The South

[Starbucks Union Thug HokeyPuck]

True, but they'll have to make a decision.  Do they want to continue to veer left, losing the South and losing national elections OR do they want to give up a chunk of their left wing ideology and win.  One or the other - they can't have it both ways.

I'm okay with trying to appeal to the South, as long as we stay away from the religous right.  I don't want to see my party having to go to the lengths of injecting religon into public life to appeal to these people.  Unforunately, thats a huge part of the south.  

Secondly, I don't get this argument.  Do you see the GOP putting any effort at all into the Northeast?  No, none at all.  Each party has their base in the NE and South, save for a few states (PA and NH for the Dems, FL, TN, and WV for the GOP).  The GOP has a base of KY, NC, SC, GA, AL, MS, AR, and TX.   The Dems have a base of MD, NJ, NY, DE, CT, RI, MA, VT, and ME.  That's just the way it is.  I don't see the GOP winning any landslides in the next few election if THEY ignore the 100+ EVs up here.  

[Starbucks Union Thug HokeyPuck]

Democrats have to fight for the south if only to boost the chances of the senate candidates there…and those chances with Dean gone seem to have dramatically improved….however concentrating on the states you mention does not offer the same rewards as working on those southern states which are conceivably within our grasp (GA, LA, FL, VA, AK and TN)… over time people from the Midwest (where manufacturing will begin to wane as a source of employment) will begin to move in large numbers to the south west and the south east coast making states such as NC, GA, SC, FL and VA highly competive while the depopulated Midwest will trend much more towards the GOP as they become much more rural and similar in many ways to Kentucky and Indiana with the possible exception of Illinois and perhaps Wisconsin both of which seem to have diversified much more successfully and rapidly than any of their neighbours…          

I mostly agree with that.  I think 20 years from now, The Dems will have the Northeast, the eastern south (VA, NC, SC, GA, FL), the populated Midwest (IL, WI, and MI), and the Pacific coast and the southwest.  

I really see it as a tough situation for the GOP.  It seems like more people are moving to the areas they currently control, and as places become more urbanized, they tend to become more liberal.  This is just a map of how i see it in the future, maybe in 15-20 yrs..  Red states are democratic territory, blue republican.  (not necessarily in reference to any future election, just in general, as MS is generally GOP, and NY is generally Dem)

[Starbucks Union Thug HokeyPuck]

That is a good point.  We hear a lot about how the Dems need to break the GOP lock on the South, but I think the Dems have an even stronger hold on the Northeast.  This is something that bothers me and I think the pubbies are going to have to deal it sooner rather than later.

Clinton showed that the right Democrat can win in the South.  I can't think of any Republican today who could do so well in the Northeast.  Maybe there are a few but they probably couldn't get the nomination.  

Maybe Guiliani, I think he'd take NJ, PA, and NY away.  But he's WAY to liberal for the South, or to get the nomination.  You think the GOP's gonna nominate someone pro-choice to be their president?  Not a chance.  Anyway, all the Dems would have to do is nominate Edwards.  He'd sweep the south against Guiliani.  

[Starbucks Union Thug HokeyPuck]

I recon that by the time states such as GA, VA, FL, NC and SC have trended to be leaning Dem states (say around 2020 or 2024?) states such as MN, IA and WI will be leaning towards the GOP in a similar way to how Kentucky and Indiana do today while states such as IL, PA and MI will remain competive because of the large urban population who will lean towards the Dems…the west I would see as being competitive rather than leaning towards the Dems and the GOP wont just let its self become irrelevant and will move with the times in reality social and moral issues will reach some kind of moderate consensus within both party’s that neither liberals or conservatives will be totally satisfied with but they will not be inclined to break with the DNC or the RNC (respectively) in truth I would expect economic issues to once again be the main dividing line in US politics…      

I think America will always be fine, that's why economic diferences were never that big with me.  Cultural issues always sway me in a certain direction the most, and its always to the left.  I can't bring myself to be any part conservative knowing thats the side Jerry Falwell is on.  I'd hit that man if i saw him, no lie.