It's very simple, "Sock." S.Dak. is one of the most
Republican states in the country, yet elects reliably
liberal Democrats to the Senate. California has not
been a strongly Republican state, in terms of voter
identification and most presidential results, since the 1930s.
We have also lost a significant part of our Republican
base, for three reasons that aren't the fault of those Republicans who remain: One -- older Republicans
are dying, as all old people do. Two -- they are not being
adequately replaced, in part because whites don't have
that many kids anymore, and in part because economic
and social trends in California have made it a less
attractive place for middle-class people. Many younger
Republicans or people who might vote Republican, and
quite a few older folks who are on our side, have
left the state in disgust. Three -- California, along
with several other states, has become Mexico's safety
net. These immigrants are growing in number and in political participation. They are Democrats.
I never attacked South Dakota as a whole. I attacked
a sizeable slice of your electorate who clearly have
Republican values, but still vote Democratic for the
Senate and House. I added that something must be done
to get through to these people more effectively. That
isn't an attack on South Dakota. Nor is a spirited
defense of my comments, or a spirited attack on your
small-minded defensiveness, an attack on South Dakota.
Why don't you worry a little more about your country
and little less about what you think someone is saying
about your state.
Well, you know, sir. If you really cared about the country and that was your motive behind attacking my state, you would be offering suggestions not slamming us and then telling us we were on our own. If you have something constructive to say, say it. But DakotaGator already said all that needs to be said in my opinion. See. We already knew we had problems. We admitted it and you kept bashing us.
But this is silly and I apologize. I shouldn't be screaming at another freeper.