2008 Legacy: Marginalization of the South

[jokerman]

Yes, the Democrats should give up on an entire region of the country....

That kind of arrogance worked very well for the GOP, oh yes.

[jokerman]

Well, yes, as you at least conceded in the latter part of your post the South is a lot more complex and pluralistic than some would make it out to be.  Of course the Democrats should continue to form winning coalitions out of the "new majority" of racial minorities and educated whites as in 2008, if profitable.

However, the idea that we should concede even the upper-south and appallachia to the GOP is absurd.  We have issues that appeal to these people.  I understand that Obama didn't have the time to carry out the long process of building trust that would have been necessary for him to make inroads there in 2008, but after 4 years of a (hopefully successful) Presidency, perhaps some of these sharply McCain-swinging areas will swing back to the Democrats.