# Damn, but it's good to be a Blue stater! **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [November 8, 2004, 2:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/damn-but-its-good-to-be-a-blue-stater/273644 "2004-11-08T14:36:36Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![pencilpusher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/d6d6ee/32.png) [@pencilpusher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pencilpusher)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2004, 4:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/damn-but-its-good-to-be-a-blue-stater/273644/81 "2004-11-09T04:57:14Z")
Y’all shoulda voted Green like I did. Then we could have gotten screwed by a Cobb instead of a Bush. 😛 ---
**Author:** ![Jodi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/7feea3/32.png) [@Jodi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jodi)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2004, 5:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/damn-but-its-good-to-be-a-blue-stater/273644/82 "2004-11-09T05:17:03Z")
> [@](#): > > When you say things like ‘decreased economic mobility’ and ‘slashing health care benefits’, you make feel all tingly in my special no-no naughty place. Wahahahahaha! OMFG, too funny. 🙂 [pointless aside]I have to acknowledge funny when I see it because I frequently slay myself with humor that others (a) don’t find funny or (b) don’t acknowledge was funny, and in my self-absorption, I naturally assume it must be (b).[/pointless aside] GOBEAR, I _cannot_ stay mad at someone who thinks that the Yellowtail Shiraz is a very fine wine – which is an absolutely correct opinion transcending politics. If ever I come to view the many treasures of your blue sub-state area, I hope we can split a bottle. And I must say, I have been impressed by your integrity in dealing with an election that I know in many ways must have deeply disappointed you. I can only respect you for not slashing yor wrists all over the message board, in stark contrast to many who shall remain nameless until we’re halfway through that bottle. ---
**Author:** ![TonyF](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/9de053/32.png) [@TonyF](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TonyF)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2004, 6:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/damn-but-its-good-to-be-a-blue-stater/273644/83 "2004-11-09T06:04:07Z")
> [@Mr. Moto](#): > > So who’s responsible for the resentment and support for terrorism that prompted the first World Trade Center bombings, the attacks on our embassies in Africa, the USS Cole attack, and 9/11? The administrations of the past 4 or so decades. But, I use “responsible” here in a very loose way. ---
**Author:** ![Brutus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/91b2a8/32.png) [@Brutus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Brutus)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2004, 6:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/damn-but-its-good-to-be-a-blue-stater/273644/84 "2004-11-09T06:30:37Z")
> [@Shayna](#): > > This is one of the reasons I’ve been shaking with fury for the past 5 days. The other being…chemical imbalance? Irrationality? End of _Tough Crowd_? > [@](#): > > My husband and I were out to dinner on Saturday night and there was a gay couple sitting at the table next to us. They seemed so content and happy together. Perhaps that’s because we’re in a Blue state and they know that at least they had our support here. You do realize that a quarter of gay voters voted for Dubya, right? Maybe they were happy because Bush won. I would wager massive amounts of money that said possibility didn’t even cross your bigoted mind. Not to mention, they were probably happy because they just had hot monkey sex or a good dinner or something. Be fucking reasonable for moment, eh? > [@](#): > > I, on the other hand, literally (and no, I don’t mean that figuratively, I really do mean it, literally) began to cry, for all that I enjoy as a married person, that they’ll never be able to know the joy and security of. I’m heartsick. Ah, chemical imbalance. > [@](#): > > I’m sick to fucking death of reading how we “just don’t get them,” when nothing could be further from the truth. We “get” them just fine. The problem is, we’ll never “get” them to change their hateful minds… Hateful minds? You obviously don’t get it, but by now I am not suprised. Nor am I dissappointed; All the signs point to the demmies in charge thinking along similiar condescending lines; How will they be able to pretend to have values in time for the 2006 elections and whatnot. Very heartening news for Republicans, let me tell you. > [@](#): > > …Take a look at [this side-by-side comparison](http://www.amschwartz.net/jillandthomas/images/2004USElectionMapVsPreCivilWar.jpg) of the U.S. as it voted in this election vs. the make-up of the U.S. before the Civil War. YEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAW! We’re gaining! You are a beautiful example that the Left doesn’t get it, down to your bullshit ‘insider friend’ quote. ---
