An Unnoticed Result of the 2010 Elections<\/p>\n
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An article in the latest (Sept 12th<\/sup> 2011) issue of The Nation is worth summarizing and remembering.\u00a0 Titled \u2018Rural Rebellions\u2019, it contains analysis of subtle but encouraging statistical\u00a0 voting trends in rural counties that traditionally vote Republican.\u00a0 This is a demographic Democrats sorely need to win in Congress as well as the Red states legislatures.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Gov. Walker, theWisconsinposter boy for radical right overreach, has been portrayed in the media as having weathered the storm.\u00a0 The recall elections added Democratic legislators but did not change the balance of the legislature.\u00a0 Here\u2019s a glimpse at the rest of the iceberg:<\/p>\n <\/p>\n A Wisconsin Republican who voted with the Democrats on the hated bill eliminating collective bargaining may continue to neutralize the Republican majority.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Walkernow has approval ratings lower than Obama\u2019s.\u00a0 He will surely face recall as soon as he completes the time served needed to qualify for a recall effort.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Ohio\u2019s Gov. Kasich faces a November referendum that inOhiolaw allows voters to override new legislation signed into law by the governor that under-minds collective bargaining inOhio.\u00a0 1.3 million signatures (4X the minimum needed) were rapidly collected after Kasich and the legislature copiedWisconsin.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n New Hampshireswung Republican in 2010, but Democrats are winning the special elections that have come up as legislative vacancies occur, probably sustaining the Governor\u2019s veto of NH anti union bills.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Maine\u2019s crazed new Gov. LePage is inspiring 20% spikes in Democratic vote totals where special election candidates pledge to fight the Governor. Wins are mounting in these special election opportunities.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Here\u2019s the important neglected point:\u00a0 Most of this Democratic backlash in these battleground states is occurring in rural counties.\u00a0 Republican overreach is moving the Republican base away from the Republican party.\u00a0 InWisconsinthe numbers were \u2013 23 of 40 traditional Republican counties went Democratic with 4 more almost there at 49% of votes cast.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n The big deal is that Democratic setbacks in 2010 came from rural areas \u2013 39 US House seats (2\/3rds of Republican gains in the house) came from these rural counties that flipped to Republican in 2010.\u00a0 There\u2019s a lot of hints most rural areas may be backing away from those voting decisions based on the horror show that resulted.\u00a0 Schools and services are the backbone of rural <\/em><\/strong>America<\/em><\/strong> stability and strength. That\u2019s the \u2018third rail\u2019 the big money election influencer\u2019s neglected to understand<\/em><\/strong>.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Obama and the Washington Democrats still don\u2019t get what\u2019s going on here.\u00a0 Clear messaging from Democratic incumbents and challengers asking voters \u201cWhat side on you on?\u201d regarding defending rural schools and teachers \u2013 that is working awesomely in the heartland.\u00a0 If the cities continue to be the stronghold of Democratic strength and significant gains are made in the \u2018heartland\u2019 counties ofAmericathe damage can begin to be undone.\u00a0 Remember, districting of congressional seats has traditionally allowed rural areas to have a bigger influence than the raw population would indicate.\u00a0<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Seems we still have a hearing problem inWashington.\u00a0 Fortunately, it seems overreach is still a good way to screw up in this country. \u00a0Oh, about Union Meister Hoffa\u2019s recent remarks about taking the country back from the wingnuts:\u00a0 Strong words are not hurting the Democratic cause \u2013 so why not use them?<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" An Unnoticed Result of the 2010 Elections An article in the latest (Sept 12th 2011) issue of The Nation is worth summarizing and remembering.\u00a0 Titled \u2018Rural Rebellions\u2019, it contains analysis of subtle but encouraging statistical\u00a0 voting trends in rural … Continue reading