Yea, okay, I can get behind Democrats wanting to win Western states.... but what does that have to do with the South, other than ignore it?

I would rather NOT hear how it is okay for candidates to concede the South to the Republicans, and I'm pretty sure Barack Obama isn't up for conceding the South. Even Hillary tried to buy Black people in the South. (Probably not the most politically popular strategy...)

Bring on your plan for the South, I want to hear it!

Now the country has thousands of towns where their best and brightest kids cannot afford college. Americans, especially young Americans, suffer high unemployment and underemployment. They know their jobs were outsourced. They know when they have high illegal populations draining resources. They have their eye on a huge national debt and a looted social security system that will not exist for them when they are two old to worked three or four lousy part time jobs. They damn well know when they cannot afford college and someone else’s kid with lower grades etc gets a free ride. They know when they cannot get medical care in an ER. Even former GOP supporters know that something is wrong. It results in some pretty angry people. Angry American voters. So this should fall right into the democrats’ hands – friend of the worker and all Americans. Need based scholarships, raising the minimum wage, rebuild our unions – America is ripe for democrats to take the whole thing. People have seen the Republican America. All democrats have to do is offer a fair America – not a free ride. One that judges you by economic need and merit. People are sick of nepotism, social promotion, and lawlessness. Democrats could come in and say we are cleaning house. Bush is incredibly anti worker – he tried to build a highway from Mexico for cripes sakes. He wants to undercut any last shred of American unions. He has all but done it. Democrats could have a field day – run an ad along the lines of ‘for years the republicans have had what no other party has ever had complete control of the country – the schools, the military our economy our healthcare – so ask yourselves is this the America we want?’ etc. Instead, they have to turn anti worker and ‘social& ;aci rc;€™ liberal at the last moment and support illegals and the very issues people are so angry about. Bush brings in illegals with one hand and reaps the benefit of the trouble it causes on the other. All we need is one candidate to say: I will get rid of illegal immigration and job outsourcing. I will end unfair promotion tactics in schools and the workplace. I will make our hospitals and school serve our children first. (ps see John Edwards)


Did Hillary try to ‘buyâ €™ the southern blacks with that whole universal healthcare thing? Trying to make sure all Americans have access to a doctor, how low can she go? I think most of Obama supporters are just plain racists - judging by the color of his skin. No one needs to buy black votes because blacks do not vote. Yup, you heard me. 20% turnout in a black area is a miracle - unless you are an Ohio diebold voting machine - then you have 800% turnout voting republican. If every eligible black in this country votes you would have about 12 percent of the population. The Hispanic vote is well above that. Why court blacks at all? Better to run ads in Spanish. Mainly it comes down to courting other groups who want to perceive you as fair or, I should say, ‘not racist.’ However, be too centered on one race and you alienate the others – that is where the problem lies. Logically, any person pushing for programs that are good for people should get an equal vote from all races etc. The GOP destruction of logic – pro faith and cultural identity bs has corrupted the whole country – this selfish pro me culture they push – why should a candidate court you? A candidate should support positions and if you agree with those tactics, laws, and positions you vote for them – not because you like the way they look or because they told you how wonderful you are. If any group is truly oppressed, they should promote things that support the lower class – like healthcare for all and a higher minimum wage. There is no reason to target specific groups – that’s a republican tactic – special interests, divide and conquer, because if people voted with their heads instead of their idiotic hatreds or egos then the majority of people would always support the candidate that will do the most for them. If people were not distracted by these smokescreens then the pro worker candidate would always win. Candidates should be judged on what they do - not race, gender, etc. But somehow this has seeped so far into our culture that people think a candidate should come to your house and kiss your ass. Get up off your donkey – go research their voting records – read their campaign literature with the picture covered and vote for the best candidate based on their politics.

This has to end. I have taught classes where people complained because I pointed out they should know basic math (finding percentages) and brought in materials for them. This was an English class. A college English class. But I have students so used to being told how oppressed and beautiful they are that all they can do is pout and complain when you show them they do not know something. We call them the willfully ignorant. These are the losers screwing up at work that someone covers for while they drive off early in their luxury cars. That is what America is pissed off about. And believe me, it is pissed. A few years ago I stopped by NY eye and ear hospital because I was losing my vision, and I had trouble finding an English speaking nurse. I was the only English speaking patient out of hundreds waiting. There was one old Asian couple that also needed a translator. Yesterday I went to starbucks and met a barrista who had a Master’s in physics. That was the best job she could get. If this reflects the rest of the country is it any wonder that despite owning the media Bush can not convince people everything is ok? The candidate that taps into that basic human desire for justice and equality will sweep the nation.

I have say that if you look at the south as region yes you are right but in the south their are places like Missouri and Kentucky which have mid size electoral college votes, have a lot of problems that the Democratic Platform could simultaneously address with the issues that effect Great Lake regions and the West. Indiana, Ohio, Missouri, Kentucky, Minnesota (the Bluest of the Blue) all have lost jobs in manufacturing because of Republican Economic policies.
Also the Democrats must pay attention to possibility of losing Pennsylvania and New York in the general election.
A state like California, Oregon, Washington will not go Republican in the near future, In 2004 even on the eve of the election there was not campaign, I probably have seen more ads for national politics in while I lived in Missouri for a 9 month (2006 election) Than when i lived in California for years.
The democratic party has create a platform around the environment and closing the class gap and to split the Republicans, on Iraq and abortion.
sorry I went on a tangent, my point is that Democrats must target the Republicans stronghold of the "south." just like for Democrats there is Minnesota, California Vermont and Massachusetts, for Republicans there is Texas, Virginia, Mississippi and Kansas. But its the marginal states like Missouri, Indiana, Ohio that must be won