**Author:** ![smartini](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/22d042/32.png) [@smartini](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/smartini)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2004, 6:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/damn-but-its-good-to-be-a-blue-stater/273644/85 "2004-11-09T06:45:35Z")
OK, now I’m all depressed again. I am and always have been, shall we say, _personally blue._ I feel blue for sure. I vote blue. I’m loyal to blue. Can’t imagine being red. But I live in a red state. So I can’t proudly say I am a blue stater. Guess I’m just a blue-headed stepchild. ☹ So where do I fit in? What should I do? ---
**Author:** ![Blalron](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/35a633/32.png) [@Blalron](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Blalron)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2004, 7:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/damn-but-its-good-to-be-a-blue-stater/273644/86 "2004-11-09T07:54:57Z")
The thought that’s really bugged me for the past few days is the thought that the areas of our country that actually have anything at all to fear from terrorism (the major cities) are the ones who vote overwhelmingly Democrat. And the ones that have virtually nothing to fear from it (you think terrorists are going to attack North Dakota?) are the ones who flock to vote Republican to keep us safe from the terrorists that will never attack them. 😕 ---
**Author:** ![bienville](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/4bbf92/32.png) [@bienville](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bienville)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2004, 8:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/damn-but-its-good-to-be-a-blue-stater/273644/87 "2004-11-09T08:06:04Z")
> [@smartini](#): > > I feel blue for sure. I vote blue. . . But I live in a red state. > > . . . So where do I fit in? You’re a Smurf caught in Azrael’s claws! ---
**Author:** ![Brutus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/91b2a8/32.png) [@Brutus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Brutus)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2004, 8:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/damn-but-its-good-to-be-a-blue-stater/273644/88 "2004-11-09T08:47:22Z")
> [@Blalron](#): > > The thought that’s really bugged me for the past few days is the thought that the areas of our country that actually have anything at all to fear from terrorism (the major cities) are the ones who vote overwhelmingly Democrat. And the ones that have virtually nothing to fear from it (you think terrorists are going to attack North Dakota?) are the ones who flock to vote Republican to keep us safe from the terrorists that will never attack them. > > 😕 Las Vegas, Nevada? Miami, Florida? Dallas, Texas? Washington Courthouse, Ohio? Just because you may not care for them does not change that there are indeed ‘major cities’ in red states. Besides that, your logic sucks. ---
**Author:** ![Lok](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e8c25b/32.png) [@Lok](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lok)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2004, 10:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/damn-but-its-good-to-be-a-blue-stater/273644/89 "2004-11-09T10:59:22Z")
> [@Steve MB](#): > > This is why, if the Democratic leadership grew a pair (or cerebral hemispheres), they would give GWB all the tax cuts he wants… so long as they are paid for by cutting the federal subsidy programs on which the red states are disproportionately dependent. Let the local (mostly Republican) politicians deal with deficits, tax hikes, and/or infrastructure decay. Won’t work. I not only live in a red state (even if barely) and a red county, I work in a red factory. Normal range of people work there, smart, stupid, friendly, annoying, and everything in between. Except I am one of the most liberal people there and I only qualify as a moderate. One of my co-workers, early 30s, married with no children, was voting for Bush because Bush gave him a tax cut and a check back from the government. I pointed out that our local taxes have went up because they are trying to make up for less federal money coming in, especially for things like “No Child Left Behind” and his response was, “That is their fault, they should have figured out how to make do. Bush did.” Most of them voted for the gay marriage ban, because it is immoral and damages marriage. None of them could point out exactly _how_ it hurt their marriage, even the several that were divorced. And several of them said they had no problem with the war in Iraq, since we needed to get them back for what they did on 9/11. ☹ > [@Brutus](#): > > Las Vegas, Nevada? Miami, Florida? Dallas, Texas? Washington Courthouse, Ohio? Just because you may not care for them does not change that there are indeed ‘major cities’ in red states. Besides that, your logic sucks. His logic is better than your reading comprehension apparently. He didn’t say just the major cities in the blue states. He said the major cities, which are more likely targets for terrorists. And the ones you named? Miami? Blue. Las Vegas? Blue. Dallas and Washington Court House are both red, although I don’t really think Washington Court House qualifies as a major city in any state in the Union. It certainly isn’t in Ohio. Where Columbus, Cleveland, Toledo, and Dayton all went blue. All of them much more likely to be targeted than Washington Court House. (Interestingly enough, Cincinnati was red, but at the same time voted down a city ordinance that explicitly discriminated against homosexuals, and voted for the ban on gay marriages. Well, they call us buckeyes because we are all nuts. 😛 ) Which is one reason I doubt bin Laden really wanted Kerry to be elected. All he had to do was set off a car bomb in the courthouse square of a half dozen small towns in the midwest about 1 week before the election. Prominent display that Bush and his team has not made us safer, and that we are losing the war on terror. A lot of people here in the heartland would probably have decided to see if Kerry could do any better. ---
