Wednesday, November 7, 2012

Blast from the past.

Kim Wade and I hosted Adam Schraeger, the author of The Blueprint on WJNT. Feel free to listen to the show as he described in detail how the Democrats were able to flip red states to blue states and then increase their turnout in those states. Earlier post on The Blueprint.

From National Review in 2009:

"The day before Barack Obama accepted the Democratic nomination at Invesco Field in Denver, a group of progressive activists gathered nearby to discuss what Democrats call the “Colorado miracle.” The story is by now well known. Through a network of wealthy donors called the Colorado Democracy Alliance, Democrats turned Colorado — until recently, a reliably Republican state — a deep shade of blue.

Soon the conversation turned to something less well known: a quiet little project called the Committee on States, through which Democrats plan to export their Colorado success across the country over the next 20 months. “As we know, 2010 is redistricting, there are 35 governors’ races, so it’s going to be a critically important year,” said Rob Stein, founder of the Democracy Alliance, a national Democratic fundraising group. To prepare for 2010, Stein said last summer, architects of the “Colorado miracle” and a lawyer named Frank Smith would be working hard to get progressives in 18 other states “up to Colorado’s level of sophistication and organizational development.”

It wasn’t empty talk. In the past 30 months, the Democracy Alliance’s donors have put over $110 million into 30 state-level groups. “There are a bunch of states,” Stein continued, “where over the next couple of years a lot of development is going to happen.” Later in the presentation, Smith named a few: Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, Utah, Wisconsin, and Wyoming.

For Republicans in these states, understanding what happened in Colorado isn’t just a matter of curiosity — it’s a matter of political survival.

Consider the following. In October 2004, the GOP dominated politics at every level in Colorado. Republicans held both U.S. Senate seats, five of seven congressional seats, the governor’s mansion, the secretary of state’s and treasurer’s offices, and both houses of the state legislature. Four years later, the opposite is true: Replace the word “Republicans” with “Democrats” in the previous sentence, and you have one of the most stunning reversals of fortune in American political history.

How did it happen? The Colorado story isn’t just about changing demographics or an unpopular Bush presidency. Those factors played a part, but they cannot explain why Democrats dominate a state in which Republicans still outnumber them by 9,000 registered voters. Democratic success in Colorado is in large part the result of what Stein calls a “more strategic, more focused, more disciplined, better financed” progressive movement.
.."

Just a thought.

25 comments:

Anonymous said...

The Republican revolution triumphed in the realm of ideas until the Bush governance got it stuck in the mud of Empire. Freedom and Empire clash. Now with the pot legalization we have a glimpse of Freedom again. If the Speaker and the President can agree on military cuts and a downsizing of foreign commitments, we can have a period of domestic freedom and growth.

Anonymous said...

Compulsory purchases of insurance policies is not freedom.

Anonymous said...

Spew the freedom line to the full-timers who are about to become part-time workers thanks to health care "reform". Don't believe me? Go ask your local dry cleaner, restauranteur, print shop, etc how they are going to handle the mandatory requirements coming down the pipe. The big companies have already started, you just didn't hear about it in the media.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/10/09/darden-restaurants-obamacare-part-time_n_1951103.html

Anonymous said...

What about compulsory purchase of auto insurance? Does that drive you crazy too? It's been in place state by state for nearly 20 years now.

Anonymous said...

What about compulsory purchase of auto insurance?

Is it compulsory to own a vehicle? LOSER.

Anonymous said...

You nailed it 10:14. Workers across our nation are about to have their hours cut to no more than 29 per week.

Anonymous said...

Now that's some discourse right there. While not compulsory, in America, it is damn near impossible to operate, make a living, carry children, etc., without owning some type of vehicle unless you live in a city that has adequate mass transit.

Sidestepping the obvious attempt to avoid the question, does it bother you that you are compelled to purchase auto insurance IF you (and you do) own a vehicle?

Anonymous said...

No sidestep. Your point is moot. There is no compulsory requirement to purchase a vehicle. That is a freedom we still enjoy.

