Why is Hawaii so Democratic? Why did West Virginia flip?
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  Why is Hawaii so Democratic? Why did West Virginia flip?
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Author Topic: Why is Hawaii so Democratic? Why did West Virginia flip?  (Read 2615 times)
senorboogie woogie
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« on: September 15, 2016, 09:43:18 AM »


First question, why is Hawaii so overwhelmingly Democratic? What are the dynamics to make this so? Is it because of government jobs?

West Virginia went from a pretty solid Democratic state which turned in 2000 to a pretty solid Republican state? What happened that there was such a reversal?
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Nyvin
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« Reply #1 on: September 15, 2016, 09:47:24 AM »

In the case of West Virginia, it used to be an extremely unionized state with a large uneducated population,  both things benefited the Democrats tremendously.

Nowadays it's the education population that benefits the Democrats, and the unions are mostly all gone.    That and perhaps a smaller issue is the state being against climate change, and the Democrats adopting that into their framework.
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elcorazon
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« Reply #2 on: September 15, 2016, 09:58:43 AM »

In the case of West Virginia, it used to be an extremely unionized state with a large uneducated population,  both things benefited the Democrats tremendously.

Nowadays it's the education population that benefits the Democrats, and the unions are mostly all gone.    That and perhaps a smaller issue is the state being against climate change, and the Democrats adopting that into their framework.
clinging to their guns and religion, too.
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pppolitics
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« Reply #3 on: September 15, 2016, 11:56:19 AM »

West Virginia went from a pretty solid Democratic state which turned in 2000 to a pretty solid Republican state? What happened that there was such a reversal?
One word: coal
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Anna Komnene
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« Reply #4 on: September 15, 2016, 01:30:28 PM »
« Edited: September 15, 2016, 01:32:09 PM by Siren »

Hawaii is a very diverse place with socially liberal norms.  Many people there believe in the aloha spirit, which is about achieving happiness and prosperity through love and togetherness.  The cultural conservatism and focus on the "rugged individual" of the Republican party is not really compatible with this.  When mainland Republicans talk about "American values," what they really mean has very little do do with the people of Hawaii or their culture, so the national party becomes an albatross around the necks of local Republicans in Hawaii just like the vice versa happens in places like Louisiana.  

It probably also helps that the Democratic party and its institutions are well organized in Hawaii and the Republican institutions aren't.  I've also noticed that Hawaiian legislators (mostly Democrats) seem to be a lot more likely to bring "local" issues to Congress, so they get a reputation of helping their constituents and get rewarded for it.  Pretty much though, most Republicans just have no aloha.
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Buffalo Bill
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« Reply #5 on: September 15, 2016, 01:41:27 PM »

West Virginia went from a pretty solid Democratic state which turned in 2000 to a pretty solid Republican state? What happened that there was such a reversal?
One word: coal

and guns
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Santander
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« Reply #6 on: September 15, 2016, 05:35:46 PM »



This basically explains politics in KY and WV.
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RINO Tom
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« Reply #7 on: September 15, 2016, 05:53:18 PM »



This basically explains politics in KY and WV.

Except the Democrats who've lost to him have expressed all those things, too.
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Buffalo Bill
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« Reply #8 on: September 15, 2016, 06:00:47 PM »

Hawaii has a thing for incumbents too.
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Kingpoleon
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« Reply #9 on: September 15, 2016, 07:55:07 PM »

Hawaii is essentially in statewide battles moderate Democrats(Ed Case) v. progressive Democrats(Tulsi Gabbard, Brian Schatz) v. moderate Republicans(Charles Djou, Linda Lingle) v. perennial/no-name Republicans. We haven't seen moderate Democrats have to choose between, say, Gabbard and Djou yet after Gabbard wins a tough primary with someone like Ed Case. It would be interesting to see what happens.
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Chunk Yogurt for President!
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« Reply #10 on: September 15, 2016, 08:01:43 PM »

Weren't there a lot of Hawaii Democrats who were against gay marriage?
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Sumner 1868
tara gilesbie
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« Reply #11 on: September 15, 2016, 08:12:08 PM »

Weren't there a lot of Hawaii Democrats who were against gay marriage?

Very much so. According to the 1996 exit polls, Hawaiian's opposed same-sex marriage by a 71-26 margin, while Americans as a whole opposed it by 68-27. However, we must remember that the LGBT movement of 1996 was rather divided on the issue.
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RFayette
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« Reply #12 on: September 15, 2016, 08:23:21 PM »



This basically explains politics in KY and WV.

Except the Democrats who've lost to him have expressed all those things, too.

Why would you accept an imitation when you can get the real thing?
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Anna Komnene
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« Reply #13 on: September 15, 2016, 08:33:38 PM »

Weren't there a lot of Hawaii Democrats who were against gay marriage?

Very much so. According to the 1996 exit polls, Hawaiian's opposed same-sex marriage by a 71-26 margin, while Americans as a whole opposed it by 68-27. However, we must remember that the LGBT movement of 1996 was rather divided on the issue.

71 and 68 isn't that big of a difference, and it was 1996.

It's worth noting that Inouye and Akaka both voted against DOMA and DADT, as did Neil Abercrombie.  Inouye was known for supporting gay rights even so far back as the early 80s.  Also, Ed Case, who people like to laud as a conservadem, opposed banning same sex marriage and supported civil unions.  Mazie Hirono also opposed banning same sex marriage in the 90s.  The only odd one out, really, is Tulsi Gabbard.  She was socially conservative in her 20s - most likely influenced by her father who's a major socon advocate.  She's been liberal since 2011 though, and has supported several lgbt bills since she's been in office.  She says her tour of duty in the middle east changed her views.
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Kingpoleon
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« Reply #14 on: September 15, 2016, 08:52:50 PM »



This basically explains politics in KY and WV.

Except the Democrats who've lost to him have expressed all those things, too.

Why would you accept an imitation when you can get the real thing?

Ask a FDR 1944/Dewey 1948 voter that.
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Person Man
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« Reply #15 on: September 18, 2016, 02:44:47 PM »



This basically explains politics in KY and WV.

Except the Democrats who've lost to him have expressed all those things, too.

Why would you accept an imitation when you can get the real thing?

Ask a FDR 1944/Dewey 1948 voter that.
And that is pretty why dumping social liberalism won't win back congress or dump Trump.
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