**Author:** ![Brutus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/91b2a8/32.png) [@Brutus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Brutus)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2004, 11:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/damn-but-its-good-to-be-a-blue-stater/273644/90 "2004-11-09T11:22:11Z")
Of the 10 most populous counties (list from [here.](http://geography.about.com/cs/largecities/)), 5 went red, 5 went blue, so it sort of kiboshes that idea, no? But it doesn’t matter, because the logic behind his idea still sucks. ---
**Author:** ![Lok](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e8c25b/32.png) [@Lok](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lok)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2004, 11:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/damn-but-its-good-to-be-a-blue-stater/273644/91 "2004-11-09T11:50:36Z")
And of the 15 largest metropolitan areas in the country, from the same site, 12 of them were blue. And 2 of the red metro areas were in Texas, where W has quite a lot of pull. As for his logic, do you really think that Washington Court House, I nice place about the same size as the small town I live in, is more likely to be attacked by terrorists than Chicago? If you do, then I believe there is something wrong with your logic. Lok ---
**Author:** ![Brutus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/91b2a8/32.png) [@Brutus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Brutus)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2004, 12:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/damn-but-its-good-to-be-a-blue-stater/273644/92 "2004-11-09T12:04:11Z")
I would have thought it plain that the inclusion of the mighty City-State of Washington Courthouse was a bit of a joke. (For those who even heard of it.) ---
**Author:** ![Lok](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e8c25b/32.png) [@Lok](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lok)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2004, 12:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/damn-but-its-good-to-be-a-blue-stater/273644/93 "2004-11-09T12:07:35Z")
But, hasn’t everybody heard of it? I mean, they have their own [website](http://www.ci.washington-court-house.oh.us/) and everything! 😛 Lok ---
**Author:** ![Brutus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/91b2a8/32.png) [@Brutus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Brutus)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2004, 12:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/damn-but-its-good-to-be-a-blue-stater/273644/94 "2004-11-09T12:52:56Z")
Heh, under the ‘City Planning’ page: UNDER CONSTRUCTION. Yep. That pretty much sums it up… (Not a _bad_ town, mind you!) ---
**Author:** ![Barbarian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e19adc/32.png) [@Barbarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Barbarian)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2004, 2:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/damn-but-its-good-to-be-a-blue-stater/273644/95 "2004-11-09T14:19:02Z")
> [@FinnAgain](#): > > In my estimation, the chances of an attack are raised, substantially, by Bush’s foreign policy. So the military folk from the red states are protecing us, in part, from a problem which is made worse by the red states. Nah, I’m betting that the next batch of terrorists will smuggle a nuke into Texas, since they’ve been forced to learn about the wacky electoral college just like the rest of us. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Flying\_Dutchman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/9fc348/32.png) [@The\_Flying\_Dutchman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Flying_Dutchman)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2004, 2:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/damn-but-its-good-to-be-a-blue-stater/273644/96 "2004-11-09T14:26:22Z")
> [@Blalron](#): > > The thought that’s really bugged me for the past few days is the thought that the areas of our country that actually have anything at all to fear from terrorism (the major cities) are the ones who vote overwhelmingly Democrat. And the ones that have virtually nothing to fear from it (you think terrorists are going to attack North Dakota?) are the ones who flock to vote Republican to keep us safe from the terrorists that will never attack them. > > 😕 Haven’t you heard the new slogan of American Coasters ? “Better Dead Than Red” ---
