A New Political Geography - Role Reversals in Virginias Reflect National Shifts (barf alert)

Washington Post ^ | June 29, 2008 | Alec MacGillis

[neverdem]

When Sen. Barack Obama chose the Nissan Pavilion in the outer suburbs of Northern Virginia to kick off his general-election campaign, one of the 10,000 supporters there was David Bruzas, who recently moved to the fastest-growing part of a state that is moving rapidly away from its Republican past.

"Being in this area has made me a lot more politically in tune with what's going on," said Bruzas, 27, a systems engineer from Illinois who moved to Fairfax County to work for Cisco Systems in 2005. "And I identify with Obama."

Only a few hours west on Route 50, in the old railroad town of Grafton, W.Va., the political world is spinning in the other direction. West Virginia, traditionally Democratic, was one of only six states that voted for Jimmy Carter in 1980 and one of 10 that voted for Michael Dukakis in 1988, but in recent years it went twice for George W. Bush, and Obama's prospects there are poor.

Looking down an empty Main Street the other day, highway worker David Whitehair, 55, said he was a loyal Democrat until 2000. "Bush was a good man and had good morals. I felt he was the better man," he said. This year? "I don't care for Obama."

The emerging political reversals of the two Virginias are part of a national shift that has...

--snip--

But in general, where economic dynamism is concentrated, Democrats are gaining. Bishop found that Gore and Kerry did much better in the 21 metro areas that produced the most new patents than in less tech-oriented cities. Virginia Tech demographer Robert E. Lang found that Kerry did better in the 20 metro areas most linked to the global economy -- based on business networks, shipping and airport activity -- than in metro areas as a whole...

[neverdem]

Virginia Tech demographer Robert E. Lang found that Kerry did better in the 20 metro areas most linked to the global economy -- based on business networks, shipping and airport activity -- than in metro areas as a whole.

American involvement in globalization won't proceed as it did when fuel was relatively cheap. Transportation costs have skyrocketed. The GOP better pound the donkeys for being the Luddites on energy.

[xDGx]

Wait till Cisco Engineer gets his Obama-ized tax bill, or better yet, his offspring watch their inheritance evaporate.

[goldstategop]

The article manages to conceal the fact Obama is not winning over Reagan Democrats and middle class voters. He's doing well with the yuppified-youth-minority segment of the electorate where Democrats have been successful. Not too many of those in West Virginia and downstate Virginia.

"Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." - Manuel II Palelologus

[Cacique]

btt

[AZLiberty]

Too many Northerners moving to the southern states, too many Californians heading to the western states. Could really mess up the political landscape.

[truthguy]

I lived in Virgina for eight years in the 1980’s before moving to Northern California. I loved every part of the state except Northern Virginia. It has all the traffic and congestion problems of SF Bay area and Los Angeles without any of the good weather or the natural environment. The place is filled to the rim with arrogant people who were full of themselves. The place has none of the charm or grace of the rest of the state. I really hated Northern Virginia.

[BnBlFlag]

“Too many Northerners moving to the southern states, too many Californians heading to the western states. Could really mess up the political landscape.”

Yep. Here in Texas, we get ‘em both. (Not to mention the Illegal Aliens).

[Convert from ECUSA]

I’ve lived in northern (occupied) Virginia for the majority of my life, and you’re exactly right about the place. It was different when I was a kid. I stay here only because the job market here is less affected by recessions/slow downs, and jobs are usually plentiful. When it comes time for me to retire, I plan to leave. There are still nice places here, but overall, Northern VA is an arrogant, elitist, latte liberal hellhole.

[angkor]

I’ve been in NoVA for 10 years, after growing up in MD which is far, far worse. Still, I have seen the changes and the leftward shift is quite pronounced.

I won’t be retiring here either. We bought a house in SE Asia, of which commodity trader jim Rogers has been saying recently “If you were smart in 1807 you moved to London, if you were smart in 1907 you moved to New York City, and if you are smart in 2007 you move to Asia.”

[barb-tex]

Different Strokes, as they say. As for me, I have been to SE Asia, and have no desire to make the Golden years as a stranger in a strange land, Subject to the whims of the current or future dictator. Did you say you bought a house or merely leased one?
barbra ann