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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsState of the Union isn’t the hottest topic on Main Street Sarasota
They may vote in November, but in January theyre focused on their iced lattes, or their lap poodles, or their job hunts. Or some distraction. Florida may be the biggest swing state, with 29 electoral votes, but a brief unscientific survey here reminds that its also a land of sunshine, beaches, good times all around, and the daily jaunt through life may not coincide with watching Fox News Channel or MSNBC or reading Politico.
Consider the seven young friends gathered around a table outside the Pastry Art bakery. They were drinking coffee and smoking Camels and American Spirits. Any pundit would have sized them up as supporters of President Obama. But they were no more likely to watch his speech later than to sign up for polka lessons.
I dont have cable, said Michael Murphy, 24, a musician who has been working to boost the music scene in town. When informed that the national address would be on broadcast television not to mention streamed on the Internet he said, Probably still wouldnt watch it. I listen to NPR now and then.
(...)
Downtown Sarasota is one of the few places where one can reliably turn up Democrats in the Republican Riviera that is Southwest Florida.
This profile of voters in the swing state city quoted TWO voters who wouldn't watch the SOTU because they didn't have cable...DOUBLE FACEPALM. Are they not aware that the Big 3 broadcasters and PBS have played SOTU ever since TV was born? (Yes, Michael Murphy, NPR also does.) Also this article quotes a 21-year-old who will soon deploy with the National Guard saying: "When you vote Republican, chances are the pay in the military goes up."
A 62-year-old man had his 30th wedding anniversary on SOTU night and "wishes the president would be more forceful in asserting his accomplishments." Concurring was a 39-year-old financial analyst.
valerief
(53,235 posts)Except for the handful of progressives there, of course.
Liberal_Stalwart71
(20,450 posts)Hard to feel sorry for them.
msongs
(67,199 posts)tblue37
(64,982 posts)the network that used to be the CW. Occasnially I would watch CW when it would come in barely enough for me to see it and I waned to veg out because I was too tired to work, but usually I couldn't get anything but snow and noise.
For many people, cable is necessary to get any reception at all, even on the networks.
alp227
(31,962 posts)cayanne
(702 posts)They are all racist republicans. I'm from Bradenton, 11 miles north of there. I never go back to visit and I never will.
My dad nis from there and my mom from Bradenton. There are both right wing areas. My parents and relatives used to be democrats while I was growing up but changed to Republicans after the Civil right laws passed in the 60s and 70s.
Art_from_Ark
(27,247 posts)Would Newt supporters be smoking Marlboros and drinking tea instead? I don't get it.
FrenchieCat
(68,867 posts)come November, so of course, we can always find opposing views. Why they should all show up at DU is a mystery to me.