General Discussion

Savannahmann

(3,891 posts) Tue Nov 11, 2014, 02:07 PM Nov 2014

Nearly half of the population of the country under Republican Control.

Saw this link on a link I'd followed from another story. Anyway, here's the picture showing the point the article is about to make.

That is how much of the country is under Republican control at the State Level. This translates to 47.8% of the population of the country.

If we're going to win in 2016, we need to learn how to talk to those wide red sections, and how to communicate our ideals to them. Because merely denouncing them as racists and sexists isn't working all that well. By the way, anyone care to guess how many electoral votes that red map translates into? The words more than enough come to mind for me, how about you?

While the GOP is likely to control 54 percent of all Senate seats and 56 percent (or so) of the House come January, it also will now control more than two-thirds of state legislative chambers across the country -- as in nearly seven in 10. And given Republicans also won at least 31 governorships, they are basically in control of the state government in 24 states. That could soon hit 25 if they win the still-undetermined governor's race in Alaska.

Something to think about, and something to consider going forward. We need to stop insulting the people we want, no we need to vote for us.

16 replies

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Nearly half of the population of the country under Republican Control. (Original Post) Savannahmann Nov 2014 OP

I have to lie down. lonestarnot Nov 2014 #1

So each party is controlling about 1/2 the country yeoman6987 Nov 2014 #2

Actually.... Savannahmann Nov 2014 #7

dems concentrate in cities where they are easily gerrymandered. move a few 100K dems to new msongs Nov 2014 #3

I don't think that will do it all on it's own. Savannahmann Nov 2014 #6

Moving people to more rural areas SickOfTheOnePct Nov 2014 #8

I have both. Republicans at the local level and Democrats at the state level. Throd Nov 2014 #4

VA has a Democratic Governor. 11 Bravo Nov 2014 #5

The map is actually just showing control of state legislatures. I agree that it's misleading to say Chathamization Nov 2014 #9

The State legislature may change. Comstock won and now her old seat may turn blue. n/t FSogol Nov 2014 #10

I don't think turning one seat will change the majority n/t SickOfTheOnePct Nov 2014 #12

In VA it will, the State Senate switched when Puckett quit in return for a job for his daughter. FSogol Nov 2014 #13

Yeah, but Barbara Comstock isn't in the state senate SickOfTheOnePct Nov 2014 #14

My bad. She's in a neighboring district, so I try to ignore her. FSogol Nov 2014 #15

This is why the GOP plan to keep people dumb and poor is not a lie. Rex Nov 2014 #11

The South: Solid once again - for Republicans WorseBeforeBetter Nov 2014 #16

lonestarnot

(77,097 posts)

1. I have to lie down.

Reply to Savannahmann (Original post)

Tue Nov 11, 2014, 02:09 PM

Nov 2014

yeoman6987

(14,449 posts)

2. So each party is controlling about 1/2 the country

Reply to Savannahmann (Original post)

Tue Nov 11, 2014, 02:11 PM

Nov 2014

Seems reasonable seeing how split our country is.

Savannahmann

(3,891 posts)

7. Actually....

Reply to yeoman6987 (Reply #2)

Tue Nov 11, 2014, 03:55 PM

Nov 2014

Democrats control 15% of the population, the remainder is split with control of the legislature in one party control, with the control of the Governor's mansion in another party.

msongs

(67,407 posts)

3. dems concentrate in cities where they are easily gerrymandered. move a few 100K dems to new

Reply to Savannahmann (Original post)

Tue Nov 11, 2014, 02:11 PM

Nov 2014

more rural districts would win us many new us senate seats and many state/local offices.

