both of my older grandchildren in their school mock elections, my grandkids made a special point of telling me who they voted for.

[OwnedByFerrets]

10. K and R