It's funny, Vermont actually IS a rare example of a state that completely "switched sides" both idealogically and political party wise in the last 100 years. Back around 1912 or so, that was one of the most reliably Republican states in the country and it was one of only two states to stick with the more conservative Taft over Teddy Roosevelt that year (the other state, Utah, remains one of the most conservative states tonight, though it keeps electing RINO Governors for some bizarre reason).
Of course, you're right about the nutty white "progressives" making that state increasingly liberal whether it stayed Republican or not. George Aiken was certainly a lifelong Republican, but he was no conservative, and very pro-New Deal. Most of the Republicans Vermont had in power by the 50s and 60s were RINOs who remained in the GOP for country club rich boy reasons ("we're too good to associate with those poor farmers in the RAT party").
>> (although all it would take would be about 100,000 committed Conservatives to flip the state back to normalcy). I'd be willing go be one of the 100'000 if there was an effort afoot. With the weather lately I wouldn't notice any difference! Greeeeeeeeeeeen acres is the place for me!
It would be fun to take back Vermont with 100,000 or so staunch conservatives moving there en masse and returning the state to its roots, though it wouldn't help much from geographic and electoral standpoint.
You know what would be even better in an ideal world? If conservatives took control of the NAACP and restored it to its roots. Most Americans today would be shocked if you told them that the vast majority of the NAACP's early leadership were white (mostly Jews) and quite a few pre-1960s NAACP Presidents and Chairman were staunch card-carrying Republicans.
The NAACP today only has about 300,000 members total. Half a million conservatives joining en masse could easily outnumber them and take control of the organization. (I presume there's no modern day rule that white people can't join). Black and white conservatives would then theoretically be able to wrestle control of the organization by voting themselves into power at the local levels of the NAACP chapters, and then elect a national chairman. It would drive liberals absolutely insane if we suddenly had control of the NAACP and used it to promote free-market and pro-family policies that would actually HELP blacks like the organization is supposed to! (we could start by reversing the NAACP's resent resolution in support of gay marriage). Lefties LOVE to hijack and destroy decent organizations like the Boy Scouts. Imagine if we took over one of "theirs" that was organization to begin with.
Well, it would mean plus 2 Senators.
As for the NAACP, I like that idea. But the liberals would just break off and form the Real IRA "RealNAACP" which the media would probably recognize as the well, real NAACP.