Posted on 12/24/2004 11:13:29 AM PST by BurbankKarl
MURRIETA, Calif. — As four vintage military planes soared above the second annual Veterans Day parade here last month, all eyes turned skyward.
Suddenly, one plane veered west, alone. The empty space where the plane had flown was a tribute to those who've died in defense of freedom. Eyes misted over. Young parents snapped pictures. Old men saluted.
Mayor Jack van Haaster commemorated the somber fly-by: "We give tribute to those whose lives were lost in service to their country." Then he clambered into a shiny convertible to lead high school bands and candy-tossing Marines, car clubs and Scout troops on a mile-long swing around the unfinished center of this fast-growing, young, Republican city.
Here in the stout heart of red California, voters snort with disdain when they hear that President Bush's strong victory caught America's Democrats by surprise. Not a single Murrieta precinct swung Sen. John Kerry's way in the bitterly fought 2004 election; in many parts of town, 70% or more of the electorate cast ballots for Bush — a strong show of red unity in one of America's bluest states.
The same values that drew voters here to Bush in the first place also led many of them to Murrieta, the self-proclaimed gem of the Temecula Valley, where streets are safe, schools are good and housing is more affordable than in many other parts of California.
"People come here with their families, and they want a conservative lifestyle that they can re-create," said Mayor Pro Tem Kelly Seyrato, who moved here nearly 15 years ago with his wife from Los Angeles County so they could buy a house and start a family. "We were able to recapture the fresh neighborhood of the '60s feel…. It had a lot of promise out here."
(Excerpt) Read more at latimes.com ...
Since 1992, the number of California counties with more registered Republicans than voters of any other party has nearly tripled, from 13 to 37 out of 58. That growth has shaped exurbs such as Murrieta, where "we're red. We're getting redder … [and] the Democrats don't even bother to organize," said Shaun Bowler, professor of political science at UC Riverside.
I agree, even in Contra Costa County which is just east of Oakland and Bezerkely it is still blue but not as blue as S.F or Alameda county (oakland).. I think one thing too is that the REpublican party here has also been a bit disorganized arguing between the moderates and conservatives...we should find common ground amongst ourselves and go from there. I know some people think Arnold it too liberal on social issues but he is better than some of the Dems around here. We should slowly try and get more power, and shape our future from there.....merry xmas to all.....
That may be true oh great and mystical "BK" (just kidding), but one issue does concern me. Is the state turning right, or is it's Republican leadership...
Has anyone had a Temecula wine ? It gets very hot down there. It must affect the sugar content adversely.
Amen to that statement!
It's not Red & Blue States - It's Red States & Blue Counties.
It could happen out here....
The DemonicRats have made a real mess of things....and Arnoold could move a lot faster...he may have to go in 2006....not sure how we can pull that off though.
Naive, Naive, Naive! The registration of 500,000 illegals between now and the next election shall solve all left wing problems. Start to grasp the concept! We are beyond normal political solutions.
That mess in Washington right now could tip that state to the GOP as well in 2008. Dare we dream of a Red state America reaching the Pacific? (No I'm not forgetting Alaska!)
Exactly!! A lot of the blue states have mostly red counties. The big urban counties overwhelm the rest of the state.
If that happens it'll be a return to the Reagan type landslides. The elections will be over before midnight for a change.
Illegal aliens can't vote, and as far as I know they have little to no interest in voting.
Even legal hispanics vote way below the rate that would be associated with their percentage of the population.
I hear a lot of hysterical statements like this, and I'd love to see them backed up by facts.
D
Here in Placer County (Sacramento-area), the majority of voters are registered Republicans. Look at a county by county map of California--California was predominantly red except for the idiots (off the chart weirdos) in San Francisco and LA.
Back up with facts-that is the last thing people using that statement ever wish to hear! Go look! Go listen! By the way submit your "facts" to back up your statements.
Socialist stinkholes....is what they are.
Filled with elitists and their peons!
That would feel more true if we hadn't reelected every Democrat incumbent (Republicans too, to be fair). I hope Arnold gets behind the redistricting reform initiative. That's the only thing short of a crow bar or dynamite that'll loosen an incumbent's stranglehold on office.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.