Conservative Democrats?

[Willy Woz]

Does anyone have any explanation for the abundance of conservative counties in Tennessee and Arkansas which voted for Kerry in 2004? If so, it would be much appreciated.

P.S. - I may be Willy Woz, but I want to make it clear I'm not the trolling doofus I used to be. I probably won't visit here very often but when I do I'll be looking for serious discussion and debate.

[memphis]

Along the Tennessee River, you have a lot of conservative whites who are/were loyal to the Dems because of the TVA. This is true in Northern Alabama as well as in Tennessee.  Arkansas remains an very Dem state at every level except president.

[Willy Woz]

Along the Tennessee River, you have a lot of conservative whites who are/were loyal to the Dems because of the TVA. This is true in Northern Alabama as well as in Tennessee.  Arkansas remains an very Dem state at every level except president.

Hmmm. Interesting. I've never lived in Tennessee before but that explanation sounds very convincing. In Arkansas the prevalence of Blue Dog/Conservative Democrats probably has something to do with the area's opposition to big business and their support for the rural economy that predominates in the region. But I don't know, since I was always just familiar with Logan County and its surroundings, which were Bush country.

[memphis]

Arkansas really isn't opposed to big business either. The largest company ever (Wal-Mart) is based there.

[Willy Woz]

Arkansas really isn't opposed to big business either.

Well, in general it is probably the most economically liberal state in the South.

[pogo stick]

Arkansas really isn't opposed to big business either.

Well, in general it is probably the most economically liberal state in the South.

Perfect!!! If they base everything off social issues, I can start my political career there!! lol

[Willy Woz]

Arkansas really isn't opposed to big business either.

Well, in general it is probably the most economically liberal state in the South.

Perfect!!! If they base everything off social issues, I can start my political career there!! lol

Of course they...don't. But if they did, you'd probably get a high percentage there. It's very much a socially conservative state. Probably the most socially conservative one I've lived in.

[Southern Senator North Carolina Yankee]

Arkansas really isn't opposed to big business either.

Well, in general it is probably the most economically liberal state in the South.

Perfect!!! If they base everything off social issues, I can start my political career there!! lol

Very smart considering the last populist Republican from Arkansas went so far.    Populism is a dying ideology.

[Willy Woz]

Populism is a dying ideology.

I beg to differ. It seems to be doing fine here in TN.

[Rob]

Populism is a dying ideology.

I beg to differ. It seems to be doing fine here in TN.

Pro-business social conservatives are not "populists." Steve Cohen is the only "populist" holding major office in your state.

[Kaine for Senate '18]

Populism is a dying ideology.

I respectfully disagree.

[I spent the winter writing songs about getting better]

Populism is not even an ideology.

[War on Want]

Populism is stupid.

[phk]

Populism is stupid.

[Ban my account ffs!]

Populism is not even an ideology.

Correct.  Or rather, populism changes with whatever is popular among the people.

[Person Man]

I just thought populism was just a polite phrase meaning "I cannot read and I am very disgruntled because I have no friends and smell bad".

[Хahar 🤔]

No, it means "I have a crapload of corporate money and I need to get elected".

[rebeltarian]

Arkansas really isn't opposed to big business either.

Well, in general it is probably the most economically liberal state in the South.

Perfect!!! If they base everything off social issues, I can start my political career there!! lol

Very smart considering the last populist Republican from Arkansas went so far.    Populism is a dying ideology.

Actually, populism always has and always will exist in one form or another.  It has become the dominant wing in both the Republican and Democrat parties.  This is why we can barely see the difference between Obama and Bush on many issues, especially foreign policy.  The neo-conservative movement itself traces its roots back to the Democratic Party.  Mike Huckabee is leading the polls for the '12 nomination, proof that conservative populists now constitute the base of the Republican Party.

[Хahar 🤔]

Democrat parties.

Go home.

[Mechaman]

Populism is stupid.

[Alexander Hamilton]

Populism is stupid.

There are populist libertarians. Populism is the inverse of elitism, not libertarianism.

[Hash]

Populism isn't an ideology.

[Alexander Hamilton]

Populism isn't an ideology.

It's a philosophy. It is the direct opposite of elitism.

[Mechaman]

Populism is stupid.

There are populist libertarians. Populism is the inverse of elitism, not libertarianism.

Which is why I dislike populism because it instills an "Us and Them" mentality amongst it's target audience.

And yes I'm talking about the original definition of "populism", not those who are social and economic authoritarians.

[Badger]

I just thought populism was just a polite phrase meaning "I cannot read and I am very disgruntled because I have no friends and smell bad".

No, it means "I'm scared about my economic insecurity and sick of people better off than me thinking I can't read, have no friends and smell bad because of it".

And here's a clue, kids: The candidate that appeals to this group more usually wins.