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Orange County Is No Longer Nixon Country
New York Times ^ | August 29, 2010 | Adam Nagourney

Posted on 08/29/2010 9:35:13 PM PDT by Arec Barrwin

Orange County Is No Longer Nixon Country By ADAM NAGOURNEY

SANTA ANA, Calif. — Orange County has been a national symbol of conservatism for more than 50 years: birthplace of President Richard M. Nixon and home to John Wayne, a bastion for the John Birch Society, a land of orange groves and affluence, the region of California where Republican presidential candidates could always count on a friendly audience.

But this iconic county of 3.1 million people passed something of a milestone in June. The percentage of registered Republican voters dropped to 43 percent, the lowest level in 70 years.

It was the latest sign of the demographic, ethnic and political changes that are transforming the county and challenging long-held views of a region whose colorful — its detractors might suggest zany — reputation extends well beyond the borders of this state.

(Excerpt) Read more at nytimes.com ...


TOPICS: Extended News; News/Current Events; Politics/Elections; US: California
KEYWORDS: ca2010; nixon; orangecounty
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To: Arec Barrwin
It all began when the LA Times editorial board decided to write hit pieces on Nixon.

Hence, the response from Nixon that they would not have him to kick around anymore.

21 posted on 08/29/2010 11:18:36 PM PDT by Slyfox
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To: SoCal Pubbie

“I read the whole article. Typical rehash of old stereotypes, half truths, and distortions. Plus, if 43% of voters are Republican, 20% are independent, then what percentage does that leave who are Democrats?”

Not all districts in OC remain conservative, but most do.

Many adjoining areas are also conservative in San Diego and Riverside counties.

My home since 1954. Rohrabacher is my US Rep. and will get elected into the future. Had his toughest contest last time, however.

I would say throughout the West “conservatives” are solid on economics and national security, less strident on social issues, compared to the South.


22 posted on 08/29/2010 11:34:24 PM PDT by truth_seeker
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To: Arec Barrwin

Here’s an alternate theory: OC conservatives, like conservatives around the country, simply got tired of the mushy politics of the RNC.

TC


23 posted on 08/30/2010 2:02:00 AM PDT by Pentagon Leatherneck
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To: truth_seeker

The Golden Orange!


24 posted on 08/30/2010 5:16:36 AM PDT by Mouton
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To: Mouton

This guy gets my goat.... a NYT’s twit talking about “The OC”!Growing up there I can attest to the fact that it has changed. There is still a great core of values there which is in some way what attracts the losers from the county to the north to come there.

What Liberals tend to do is make a mess in one place and when it becomes unbearable move to the next. All the losers from LA who use to ridicule Orange County now flock here to get away from the disaster that is Los Angeles.

Add to this the infiltration from the south of illegals which now dominate the central part of the county and you have the same take over that we have in Washington. Slowly but surely we are being raided, brought down to the lower levels of Liberal life. And guys like this wallow in it.


25 posted on 08/30/2010 6:14:57 AM PDT by Republic Rocker
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To: SoCal Pubbie
Agreed. I always especially enjoy how persons of Spanish (or partial) heritage are not ‘white’. Having been stationed in Portugal & Spain I can tell you everybody native to the Iberian Peninsula considers themselves white, and they are physically indistinguishable from anybody else native to the European Mediterranean area. Also omitted from the demographics is the fact that in fine American tradition, the younger people are copulating and eventually marrying across ethnic groups; the melting pot continues.
26 posted on 08/30/2010 6:26:32 AM PDT by MSF BU (++)
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To: Regulator

All of this an Obummer still managed to win over only 47.6% of Orange County voters in his banner year of 2008.


27 posted on 08/30/2010 8:21:35 AM PDT by Vigilanteman (Obama: Fake black man. Fake Messiah. Fake American. How many fakes can you fit in one Zer0?)
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To: Vigilanteman
I grew up in OC, in a tiny town called El Toro.

It was a good experience; crime was low and a boy could roam the entire town and not be abducted or murdered. I have a lot of great memories that will stay with me forever.

A few years ago, I was in the area and wanted my bride-to-be to see the house I grew up in, so we swung by. I was saddened and sickened by what my neighborhood had become. It was overrun with Mexicans who were living 20 to a house. Cars were parked on lawns. There was litter. Mexicans hooted and whistled at my woman.

