Do Politicians From Particular States Affect How You Feel About That State

[THUNDER HANDS]

For instance, does knowing that a Trent Lott or an Orrin Hatch or a Tom Delay are complete idiots and evil to the core influence your opinion of Mississippi or Utah or Texas?

I wish it didn't, but it really does for me.

There are certain states that I know I'd never want to live in, just judging that based on who the people there elect to represent them in Congress.

My thinking is, if these people could vote in an insane person, are these really people I'd want to have as neighbors?

Conversely, states like Massachusetts, Vermont, New York (I'm already here) and Minnesota seem like very cool states based on who their representatives are.

Maybe it's not fair to judge states based on that, but unless you plan on living for a period of time in all 50 states, then how else would you form an opinion (regardless of how educated it is) about the other states in the union?

What do you think, do you hold a state and its people in contempt (or high esteem) based on who their politicians are?

[terrya]

1. I've seen Senator Jeff Sessions R-AL on C-Span. And I know he...

doesn't represent the good Alabama folks here on DU. :-)

But, Lord, does Sessions give that state a bad name.

[theivoryqueen]

2. I live in Texas and am constantly disappointed

by the moran contingency as voters and also, as drivers. These people are dangerous.

[AverageJoe]

3. Nope

I was born and raised in Kentucky, though I haven't lived there for a long time. I'll love the Commonwealth till the day I die, even if that bastard Mitch McConnell keeps getting elected to the Senate. I currently live in Mississippi and, though we have some AWFUL political hacks representing us, I still truly love this state, warts and all.

Maybe my attitude on this matter is shaped by the fact that I'm a native southerner and I love my home, even if my home is the belly of the republican beast....

[PittPoliSci]

4. It really does..

I went to Cleveland the other day, and I thought, this place can't be that bad, Kucinich is their congressman.

Boy was I wrong.

However, I really hope that nobody judges me because of Tim Murphy, Rick Santorum, and Arlen Specter.

[johnnie]

14. What was wrong with Cleveland?

Oh, and Cleveland is a city, not a state.
Yes, I live here. I wouldn't say it is the best city, but it certainly not the worse. I'm just curious what you thought was so bad or is it because of the sports thing?

[TN al]

5. I think you make a lot of sense...

...absent of knowing a person from the state your only measuring stick about the people in the state would be the people the vote to represent them in congress. Perhaps you could form an opinion from things such as the state university. For instance without knowing anybody from the state of Colorado I think it would be fair to judge the values of the people of the state by the Colorado football scandal. Using that guidepost the people of the state of Colorado certainly don't look like the best of people and their willingness to accept what has happened just reinforces it. What you do shows what kind of person you are. Electing republicans says a lot.

[GOPisEvil]

6. Well, shouldn't you take the good with the bad?

For example, while Texas certainly has its share of loser politicians, we also have Sheila Jackson Lee, Lloyd Doggett, Martin Frost, Silvestre Reyes, Charlie Gonzales, Eddie Bernice Johnson, Solomon Ortiz and others.

[THUNDER HANDS]

9. of course, however

I think in the case of the states I listed- Mississippi, Utah and your state - the bad severely outweighs the good. Unfortunately.

I've heard a rumor though that some Texans are cool. :D

[VelmaD]

11. Think of it like this...

the people of Texas sent Tom Delay just as far away as they could. :evilgrin:

[asjr]

7. It is a fair question. I live

in the beautiful state of Tennessee. I love the rolling hills of Middle Tenn and the mountains of East Tenn, but I simply detest our two Repub senators. One more than the other. Bill Frist is not in the Senate for the good of the people. He is in it for his own ego and agenda. I can't fault Texas for Tom Delay since the time I spent living there was great. Of course Tom wasn't there then. I think he may have been a tiny tick before he blossomed into a giant cockroach. But I understand what you are saying and it would be quite easy to not like another state because of it's leaders.

[UrbScotty]

8. Michigan has a good-looking Governor. Does that make us cool?

:D

[THUNDER HANDS]

10. I hope she's changed her hair since that photo

All she needs is a little coming out the back and we're talking Mullet City here. :D

[La Lioness Priyanka]

12. yes

after all the majority elected said evil people

[denverbill]

13. Yes, but then again, I'm from Colorado.

Where we voted for Dole in 96, Bush in 00, have a 2 term republican gov, 2 republican senators, a republican state house and state senate, and are home to James Dobson and Pete Coors. So I don't have a lot of room to talk.

[La Lioness Priyanka]

15. yes but not minority groups

so maybe no. i am confused, i will take a mental nap before re-answering.

[carolinayellowdog]

17. While you're napping

contemplate how bizarre it is to believe that a white male Utah Democrat is just as contemptible as a Republican, due to collective statewide guilt, but this does not apply if said Democrat is nonwhite.

Point: don't scapegoat ANYBODY.

[La Lioness Priyanka]

18. wouldnt a utah dem be a minority?

not a racial/sexual minority but a minority none-the-less?

[carolinayellowdog]

16. How else would you form an opinion?

Well, you'd start by deciding that it's immoral and stupid to feel contempt or high esteem for an entire state and all its people based on who got elected by an x percent margin. Why focus on the state level? Why not feel contempt for all Americans including yourself due to Republican control of both houses of Congress? If all Mississipians are contemptible because of Lott, all Americans are contemptible because of Hastert, DeLay, and Frist.

Or, why not focus your contempt and esteem at the congressional district level, so you can esteem some people in a state and feel contempt for others? Or break it down by counties, or precincts.
Or, best yet, reserve your contempt and esteem for INDIVIDUALS.