How many freakin ways can B** divide us? Now State vs State.

[Laura PourMeADrink]

Just when you think there is no other way to divide us:
1. Red State vs. Blue State
2. Pro War vs. Anti War
3. Pro Life vs. Pro Choice
4. US vs. Rest of the World
5. Rich vs. Poor

He's created a a new environment where States are pitted against other States. C-SPAN callers from TN and Kentucky: "Why should we send recovery money down to LA and MS, they will just waste it?"

To me, Texas bragging about how much better they did responding to Rita than LA did with Katrina was another disgusting example. Why not be gracious and say how much they learned from LA?

Interesting that these are all red states, isn't it?

[tx_dem41]

1. Your's would be a thought provoking post, if you didn't then practice

divisiveness in the last sentence. Irony, you have to love it.

[Maddy McCall]

2. AMEN.

Signed,
Texassippian.

:hi:

[Laura PourMeADrink]

3. I think that the fact that they are all red states is quite pertinent,

actually. It is a completely new dimension that I have not observed until now. Although it does assume there was a unity among red states in the past.

[tx_dem41]

4. I think the fact that the state administration of Louisiana is blue...

and 90% of the displaced, flooded-out people in Louisiana are blue, shows that you don't really know what you are talking about.

[Laura PourMeADrink]

9. Thank you for you kind response. Yes, I am sure that those C-SPAN

callers from TN and KY would have been 100% for the $40b aid package sponsored by a democratic and a republican senator, if the people it helped were rich and had a republican governor.

[DBoon]

11. maybe blue states just don't count anymore..

now that they don't have liberals to kick around, they run on each other?

[southlandshari]

14. Why is it pertinent?

Seriously.

[Laura PourMeADrink]

15. I think because it is primarily republicans against fellow republicans

I can't imagine a place that was primarily democratic being against helping democrats or republicans.

Didn't mean to ruffle feathers here. I know democrats living in red states still love their state.

[southlandshari]

16. It is a stretch, I think,

to say this is "primarily" Republicans against Republicans, especially considering the relatively small margin of victory Bush had in many of the states in question.

I know you are getting challenged here, but it sounds like you might understand the "other" perspective coming out at this point. Labeling states "red" or "blue" in situations like this is really way too broad a brush to paint with, IMO. It is also highly likely to result in angry responses - because it does exactly what your original post spoke against. It unnecessarily divides and polarizes people, including those who are supposed to be working together here.

Two pennies. For what they are worth!

[Laura PourMeADrink]

21. Red and Blue is a fact from the last election. It is merely represents

that the republicans won in the Red States and the democrats won in the blue states (leaving fraud aside).

I know that it is hard being a democrat in a red state (or if you prefer, a state that voted republican). I live in Texas now, 20 miles from Crawford.

The only bright side is that there are only a handful of states left that are still republican, if you look at SurveyUsa.com and use B** approval rating as a guide.

[southlandshari]

22. It isn't nearly as hard being a Democrat in a "red" state

as it is listening to fellow Democrats use the red state-blue state nonsense in discussion as if these states were monolithic entities represented only by the majority political party in last year's election.

States don't vote, people do. And millions of people in "red" states voted "blue", so adopting the "us and them" language all the way up to the state level is impractical and divisive.

I think I and others here are simply reacting to the last line of the original post here:

"Interesting that these are all red states, isn't it?"

Sorry. Hot button issue for me!

[Laura PourMeADrink]

24. I know it's hard.

I know that even if republicans win a state there were people who voted democratic. I was one. But it doesn't matter, unfortunately, given the winner take all situation. Look how close the "election" was on paper. None of that matters if they still control the house, senate, presidency, and soon courts.

[southlandshari]

13. Exactly.

Well said.

[SunDrop23]

5. I thought the SAME thing about Texas (the bragging part)

No offense to anyone from Texas.

[iconoclastic cat]

6. Divide, conquer, etc. n/t

[applegrove]

7. Also - Old Vs. young, immigrants vs. american workers, etc.

Horrible. The political arm of the WH knows no other way to power - other than destroying people who are minding their own business and trying to get along.

We will be crashing into each other for years to come if we keep listening to these creeps.

[The2ndWheel]

8. Get used to it

It's easy to divide people. Eventually all the people with blue eyes won't help the people with brown eyes. The hazel's won't know what to do. Don't get me started on the evil eyes.

[Laura PourMeADrink]

10. lol

[bluedog]

12. and

young vs old

religious nuts vs true Christians

Evil (which he is) vs Good

[meow2u3]

17. This time, liberal Christians have the answer

If Jesus came back today, He'd say: "In Christ there is no red states or blue states; no pro-war or anti-war; no black, white, Asian, or Latino; no male or female; no gun rights or gun control; etc...all are one in Christ Jesus." (paraphrase of Bible)

[Bridget Burke]

18. You use the Red/Blue divide yourself....

Just like Bush.

Where did Texans "brag" about their response to Rita? The Houston area is bigger & richer than NOLA. That helped. And our City & County officials knew they could expect NADA from the Feds. The State government's response was not so great.

[Skidmore]

19. You forgot a couple.

6. Young vs. old
7. Men vs. women
8. Church vs. secular


True that some of these are natural "fault lines" but he sure drove the wedge in to the hilt.

[Laura PourMeADrink]

20. I think you are right. There are natural fault lines in society. Maybe

it is not such much what B** is doing but what he isn't doing. It takes a good leader to bring people together.

[ProudDad]

23. The states have ALWAYS

been at each other's throats. The tension between state and federal is enshrined in the Constitution.

Why else would pissant Utah and Wyoming have 2 Senators just like the 9th largest economy in the world -- California? Why else would pissant Utah and Wyoming have proportionally more voting power in the Electoral College than California or New York? Why else would the country have been 1/2 slave and 1/2 free until 1865?

Personally, I'd like to see California Secede. We'd do a whole lot better economically and socially without the baggage of the fundy assholes in those damn red states (semi-serious).

Heck, we might even be able to become a Bolivarian Democracy!!!

[Mabus]

25. You reminded me of Father Brennan's quote in "The Omen"

When the Jews return to Zion
And a comet fills the sky
And the Holy Roman Empire rises,
Then you and I must die.
From the eternal sea he rises,
Creating armies on either shore,
Turning man against his brother
'Til man exists no more.

In otherwords, he's still hasn't turned every brother against against one another yet. But if the FEMA response to Katrina is any sign of things to come he'll have people fighting for the last scrape of food any day now.