Let's refer to red states as Bush states.

[leyton]

That's all they are. 'Red states' too often is used to connote 'family values' and 'morality' while 'Blue states' means 'urban decay.' At least, that's the prevailing political wisdom that Republicans would love to keep around. But really, there are plenty of Democrats in Bush states, and plenty of Republicans in Kerry states. Our job is to convince people of every state that the Democratic party stands for them.

[QC]

1. Or we could just stop repeating the GOP's propaganda for them.

Of course, that wouldn't be anywhere near as much fun as sitting around patting ourselves on the back.

[ultraist]

13. Exactly, Why not stop reinforcing Bush's Mandate myth?

Wouldn't that be more productive for the Democratic party?

[QC]

16. Yeah, being productive is not a priority around here anymore.

I'm not sure what we're all about at DU anymore, but it's definitely not practical political action anymore.

[BlueEyedSon]

2. Why not "idiot" states? You need to be an idiot to vote for Bush, no?

Unless you are a corporate CEO, that is.....

[leyton]

4. Did you read my post?

I live in one of your "idiot states", does that make me an idiot? If I want to get my neighbor to vote Democratic, should I tell her she lives in an "idiot state?" You have entirely misses the point of my post.

[BlueEyedSon]

26. No, but you should explain to them why you would describe their

behavior (voting for bush) as "idiotic"....

[Name removed]

3. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[leyton]

5. We do need to start taking morality seriously.

Unfortunately, that is another problem. The Democratic party is not pro-people enough. But it is certainly better than the GOP, and that's why we need to shed this image that we only stand for the folks in Kerry states.

[oasis]

9. Social security, health care, anti-war, head-start are not "pro-people"?

[leyton]

11. It is, and it is a good start.

A lot of people would argue that other things like the bankrupcy bill are not pro-people. I did not mean it as a blanket statement, just that we have room for improvement.

[Name removed]

12. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[oasis]

15. With Halliburton and the Carlyle Group pushing U.S. foreign policy it's

hard to know the truth about "the issues of the world".

[meganmonkey]

19. Being anti-War in relation to Iraq

Not absolute pacifism, but recognizing that the Iraq War was based on lies and we have lost well over 1600 US military and upwards of 100,000 Iraqi CIVILIANS in the last 2+ years of war. How do you feel about that?

[uppityperson]

24. Anti-Iraq invasion does not = absolute pacifism

Absolute faith in any government means you turn a blind eye to the issues of the world with that thinking.

[Name removed]

10. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[uppityperson]

17. Did you realize this is the Democratic Underground website?

bye

[BlueEyedSon]

30. Arthur C Clark on morality:

"The greatest tragedy in mankind's entire history may be the hijacking of morality by religion."

[oasis]

7. Talking "morality" and "patriotism" is what Rethugs do best. Dems will

never win that public relations battle. It all comes down to framing the argument.

It's up to individual citizens to take the time to get informed.

[uppityperson]

21. Not being fiscally conservative is all you're pissed at bush for?

[jus_the_facts]

6. The DEM *party* doesn't stand for me in my state.....

....had two Senators here who voted almost straight down the line for the RIGHT...Mary Landrieu and John Breaux two DINO's from HELL...don't even try to convince me otherwise...the proof is there...and that lame ass attempt to stand with her party last night on Nightline...*retch* :puke:

[blm]

8. I ain't giving Bush anything. They lied, cheated and STOLE to get votes.

Their fascist cronies bought up most of the media and most of the voting machines to enable BushInc's powergrab.

[holboz]

14. Most states are purple, aren't they? Let's work with that

I remember those maps that came out after the election that showed most states were "purple states" and neither red or blue. Maybe we need to start talking in shades of purple instead of outright red and blue. Lilac to Violet. I don't know.... it might be a good way to frame Dems for 2006 and 2008. After all, most Americans are in the center of the political spectrum, most are fed up with the current state of things, and those are the people DNC needs to reach out to.

Then again, it's all futile if Dems keep rolling over and bending over in the face of Rethugs' threats. I think there needs to be a New Democratic Party comprised of spirited folks like those of us here at DU who are hoppin' mad with the way things are going on both sides of the isle and are desparate for action and change.

(Just my two cents worth)

[rniel]

18. While we're at it

The Republican party should from now on be only referred to as "The Natural Born Killers" Has a good ring to it.

[oasis]

20. People must die in order for war profiteers to get rich. It's God's will.

[MisterP]

25. BTK Party: Bomb, Torture, Kill

[AP]

22. Huh? Calling them Bush states conveys the sense that Democrats stand for

them, while calling them Red States does not?

Sounds like you're digging yourself into a deeper hole by conceding that those states belong to Bush.

Why not just stop playing into the Republicans desire for polarization and extremes by not acting like there's a divide with clearly drawn lines.

[leyton]

27. Well, holboz had a better idea (purple states) a few posts up.

Anyway, I'm disappointed that people here want to call them the slave states, or the idiot states. I'm not asking for polarization.

You are right in that 'Bush states' is not the best idea, but it carries less connotation than 'red' and 'blue' do.

[dad]

28. I'd rather be called a Red state than a Bush state

Bush is the far extreme right of the Republican party ...

[Lars39]

23. Why give him *ownership*?

No state was totally republican; there were lots of blue and purple counties.

[Bridget Burke]

29. Let's not.

Don't buy into the false "Red State" versus "Blue State" dichotomy. I live in TEXAS--& my US rep is Sheila Jackson Lee. My state senator & rep are also Dems. (Too bad about the US Senators.)

Here are some alternate views:

www.princeton.edu/~rvdb/JAVA/election2004/