Red state barometer

[kansasblue]

I know this is only one small example. But I live in the heart of Bush country and I have a friend who is a very strong Bush supporter. Lately his support is expressed in emotional rants that blame the 'dems' or the 'libs' for all things. And Bush's performance is never questioned.

But for the first time in Bush's presidency my friend expressed disappointment at Bush. Although it wasn't directed at Bush specifically, he did say that he so tired of Bush support for people when they screw up. He felt the FEMA director's performance was bad and was upset at Bush unequivocal support for him.

I suggested Rumsfailed might be another good example of that.

It's not a major shift but it was the first time I've seen that angry red state defend Bush at all cost facade come down.

[pstans]

1. My wife voted for Bu$h

and on Friday she said that she was embarrassed that she voted for him after seeing him touring the Gulf region. She said he rode in their like a cowboy to save the day with troops and food when it should have been their days earlier. She is seeing Bu$h for who he really is and so are a lot of people.

[Hav]

2. .

A little bit too late, unfortunately.

[AspenRose]

16. At least you got that admission from her

My husband voted for * and when I press him to explain how in the world New Orleans could have happened, all he says is "well, we know you have it in for the president."

And yes, he listens to Rush.

:banghead:

[win_in_06]

3. Yes, his support of the FEMA director is ridiculous.

I feel a flip-flop coming on this one. "Brownie" is done.

[terip64]

4. I went off on a good friend last night

and she didn't say much. She totally agreed that if this had been Palm Beach it wouldn't have happened. I have faith because most of the people that I know are not racist and are not RW crazies. They are lazy and spend more time up their kids buts, (We have teenagers)and shopping at Target then paying attention. I told her I may lose some friends over this and a whole lot more. I told her that one of my lowest points this weekend was when Anderson Cooper (I think) said that this is not the America we grew up with and I realized that it is the America our children are growing up in. She listened for the first time.

[JugDack]

5. I'm in a Red State (OH) - Bush is fine, this won't hurt him much

Sorry, I wish I could believe it would be "the end", as so many DU'ers seem to think (or maybe 'hope' is a better word). But I see Bush actually getting a lot of credit from the dolts here in OH and elsewhere for his "quick response". Yes, I know the truth is just the opposite, but it doesn't matter because that's the way they're spinning it here. He went to NOLA, and the next thing you know, there's relief pouring in from everywhere. Case solved. Time to move on. THAT's what we're going to see in the next few days from the "red" states, and most of the "blue", too. Combined with the SCOTUS stuff, we'll have forgotten all about any criticism of Bushco very soon.

Arrrgh.

[Bridget Burke]

6. Yes, but Ohio wasn't directly affected by the storm.

Quite a few Republicans down here may be having regrets. Although the big cities already have quite a few Democrats.

[JugDack]

7. Yes, but outside of LA, MS, AL, they won't be blaming Bush

and those 3 states aren't enough to have any major impact. Especially once Rove & Co. starts spreading the blame around. They're already setting up the Gov of LA and Mayor of NO to take the majority of the heat, and it's working. Many of the Rebubs who were starting to badmouth Bushco have changed their tune.

[napi21]

8. I think the final body count will affect Shrub's status in the other

States. I don't mean to sound uncaring, but there's a big difference in people's minds when they hear 135 people or 5,000 people! I also think there will be a big impact if/when many of those bodies are found in attics and upper floors of their home, which would make it conspicuous that a proper rescue WOULD have save their lives!

[Hav]

9. .

You have a point.
I already heard people putting the blame on the local government.

[sandnsea]

15. Long term, yeah they are

If those people lose faith in the Republican Party and Republican priorities and policies, then that is a big opportunity to start talking about different tax policies that put people first. If we can get people in those 3 states to remember why they used to vote for the Democrats, that could be the beginning of a whole new political shift in this country.

[Tin Man]

10. ...until the grain harvests come in - no transport thru N.O.

Midwest farmers deliver their local harvest to an expansive network of riverside grain elevators throughout the Mississippi watershed (the Miss, Ohio, Misouri, Tennessee, and lesser rivers). Those elevators transfer the grain onto huge barges that are pushed downriver to N.O. for transfer onto ship and export to foreign nations - 60% of US grain exports move through N.O. and are held-up for the foreseeable future because of the damage in N.O.

When Ohio farmers can't sell the product this autumn and start filing for bankruptcy as a result, and the ecomonic dominoes cascade through agricultural support industries - you'll see a change in attitude among Red Ohio.

[underpants]

11. That is a HUGE part of the story no one is mentioning.

All we have heard about is oil coming in, being refined, and going out (hmm wonder why) but most all of ConAgra and ADM's products go out of the NO port. This will hit the corporations first and then hit the farmers. I wonder if they will remember why it happened or if they will be fed a line about government regulation (probably the next RW talking point out of NO) to distract them.

[johnaries]

14. What about when they find out they CAN'T file for bankruptcy?

Then it will really hit he fan.

[underpants]

12. I went to the annual "neighborhood" picnic this weekend

this is a get together of a bunch of families that all lived in the same Lynchburg (Va.) neighborhood back in the 60's and 70's. Most of them are big D Dems but the two families of Repubs both were disgusted by W and his ignoring New Orleans. One of them started the whole conversation with "They are NOT REFUGEES. They need to stop calling them that THEY ARE AMERICANS!!!"

[Hidden Stillness]

13. A Congressional Investigation Would Give Facts the Media Couldn't Spin

I think if the Congress has the courage--and honesty--to hold a real, and open, investigation of what went wrong, and all the facts start coming out as a sustained story, a timeline, etc., that you will find people turning against Bush more specifically, rather than just feeling generally shocked and sad over the tragedy as they are now. After all, think about how long it took to get from the cheering, united crowds rallying together as Americans, to now the majority against the Iraq war, and Bush's poll numbers at their lowest.

The media is starting to fuck around with this (hurricane) story again, after seeming like they were going to be independant, and they have to be taken out of the equation. Amazing how many people, even on this website, immediately cheered Gloria Vanderbilt's Little Rich Boy Anderson Cooper and all the rest of the commercial/corporate media, like they had "changed," and now they are already shifting it, to support their Bush, and blame Louisiana. Of course, you then have to play the game of totally ignoring Mississippi and Alabama to do so--but they are. An investigation could be printed and read--another best-seller like the Sept. 11 Commission--and that would show how Bush doomed those people even before the hurricane hit.