Alison Smart writes from Hailey, Idaho:
I live in Blaine County, Idaho... you can see us there in the south central part of the state. I am so happy that Our President has been re-elected (unlike the feelings of the rest of my state).
Thanks for the map and the letter, Alison. I suspect your sentiment is seconded by a lot of blue dots in a lot of red states. (How to send us stuff.)
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and that is what keeps the GOP up at night...
It ain't over 'til it's over.
Every public officeholder swears an oath of office. Ask yourself, 'What's the point of ANY additional pledge?' Follow the money.
Any officeholder who genuinely believes in representative government should have already publicly denounced the Teaparty/Taliban's efforts to disenfranchise Americans.
If you stood in line to vote, write your STATE legislators an invitation to the 21st century. Washington state voters had their ballots weeks before election day.
The Teaparty/Taliban are still afraid of women making decisions. (John 8:3-11)
Trickle down not only doesn't spur economic growth, it stifles it.
"Corporations are people" = "He with the most gold rules"
This is my opportunity to say Thank You, OHIO!
I am curious what is in that blue county-- maybe a college or University? I live in Kansas City, and the little blue islands around here are in larger cities and where University of Kansas and University of Missouri are. Interesting... and kind of telling, maybe?
What's in that blue county is Sun Valley. It's been a small island in a sea of red my entire life. For what it's worth, the ski resort communities in Colorado were all blue as well.
Yes, Blaine County is the home of the Sun Valley Resort... it's also a county full of highly educated people. We do not have a University (though you may see an occasional "University of Sun Valley" t-shirt) but we do have a large population of University graduates - Here, the guy serving your beverages or the woman teaching your kids to ski probably has an advanced degree. We have a thriving Arts community - theater, symphony, and visual arts. We are surrounded by gorgeous public lands - the Sawtooth National Forest & National Recreational Area, as well as protected private areas like the world famous Silver Creek Preserve. I think appreciation for our community and the beauty of our surroundings engenders compassionate, protective spirits... and that makes our county vote Blue.
I live in Kentucky and was part of a team of Democrats calling and canvassing Ohio weekly for months. The director of Obama for America - Kentucky told us that at one point, volunteer Democrats from Kentucky, Indiana and West Virginia were making thousands of calls a week into Ohio.
We like to talk about states in terms of red and blue, but it's important to remember that in reality, every state is a little bit purple.
In Washington State we have great hopes for Idaho. It is a beautiful state with great people. Unfortunately, politically, they are misguided. It's a wonder that little dot is BLUE considering they share the border with the 'crazies' in Washington. We love you!
I wish we had a blue spot somewhere in my state (Oklahoma). :-(
I am proud of OK. They ascribe to following the constitution by producing a budget according to the Constitution which the President and Senate just ignore as if it doesn't exist. They ascribe to balancing a budget. They do not want interference in religion by the government. Oklahomans are hard working people who take great pride in being independent and rely on government handouts only when absolutely necessary. They believe in a stong well equipped military. They believe in entrapreneurship and business people who DO build it themselves. They believe in energy independence. They do not believe in spending more than you take in and borrowing from other countries. Oklahomans have a pride and independence second to none and do not like the path that our country is going down.
Thank you to all of those "blue dots" in red states, thank you to those of you that stood in lines for hours, and most especially thank you to those in "red states" that didn't vote with your "party" but voted with your conscious!
I love you Americans!
Obama also won Blaine County, Montana too. There's Something About Blaine.
http://elections.nytimes.com/2012/results/states/montana
Tucson, AZ is blue, dominated by red Phoenix! Arizona gets a lot of bad press (deservedly!).........please know we're not all crazy conservatives out in the desert!
I'm in the RED part of Illinois in a county so small there were less than 6000 votes cast. 1654 were cast for Obama.
When I went to vote I was talking with one of the poll workers and telling her that I'd like to become one. She asked if I was R or D and I said D. She pointed at one of the tables (more than one precinct in the room) and said "We could have used you. This is mainly a Republican county and there's supposed to be a Democrat at every table (along with the 5 Republicans :)) and we didn't have enough Democrats to put one at that table."
I think I'd better get busy before the next election!
Idaho always looks to me like it's giving "the finger" to Canada. Such a shame. I've always liked our Canadianese neighbors!
Got Enraged and Engaged:
Mooched the Vote 2012!
;-)
You are not alone, there are plenty of people in your situation. Very happy for you, just get ready for lots of moaning and groaning around you, blaming and feeling victimized.
There are lots of other Republicans there to hang on to whatever it is they feel like their losing. I don't want to assume, but I have some ideas.
I live in a very blue state and when a President Bush was in the WH, I was not happy, but it it was based on real issues. Such as Iraq and not having that on the budget, leaving OBL free in Afghanistan/Pakistan, trying to privatize Social Security, you know stuff like that.
I really don't think President Obama's going to take anyone's guns or force them feed them broccoli.
Most states are split along urban vs. rural lines. People in large cities and towns see a host of government services at work while rural areas do not see or recognize all the government services they receive. The rural areas do not appreciate the amount of funding for roads and schools from the state and federal governments. If Dems are going to make inroads in rural areas, they need to carry the message about the funding for government services as well as monies that are being used for farm services and subsidies. It would be very simple for Dems to point out what the Ryan budget would do to some rural areas if transportation and education funds were slashed. Another major government service that Republicans are trying to privatize is the mail delivery.
When Gov. Quinn and the Dems in Illinois cut the budget some small downstate school districts lost critical funding that supported various programs including bus transportation for students. That triggered an outcry by some Republicans whose districts were significantly affected. And that is how Dem candidates can sell their message in rural areas and blunt the Republican arguments about taxes and govenrment services.
I live within 20min of that border. Never assume anything - my precinct was also in the Obama column. My daughter lives nearby. Her precinct is running over 60% for Obama in the counting! We helped Obama win WA! When I first moved to this part of the world, I lived in Idaho. Frank Church was an Idaho democratic Senator and I had the honor of voting for him. I also lived in Latah County, Idaho (home of the UofI & the "bluish" dot on the map). The final count shows that a majority of those folks voted for Obama in this election!
Blaine County is named for James G. Blaine, a 19th century republican leader of the "Half Breeds." They were called that because they were willing to work with the democrats in congress. These days, they'd be made fun of, RINO's, and "primaried" out by the tea party.
Don't forget Latah County, which also is blue thanks to my alma mater, the University of Idaho. Unfortunately, my home county of Kootenai remains solidly red despite an influx of more-progressive voters from places like California. Also interesting that Idaho used to have a Democratic governor until the 80s. Either way, my new home state of Virginia seems to be turning bluer and bluer every year and I'm glad to be a part of that.
I live in Boise and was hoping that was my county, Ada County. That's where BSU lives along with the blue turf. I had a witty comment relating the two islands of blue which almost applies. Maybe next time. There is a strong blue neighborhood here in the Capitol city but not quite enough I suppose. Cheers to all of us though, so much good news. Hooray for good things.
Tucson, AZ voted for Obama!!!
I live in Boise and it is also blue- it isn't showing up on the map because the results are mixed with greater Ada County.
Sadly, redistricting shenanigans cost blue Blaine County it's voice in the state senate this year.