That being said: Walsh is out, Watts is out, Grayson is back in, California turned three formally safe GOP seats blue, Bachmann barely held on, and GOP rising star Mia Love could not unseat Matheson despite being a Republican running in Utah during a Presidential election year.
Except four years for undergrad, I have spent my entire life in or near New York and San Francisco (plus a year in Tokyo) so I am a bit more immune to high gas prices/high prices than the average American.
But this is a good point, I think a lot of younger people (especially those in the educated-professional class) are going to try and avoid car travel more because of energy costs, concern for the environment, or at the very least seeming cool.
I grant that there will probably always be plenty of young people who stay in cities in their 20s and 30s and then move to the suburbs to raise families. However:
1. I don't think these young people are going to give up their social liberalism
2. Many more young people are trying to raise their kids in cities especially Western cities with a bit more single family housing like Portland, Seattle, San Francisco, Denver, etc.
1. Social Conservatism has made the Republican party a pox on the coasts. California just gave the Democratic Party a super-majority in the state legislature. The few remaining areas of California that go Republican are closer in spirit to Alabama than they are to San Francisco, Santa Barbara, Los Angeles, and other major cities. Even the moderate Republicans are damned by association.
2. The Republicans damned themselves by also not caring about any urban area. Cities are growing faster than suburbs and rural areas. In many ways, 2008 and 2012 feel like the revenge of Al Smith. I think Republicans can win cities but it will require social moderation, economic pragmatism, and less hostility towards public transportation and bike lanes.
3. We are seeing that being too ideologically rigid/pure can lose elections. This happened in 2010 and 2012. In both elections, there were seats that should have gone Republican but remained or became Democratic because of talking points that Americans saw as beyond the pale or insane. In 2010, Republicans should have been able to pick up Senate seats in Nevada, Delaware, and Colorado but lost because they picked ideological purists instead of establishment candidates. In 2012, it was Missouri and Indiana. The off-kilter remarks from 2010 are more anti-urban. The Republican Senate candidate from Colorado who saw bike lanes as a secret UN plot to take over America comes to mind. Whether a dog whistle or sincere belief on the part of the candidate, most people see that and think the guy is nuts.
On “It’s the Party, Stupid: Despite what you might hear, the voters sent a clear mandate to Washington”
A plus!
"
Okay.
You and the rest of the Republican Party remind me of what was once said about the Bourbons: You remember everything and learn nothing.
On “Post-Election Instapundrity: Do the Democrats Have a New Coalition?”
I think my tribe will stay Democratic.
"
The city is spelled Jerusalem. You wrote "Jewrusalem" Israel is a Jewish state. W is no where near u on a standard keyboard.
Of the ones above, guess which definition I am going with. It certainly sounds like a disparaging remark to me about the composition of the city.
On “It’s the Party, Stupid: Despite what you might hear, the voters sent a clear mandate to Washington”
You understand absolutely nothing. Nothing.
"
That being said: Walsh is out, Watts is out, Grayson is back in, California turned three formally safe GOP seats blue, Bachmann barely held on, and GOP rising star Mia Love could not unseat Matheson despite being a Republican running in Utah during a Presidential election year.
"
Gerrymandering largely. The House is not very competitive for both sides.
"
He is also an illustration of why the GOP will be possibly/hopefully howling in the wilderness for a while.
"
Perhaps they give him internet access at Akrham Asylum already.
"
I think he is talking about Toni Morrison's claim that Bill Clinton was "the first black President"
On “Post-Election Instapundrity: Do the Democrats Have a New Coalition?”
Derek Thompson at the Atlantic published some blog posts a few months ago about how getting a car is no longer a status symbol for young people.
Being that I live in California, I know plenty of people in their 20s and 30s who love and use their cars on a daily basis,
"
Please tell me "Jewrusalem" was just a typo and not an anti-Semitic slur.
On “Ballot Initiatives Open Thread”
You beat me to it.
Prop 32 was not Citizens United. It was corporations trying to Tanya Harding unions.
Prop 39 also looks like it passes.
San Francisco's local measures all seemed to pass.
On “Post-Election Instapundrity: Do the Democrats Have a New Coalition?”
http://www.sfgate.com/politics/article/Democrats-get-supermajority-in-Legislature-4015861.php
"
2/3rd majority, both houses of the legislature. Basically the infamous Prop 13 is irrelevant.
"
I have a question for you.
What do you make of the Democratic Supermajority in the California Legislature?
How long do you think the GOP will make themselves irrelevant in California?
"
Except four years for undergrad, I have spent my entire life in or near New York and San Francisco (plus a year in Tokyo) so I am a bit more immune to high gas prices/high prices than the average American.
But this is a good point, I think a lot of younger people (especially those in the educated-professional class) are going to try and avoid car travel more because of energy costs, concern for the environment, or at the very least seeming cool.
"
Too hot!
"
But those coastlines do contain the bulk of the population
"
http://www.theatlanticcities.com/politics/2012/11/urban-electorate-why-republicans-cant-afford-concede-city-vote-ever-again/3829/
I grant that there will probably always be plenty of young people who stay in cities in their 20s and 30s and then move to the suburbs to raise families. However:
1. I don't think these young people are going to give up their social liberalism
2. Many more young people are trying to raise their kids in cities especially Western cities with a bit more single family housing like Portland, Seattle, San Francisco, Denver, etc.
"
All you need to do is add water.
"
Very good post, sir.
Some additional thoughts:
1. Social Conservatism has made the Republican party a pox on the coasts. California just gave the Democratic Party a super-majority in the state legislature. The few remaining areas of California that go Republican are closer in spirit to Alabama than they are to San Francisco, Santa Barbara, Los Angeles, and other major cities. Even the moderate Republicans are damned by association.
2. The Republicans damned themselves by also not caring about any urban area. Cities are growing faster than suburbs and rural areas. In many ways, 2008 and 2012 feel like the revenge of Al Smith. I think Republicans can win cities but it will require social moderation, economic pragmatism, and less hostility towards public transportation and bike lanes.
3. We are seeing that being too ideologically rigid/pure can lose elections. This happened in 2010 and 2012. In both elections, there were seats that should have gone Republican but remained or became Democratic because of talking points that Americans saw as beyond the pale or insane. In 2010, Republicans should have been able to pick up Senate seats in Nevada, Delaware, and Colorado but lost because they picked ideological purists instead of establishment candidates. In 2012, it was Missouri and Indiana. The off-kilter remarks from 2010 are more anti-urban. The Republican Senate candidate from Colorado who saw bike lanes as a secret UN plot to take over America comes to mind. Whether a dog whistle or sincere belief on the part of the candidate, most people see that and think the guy is nuts.
On “It appears that the big loser of the evening is Karl Rove…”
What if I sent you my seamless receipt?
"
It looks like Prop 30 passed and Californians will probably raise their taxes to save their public schools.
"
Someone is going to see this sentence and write fanfiction thanks to your use of the word chemistry.
Thanks for that.
*Comment archive for non-registered commenters assembled by email address as provided.