"Does Blanco's victory signal a turnaround in Democratic fortunes?"

That's the question on a CNN website poll. Does this piss anyone else off? We have the worst unemployment and the slowest economy in a generation. We have gone from a budget surplus to the greatest deficit ever in less than three years. We are at "war." We have suffered the worst attack on American soil in our history, and aren't even overly worried about catching the guy our president claims did it, and we haven't even bothered with a thorough investigation to see how he did it or even IF he did it or who else specifically was connected. And we have no indication that we are any less likely to suffer an even worse attack anytime soon. Nothing about any aspect of our future looks good right now. In fact "bleak" would be an optimistic word to use about our outlook.

We don't give a rat's rear left toe about the "Democratic fortunes." We are worried about the nation's fortunes.

Okay, rant over. I feel better now. Thanks for listening.

and 3 senate seats a year ago, when we should have had a historic and quantitative advantage, and when the economy was worse.

not to mention like a 20 seat devide in the house

the poll isn't that horrible in my opinion.

What you're feelings are and what the political realities are can be quite different

I think we have found an untapped source of voters. Landrieu is a wonderful Senator and I am sure Blanco would make a fine governor. If we can incorporate more Southern women into the Democratic party like them, I think we have a chance at taking back the south. I am sure that those mothers are just as concerned about their children's education, health care, and all of the above.

We should be drawing those kinds of voters into the Democratic party, not out of it.

"Southern women" IMO. I'm not saying that Landrieu and Blanco are not fine candidates with a lot to offer. They certainly are, and I am very proud that LA elected both.

My point is that the South is not monolithic and Soutrhern women are not either. Blanco won this election because LA has been trending Democratic for the past several years. The Acadiana parishes are waking up to the fact that the Republicans have been selling them out on trade issues. In addition the French bashing prior to the Iraq invasion made no friends in Acadiana. African-American voters have participated in large numbers in the past few elections in LA.

All politics is local and in LA the local issues are oushing voters to the Democrats. The electoral votes in 2004 are there to be had, but we need to stop charactericing all Southerners the same.

The way to get Southern votes is to identify local issues that matter in people's daily lifes and show why we are better on those issues. In NC and SC it is the textile industry. In FL it may be seniors issues. Each state in the South has unique issues that the Dems that favor the Dems, but if we continue to attribute Southern votes to some mindless Southern voter borg, we will never see the true issues that can attract voters.

Please discuss here:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=104&topic_id=719212