News and Observer: North Carolina's "moderation" a myth? (Durham: attorney, tenant)
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I made the time. Welcome to the New South ...same as the old South! This state needs a governor who might be wearing an outfit under his suit with an "S" on it and a cape, to reign in the recalcitrant legislature.
North Carolina seems a little like Arizona in this regard, where the politicians (Joe Arpaio and his ilk) single mindedly espouse extreme right wing views and rhetoric, but its general population (at least averaged out across the state) is more moderate. Which is probably both the fault of the voters and the politicians.
The politicians are pandering to their far right wing constituents and have a distorted view that the state as a whole really thinks the way they do. And voters haven't been paying enough attention to who they're voting in office, and get suckered in over hot button issues that politicians typically use to get people's emotions riled up, whether they're based in fact or their practical ability to do anything about them or not.
And so many politicians in the state nowadays who have taken the state to the far right politically flippantly dismiss and hold contempt against the "liberal population." This differs from the more reasonable and open conservative political leaders of yesteryear, such as Governor Jim Martin or Congressman Howard Coble (people in the Triad will be familiar with him), both Republicans who believed they represented everyone in the state, whether they shared their precise political worldviews or not, and conducted themselves in a way that wasn't so dismissive and abandoning of their constituents, but listened and acted in the best interest of the state and its people.
Well, I would argue we still are a moderate to progressive state. Hell, the only reason McCrory was elected was on the premise that he would be a moderate Republican, one hailed from a blue city. And on the national level, we went from a pure red state, one that voted in Republican presidents for about twenty straight years, to now a battleground state, where a Democratic candidate was able to win in 2008, and only barely lost in 2012.
The biggest problem now is turnout during midterm elections, and the redistricting that took place in 2010. The latter is being fixed by the federal courts, and the former is something Democrats need to create a solution for.
I will completely recant my comment if Republicans win the governorship, lieutenant governorship, and attorney general position this Fall. If North Carolina is happy with what McCrory and crew have done so far, then yes, we've regressed into a reactionary state.
I will completely recant my comment if Republicans win the governorship, lieutenant governorship, and attorney general position this Fall. If North Carolina is happy with what McCrory and crew have done so far, then yes, we've regressed into a reactionary state.
My prediction:
The exurban and rural counties that always vote to the Extreme Right will still vote for McCrory and same General Assembly that has taken the state down the path it's gone in the last few years.
The counties (i.e. Durham and Orange) that strongly support liberal Democratic candidates (not just the "blue dog conservative Democrats") will continue to do so and vote heavily Democrat.
The purple counties, like Guilford, are the ones where things will be interesting, but I think they'll trend towards Democrats on the state level (although they could go the opposite direction at the national level).
The exurban and rural counties that always vote to the Extreme Right will still vote for McCrory and same General Assembly that has taken the state down the path it's gone in the last few years.
The counties (i.e. Durham and Orange) that strongly support liberal Democratic candidates (not just the "blue dog conservative Democrats") will continue to do so and vote heavily Democrat.
The purple counties, like Guilford, are the ones where things will be interesting, but I think they'll trend towards Democrats on the state level (although they could go the opposite direction at the national level).
I actually think Guilford is a solid blue. During 2012, Guilford was one of the few urban counties that didn't vote for McCrory, whereas Wake, Mecklenburg, and Forsyth did. They also voted at a higher percentage for Obama (both times) and Kay Hagan than Wake did.
I will completely recant my comment if Republicans win the governorship, lieutenant governorship, and attorney general position this Fall. If North Carolina is happy with what McCrory and crew have done so far, then yes, we've regressed into a reactionary state.
I pray from the depths of my soul that this doesn't happen.
In due course, the News and Observer may be a myth. They are certainly headed in that direction.
As are the majority of newsprint orgs that don't evolve or diversify content delivery platform via digital print to replace outdated revenue streams such as the traditional paper copy.
I do know that GOP are unconditional sticklers to a lost cause regardless of repercussions and just don't care about the outcome and have convinced themselves that the good Lawd/universe is on their side. They'll shut down the government, cause irreparable damage to own self's perception and irreversibly damage the economic well-being of others to be so-called "right" - then have a slumber party to celebrate the victory as the universal "truth". It's a sad ass mental condition that I am afraid can only be cured in the afterlife....if there is one.
As are the majority of newsprint orgs that don't evolve or diversify content delivery platform via digital print to replace outdated revenue streams such as the traditional paper copy.
Yes, and it seems that the N&O is well along that path to oblivion.
Quote:
I do know that GOP are unconditional sticklers to a lost cause regardless of repercussions and just don't care about the outcome and have convinced themselves that the good Lawd/universe is on their side. They'll shut down the government, cause irreparable damage to own self's perception or economic well-being to be so-called "right" or convey their perception of the "truth". It's a sad ass mental condition that I am afraid can only be cured in the afterlife....if there is one.
I think that you are wrong. The actual issues are of minor importance to both sides; they are only fodder. It is simply a pissing contest between two groups of politicians who despise each other, in a culture that has become frightfully polarized, aided and abetted by sources like the N&O who are desperate for raisons d'etre.
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