Savannahmann

(3,891 posts)

6. I don't think that will do it all on it's own.

Reply to msongs (Reply #3)

Tue Nov 11, 2014, 03:53 PM

Nov 2014

Look at the election results again, look at the final numbers. In races we lost, the numbers were more than a few gerrymandered votes. Georgia 12 for example, the defeat of my Representative Barrow. We lost by roughly 15,000 votes. http://www.cnn.com/election/2014/results/state/GA/house

Look at NY. House races there either broke dramatically for the Republicans, or Dramatically for the Democrats. http://www.cnn.com/election/2014/results/state/NY/house

We would have needed another 35k votes to overwhelm the Republican in NY 21. On the other hand, we would only need to convert 18k people to vote Democratic to win. Now, those 18k people, we keep saying that they are voting against their interests. To make that point all we have to do is talk to them, and listen, and treat them with respect. If their opinion differs from ours, listen to what they say, and then make your points.

Homework, knowing the issues, and the arguments. Knowing the policies, and the ideals of our side. Simple familiarity will do most of the work for us. Yet, we roll our eyes and gnash our teeth and instead insult the people calling them idiots, racists, sexists, or whatever. Instead we should try listening, and compassion, and understanding. You get more flies with honey than with vinegar after all.

SickOfTheOnePct

(7,290 posts)

8. Moving people to more rural areas

Reply to msongs (Reply #3)

Tue Nov 11, 2014, 04:00 PM

Nov 2014

will have absolutely zero effect on U.S. Senate seats.

Throd

(7,208 posts)

4. I have both. Republicans at the local level and Democrats at the state level.

Reply to Savannahmann (Original post)

Tue Nov 11, 2014, 02:14 PM

Nov 2014

11 Bravo

(23,926 posts)

5. VA has a Democratic Governor.

Reply to Savannahmann (Original post)

Tue Nov 11, 2014, 03:07 PM

Nov 2014

We also have two Democratic US Senators. Granted, our state legislature is controlled by the mouth-breathers, but we should at least be shown as "split".

Chathamization

(1,638 posts)

9. The map is actually just showing control of state legislatures. I agree that it's misleading to say

Reply to 11 Bravo (Reply #5)

Tue Nov 11, 2014, 04:09 PM

Nov 2014

it shows states under Republican control. Still, the point is well taken. State legislatures are very important, often ignored, and far too many are under Republican control.

FSogol

(45,487 posts)

10. The State legislature may change. Comstock won and now her old seat may turn blue. n/t

Reply to 11 Bravo (Reply #5)

Tue Nov 11, 2014, 04:15 PM

Nov 2014

SickOfTheOnePct

(7,290 posts)

12. I don't think turning one seat will change the majority n/t

Reply to FSogol (Reply #10)

Tue Nov 11, 2014, 04:22 PM

Nov 2014

FSogol

(45,487 posts)

13. In VA it will, the State Senate switched when Puckett quit in return for a job for his daughter.

Reply to SickOfTheOnePct (Reply #12)

Tue Nov 11, 2014, 04:31 PM

Nov 2014

Adding 1 democratic State Senator will give us back the majority.

SickOfTheOnePct

(7,290 posts)

14. Yeah, but Barbara Comstock isn't in the state senate

Reply to FSogol (Reply #13)

Tue Nov 11, 2014, 04:35 PM

Nov 2014

She's in the House of Delegates, which is heavily Republican.

FSogol

(45,487 posts)

15. My bad. She's in a neighboring district, so I try to ignore her.

Reply to SickOfTheOnePct (Reply #14)

Tue Nov 11, 2014, 04:41 PM

Nov 2014

Rex

(65,616 posts)

11. This is why the GOP plan to keep people dumb and poor is not a lie.

Reply to Savannahmann (Original post)

Tue Nov 11, 2014, 04:18 PM

Nov 2014

“As people do better, they start voting like Republicans - unless they have too much education and vote Democratic, which proves there can be too much of a good thing” - Karl Rove

WorseBeforeBetter

(11,441 posts)

16. The South: Solid once again - for Republicans

Reply to Savannahmann (Original post)

Tue Nov 11, 2014, 04:50 PM

Nov 2014

http://m.apnews.com/ap/db_289563/contentdetail.htm?contentguid=hvdNbDS0

More fun facts!

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