A child drawing their first breath at any area hospital today will not be compelled upon reaching adulthood to purchase a motored vehicle or else face a tax penalty for not doing so payable ANNUALLY (using an accelerating rate schedule) to the federal government.

I can tell you must be a real bonafide freedom lover.

Anonymous said...

Your vitriol is not helpful. Pity you. Go kick a fence for a while.

meople said...

to 10:22 you are not required by the state to own a car. nice try though.

KaptKangaroo said...

Given the fact progressives tend to colonize inner city venues replete with no need for a car, plenty of art and recreation, and rental homes - why would they own a car? That's right. They don't. They mooch rides, walk or bike.

Mandatory auto insurance comparison to health insurance. Meh.

The people who voted this guy in want stuff and believe that the Dems and de-facto the Government should give it to them. Unfortunately, Dems don't know how a credit card works. If you keep spending it, you will eventually hit your limit. If you only make the minimum payment, you will be in debt for life. If you die before it is paid off, you can leave it to your kids. WAIT! I get it, no kids, so no worries. Leave the debt to society. That is selfish.

Anonymous said...

The mandatory auto insurance comparison to health insurance is such a load. Your auto insurance is supposed to protect me from you when you slam into me while talking on your Obama phone.

ophelia said...

Well, it seems a classic apples-and-oranges comparison to me. Car insurance is based on the sensible premise that one must insure against damage to others (it's only polite, if one whams into another's vehicle, that one assume repair costs.)

But it's also possible to declare an auto "totaled"---something that should probably be done for the ol' human *corpus*, as well. If the repairs are gonna cost more than it's worth, then---welllll---bye-bye! But NOOOOOO---just try selling that notion!

If you can't afford to repair your dented car, install a new windshield, or paint the scratches, well, then, you drive it as is. So, from whence came the notion that every single breathing human being is entitled to the finest of health care, regardless of ability to pay? No society can afford that. Unfair? Well, yes, but so is most everything in life.

Next we'll probably hear the Gimme Grabbers demanding Universal Car Care.

And the Sock Monkey will get us further into debt and provide it, no doubt...

Anonymous said...

The Muslim Kenyan will be a 4-year lame duck.

Anonymous said...

No, your auto insurance includes automatic uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage to cover not only your liability to others, but the liability of those who might not have insurance for your injuries. So, it's not simply liability insurance. The point is to make sure that all auto owners have coverage to prevent injury to each other and protect ourselves.

But, pretend that you don't own a car and pretend that there's a difference in being required to purchase that insurance.

Anonymous said...

The "notion" is actually that everyone deserves healthcare, not the finest, mind you, but care that isn't insanely expensive to everyone. You always seem to forget that one of the main drivers of health cost is uninsured individuals going to ERs, etc., and then those providers passing the cost on to others to make up for the profits (if you believe that they are actually losing profits).

Anonymous said...

BS. ERs are not the main driver.

Anonymous said...

Ok. Let's clear up this misconception about mandatory auto insurance. #1: "insurance" is not mandated by any law You are only required to prove that you have the ability to pay for damages or injury to OTHER PEOPLE. You can do this by buying insurance OR by providing a letter of credit. Repeat: it is NOT mmandated that you buy an insurance policy. #2: nobody other than the person who loaned you the money to buy your car requires you to buy insurance to pay for damage to your own car. #3: your insurance policy does not "include" uninsured motorist coverage. That is an optional coverage that you must choose to purchase. Don't want to pay for? Don't buy it.
Bottom line: There is no similarity whatsoever between automobile insurance and Obama Care.

Anonymous said...

5:15...the main driver of healthcare cost is a runaway legal system that tries to make medical care workers responsible for the fact that we are all mortal beings and it's compounded by silly government regulations (like those stupid privacy notices you are required to receive every time you set foot in a medical office). If not for THESE things, health care wouldn't have to cost much. Furthermore, the uninsured COULD stop at the local Walgreens for some Tylenol and robitussin before running to the hospital emergency room every time their kids get a runny nose.

