Liberals may be afoot in George Bush country GOPstronghold may see political climate change

The Concord Monitor ^ | Mar 29, 2004 | JOHN M. GLIONNA

[DM1]

P RESCOTT, Ariz.- At his rustic three-chair barber shop just off this old gold-mining town's cozy central square, John Olvera probably stays more connected to what's on people's minds than any preacher, bartender or therapist from here to Tuba City.

And when it comes to taking sides in presidential politics, Olvera is not afraid to tell you: This is George W. Bush country, plain and simple, a place where a gun is a man's best friend and law and order is the required way of life.

As he evened sideburns last week, the veteran barber heard all about the goings-on in Washington, D.C. - how the Sept. 11 Commission asserted that President Bush ignored several credible terrorist threats before the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks.

Worse, he read in the papers about how the White House's former counterterrorism chief, Richard Clarke, has published a book suggesting that Bush used the tragedy as an excuse to invade Iraq.

Full story ...

[DM1]

Well i found this a bit disturbing. Is this a trend in AZ that we should worry about or just Liberal hopes?

[goldstategop]

Wishful thinking. The last Democrat to carry Arizona was Bill Clinton. A one-time event is not a trend. I just don't see someone as liberal as John F. Seinfeld carrying the Grand Canyon State this year.

[Liberty Valance]

It might be disturbing if you didn't know this article was written by the LA Times. Pravda of the west.

[goldstategop]

Libs wouldn't know how to gauge the real mood in flyover country if their lives depended on it.

[DefCon]

Yes, a Concord, New Hampshire newspaper thinks they understand what is going on in Arizona,
based on a story written by someone at the Los Angeles Times...

righ-t-t-t-t-t.

[M. Dodge Thomas]

In addition to shifts in vote preference there is always a certain amount to of *demographic* change going on - for example here in IL Rep. Phil Crane's position is becoming increasingly difficult as his NW suburban "collar-county" district experiences an influx of new residents, many from Chicago or the nearer in suburbs. This sort of change can cut either way of course, but once it's underway its very tough to swim against the current.

[NHResident]

The Concord Monitor is the leading left-wing rag in NH. The emigrant-refugees from our over-taxed neighboring states need something to read during their visits to the outhouse since Sears' catalogs went 'glossy' and Montgomery Ward is out of business. The papers in Portsmuth and Nashua try to compete but lack circulation and have an even more pathetic writing staff.

[trebb]

Don't be disturbed, this comment:

This is George W. Bush country, plain and simple, a place where a gun is a man's best friend

should be enough to tell you that is was a Dim, masquerading as someone who cares, writing the column. They are ever hopeful of being able to continue to get away with half-truths, mis-truths, lies, and other immoral tactics. Rest assured, most of the folks who actually buy this tripe will go to the polls and accidentally vote for Babs or maybe even Pat Paulsen in November.

[olde north church]

Yes, it is a trend. The trend is for regional newspapers to start hitting President Bush with stories about people "just like me" who are having doubts. You say barber and people think Floyd, not Vidal or Jose. These tactics are not subtle, they are insidious. Do you think the average person reading a newspaper is as political astute as someone who lives and breathes politics?
I believe most people make their political decisions based upon what filters through the background noise. The other morning I was yelling ar Katie "The Leprechaun" Couric [the local video simulcast of the local radio station changed] anyhoo, the better half asks, "Do you think your the only one with the mind to pick up on this".
I told her most people don't have the time or not inclined to make the time. Anyway, after making a short story long. Yes, this is a trend.

[GraniteStateConservative]

The Monitor is a good newspaper-- for me to poop on.

[adam_az]

This article is a load of BS.

I'm a W'04 volunteer in AZ, and have put in a lot of hours on the phone bank the last few weeks.

I haven't had ANYONE on the (R) lists I've called say anything like what is in this article. How many people did the author have to interview to find these malcontants, that's what I want to know.