NEW ENGLAND: Birthplace of American Patriotism!!

[OnionPatch]

Why do the Dems allow Massachusetts and New England to be bashed by the Righties instead of picking up on this theme? I'm proud to know that the birthplace of our country is still liberal after all these years. :kick:

[calico1]

1. I have often thought the same thing

New England is where America began. And other parts of the East of course. New Enland is where most of the Patriots were from. A lot of history in MA, CT, NH.

[stellanoir]

2. my maternal relatives have been here

since 1636. I'm seriously considering that we may need a reinactment of the "Boston Tea Party" based on "taxation without
representation". If, God forbid they try to delay the election based on some illusive terrorist threat, on December 17 we might consider throwing massive quantities of something (preferably non toxic) into the Boston Harbor. I seriously doubt that's gonna happen but it's always an option.

The other thing about Kerry and NE that's often miscontrued is, as I gleaned from a recent Time magazine profile, he is hardly a tried and true blue blood. Yeah on his Mom's side he is descended from John Winthrop, but his strain of the Forbes family was hardly rich when it came to his generation. His education was paid for by an unmarried and childless aunt. On his dad's side he's only a second generation American. It's a nice mix. Wish this was more played up in the media.

But that'll never happen.

[sandnsea]

4. I don't think it would work

I know what you're saying and I've thought about it too. But I just don't think it would come off so well to most Americans. He has a boatload of money now and trying to come off as anything less would just sound too contrived I think. He did get to go to elite schools, no matter how they were paid for, and I think it's just too difficult to try to change that image. The best he can do, I think, is "He was born in an army hospital in Colorado".

Maybe with Edwards on the ticket, he can say some of these things that would sound weird coming from anybody else. I guess we'll see if the campaign thinks it's necessary.

[sandnsea]

3. I know

When I had heard Kerry was going to announce his candidacy in front of the USS Constitution, I thought it would be the perfect opportunity to begin to remind America of New England's great patriotic history. But nooo, some dumb fuck had to move it to SC. Stupid, stupid, stupid. Now THAT was a Kerry mistake.

I've seen some inklings they're going to play up the New England history at the convention, I sure hope so!

[tom22]

6. I remember during Watergate

there was a popular bumpersticker that said "Don't Blame Me: I'm From Massachusetts" (The one state McGovern carried in 1972). Someday the rest of the country will get it.

[Monte Carlo]

5. When they try to give me crap about MA or NE....

... I remind them, "We were America before America was cool."

That usually shuts them up.

[Lefty48197]

7. Lexington and Concord baby

no wonder the right wingers hate New England so much.

[nightperson]

8. People forget that that the Puritan movement

which founded New England was a bit on the "revolutionary" side.

Kerry would be the 18th President to have some New England Puritan ancestry, joining such as FDR, Lincoln, Adams I and II, and yes Bush I and II.

[Wabbajack]

9. On a different note

Why is there all this talk of NEEDING a southerner on the ticket?

The south will only vote for a southerner but expect other regions of the country to vote for them as well?

[Kathy in Cambridge]

10. I agree-pandering to regionalism is bullshit

Most new Englanders don't give two shits where a candidate is from. Maybe because we have so many immigrants. Why won't the South vote for a Northeasterner?

[Kathy in Cambridge]

11. Also, New England has the best education and highest standard of living

MA and CT are constantly tops in public education. MA is one of the most beautiful states-Cape Cod, The Berkshires, quaint towns, and so much history! I think people who diss New England have never visited the region. I think they'd fall in love if they did!

[AspenRose]

13. I love New England

My husband is from NH. My sister-in-law is finishing up high school there and it amazes me how *excellent* the school system is there.

And the sense of history everyone possesses. EVERYONE knows their history.

We'll retire there, to be sure. I was raised in Texas (couldn't help that), but I (heart) New England.

**LIVE FREE OR DIE**

[Kathy in Cambridge]

12. Kicky-poo

[DeepModem Mom]

14. Flags flew on Vermont houses long before 9/11 --

Small towns still holding town meetings, Little League teams, church suppers, trout fishing streams, Green Mountains, grazing sheep, herds of cows, rugged individualism -- this vision of Mom-and-apple-pie America is berated as outside our national mainstream. IMO, it's as truly American as anyplace in this country, and sends great Americans to Washington -- Senators Jeffords and Leahy, and one Congressman, Independent/Socialist Bernie Sanders.

[dflprincess]

15. I've also wondered about this myself

If it wasn't for "Northeastern Liberals" there would be no United States.