**Author:** ![gobear](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/8dc957/32.png) [@gobear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gobear)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2004, 2:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/damn-but-its-good-to-be-a-blue-stater/273644/97 "2004-11-09T14:35:22Z")
Just FYI, I’m definitely for the raising of the level of discussion. IMO it’s counter-productive to call each other names becauae it doesn’t address policy. I do, however, believe in hammering the GOP on policy and presenting a bold, comprehensible message that stands up for the ideals Democrats cherish. Kerry’s error lay in trying to cater too much to undecided voters by never taking any strong positions, thus allowing his campaign’s story to be told by the GOP propagandists. The advice given by many Dem Dopers for the party to go to the left is insane; American doesn;t swing that way. Here are the issues that the Dems need to hit over and over again: **Jobs Health Care National Security The Balance of Freedom and Responsibility**. You have to hit people with a clear message that is sincere, strong, and to the point. Don’t try to be something you’re not–Clinton didn’t pose as a hunter to pander to the redneck vote. One of the reasons that Bush appeals to people is that he doesn’t try to change his public persona to pander to his audience. He says what he thinks and be damned to the consequences. ---
**Author:** ![Homebrew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/c89c15/32.png) [@Homebrew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Homebrew)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2004, 3:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/damn-but-its-good-to-be-a-blue-stater/273644/98 "2004-11-09T15:11:15Z")
> [@gobear](#): > > The advice given by many Dem Dopers for the party to go to the left is insane; American doesn;t swing that way. > > Here are the issues that the Dems need to hit over and over again: > **Jobs > Health Care > National Security > The Balance of Freedom and Responsibility**. Well, to many people, the Democratic stance on these issues _ **are** _ to the left. I think those calling for the Democrates to go for the left are talking about taking a strong stance on these issues. Taking a strong stance will get us label leftist by the GOP. But we should hold it as an honor rather than shirk from it. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2004, 3:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/damn-but-its-good-to-be-a-blue-stater/273644/99 "2004-11-09T15:18:53Z")
> [@gobear](#): > > One of the reasons that Bush appeals to people is that he doesn’t try to change his public persona to pander to his audience. He says what he thinks and be damned to the consequences. Good luck finding a Democrat with that kind of balls! No…I mean it. If you can find a centrist Democrat who won’t pander to the wackos on the Left, who will take a stand and not waffle every week, who actually has a record of supporting the people without sticking it to those who are successful, who doesn’t favor a minority over the majority but still supports minority equality, who protects the environment while maintaining economic growth, who doesn’t support social engineering with my tax dollars, who thinks the UN is a good idea, but not the organization that calls the shots, who supports the right of the people to keep and bear arms…I’ll vote for him! Until then, I vote against them. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![gobear](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/8dc957/32.png) [@gobear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gobear)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2004, 3:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/damn-but-its-good-to-be-a-blue-stater/273644/100 "2004-11-09T15:26:53Z")
> [@Homebrew](#): > > Well, to many people, the Democratic stance on these issues _ **are** _ to the left. I think those calling for the Democrates to go for the left are talking about taking a strong stance on these issues. Taking a strong stance will get us label leftist by the GOP. But we should hold it as an honor rather than shirk from it. That’s something I don’t get. If the Dems’ platform included the nationalization of all industry, the abolition of private property, banning all firearms, renaming the country the People’s Republic of America, and installing Michael Moore as General Secretary of the Politburo, then I could agree that maybe the Dems might have treedned too much to the left. But what sane person can object to reducing industrial pollution, keeping jobs in the US, forming alliances with other nations to ensure our mutual safety against terrorists, ensuring a health care safety net for the indigent, and restoring a budget surplus by balancing income with expenditure? I don;t want heavy metals in my water. Is that leftist? I want to fix the health care system. Is that leftist? I want to ensure that our children have access to decent education. Is that leftist? I want the US government to remain solvent. Is that leftist? I can only assume that the GOPers who routinely throw around words like “Marxist” and “leftist” don’t know what those words actually mean. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/damn-but-its-good-to-be-a-blue-stater/273644.md?page=4) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/damn-but-its-good-to-be-a-blue-stater/273644.md?page=6)