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DEMOCRATS (BLUE) REPULICANS (RED)
During the 2004 Presidential Race, between George W. Bush and John F. Kerry, this picture shows where the electorial votes were. It shows that the RED states that were Republican had great clout in electing the president.
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Some Democrats are asking what they can do to reach voters in the "Red States". One clear idea might be to quit thinking about them as simplistic and naive, looking for Government handouts. I don't think there are huge differences in voters in the blue and red states; the differences are between urban and rural voters. There are more urban areas in the blue states and a larger percentage of those urban voters, vote Democratic, hence the entire state is blue. |
I WILL ELABORATE A LITTLE MORE THAN THE BOOK DID ON THE GERRYMANDER: CAN YOU SEE THE ARMS, HEAD AND TAIL?
The term is derived from Elbridge Gerry (1744-1814), the Governor of Massachusetts from 1810-1812. In 1812, Governor Gerry signed a bill into law that redistricted his state to overwhelmingly benefit his party, the Republican Party. The opposite party, the Federalists were very upset. One of the congressional districts were shaped very strangely and, as the story goes, one Federalist remarked that the district looked like a salamander. No, said another Federalist, it's a GERRYMANDER. The Boston Weekly Messenger, printed an editorial cartoon that showed the district in question with a monsters head, arms and a tail and named the creature Gerrymander. Gerrymander is when boundaries of legislative districts are drawn up to benefit one party or group while handicapping another.
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THE STATE CAPITAL
MEMBERSHIP IN THE STATE SENATE: 25 REPUBLICANS 15 DEMOCRATS Each Senator represents 846,791 Californians.
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THE HISTORY OF THE REPUBLICAN ELEPHANT
The elephant was put in a cartoon in 1874, that made the animal stick as the Republican's symbol. The Republicans view the elephant as dignified, strong and intelligent. The Democrats think of the elephant as bungling, stupid, pompous and conservative.
Thomas Nash the cartoonist, took the two examples of the elephant and donkey and put them together in a cartoon for Harpers's Weekly.
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HISTORY OF THE DEMOCRATIC DONKEY
When Andrew Jackson ran for President in 1828, his opponents tried to label him a "Jackass" for his populist views and his slogan, "Let the people rule." Jackson turned it to his advantage by using the donkey on his campaign posters. During his presidency, the donkey was used to represent Jackson's stubbornness when he vetoed re-chartering of the National Bank. In 1837, the donkey was used in a political cartoon for the first time to represent the Democratic Party. The Democrats view the donkey as humble, smart, courageous and loveable. The Republicans view the donkey as stubborn, silly and ridiculous. |
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