Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Is America Still Red Vs. Blue, or Purpler?
Yahoo ^

Posted on 11/06/2005 12:17:47 PM PST by Sub-Driver

Is America Still Red Vs. Blue, or Purpler?

By ERIN McCLAM, AP National Writer1 hour, 41 minutes ago

Dial back to a year or so ago, to the wrenching, vicious, partisan escapade that was Campaign 2004, to a time when we were told by a thousand pundits that America was deeply, hopelessly divided.

And it felt that way: Family dinners became shouting matches. Bush and Kerry signs were snatched from yards. Blue and red were at war.

But 12 months have passed since then, ample time for the nation to relearn the principles of civil discourse. We have had time to heal, to start listening to each other again. To become, in a word, purpler.

So have we?

If you want signs of hope, you can read about the hundreds of millions of dollars that poured in for relief after a nation watched, united in its horror, as a humanitarian nightmare took hold in New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina. You can remember the nomination of John Roberts for chief justice, which sailed through the Senate.

And if you want reasons to despair, you can flick on your computer and read the blogs, where conservatives accuse liberals of being unhinged "moonbats," and liberals fire back that the right is a collection of "wingnuts." Or you can reflect on the immediate partisan warfare that broke out over President Bush's nomination of Samuel Alito to the Supreme Court.

Ask political experts around the country about the state of American discourse. You could ask 20 of them, actually, and come back with 20 different answers.

Put another way: The nation is divided over whether it's still divided.

(Excerpt) Read more at news.yahoo.com ...


TOPICS: Government; News/Current Events; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: discourse; politics; purple; redvsblue

1 posted on 11/06/2005 12:17:48 PM PST by Sub-Driver
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | View Replies]

To: Sub-Driver
The nation is divided over whether it's still divided.

Phooey. Just count up who controlles the most seats in the state and federal houses, governorships. There's your answer.

2 posted on 11/06/2005 12:20:26 PM PST by Uncledave
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Sub-Driver
45% of Americans did not vote in 2004.

When you poll the feckless non-voter, you get a fake perspective of the likely voters.

Expect these words to be used yet again by liberal pundits on election day in 2006: 'unexpected' and 'surprising' when referring to GOP victories.

3 posted on 11/06/2005 12:27:54 PM PST by new yorker 77 (FAKE POLLS DO NOT TRANSLATE INTO REAL VOTERS!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Sub-Driver

No mention of The Purple People Eaters. The re-emergence of Communism and Muslim terrorist attacks.


4 posted on 11/06/2005 12:29:49 PM PST by FlingWingFlyer (When I was a kid, the national news media was the GOOD GUYS.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Sub-Driver

Civil discourse?

F* the liberal B*stards!

There, I feel so much better now.....


5 posted on 11/06/2005 12:29:54 PM PST by nevergore (“It could be that the purpose of my life is simply to serve as a warning to others.”)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Uncledave
Phooey. Just count up who controlles the most seats in the state and federal houses, governorships. There's your answer.

But I thought Druncle Teddy said the Dems still represent the majority of Americans.

I guess I tended to imagine a lot of things too, back in my drinkin' days.

6 posted on 11/06/2005 12:31:52 PM PST by digger48
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: Sub-Driver
Is America Still Red Vs. Blue, or Purpler?

America was never purple; purple was a figment of the liberal's imagination.

7 posted on 11/06/2005 12:47:56 PM PST by MosesKnows
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Sub-Driver

there is no purple. Blue and red is all there is.


8 posted on 11/06/2005 12:50:21 PM PST by bert (K.E. ; N.P . Chicken spit causes flu....... Fox News)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: bert

And if they want a mixed color it should be more like Maroon...a whoe lot a red with a little blue mixed in. And if, like every good statistician will tell you, we knock off the outer edges of the land, it look a whole lot like bright red to me.


9 posted on 11/06/2005 1:59:53 PM PST by dannyboy72 (How long will you hold onto the rope when Liberals pull us off the cliff?)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 8 | View Replies]

To: Sub-Driver
My wife and I have a social group that meets monthly. Politics are never discussed. It is that divisive.

When the Demoncrats decided to attack the Second Amendment, my disgust with liberal policies turned into deep hatred. Every dime that used to go toward charitable causes has been diverted to pro-gun groups.

And if Diane Feinstein were on fire and screaming in agony I wouldn't even bother to ... well, never mind.

10 posted on 11/06/2005 2:09:27 PM PST by William Tell (Put the RKBA on the California Constitution - Volunteer through rkba.members.sonic.net)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: William Tell

This repeated assertion that the abuses and attacks during the election came from both sides just drives me nuts! Yes, I will concede there were some 'abuses' from the Republicans (costumed appearances at some political rallies) but I don't recall any tires flattened, signs stolen,cars keyed, political offices broken in to, physical assaults, using cars to run down individuals, verbal and physical intimidation, lying and miss-representing statements of the opposition- while it has been documented even in the MSM that Democrats across the nation did this. Meanwhile, the Republican leadership have just remaind silent in the face of the outrageous equivalence and lies.


11 posted on 11/06/2005 3:27:12 PM PST by NHResident (i)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 10 | View Replies]

To: Sub-Driver
I think we are and remain as divided as we ever have been. There are people who supported President Bush who are critical of things that he has done, but that criticism of the president doesn't mean that they are any closer to the liberals on the issues that divided this country a year ago.

Bill

12 posted on 11/06/2005 3:56:10 PM PST by WFTR (Liberty isn't for cowards)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: NHResident
NHResident said: "Meanwhile, the Republican leadership have just remaind silent in the face of the outrageous equivalence and lies."

Was it Mark Twain who warned, "Never pick a fight with someone who buys ink by the barrel"?

It would do no good for Bush to escalate the fight. What does the most good is for conservatives to wise up and stop paying the liberals to tell lies about conservatives.

I ceased subscribing to the local liberal rag years ago. It is a sacrifice because it is harder to stay current regarding local events. But the effect is being felt by the liberals. The NY Times is laying people off. Viewership is down for the broadcast networks. The trend is in our favor.

13 posted on 11/06/2005 5:45:19 PM PST by William Tell (Put the RKBA on the California Constitution - Volunteer through rkba.members.sonic.net)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 11 | View Replies]

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.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson