The GOP's Blue-State Blues

Wall Street Journal ^ | November 8, 2004 | John Fund

[PhatHead]

Not everything came up roses for Republicans on Election Day.

Republicans have much to crow about after last week's election. They have solid control of the White House and both houses of Congress for the first time since before the Depression. But this is still a closely divided country, and while the GOP won the major league pennants, Democrats did well in the AAA league of politics, the state legislatures. Republicans have to pay attention not only to where they are gaining votes, but also to the states and demographic groups where they are losing them.

Last week, more than 80% of the roughly 7,300 partisan legislative seats in the country were up for grabs, as elections for state legislators took place in 44 states. Before the election, Republicans had a narrow 60-seat aggregate nationwide lead in seats, the smallest any party had held since statistics have been recorded. Now the margin is even smaller, but this time Democrats are on top. Pending recounts, they will have 3,658 legislative seats to 3,652 for Republicans. The GOP now controls both legislative chambers in 20 states. Democrats control both chambers in 19, and 10 are split, with Democrats holding one chamber and Republicans the other. (The unicameral Nebraska Legislature is nonpartisan.)

[PhatHead]

Still a lot of work to do...

[Russ]

Republicans strengthened their control in both the House and Senate in Pennsylvania, a state Kerry won.

In most cases (excluding California and New York) Democrat controlled legislatures tend to be more moderate and less partisan than the national bodies. If Democrats ran for local or statewide offices with the same ideological platform the DNC has they would lose hands down.

[Dave S]

Better get this one straightened out before the next Census and reapportionment.

[PhatHead]

That's good new in PA. I need to get caught up on state by state results.

I wonder if that movement in the PA legislature is part of the reason Specter struggled?

[BIGZ]

This is a divided country. 50% pay 94% of the taxes, this is division.

Morality is character and behavior pertaining to right and wrong not religion. 50% has their hand out and demand the cost be born by others, this is wrong and shows neither character nor moral behavior and does not end here.

Taxes, affirmative action, gay marriage, government agencies, EEOC, OSHA, etc are out of control, no parental notification of abortion for minors, on and on. There is division but it ain't religious. The liberal complain about the Patriot Act depriving one of freedom, try and go into business with all of the government regulations and tell me about freedom.