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This Election HAS NOT 'Realigned' the Country
WSJ ^ | November 11, 2008 | JENNIFER MARSICO

Posted on 11/12/2008 3:00:02 AM PST by RobinMasters

With Barack Obama's victory and Democratic gains in Congress, more than a few commentators are talking about that "r" word so important in presidential politics -- "realignment." Was 2008 a realigning election? I don't think so.

The academic discussion of realignment began with V.O. Key's seminal 1955 essay "A Theory of Critical Elections." Key wrote that critical or realigning elections exhibit high voter interest and realigning voter turnout, as well as a shift in the dominant political ideology. Most often cited is FDR's victory over Hoover in 1932, which started a decades-long period of Democratic dominance. Americans tended to support government intervention in their lives to a greater degree than before the Great Depression. Hence, there had been a fundamental ideological shift.

Today, our elections are more candidate- than policy-centered, and detecting a seismic policy shift has become more difficult.

Still, many analysts compare 2008 to the 1980 election -- and it is true they have some similarities. Both Barack Obama and Ronald Reagan are seen as transformational figures. Both are thought of as Washington outsiders who would bring needed change in a time of domestic crisis. Both energized their party bases and attracted new voters.

(Excerpt) Read more at online.wsj.com ...


TOPICS: Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: 2008; bho2008; mccain; realignment

1 posted on 11/12/2008 3:00:02 AM PST by RobinMasters
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To: RobinMasters

The author doesn’t mention massive voter fraud, without which, even with MSM propaganda bombardment for months on end, Obama wouldn’t have won. Not to mention 8 years of hate for Bush pushed by the MSM, who are in my opinion, fellow travelers, fifth columnists. There were more black voters, of course, not that they were racist. No, they all seemed to think it was ‘their turn’, whatever that means. (We are about to find out.)


2 posted on 11/12/2008 3:12:43 AM PST by hershey
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To: RobinMasters
a few commentators are talking about that "r" word so important in presidential politics

Yeah, they can forget about reunifying, as well. Depending on your point of view The Resistance began on November 4th or will begin on January 20, 2009.

3 posted on 11/12/2008 3:20:02 AM PST by edpc
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To: hershey

“not they were racist?????????” That was all that it was about.


4 posted on 11/12/2008 3:21:49 AM PST by DooDahhhh (AMEN)
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To: RobinMasters
duh... the country is not realigned because there are 300 million people in America and only a little over 100 million people voted...

Obama needs to get the numbers on how many votes were fraudulent before trying to implement any whacko changes...

It should be abundantly clear to both him and the Democrats in Congress that 2/3 of the country are not behind him on anything.

5 posted on 11/12/2008 3:32:05 AM PST by xtinct (Any man may easily do harm, but not every man can do good to another. Plato)
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To: RobinMasters

A look at a red blue county by county map shows that this country is still aligned as socialist in the larger population centers and American everywhere else.

mmmmmm cities


6 posted on 11/12/2008 3:40:25 AM PST by petro45acp (Hunkered down in occupied Virginia!)
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To: petro45acp

Well, I would suggest that they get out and work their tushes off to support their BS programs. Hey, they cannot count on the old white baby boomers to do it anymore! At least not this one.


7 posted on 11/12/2008 3:56:29 AM PST by DooDahhhh (AMEN)
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To: hershey

[The author doesn’t mention massive voter fraud, without which, even with MSM propaganda bombardment for months on end, Obama wouldn’t have won.]


8 posted on 11/12/2008 3:57:26 AM PST by kindred (Conservatives, please abandon the G.O.P., start a new conservative only party.)
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To: hershey

[The author doesn’t mention massive voter fraud, without which, even with MSM propaganda bombardment for months on end, Obama wouldn’t have won.]

This is true and the GOP brought this on themselves by not fixing election fraud when they could have. They are worthless now.


9 posted on 11/12/2008 3:58:55 AM PST by kindred (Conservatives, please abandon the G.O.P., start a new conservative only party.)
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To: RobinMasters

If the predicted deep recession lasts through ‘09, the Dems will be turned out of office in ‘10. US voters of today have no patience for fighting wars or enduring business downturns.
The nation has a terminal case of Attention Deficit Disorder.


10 posted on 11/12/2008 4:16:33 AM PST by kittymyrib
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To: RobinMasters; All

The realignment comes after the 2010 census. The democrats will ensure that all of their constituents are over represented.


11 posted on 11/12/2008 4:25:40 AM PST by relee ('Till the blue skies drive the dark clouds far away)
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To: kittymyrib

Look for 2010 to be like 1994 IMHO once buyer’s remorse sets in.


12 posted on 11/12/2008 4:30:44 AM PST by Biggirl (Leave Sarah ALONE!=^..^==^..^==^..^==^..^==^..^=)
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To: RobinMasters

Too early to say. If the Dems can consolodate power, legitimately or otherwise, and sell it to the youth vote, which seems likely considering the nature of mass “culture”, it will be a generational realignment.


13 posted on 11/12/2008 4:33:17 AM PST by Paul_B
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To: Biggirl; kittymyrib

You both are assuming that there will be an honest election in two years. Please explain why anyone should expect to see an honest election ever again in this country.


14 posted on 11/12/2008 9:31:46 AM PST by RipSawyer (Great Grandpa was a Confederate soldier from the cradle of secession.)
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