[hanamizu]

I was driving through Missouri (which I came to recognize as an extremely blue state)

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Republicans control both houses of the General Assembly, all elected Executive branch positions. With the exception of STL, KC, & Columbia, not a lot of blue showing on our map.

[rlmorel]

I made that judgement based on the various signs I saw (not strictly political ones, but signs telling you what you must or must not do, laws you cannot break, etc.)

I come from a very blue state, and it was very similar to what I saw on the highway in Missouri. But, as you point out, I came across the river in St. Louis and drove north to the tip of Nebraska, so...I was likely seeing a portion bluer than the rest)

I will say, crossing into Nebraska, I have never seen a more abrupt change-Nebraska seemed very much a working state.

Thanks for that context!

[rlmorel]

I was curious, because being an amateur historian, I have always known Missouri to be in the clutches of the Democratic Party machine, with Harry Truman being among the highest of climbers. I saw this excerpt:

"... Missouri joined the union in 1821, and for 187 years no Democrat won the presidency without carrying the state. When Democrats lost, they at least kept it close here. Even Michael Dukakis lost Missouri by only 4 points. Then, in 2008, Barack Obama won the presidency while losing Missouri. It was close! Only 3,903 votes separated Obama from McCain, while Ralph Nader—of course, who the hell else?—snagged 17,813..."

What I was seeing was likely the remnants of the Democratic machine that lived so long in that state. We can only hope Barack Obama (among others) destroyed the party there. Little hope for my state, but as is commonly said by those who wish to exploit or destroy hope: "Hope dies last!"

[BroJoeK]

hanamizu quoting rlmorel: "I was driving through Missouri (which I came to recognize as an extremely blue state)"

I took rimorel's words to mean he's an old-enough timer to remember when blue = Republican and red = Communists.

I've long thought we had Tim Russert at NBC's Meet the Press to thank for switching the colors around, circa 2000.