Anonymous said...

What 642 said.

Insurance of any type is a cash substitute. If you don't want to buy insurance, be sure and have plenty of cash/credit on hand. If you don't want to buy "Obamacare" show financial means (see cash/credit), pay your taxes (or insurance premiums) and be done with it.

Simple, no?

Anonymous said...

UH...it's not mandatory to go to a doctor or hospital either.
You can be a Christian Scientist and have faith that you can pray yourself well.
You can go to the herbalist and alternative forms of healers.

If you don't own a car, you don't have the benefit of driving a car.

But, if you don't have health insurance , you have the benefit of free health care while other people pay for it in increased costs when they get medical treatment.

And, in most states, unlike here, you cannot purchase or drive a car without insurance. That is why our rates are so high.

Anonymous said...

But, if you don't have health insurance , you have the benefit of free health care while other people pay for it in increased costs when they get medical treatment.

Bullshit. It isn't and either/or situation. One can self-finance medical treatment without insurance.

Anonymous said...

One can self-finance medical treatment without insurance.

Some medical treatments get real expensive real fast.

bill said...

Ophelia is pretty smart.

Anonymous said...

As a doctor, no one asked me how to fix this problem, it would be simple. Make a government option, make it the base health care of the country, make it "free". Force those who enroll to only be allowed to use government care centers, clinics, hospitals, and emergency rooms. Force the enrolled to use a strict formulary of drugs and have an algorithmic approach to tests, scans, and procedures. Give these clinics and medical entities federally protected caps against lawsuits and set up a medical panel that has to review cases for merit before the are filed. Staff these entities with newly graduated doctors and give them debt forgiveness to stay and make all residents train in these settings. Have strict criteria on the use of end of life measures that are reviewed by a panel of doctors on a case by case basis. Make that the new standard of care for the terminally ill. This would have given everyone a chance to be seen by a healthcare provider and put some common sense back into the system. The private insurance companies would have eventually seen the evidence base outcomes and saving and would ultimately change for sheer economic reasons. No one asked us.


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Trollfest '07 was such a success that Jackson Jambalaya will once again host Trollfest '09. Catch this great event which will leave NE Jackson & Fondren in flames. Othor Cain and his band, The Black Power Structure headline the night while Sonjay Poontang returns for an encore performance. Former Frank Melton bodyguard Marcus Wright makes his premier appearance at Trollfest singing "I'm a Sweet Transvestite" from "The Rocky Horror Picture Show." Kamikaze will sing his new hit, “How I sold out to da Man.” Robbie Bell again performs: “Mamas, don't let your babies grow up to be Bells” and “Any friend of Ed Peters is a friend of mine”. After the show, Ms. Bell will autograph copies of her mug shot photos. In a salute to “Dancing with the Stars”, Ms. Bell and Hinds County District Attorney Robert Smith will dance the Wango Tango.

Wrestling returns, except this time it will be a Battle Royal with Othor Cain, Ben Allen, Kim Wade, Haley Fisackerly, Alan Lange, and “Big Cat” Donna Ladd all in the ring at the same time. The Battle Royal will be in a steel cage, no time limit, no referee, and the losers must leave town. Marshand Crisler will be the honorary referee (as it gives him a title without actually having to do anything).


Meet KIM Waaaaaade at the Entergy Tent. For five pesos, Kim will sell you a chance to win a deed to a crack house on Ridgeway Street stuffed in the Howard Industries pinata. Don't worry if the pinata is beaten to shreds, as Mr. Wade has Jose, Emmanuel, and Carlos, all illegal immigrants, available as replacements for the it. Upon leaving the Entergy tent, fig leaves will be available in case Entergy literally takes everything you have as part of its Trollfest ticket price adjustment charge.

Donna Ladd of The Jackson Free Press will give several classes on learning how to write. Smearing, writing without factchecking, and reporting only one side of a story will be covered. A donation to pay their taxes will be accepted and she will be signing copies of their former federal tax liens. Ms. Ladd will give a dramatic reading of her two award-winning essays (They received The Jackson Free Press "Best Of" awards.) "Why everything is always about me" and "Why I cover murders better than anyone else in Jackson".

