Winning the southern vote:

[frustrated_lefty]

The South isn't a lost cause for the democratic party. Kerry took somewhere in the vicinity of 150,000 votes to Bush's 50,000 in New Orleans. The vote was reasonably close in other states, including Florida.

The gun vote: Dean had the right idea. A handgun in New York rarely serves the same purpose as a rifle in rural Mississippi. Leave it to the states, or even counties.

The "religious" vote: Provide matching federal funds for any social program funded by churches/mosques/temples.

The "family-values" vote: A couple of things could be done. Provide (additional?) federal funding for mediators to reduce the divorce rate. Provide additional health-care support for the families of troops maimed or killed in combat-related activities. Provide funding for work programs and health care for the families in which the primary earner has died prematurely. <----that's vague, granted, but could be translated to a simple, clear message.

None of this requires the sacrifice of democratic values, and it wins support among NRA members, the moderate religious right, women, hispanics, and the military (due to family values).

Just thoughts, feel free to shoot them down.

FL

[DemocratSinceBirth]

1. Isn't New Orleans Predominately African American

I don't know ho much we can infer from that...

[dolstein]

2. Excuse me, but Kerry got CRUSHED in Lousiana

It wasn't even close. It's not how many votes you get in New Orleans that matters. New Orleans simply isn't representative of the state as a whole. You need to get more votes statewide than the other guy.

[Dob Bole]

3. Louisiana was the worst Southern state for Kerry...

Look at the map of counties...he did better in Texas and Mississippi than he did in Louisiana...which has a pretty strong Democratic Party.

[frustrated_lefty]

4. But, that's my point.....

Kerry scored big in New Orleans, and yes, the population is roughly half African American. Curiously, the African American in New Orleans voted in favor of their own interests....why did that not happen in Atlanta, for instance?

Regardless, there is headway which, I think, could be made in the South, and I've proposed a few ways in which it COULD be achieved without sacrificing democratic values and priorities, yet still challenges the repukes on their base issues.

We lost bad in LA. How much of a difference would talking points like those above make in North Carolina, Florida, Tennessee, South Carolina?

They're thoughts, there's 4 years to kick 'em around. Picking up one or two southern states could make a huge difference.

I'm not talking about Louisiana as a state to aim for. Just pointing out there are solid pockets of democrat support even in dixieland. The points I raised above, I think, could shift the electoral balance.

[redherring]

5. We just needed Ohio

We don't exactly need a Southerner to win this election. Of course a Southerner would help a LOT, but someone from Ohio or its vicinity would do a good job of handing us the election.

[MsTryska]

6. I like the Guns as States Rights bit....

that's an excellent way of handling that bit.

[frustrated_lefty]

8. Hey, it's what Dean proposed.

You sound like you're not sure the other ideas would be a good idea. If you wouldn't mind clarifying a little, I'd like to hear why? This election is just very confusing, and I think it's important to understand why people vote the way we do.

FL

[MsTryska]

11. Actually I like them all.....

it had jsut never occurred to me to turn gun control over to the state. (i was a kerry supporter from the start, so i'm not up on dean's platform fully.)

[Dob Bole]

7. The South isn't "solid" anymore....there are some Dem and some GOP states

in the South. It isn't realistic to think that we can win Alabama, Mississippi, or South Carolina at the moment. We can be competitive in the states that Clinton won: West Virginia, Louisiana, Arkansas, Tennessee, Florida, Georgia...don't know if Kentucky counts anymore. But I think Virginia can now be added to that list.

[JI7]

9. Kerry lost among white Democrats in Lousiana

black voters supported him by huge numbers though.

[frustrated_lefty]

10. Again,

this is not about Louisiana. Forgive me for choosing it as an example. Look to Florida, North Carolina, Virginia, West Virginia, where there is a more solid democratic populace.

A subtle change in message could easily result in solid wins within these states.

[Malva Zebrina]

12. I am afraid we will be saddled with paying so peple can teach religion

giving that to Bush will be like funding the Reconstructionists.

I balk at that, hard. Bad idea

Does anyone in their right mind think that who gets this money will be some liberal church that preaches against conservatism and the Bush doctrine? It will turn into another pork item and churches will be using the tax payer money to goddammm LOBBY in congress for our money. Congresspeople will see to it that one who contributes the most to his/her campaign or offers an in to anyone who has connections for them, gets the most money.

Believe me, if anyhone thinks that it is worth it to ignore the separation of church and state as laid out in the Consitution, to have this so that 'social events and programs can operate is a traitor to this country and it's secular law.

ARgghh

[JPace]

13. No offense to anyone on the board but.....

Southerners pout! and I mean pout big time! I live in
the south and I love southerners but when they get mad
they stay mad for a long long time. Remember how Carter
handled the Iran kidnappings? He stopped our participation
in the Olympics....that is a typical Southern thing. I don't
play ball with you anymore!

I think the south has slowly come around after minority
rights were forced on them 40 yrs ago, they are still
ticked but don't quite remember why anymore, especially
the younger generations. I think as their standard of
living goes way down they will come around.

Its going to have to hit them hard and they are going to have
to see clearly that it is republican policies that did it.