a question to ponder....

[WalterMitty]

im curious....

name one (serious) potential republican nominee that could carry vermont?

name one (serious) potential democrat nominee that could carry mississippi?

the question excludes the possibility of serious scandals or something of that sort.

[dazzleman]

There are none.  Maybe Romney could carry Vermont, maybe not.  But the states are highly polarized.

[they don't love you like i love you]

none

[Snowe08]

im curious....name one (serious) potential republican nominee that could carry vermont?

Olympia Snowe. Vermont likes strong, independent-minded politicians just as much as Maine does.

[A18]

As goes Maine, so goes Vermont.

[they don't love you like i love you]

As goes Maine, so goes Vermont.

1968

[Rob]

Bredesen might carry Mississippi against a liberal northern Republican like Giuliani, but it would be close.

[Alcon]

As goes Maine, so goes Vermont.

That's ridiculous. Vermont went Kerry by 20; Maine went him by 9.

[Erc]

As goes Maine, so goes Vermont.

1968

2 Words:  Ed Muskie.

[Snowe08]

As goes Maine, so goes Vermont.

That's ridiculous. Vermont went Kerry by 20; Maine went him by 9.

Yes, but that was against George Bush. The candidates can change the numbers - and I think they will.

[○∙◄☻¥tπ[╪AV┼cVê└]

Not for a while.

Mississippi will become Democratic in a few decades when it becomes black majority.

[AuH2O]

Not for a while.

Mississippi will become Democratic in a few decades when it becomes black majority.

Except the black proportion of the population isn't rising. Oops.

[Snowe08]

Not for a while. Mississippi will become Democratic in a few decades when it becomes black majority.

Isn't that rather presumptuous? Where is it written than blacks must and will vote Democrat? The Democrats continue to push a policy that says that blacks need a helping hand to succeed (affirmative action), continue to feel entitled to black support at elections; by contrast, the Repulbicans continue to push individualism, diversity and personal responsibility. What exactly is it that gives the other party such arrogance - I was about to say confidence - that "black" equates to "democrat'?

[Rob]

Not for a while. Mississippi will become Democratic in a few decades when it becomes black majority.

Isn't that rather presumptuous? Where is it written than blacks must and will vote Democrat? The Democrats continue to push a policy that says that blacks need a helping hand to succeed (affirmative action), continue to feel entitled to black support at elections; by contrast, the Repulbicans continue to push individualism, diversity and personal responsibility. What exactly is it that gives the other party such arrogance - I was about to say "confidence" - that "black" equates to "democrat'?

Well, the exit polls have proven conclusively that blacks are almost all Democrats, regardless of how you feel about ideology. The GOP  once had a lock on black votes, but lost them through ignoring their needs. Will the same thing happen to the Democrats? Unlikely, but you never know.

[Moooooo]

"A black man voting for the Republicans makes about as much sense as a chicken voting for Colonel Sanders.” - JC Watts Sr.

[ian]

You might be surprised to know that technically there are more Republicans than Democrats in Vermont and more Democrats than Republicans in Mississippi--as of 2002.
http://people-press.org/reports/pdf/196.pdf

[ian]

"A black man voting for the Republicans makes about as much sense as a chicken voting for Colonel Sanders.” - JC Watts Sr.

That's a wonderful quote!

[Akno21]

Not for a while. Mississippi will become Democratic in a few decades when it becomes black majority.

Isn't that rather presumptuous? Where is it written than blacks must and will vote Democrat? The Democrats continue to push a policy that says that blacks need a helping hand to succeed (affirmative action), continue to feel entitled to black support at elections; by contrast, the Repulbicans continue to push individualism, diversity and personal responsibility. What exactly is it that gives the other party such arrogance - I was about to say "confidence" - that "black" equates to "democrat'?

Well, the exit polls have proven conclusively that blacks are almost all Democrats, regardless of how you feel about ideology. The GOP  once had a lock on black votes, but lost them through ignoring their needs. Will the same thing happen to the Democrats? Unlikely, but you never know.

If the Democrats move in a anti-religous, softie way, they could lose the black vote. Blacks are strongly against gay marriage, and from what I can tell, they strongly resent liberals telling people how to raise their kids, such as no spanking and stuff.