In the spirit of helping those who are less fortunate, Trollfest '09 adopts a cause for which a portion of the proceeds and donations will be donated: Keeping Frank Melton in his home. The “Keep Frank Melton From Being Homeless” booth will sell chances for five dollars to pin the tail on the jackass. John Reeves has graciously volunteered to be the jackass for this honorable excursion into saving Frank's ass. What's an ass between two friends after all? If Mr. Reeves is unable to um, perform, Speaker Billy McCoy has also volunteered as when the word “jackass” was mentioned he immediately ran as fast as he could to sign up.


In order to help clean up the legal profession, Adam Kilgore of the Mississippi Bar will be giving away free, round-trip plane tickets to the North Pole where they keep their bar complaint forms (which are NOT available online). If you don't want to go to the North Pole, you can enjoy Brant Brantley's (of the Mississippi Commission on Judicial Performance) free guided tours of the quicksand field over by High Street where all complaints against judges disappear. If for some reason you are unable to control yourself, never fear; Judge Houston Patton will operate his jail where no lawyers are needed or allowed as you just sit there for minutes... hours.... months...years until he decides he is tired of you sitting in his jail. Do not think Judge Patton is a bad judge however as he plans to serve free Mad Dog 20/20 to all inmates.

Trollfest '09 is a pet-friendly event as well. Feel free to bring your dog with you and do not worry if your pet gets hungry, as employees of the Jackson Zoo will be on hand to provide some of their animals as food when it gets to be feeding time for your little loved one.

Relax at the Fox News Tent. Since there are only three blonde reporters in Jackson (being blonde is a requirement for working at Fox News), Megan and Kathryn from WAPT and Wendy from WLBT will be on loan to Fox. To gain admittance to the VIP section, bring either your Republican Party ID card or a Rebel Flag. Bringing both and a torn-up Obama yard sign will entitle you to free drinks served by Megan, Wendy, and Kathryn. Get your tickets now. Since this is an event for trolls, no ID is required. Just bring the hate. Bring the family, Trollfest '09 is for EVERYONE!!!

This is definitely a Beaver production.


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Jackson Jambalaya is the home of Trollfest '07. Catch this great event which promises to leave NE Jackson & Fondren in flames. Sonjay Poontang and his band headline the night with a special steel cage, no time limit "loser must leave town" bout between Alan Lange and "Big Cat"Donna Ladd following afterwards. Kamikaze will perform his new song F*** Bush, he's still a _____. Did I mention there was no referee? Dr. Heddy Matthias and Lori Gregory will face off in the undercard dueling with dangling participles and other um, devices. Robbie Bell will perform Her two latest songs: My Best Friends are in the Media and Mama's, Don't Let Your Babies Grow up to be George Bell. Sid Salter of The Clarion-Ledger will host "Pin the Tail on the Trial Lawyer", sponsored by State Farm.

There will be a hugging booth where in exchange for your young son, Frank Melton will give you a loooong hug. Trollfest will have a dunking booth where Muhammed the terrorist will curse you to Allah as you try to hit a target that will drop him into a vat of pig grease. However, in the true spirit of Separate But Equal, Don Imus and someone from NE Jackson will also sit in the dunking booth for an equal amount of time. Tom Head will give a reading for two hours on why he can't figure out who the hell he is. Cliff Cargill will give lessons with his .80 caliber desert eagle, using Frank Melton photos as targets. Tackleberry will be on hand for an autograph session. KIM Waaaaaade will be passing out free titles and deeds to crackhouses formerly owned by The Wood Street Players.

If you get tired come relax at the Fox News Tent. To gain admittance to the VIP section, bring either your Republican Party ID card or a Rebel Flag. Bringing both will entitle you to free drinks.Get your tickets now. Since this is an event for trolls, no ID is required, just bring the hate. Bring the family, Trollfest '07 is for EVERYONE!!!

This is definitely a Beaver production.

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