Bush rode suburban tide

The Columbus Dispatch via Los Angeles Times ^ | December 5, 2004 | Ronald Brownstein and Richard Rainey

[Columbus Dawg]

WASHINGTON — The center of the Republican presidential coalition is moving toward the distant edges of suburbia.

In last month’s election, President Bush carried 97 of the nation’s 100 fastest-growing counties, most of them ‘‘exurban" communities that are rapidly transforming farmland into subdivisions and shopping malls on the periphery of major metropolitan areas.

Together, these fast-growing communities provided Bush a punishing 1.72 million-vote advantage over Democrat John F. Kerry, according to a Los Angeles Times analysis of election results. That was almost half the president’s total margin of victory.

‘‘These exurban counties are the new Republican areas, and they will become increasingly important to Republican candidates," said Terry Nelson, the political director for Bush’s re-election campaign. ‘‘This is where a lot of our vote is."

[Columbus Dawg]

I will put up a link to some graphics from the Dispatch. One features some demographic comparisons of Delaware County, Ohio to the averages in the U.S. Another is the map of the 100 fastest growing counties in the U.S. 97 of the 100 are red.

[Columbus Dawg]

Delaware County, Ohio statistics
http://www.dispatch.com/news-story.php?story=dispatch/2004/12/05/20041205-C1-03.html

U.S. Map of 100 Fastest Growing Counties
http://www.dispatch.com/news-story.php?story=dispatch/2004/12/05/20041205-C1-00.html

[SteveMcKing]

Two major cess pools that need to be tamed are urbania and academia. I'm slowly coming to believe they are necessary evils, much like the human colon, you have to keep sh-- somewhere.

[goldstategop]

Where is this linked to? It doesn't say but I swear I saw a Ronald Brownstein article on the subject in the pages of the Dog Trainer a week after the election.

[Columbus Dawg]

These articles were in today's Columbus Dispatch and those were the authors listed. The Dispatch generally does run articles by some of the larger papers in the nation.

[onyx]

Can't view their maps without first registering.

[RJL]

The center of the Republican presidential coalition is moving toward the distant edges of suburbia.

This is why the Democrats hate "urban sprawl", they need to find a way to keep those suburban voters under the Democrat thumb.

[Aussie Dasher]

It's a mirror image of Australia. John Howard clearly won the October election in the suburbs, winning massive support from family people.

The elitist left, and even some of the more well-to-do areas went the other way.

[Read2Know]

This is why the Democrats are so against "sprawl". Most urbanites change to voting Republican when they move to the suburbs and buy a house. They begin to feel the pain of county, school, water and sewer taxes. All that on top of FICA, Fed and state taxes.
Not to mention the worry of real estate values.
Suddenly, paying more to the government to fund social programs doesn't seem like such a great idea.

[AmericaUnited]

Red = Growth/Life.

Blue = Decay/Death

[SteveMcKing]

Cities are cancerous blue tumors. We must cut them out.

[buccaneer81]

As much as I appreciate the way Delaware County votes, I can tell you that it has really corrupt law enforcement. Take my word for it. From the City of Delaware PD to the county sheriff's department, if you are an outsider, you are toast.

And Judge David Sunderman, the only municipal court judge in the county, is related to Stalin, judging by his demeanor and rulings.

[Columbus Dawg]

As a teenager up until just a few years ago, I have heard about the way things went on in Delaware County Traffic Court.
I do remember the former Delaware Judge (Hogue?) being forced out of office after chasing some couple on the road in Delaware County all because they cut through a gas station (I believe that was it).
The Delaware County folks pay for it on 315 and 71 from Columbus PD.
Sheriff Al Myers seems like a lightning rod for controversy up there. Did he have a primary in 2004? I know he has had disagreements with the Commissioners regarding funding.
Sheriffs from around the state seem to be a lightning rod for controversy. My dad knew the late Earl Smith, who was sheriff in Franklin County. He was always controversial. I hear stories from folks in Hamilton County about Simon Leis.
They are an interesting bunch, no doubt. Either way, they are no New Rome. :)

[buccaneer81]

I do remember the former Delaware Judge (Hogue?) being forced out of office after chasing some couple on the road in Delaware County all because they cut through a gas station (I believe that was it).

Hogue is now a defense attorney and still a scumbag. Delaware is one of those places where even Republicans can be enemy operatives. They are incredibly provincial and regard those of us from Franklin County as the bad guys.

I lived in Hilliard when my ex stole my son and shacked up with a guy up there. I've been through the mill up there including ten days in jail. All for being a father. I have no regrets.

[SteveMcKing]

One can also assume the parents insisted on driving the baby home?

Five bucks says they'll stick the bottle in the wrong end....

[Smartaleck]

Can't get into Dispatch........have a link to the LATimes story?

[Smartaleck]

Story as reported in LA Times.......need to register, but no charge.

http://www.latimes.com/news/politics/2004/la-na-fast22nov22,1,5437240.story?coll=la-news-elect2004

[RockinRight]

I was in Delaware county in 1991 at my uncle's house. I went back in 2005 and was amazed...it was like a different place.