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BOSTON GLOBE: Win shows 'red states' on the rise
Boston Globe ^ | November 4, 2004 | Peter S. Canellos

Posted on 11/04/2004 12:44:08 AM PST by Cincinatus' Wife

...But the way Bush won reelection does not signal a move to the center: His chief political adviser, Karl Rove, advised him to shore up the base at the expense of swing voters -- a decision that led to Bush's endorsement of a constitutional amendment banning gay marriage, his commitment of federal funds to faith-based charities, and his unapologetic embrace of the doctrine of preemptive war in Iraq.

The usual blueprint for a presidential run calls for appealing to centrists to build a coalition. But Bush's decision to concentrate on energizing his core supporters may change that blueprint forever.

After all, an energized political ''base" does not waver if the candidate loses a few debates. It comes out to vote even in the kind of driving rain that soaked Ohio on Election Day. It supports its favored candidates even when times are good, like 2000, and there is no obvious need for a change in leadership. And it sticks with its favorites even when times are hard, and many voters seem to be looking for a change.

A leader who touted consistency as his prime character trait, Bush will probably govern in a second term the way he has in his first: By accepting the counsel of a small group of advisers led by Vice President Dick Cheney and by resisting opinions from any other quarter, including Republicans in Congress....

(Excerpt) Read more at boston.com ...


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Front Page News; Government; News/Current Events; Politics/Elections; War on Terror
KEYWORDS: bush; bushvictory; conservatism; election; mandate; victory
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To: hocndoc
If anything should be more evident to the Republicans it the issue of "gay" marriages. I know a number of people who claim they're Democrats but if you really press them on some of the Democrat's issues like gay marriages they disavow them in a minute. These people probably makes up 20% of their base. The rest are hopeless.
41 posted on 11/04/2004 2:22:54 AM PST by HarleyD
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To: Cincinatus' Wife

Best of the Web Today (and a FReeper whose name I forget) actually looked at Bush's numbers, and in every state but Vermont, Bush actually increased his percentages in the blue states.


42 posted on 11/04/2004 2:24:27 AM PST by maryz
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To: Cincinatus' Wife

The county results map suggests the US is not divided, just has a slight case of blue measles.


43 posted on 11/04/2004 2:30:42 AM PST by leadhead
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To: maryz; leadhead

The GOP is on a march!


44 posted on 11/04/2004 2:32:45 AM PST by Cincinatus' Wife
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To: HarleyD

Exactly. Anyone who looks at the votes in the States with the Defence of Marriage ballot issues could tell that some who voted for the DOMs did not vote for the President.

Will either side get it? The R's might - I don't think the Dems have a clue.


45 posted on 11/04/2004 2:33:58 AM PST by hocndoc (Choice is the # 1 killer in the US)
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To: ONETWOONE

The next battle is over the courts - our immeidate cause should be geetting Arlen Specter off the judiciary committee. The dems will try even hrder to advance their agenda throuh the courts now that they've lost clout in the legislative branch, so we don't need soft or activist judges on the bench!

Arlen Specter has to go!


46 posted on 11/04/2004 3:33:35 AM PST by SolutionsOnly
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To: ONETWOONE

The next battle is over the courts - our immeidate cause should be geetting Arlen Specter off the judiciary committee. The dems will try even hrder to advance their agenda throuh the courts now that they've lost clout in the legislative branch, so we don't need soft or activist judges on the bench!

Arlen Specter has to go!


47 posted on 11/04/2004 3:33:35 AM PST by SolutionsOnly
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To: Vortexsg
They blame the youth for not showing up.

of course the democrats youth didn't show up. They aborted them

48 posted on 11/04/2004 6:13:59 AM PST by John O (God Save America (Please))
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To: Cincinatus' Wife

Hey, El Globo, we're coming for you.


49 posted on 11/04/2004 6:24:19 AM PST by Aquinasfan (Isaiah 22:22, Rev 3:7, Mat 16:19)
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To: weegee

Just section off that small strip along the ocean that is colored blue right now and let it be it's own state. The same with a lot of blue America. New York is red except for Manhatten and a few blue cities, PA is a sea of red except for the large cities. Time for them to be their own states.


50 posted on 11/04/2004 6:30:30 AM PST by McGavin999 (George Soros just learned a very expensive lesson-America can't be bought.)
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To: weegee
I don't go to church, but I tithe anyway. I just go direct. Some goes to various charities, the rest goes directly to people in need, some of that is in free services, some in cash.
51 posted on 11/04/2004 6:37:48 AM PST by McGavin999 (George Soros just learned a very expensive lesson-America can't be bought.)
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To: McGavin999

The problem with making New York City a state is that it gets two Senators. Ditto for Philadelphia. And the social cancers would grow undeterred without their connection to red states. Better to keep them like they are and work to bring religion and common sense and patriotism back to these God-forsaken outputs of depravity and 'sophistication.'


52 posted on 11/04/2004 6:42:39 AM PST by WashingtonSource (Freedom is not free.)
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To: weegee

" We give our time and money because we want to help others."...

which is "compassionate conservatism" as opposed to "legal liberalism". "we give... because" stands opposed to liberal progessiveness in light of the fact that your supposition is that compassionate conservatives give of self and one's goods voluntarily. Liberal progressiveness would (does) compel giving what one has out because of legislative fiat.


53 posted on 11/04/2004 7:31:28 AM PST by oldngray
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To: McGavin999

The left won't be happy when their California falls into the ocean.


54 posted on 11/04/2004 11:04:57 AM PST by weegee (Bob Hope loved a Republican Ohio...)
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