Two county officials make shift to GOP (Howard Dean loses a few more red state votes)

Huntsville Item ^ | 2/26/05 | Kurt Allen

[Libloather]

When John Kerry earned the party's presidential nomination, and later when Howard Dean was tabbed as the Democratic leader, Hale's decision was finalized.

And it really doesn't stop there. The RATS have a few more northeast left-wangers on deck right behind these jokers...

[Piquaboy]

Is this Flowers any relation to Jennifer Flowers?

[GW and Twins Pawpaw]

Love your screen name!! Didn't Howie the Screamer vow to go to the red states and recapture the lost votes? Howie doesn't have a clue about what makes rural Texas (or rural anywhere for that matter) tick.:-)

Yours in despising liberalism and all it stands for,

[hedgie]

Here's a NY outsiders view:

Walker county is changing - going from being a sleepy piney-woods outpost to more influenced by the Houston exurbs (Conroe/Montgomery county's pretty much part of Houston now).

The last vestiges of LBJ's Democrats are vanishing and are being replaced by GWB's new breed of conservatism - the crossroads of which can be found at Rt 105 and I-45 in Conroe.

Vermont's a nice place, but it's basically a theme park preserved in amber compared to the kind of growth and changes that are going on north of Houston.

[NATIVEDAUGHTER]

It would be nice if these folks moved to a party that embraced limited government and conservative values(like Declarations of War before you send troops overseas)...but alas, instead they joined the GOP....

[angkor]

Now the South, and Texas in particular, has become heavily Republican as the GOP has come to represent the beliefs once held by Democrats.

Hmmmm... and I thought it was because the Rats are being led over the cliff by anarchists and Bolshevists.

[sgtbono2002]

My whole family were Democrats, so naturally I was too. Then along came Clinton and Jesse jackass and queers and NOW cows, I looked a Reagan and said this guy stand for America, not special interests , and freaks , but for the America I want to belong to. I changed, next thing you know my brother changed , and then my sister and her husband. I still have one sister that votes Dems no matter if they ran a Kangaroo, But still have hopes she will wake up one day.

Its about loving America not catering to every weird group that comes along wanting special interests.

[NATIVEDAUGHTER]

"GWB's New Breed of Conservatism"?...What is that praytell?...Big Government at home and Big Government abroad....?

[Noachian]

America's political divide isn't between Republicans and Democrats as much as it is between Conservatives and Liberals.

Conservatives gravitate to the Republican Party because its values lie close to their personal beliefs.

The Conservative Southern Democrat is long gone. It went the way of the buggie whip when the Democratic Party was usurped by Northern Liberals intent on Socializing the country.

It's no surprise then that Southerners, who have been lifelong Democrats, are turning to the one Party that understands their values.

Always remember that if Howard Dean "Hates Republicans, and all they stand for", then he must also hate former Southern Democrats who stand for the same values as Republicans.

[dufekin]

rural anywhere? Vermont IS the most rural state in the country; Nevada is most urban (nobody lives in the desert outside Las Vegas).

[NATIVEDAUGHTER]

And I've talked to alot of diehard Southern Democrats whose social views would make liberal "Big Tent" Republicans wince...If the GOP betrays social conservatives like it has economic and foreign policy conservatives, the GOP will be the one in trouble....

[zygoat]

"It would be nice if these folks moved to a party that embraced limited government and conservative values(like Declarations of War before you send troops overseas)...but alas, instead they joined the GOP...."

And that party would be?

[Diana in Wisconsin]

"'I think that probably started with (Ronald) Reagan, actually, before he became president, as early as 1964," Martinez said. "He really set the tone for the more traditional values.' Those values, long the backbone of Southern Democrats, became key points in the Republican platform."

I'm only in my 40's. Could a more seasoned person here (preferably someone that knows Southern Democrats) tell me if this is actually true? Were the Dems the party of Family and Moral Values way back when? It seems unfathomable to me, because I've never perceived them in that way.

[Noachian]

Could a more seasoned person here (preferably someone that knows Southern Democrats) tell me if this is actually true? Were the Dems the party of Family and Moral Values way back when?

All you have to do is read Zell Miller's book for your answer.

[Bigun]

The short answer to your question is "YES". The eplaination takes a bit longer.

[Diana in Wisconsin]

"All you have to do is read Zell Miller's book for your answer."

Thanks. Will do. :)

[IPWGOP]

Yep, Dean's really the gift that keeps on giving...

[staytrue]

This was due to Carter paying to give away the Panama Canal (for which I am still awaiting a logical reason)

First, the people who argued for keeping the canal often said "we stole it fair and square". Second, our navy is focused around the concept of a multi dimensional carrier battle group. We don't have small, single ships roaming the ocean anymore. The carriers can not make it through the canal. Also, the big container ships and oil tankers can not make it either. The canal does not hold much military or commercial appeal. Shipping still goes throught the canal in smaller ships, but these are not as economically important as the large ships.

[stylin19a]

If a Rat switches parties, does it make them a Repub ? or do they just want to win ? Too many infiltrators and what have ya got ? Rats in Republican clothing.