In major flip, House Dems now represent richest regions

[scandal 951]

You're quite right that the TVA and WPA and rural electrification were among the New Deal hallmark projects. You're bringing tears to my eyes, you old FDR-loving New Dealer, you! Who knew you were really such a soft-touch for progressive government involvement in American life??

That's not how you could characterize Obama's stimulus as you've been bamboozled like most the public. Only about $50 billion out of $787 billion went to transportation.

Danno was the one who brought up FDR and the New Deal, not me. I was agreeing with his point that after Hoover's do-nothing-ism, Roosevelt came in and really got things jumping in the 30s.

I'm neither agreeing or disagreeing with whether the current 2009 stimulus will pan out as well as the New Deal did. Frankly - I just don't know. We're only a few months into it and the data is not there yet.

Just where do you see anything about a loss of working-class voters?? Re-read please.

Sorry had to do something still my poor post was ignored for hours. Historically, Democrats took pride in representing the middle class but lost middle income voters even in 2008.

Reagan and the "Big Tent" (Jack Kemp etc.) understood that. Newt Gingrich in the 90s and Bush 43 (and particularly Karl Rove) went against that model, reached for the jugular and attack politics. It was effective in gaining the minimalist electoral victories of 2000 and 2004, but the backlash is coming now as people are just sick of that kind of politics.

Revisionism as Reagan was seen by Democrats of his day as for the rich with trickle down economics.

Huh? Not that all Democrats were in love with Reagan by any stretch.... but surely you remember the phrase "Reagan Democrats", as used to refer to quintessential suburban soccer moms in minivans who came out in droves to vote for Reagan. Where were those legions of suburbanites when Karl Rove was plotting tactics? The GOP changed course during the 90s and 00's and pursued a different course. It worked for a while, but doesn't seem to be working all that well for them at the moment. The article in the OP is testimony to that.

Also recall that Gingrich rode into power in getting control of the House when no one thought it was possible. Most of the backlash is coming as Obama has promised much and delivered little. Obama has been polarizing opinion faster than most presidents. If the economy limps along he's done.

We shall see. We shall see. It's a bit early to be writing obituaries.

[Hilarious Clinton 452]

I'm having a John Lennon moment...of imagining Right Wingers starting to openly admit that government has worked and can work. What a huge mountain we will have climbed over if we can actually argue for or against policies based on their own merit without the "government-can-do-nothing-right" collar on it.

What a farm, fuzzy feeling that is.

Seen our deficit or debt lately?