Colorized, Polarized America

[Jeebus]

“There’s a danger, of course, when such a high proportion of members hail from just a few states . . . it’s easy to develop a tin ear when a party is too concentrated in states where the political climate is unrepresentative of the nation as a whole.”

The country is more divided geographically than ever, it seems. Take the House of Representatives: Democrats gained eight House seats in this month’s elections but their House membership is now increasingly dominated by just two states — New York and California. Even though those two states make up only 18.4 percent of all House seats, nearly 30 percent of the Democratic caucus will be from those two states. Throw in gerrymandered Illinois and Massachusetts, and 40 percent of all House Democrats will hail from ZIP codes in just four deeply blue states.

The University of Minnesota’s Smart Politics blog reports that over the last 50 years, the percentage of the Democratic caucus coming from just the Empire State and the Golden State has risen by more than two-thirds. The share has gone from 17.4 percent in 1962 to 29.4 percent in 2012; New York has lost 14 House seats and California has gained 15 during that period.

Republicans have their own geographical imbalance, though a milder one, resulting from their dominance in the South. The House Republican caucus has over 20 percent of its members elected from Texas, Florida, and Georgia. But those states make up almost 17 percent of the House’s overall membership.

Oddly, we keep hearing about how the Repubs are being dominated by the Deep Southern Redneck representation, all the while never hearing about the far leftwing nuts from two states that dominate the Democrat Party in the House.

[bmore_ken]

Democracy in action. Embrace it

[dsummoner]

Democracy in action. Embrace it

That was 'say no to work, say yes to looting.'

[Grindelwald]

Democracy in action. Embrace it

Why would a right winger support democracy?

[soulflower]

“There’s a danger, of course, when such a high proportion of members hail from just a few states . . . it’s easy to develop a tin ear when a party is too concentrated in states where the political climate is unrepresentative of the nation as a whole.”



Oddly, we keep hearing about how the Repubs are being dominated by the Deep Southern Redneck representation, all the while never hearing about the far leftwing nuts from two states that dominate the Democrat Party in the House.

It's called "Gerrymandering"

Same things that Dems do in Maryland, Repubs have done across the country

[Jeebus]

It's called "Gerrymandering"

Same things that Dems do in Maryland, Repubs have done across the country

But you don't seem concerned that your party is basically at the whim of the far left wing dominance of two states?

Wow.

[soulflower]

But you don't seem concerned that your party is basically at the whim of the far left wing dominance of two states?

Wow.

Doesn't bother me since the other party in Congress has been moved further to the fringe Right by the Tea Party.

The House of Representatives tends to be more partisan in general than the Senate. So I'd rather have House members who are willing and able to fight than wimpy moderates...

[BlandFood]

But you don't seem concerned that your party is basically at the whim of the far left wing dominance of two states?

Wow.

Imagine, like the "Divine Wind" of the 13th century we're only a divine earthquake and hurricane of ridding ourselves of this garbage. Outside of thugs wiping each other out what kind of divine miracle can happen to Chicago?

[musicmd]

That was 'say no to work, say yes to looting.'

They include you too.

[dsummoner]

They include you too.

Nobody represents me but me and nobody is my leader but me.

BTW, happy Thanksgiving.

[AttackPlanR]

But you don't seem concerned that your party is basically at the whim of the far left wing dominance of two states?

Wow.

And you don't seem concerned that your party is basically at the whim of the far right wing dominance of three states?

Wow.

Fortunately the founding fathers came up with three branches of government, with two houses.

You know, checks and balances and all of that evil stuff.

[Jeebus]

And you don't seem concerned that your party is basically at the whim of the far right wing dominance of three states?

My party? Guess again.

I favor and/or support:

• the removal of all religion from Govt
• gay marriage
• abortion on demand
• 100% government paid health care
• legalization of all drugs

Sound like a good Republican to you, Kreskin?

The Repubs wouldn't let me in the door.

[musicmd]

Nobody represents me but me and nobody is my leader but me.

BTW, happy Thanksgiving.

Try reading it again.

PS happy Thanksgiving

[musicmd]

My party? Guess again.

I favor and/or support:

• the removal of all religion from Govt
• gay marriage
• abortion on demand
• 100% government paid health care
• legalization of all drugs

Sound like a good Republican to you, Kreskin?

The Repubs wouldn't let me in the door.

Sounds like you are lying.

[Mike Evans]

Sounds like you are lying.

Sounds like he just hate the president

[demopublican]

Sounds like he just hate the president

That is the easy excuse used by the dim bulbs that can't understand why other people do not think like them.

[demopublican]

BO

It seems such a long time ago when Barack Obama wowed a the television audience watching the 2004 Democratic convention in Boston with a stirring keynote speech that gave the impression he wanted to bring the country together. “There’s not a black America and a conservative America — here’s the United States of America,” he intoned. “The pundits like to slice and dice our country into red states and blue states, red states for Republicans, blue states for Democrats. . . . We are one people, all of us pledging allegiance to the Stars and Stripes, all of us defending the United States of America.”

[Windman]

BO

It seems such a long time ago when Barack Obama wowed a the television audience watching the 2004 Democratic convention in Boston with a stirring keynote speech that gave the impression he wanted to bring the country together. “There’s not a black America and a conservative America — here’s the United States of America,” he intoned. “The pundits like to slice and dice our country into red states and blue states, red states for Republicans, blue states for Democrats. . . . We are one people, all of us pledging allegiance to the Stars and Stripes, all of us defending the United States of America.”

Sadly not any more. The racist in chief and all his demons have divided america like no other president in history. The worst divide is americans from the things like work ethic, pride, love of country. Another man said something similar, "Give me ten years and I promise you won't recognize Germany." Hope and change to forward into the abyss.

[gonzoliberal]

W... It is not Obama that has divided America.

"Some" Americans distance themselves from the mainstream too readily, holding extreme and unpopular views, loudly blaming the world for their own failures.

YOU chose.

Not Obama.

[demopublican]

W... It is not Obama that has divided America.

"Some" Americans distance themselves from the mainstream too readily, holding extreme and unpopular views, loudly blaming the world for their own failures.

YOU chose.

Not Obama.

Not really. In 2008 Obama ran an effieicent and optimistic campaign. In 2012 it was all partisan all the time. I still voted Obama but only because the GOP nominee was so incredibly poor that even Obama was the lessor of two evils.