Orange County, California

[AlanCranston]

yeah you've heard of it all right. Its pretty much been thought of as the cradle of right wing civilization. Obama surprisingly came within five points of winning the county. Now some see that as a fluke, especially since Meg Whitman and Carly Fiorina both won the county by 15-20 points. But I think the democrats should try to win the county. Santa Ana is already firmly within our camp so if we can get 70% in Santa Ana, 60% in Irvine, and not get killed elsewhere, we have a shot at winning it.

Now why would anyone care about winning a county? Counties after all don't have electoral votes. The way I see it is that if the democrats can win it, it would be a watershed moment meaning that we as democrats have the ability to be a national party. This would mean that if we could win in what was once (and still is to some extent) hostile territory, that we have unlocked the keys to building another New Deal like coalition. This would put republicans on the defensive as they would have to spend money in areas they normally or used to dominate in and away from other places.

[Tikki]

1. And it is a County the repugs have taken for granted for too long....

They suffer, sometimes in even greater proportion, just like other Counties
in the repug downward shove of the middle-class.


Tikki

[AsahinaKimi]

2. I know its totally full of hate...but

How could such a lovely place as this, exist there? It boggles the mind..


I love you Huntington Beach!! ^^

[L0oniX]

3. LOL "our camp" Corporations own both parties ...but hopes, dreams and goals are good to have.

[Initech]

4. I live here, it's very very right wing.

There's buildings with huge GOP banners, I saw one hanging off a building openly declaring Obama a Marxist. There's huge, huge Megachurches (we're home to Rick Warren after all). It's scary. And getting off the freeway the other night I actually saw a bumper sticker that said "I Miss W." :eyes:

[xxqqqzme]

5. The biggest problem

in Orange County is turnout. Democrats are demoralized here, thinking they don't have the numbers so why vote? There are 517,000+ registered Democrats in OC (btw 85% of OC is registered to vote). The DPOC struggles every year to raise enough money to keep an office open, while the rethugs wallow in cash. We have no media outlet to tell our stories, promote the clubs or inform the public of our events.

The one thing that will save the DPOC is young Democrats. Santa Ana is a young city. That demographic is spreading w/ the lower prices in the housing market. More young (democratic) families will be able to stay rather than move away to cheaper housing. It is going to take another 10-12 years but we are getting there.

[AlanCranston]

6. well right now we hold some congressional and legislative seats

In the state assembly we have Jose Solorio, Lou Correa in the state senate, and Loretta Sanchez in the US House

[xxqqqzme]

8. Lou Correa doesn't count.

He votes w/ the rethuglicans. We had some great Democratic candidates last fall - Beth Krom against birther campbell, Melissa Fox running against the rapid RWer wagner. All will change when the new districts are drawn. Correa, is termed out (term limits are occasionally a blessing), Loretta will probably have a very difficult re-election in '12. Any way the boundary is drawn, it will be red.

[AlanCranston]

9. if they couldn't defeat Loretta Sanchez in 2010

they will never defeat her. It will probably still be a lean democrat seat when the lines are redrawn for next election. She actually unseated a republican incumbent 15 years ago when it was a much more conservative/republican district.

[WingDinger]

7. Grew up here. Went to Silicon valley, then back. Been waiting to stop singin' and start swingin'

This is the Libertarian incubator. The real genesis being the imminent domain takeover of Anchor Muffler. All other aspects being abhorrent. But demographics rule. And they know it. Thus, caging, gerrymandering and vote fraud.