I did not feel safe on the very street I grew up on, and now my good memories are tempered by reality; I wish I had never gone back.

28 posted on 08/30/2010 10:28:43 AM PDT by I Buried My Guns (Novare Res!)
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To: truth_seeker
I wasn't referring to the demographics changes as being half truths so much as the stereotyping of Orange County in years past. Even the mention of the OC as "just Orange Groves" in 1960 is wrong, as many changes had already taken place since the boom began after WWII.

Nonetheless, the County largely votes Republican as a whole, even today. I have to wonder if the NY Times would ever publish a story about a solid Dem area turning Pubbie, unless it was somewhere in the deep South, just to show how racist the GOP has become since 1965.

29 posted on 08/30/2010 11:08:54 AM PDT by SoCal Pubbie
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To: Regulator
All this babble when it could be summed up: Mexico takes over Orange County, turns it into screaming Mexican Commie craphole.

OC is heavily legal and illegal Asian too and they vote Democrat. Tons of illegal Asians and I mean China, Vietnam, Philippines, Korea, Pakistan, Bangladesh , India. Lots of those being illegal alien Muslims from the last three

30 posted on 08/30/2010 11:13:46 AM PDT by dennisw (=He who will not economize will have to agonize- Confucious)
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To: SoCal Pubbie
Our county (Westmoreland, Pennsylvania) would be a nice topic for the New York Times. Mondale carred it during the Reagan landslide in 1984. Obama managed to barely crack 42% in 2008.

And, before they use the "racism" excuse, I should also note that Lynn Swann also carried our county against Ed Rendell during the Democrat year of 2006 when the dumbest guy in the U.S. Senate with a penis was swept into office on his famous father's name.

31 posted on 08/30/2010 11:40:57 AM PDT by Vigilanteman (Obama: Fake black man. Fake Messiah. Fake American. How many fakes can you fit in one Zer0?)
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To: Arec Barrwin
I like the old Orange County.

So do I, but the orange groves are gone and will not come back in all of our lifetimes, and if by some chance they do come back we will have gone through (a probably fiery) hell first.

It no longer was Nixon Country when many aerospace engineers lost their jobs in the late 80's and early 90's. Many left the area and some were replaced by Vietnamese and other Asians who were coming up in the world.

It is still a great place but is different.

32 posted on 08/30/2010 12:09:30 PM PDT by NathanR (,)
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To: dennisw

“OC is heavily legal and illegal Asian too and they vote Democrat.”

In OC Vietnamese make up the largest Asian group, mostly legal, majority GOP.

If Loretta Sanchez is to be defeated, it will be Van Tran-Republican.

Any proof for your assertions?


33 posted on 08/30/2010 12:54:18 PM PDT by truth_seeker
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To: truth_seeker

Same as the Cubans the older generation Vietnamese tend to be conservative and Republican. The ones born here are a mixed bag. As far a Korean, Pakistanis, Indians, Chinese, Filipinos, here... They strongly tend to vote Democrat. They all live in OC and have turned it more liberal over the years though the Asians doing this are out numbered by the Mexicans/Central Americans/Hispanics responsible for the big liberalization and native born whites fleeing to “whiter areas”

When I was young OC had a nationwide conservative reputation with tough cops. Who I was loath to encounter. That is how it was


34 posted on 08/30/2010 5:15:23 PM PDT by dennisw (=He who will not economize will have to agonize- Confucious)
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To: dennisw

“That is how it was.”

You live in OC now or ever?

You seem to have such an authoritative take on matters.


35 posted on 08/30/2010 5:28:27 PM PDT by truth_seeker
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To: truth_seeker

I have visited there first in 1968. Plus the info on its change is common knowledge


36 posted on 08/30/2010 6:00:20 PM PDT by dennisw (=He who will not economize will have to agonize- Confucious)
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To: dennisw

“I have visited there first in 1968. Plus the info on its change is common knowledge”

Living here since 1954, I’ve seen changes for sure.

People lived in OC so as to avoid Lost Angeles County, Watts, downtown, etc.


37 posted on 08/30/2010 6:13:01 PM PDT by truth_seeker
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To: truth_seeker

You obviously are more knowledgeable about OC....but that’s how I see it


38 posted on 08/31/2010 5:32:08 AM PDT by dennisw (=He who will not economize will have to agonize- Confucious)
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