Charlotte Observer:Job losses threaten region's Bush support

[surfermaw]

Job losses threaten region's Bush support

But Carolinas expected to favor president again in November election

SCOTT DODD AND CHARLES LUNAN

Staff Writers


President Bush visits Charlotte today in an economic climate very different from when he won the Carolinas four years ago.

At least 200,000 jobs in both states have vanished since Bush took office -- mostly in manufacturing, the region's traditional economic base.

That's not expected to turn either state from Republican red to Democratic blue on the electoral map. The Carolinas are still Bush country and likely to stay that way.

"He might not do as well as last time, but he'll get all the electoral votes," UNC Charlotte political science Professor Ted Arrington said.

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[surfermaw]

1. And let me add

In North Carolina some republicans are saying they aren't going to vote for Bush , I am hearing this from older people..now that usually means they will be staying home in November and wont be voting. I go along with the article, but remember the older folks have children and grandchildren working in manuf. many white collars who have been hit hard in some counties..and then their grandchildren in Iroq... I personally think we will go democratic, and if not like the article says if they stay home it should help democrat Senator and Congressmen , of course in the one district where Ballinger is stepping down, they will elect another republican this district is heavily republican.

[DeaconBlues]

2. In a nutshell: "He screwed us, but we'll vote for him again."

Being a southern white male myself, I often fear for the sanity and intelligence of my brethren.

[rfranklin]

3. Bush will save them from rampaging homo-terrorists....

You can betchur Bible on it!

[Florida_Geek]

5. And delay a couple more NASCAR races nt

[BeyondGeography]

4. He's a white guy, just like us

not like those weirdo white guys on the other side.

[Ripley]

6. I wouldn't be so sure about that.

"He might not do as well as last time, but he'll get all the electoral votes," UNC Charlotte political science Professor Ted Arrington said.

My parents and 70% of my extended family lives in NC and they range from retired engineers to short order cooks (used to be management in furniture biz...downsized) and every single one of them has one bitch or another with Smirk. Mostly the economy. The small percentage of Tarheels who are extremely fundamentalist are a given for voting R. Just like the rich pukes in Orange county, CA are a given. His base. But the regular church-going Christians I know there are well aware that this administration has caused a lot of grief in their state and they very well may be open to voting D.

Please don't let this become another South-hatred thread. x(

[BR_Parkway]

7. My parents aren't going to vote for him, and they've always been R

but they are tired of the lies, tired of the homo bashing, and worried about their retirement getting "mucked up" (Mom's words)

[Frances]

8. I grew up in Alabama so I won't bash the South

Greenspan just lost some more white southern votes for Bush. Older whites depend on social security and medicare in southern and midwestern states.

I think that when you add those worries to the other economic worries, Bush will lose more southern white votes than the Republicans expect.

It's possible that the right wing preachers will be able to carry the Carolinas for Bush, but it's not going to be as easy this time as last time.

[Moderator]

9. surfermaw

Per DU copyright rules
please post only four
paragraphs from the
news source.

Thank you


DU Moderator

[tinymontgomery]

10. I can tell you

I can tell you I know one person that lives in NC that won't be voting for *. Didn't last time and won't this time. (my co-worker voted for him last time but between NCLB and the ramming of religion down his throat he won't be this time) so I guess that actually two people I know.

[Zero Gravitas]

11. Good news

If its going to be closer in places like NC that means other states that weren't in play before are now. The election will likely be close, but I keep having fantasies of a landslide, with many R's staying home or even voting for the Dem, and a fired up angry Dem base and moderate independents turning out in massive numbers.

Of course the election will be a referendum on Chimpy's many failures, not an endorsement of the Dem platform, but at least we won't have to put up with all that Red States vs. Blue States crap. (one irritating Republican "me me me me" co-worker proudly displayed that map as if it proved something other than his lack of understanding of population distribution.)

[Jane Eyre]

12. Just talked to a friend in Charlotte who went from R to D

She has hated Bush and most national Republicans for a long time, but still supports some Republicans locally and was a registered Republican. Today we are having a major snowstorm AND Bush is coming to town. She was late to work because of the street closings and told me that they must have held her up on purpose because they found out that she had just switched parties! :)

There was supposed to have been a huge protest in Charlotte today across the street from where Shrub is having a $2000 per plate fundraiser. Bush is still coming, but I don't know how many protesters there will be. The roads are really really bad. He is also supposed to be at some sort of event at the local community college, but the school closed early because of snow. I imagine that he will still host a photo-op of some sort. I sure do hope that the fat cats are prevented from coming out to hand over their checks tonight though! God must be a Democrat. :-)

[supernova]

14. Good!

I hope *'s trip to NC is a big bust.

It just started snowing here in the Triangle about 45 minutes ago.

[Jane Eyre]

16. YES!!! Bush event is cancelled!!!

Just heard this on MSNBC. Airforce One turned around and went back to Washington!

God is a Democrat!

:bounce: :bounce: :bounce:

[samsingh]

13. can't you hear the words

'let them make hamburgers'

[Zero Gravitas]

17. Let them make hamburgers

LOL! Good one! I may have to steal it ;)

[Manix]

15. This is the big Repug con game that need's to be broken.

Somehow they have convinced large amounts of southern white medium and lower income males that they have their interests at heart, despite all evidence to the contrary.

[Jane Eyre]

18. Major Charlotte Republican doesn't support Bush

Oh man, you gotta read this from today's Charlotte Observer. This is big locally. Tom Cox chairs the county commission, so he is the second biggest local elected Republican official in the county.

www.charlotte.com (requires free registration)


Whenever Ronald Reagan came on the television, Tom Cox got up from his chair and stood at attention.

"To show the man respect," said Cox, the Republican chair of the Mecklenburg Board of County Commissioners.

When Cox watched the State of the Union address last month, he kept his seat. That was the night he realized he didn't trust George Bush, the man he voted for three years ago.

"What I said was, `I don't believe this BS,' " Cox said. "It is just talk. ... He has become more like the guy before him.

"I can't believe the guy."

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