[Snowe08]

Not for a while. Mississippi will become Democratic in a few decades when it becomes black majority.

Isn't that rather presumptuous? Where is it written than blacks must and will vote Democrat? The Democrats continue to push a policy that says that blacks need a helping hand to succeed (affirmative action), continue to feel entitled to black support at elections; by contrast, the Repulbicans continue to push individualism, diversity and personal responsibility. What exactly is it that gives the other party such arrogance - I was about to say "confidence" - that "black" equates to "democrat'?

The GOP  once had a lock on black votes, but lost them through ignoring their needs. Will the same thing happen to the Democrats? Unlikely, but you never know.

It seems to me that the GOP program appeals to blacks as people and individuals; the other party treats them as a demographic. Which approach would you find more appealing?

It's just a thought, I don't mean to sound belligerent; what exactly is it that Democrats and their platform offer a voter who happens to be black? Where does this unshakable faith in that Colonel Sanders quote come from?

[RJ]

name one (serious) potential republican nominee that could carry vermont?

Unless there is a re-alignment, Vermont will probably be the 46th-48th state that would likely go to a landslide winning GOP candidate. I'd say it's more likely Vermont would go to the Republicans than Mississippi would go to the Democrats, though. My personal belief is that the rate of Republican voters is growing at a rate greater than that of Democrats.

name one (serious) potential democrat nominee that could carry mississippi?

Take away welfare and subsidies to states and I bet Mississippi or even Alabama could quite possibly go to the Democrats. Mississippi is the poorest state in the nation---it has the lowest per capita income of any state in the union. It's pretty dry down there with jobs and oppurtunity being limited the way they are. Still, I don't see a whole lot changing any time soon.

[Rob]

Take away welfare and subsidies to states and I bet Mississippi or even Alabama could quite possibly go to the Democrats. Mississippi is the poorest state in the nation---it has the lowest per capita income of any state in the union. It's pretty dry down there with jobs and oppurtunity being limited the way they are. Still, I don't see a whole lot changing any time soon.

The thing is, Mississippians and Alabamians don't vote on economics; they vote on social issues. Whites regard welfare as a giveway to blacks, anyway.

[WalterMitty]

"A black man voting for the Republicans makes about as much sense as a chicken voting for Colonel Sanders.” - JC Watts Sr.

well weve been through this many times on this board....

it wasnt a republican standing in the schoolhouse door in alabama.  it wasnt a republican who defied orders to let blacks in little rock central high school.  it wasnt a republican who wouldnt let james merideth into the university of mississippi (by the way, merideth is a republican now)  it wasnt the republicans who filibustered the civil rights bill of 1964.

saying that *all* blacks should vote for one political party over another is just as ignorant as saying all blacks should like watermelon.

[Joe Republic]

Perhaps in an (unlikely) election match up between Governor Kathleen Blanco (D-LA) and Governor Jim Douglas (R-VT), both candidates could have a shot.

Blanco is a conservative Democrat, and from a state neighboring MS.  Given the choice between her and Douglas, MS could possibly tilt to the Dems.  As for Vermont, they might pick their own governor over the conservative Democrat.

[Filuwaúrdjan]

The thing is, Mississippians and Alabamians don't vote on economics; they vote on social issues. Whites regard welfare as a giveway to blacks, anyway.

At national level anyway. There are a load of counties in Alabama that are solidly Democratic in pretty much every state election but where Kerry got trashed (he couldn't even crack 30% in one).

[minionofmidas]

"A black man voting for the Republicans makes about as much sense as a chicken voting for Colonel Sanders.” - JC Watts Sr.

well weve been through this many times on this board....

it wasnt a republican standing in the schoolhouse door in alabama.  it wasnt a republican who defied orders to let blacks in little rock central high school.  it wasnt a republican who wouldnt let james merideth into the university of mississippi (by the way, merideth is a republican now)  it wasnt the republicans who filibustered the civil rights bill of 1964.

Actually, it was. Republicans and Southern Democrats. Except the Republicans later changed their minds, which is how the bill passed.