Everybody Reads TalkLeft

By Big Tent Democrat, Section Media
Posted on Wed May 02, 2007 at 10:37:47 AM EST
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Don't believe me? Well, allow me to retort. On January 31 I wrote:

Iraq CAN be the key to a lasting realignment in favor of the Democrats. . . . we can stride with great confidence into 2008 knowing that we may achieve the permanent political realignment we all dream of - Obama, Edwards or even Hillary, can then be our FDR.

Via Drum, Sunday, George Will said:

George, it took 30, 40 years for the Republican Party to get out from under Herbert Hoover. People would say, "Are you going to vote for Nixon in '60?" "No, I don't like Hoover." The Depression haunted the Republican Party. This could be a foreign policy equivalent of the Depression . . .

Just sayin' Of course Dems are currently in the process of kicking the issue away.

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Everybody Reads TalkLeft | 13 comments (13 topical)

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I'll break my (5.00 / 1) (#1)
by andgarden on Wed May 02, 2007 at 10:47:18 AM EST

"no 2008 presidential strategy" rule to say that nothing would serve Democrats better than attacking the Republican strength: the white south. All we need to do is find a suitable 3rd party candidate to run down there. I nominate Roy Moore.

Not all white southerners are GOP nutcases (5.00 / 1) (#4)
by Molly Bloom on Wed May 02, 2007 at 11:59:44 AM EST

There are Democrats down here.

Not enough (none / 0) (#5)
by andgarden on Wed May 02, 2007 at 01:07:38 PM EST

and I'd wager that half of the "Democrats" are actually Dixiecrats. Sorry, but unless the white vote is split, the south is a lost cause.


You clearly don't live down here (5.00 / 3) (#6)
by Molly Bloom on Wed May 02, 2007 at 04:04:53 PM EST

Dixiecrats are now GOP. Bluedogs are the conservative White Democrats (which I am not). There are also mainstream white Democrats down here- not enough in numbers by themselves. Is the South a lost cause- perhaps for now. Keep in mind in the early 1970's to 1980, there was the begininngs of an alliance between Black Democratic voters and Whte Democratic liberals in the South. I think such an alliance is possible again, but it won't be easy and it may or may not happen anytime soon- really depends on how far down Bush drags the GOP.

There's a bumper sticker (5.00 / 1) (#7)
by Edger on Wed May 02, 2007 at 04:31:56 PM EST

I've seen quite often on cars with Alabama plates.

"There's a terrorist behind every Bush"

November 08, 2006 (5.00 / 1) (#8)
by Edger on Wed May 02, 2007 at 05:02:26 PM EST

Democrats gain in Southern state legislatures:

Out of the battles for control of 26 house and senate chambers in the South, Democrats strengthened their position in 10; Republicans only did so in 3. There was no change in 10, and 3 others were influenced by independent candidates.

Democrats saw their biggest gains in Southern state house races. Key states: Florida (+7 house seats for Democrats); Kentucky (+5); North Carolina (+3); and West Virginia (+4). Republican gains were small; the largest was the GOP's 2-seat pickup in the Alabama senate.

Altogether, Democrats gained 26 seats in Southern state legislatures, and Republicans lost 20 seats in the 13 states.

Democrats strengthened their position in 8 Southern states; in 5 of those, significantly so (AR, FL, KY, NC and WV). The GOP only strengthened its position in Alabama.

Black Democrats and White Liberals (none / 0) (#10)
by andgarden on Wed May 02, 2007 at 08:36:01 PM EST

already vote for national Democrats. In places like MS and SC, that accounts for something like 30-45% of the vote. Look at the Presidential exit polls: there aren't enough white Democrats for anyone but a Zell Miller Democrat to win.

I'm sorry, but for federal office, the south is a lost cause. I'd like to be wrong.


: I'd like you to be wrong too (none / 0) (#12)
by Edger on Wed May 02, 2007 at 10:37:48 PM EST

but I think you probably aren't, unfortunately. Not yet, anyway...

Their strength (none / 0) (#2)
by Edger on Wed May 02, 2007 at 11:05:25 AM EST

down south is their weakness if enough sunlight is applied. IMHO.

: The South supplies the bulk of the All Volunter (5.00 / 2) (#3)
by TexDem on Wed May 02, 2007 at 11:13:08 AM EST

Armed Forces and accordingly is also absorbing the bulk of the casualties. As awareness increases as to the callousness to the number of casualties it takes just so the Decider in Chief can look tough, the South can be moved.

Maybe it works the other way (none / 0) (#9)
by chemoelectric on Wed May 02, 2007 at 08:13:23 PM EST

Maybe you are getting it from George Will. In either case, seeing things the same way as George Will ought to be a reminder to be careful about overrating one's own opinions.

There is no way I would have quoted George Will in my own blog as a supporting feature, even in jest. Seriously, it would make me think twice if I were seeing things George Will's way. However, most likely I would simply ignore Will.

(Even worse would be to quote William Safire for like-mindedness.)

Iraq as realignment? (none / 0) (#11)
by diogenes on Wed May 02, 2007 at 10:14:10 PM EST

There wasn't exactly a lasting realignment as the result of Vietnam, a much bigger Democrat-started debacle. Memories are short-when the war ends, it won't be on the news every day, and people will forget. The Depression was twelve years long and pervaded everyone's life.

: "Democrat-started debacle???????" (none / 0) (#13)
by walt on Wed May 02, 2007 at 11:35:48 PM EST

WikipediaTimeline: Dwight D. Eisenhower and Vietnam (1953-1961)
Milestones of the escalation under President Eisenhower.1 November 1955 -- Eisenhower deploys the Military Assistance Advisory Group to train the ARVN (South Vietnamese Army). This marks the official beginning of American involvement in the war as recognized by the Vietnam Veterans Memorial.[2]
April 1956 -- The last French troops leave Vietnam.
'nuff quoted.