Our Democratic nation.

Gallup provides a sobering map of political affiliation, by state. I hate to spoil the punchline, but it’s a sea of blue. Republicans have just four states: Idaho, Wyoming, Utah, Nebraska (barely), and Alaska. Not only could you travel across the country without once hitting a Republican state, I’m guessing folks do so routinely. This makes it awfully, awfully tough tough to gin up any sympathy for congressional Republicans complaining about the nation’s sudden turn to port. A government elected by a strong majority of the nation, supported by an overwhelming majority, is doing what’s been asked if it by that very majority. Congressional Republicans ought to hop on board and try to influence that legislation, rather than standing at a distance and throwing stones.

As a Democrat, I think it’s just great that Rush Limbaugh is emerging as the voice of the Republicans. On the other hand, Republicans elected Michael Steele as the head of the RNC. I have no idea if he’ll do a good job, but a black man heading the virtually-all-white Republican Party? That’s not likely to convince many black Americans to switch—witness the overwhelming support that Hillary Clinton got from that demographic, even with Barack Obama in the race—but it may convince a few to try the Pepsi Challenge. But whatever good that Steele does the party, Limbaugh totally neutralizes. It’d be like making Michael Moore the defacto head of the Democratic Party—we’d all feel good about ourselves, but everybody else would despise us.

So, yeah, Democrats are running the country, doing the things that they were voted into office to do. Elections have consequences, or so we’ve been told. (Via The United States of Jamerica)

Published by Waldo Jaquith

Waldo Jaquith (JAKE-with) is an open government technologist who lives near Char­lottes­­ville, VA, USA. more »

4 replies on “Our Democratic nation.”

  1. Congressional Republicans ought to hop on board and try to influence that legislation, rather than standing at a distance and throwing stones.

    Last night in his Matt Lauer interview, Obama said the Republican congress has some good ideas that he wants to include in the stimulus bill. Way to influence the legislation, congressional Republicans!

  2. Steele is already praising Congressional Republicans for opposing the stimulus en masse. I was personally hoping for Duncan or Dawson to win, but I’m pleased with Steele’s performance so far.

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