I wish the actually lefties in the democratic party would all get together and just form a third party. Dean, Clark, maybe Gore, and a bunch of the up-and-comers who haven’t bought into the Washington thing yet, should all just go make a third party and actually try to represent the large population of lefties in this country. Talk about a disenfranchised voting block of massive proportions.

And I’ll tell all of you who keep talking about the swing voters and getting them this (this goes for you, hillary, and to you too, kerry): I’ll take one left-wing believer early in a race (someone who’ll go out and campaign for you and stick with you) over 10 late race swing voters who really can barely tell the difference between the different parties’ policies and just watch fox news and other right-wing talking point fountains to get their opinions.

I’ve been disenfranchised by this country’s political and media swing to the right, and I hate it.

1. Break ground in outermost suburbs. New residents come from rural areas or flee from the big bad city. Most of these are Republicans. Some, however, are actual Democrats who just wanted a house they can afford.
2. Republicans win and run on social conservative platform (appealing to former rural voters and those leaving the big bad city). Republicans also run on anti-tax platform. Keep government out!
3. Growth gets out of control. Voters get pissed. Where’s my view of the mountain? People are driving too fast down my street! It takes me an hour to drive 2 miles! Kids go to schools in trailers! Who are all these other people moving in?
4. Republicans still win elections but Democrats gain on slow-growth movement and support for government spending on schools, transportation, sewers, etc. Republicans still win because of social issues, but their economic and anti-government message loses resonance.
5. Influx of new residents continues, but they are much more diverse than the first batch. Some resentment against them from the originals, gives Republicans a nice issue. Stop immigration!
6. But new residents flock to Democrats for sensible government solutions to economic problems. Democrats start to field moderate candidates from business/professional backgrounds (no unions here). Some genuine liberals take root, but the Democratic Party is thoroughly moderate here.
7. Democrats start to win as Republicans split between hard-line social cons and moderates. The area officially becomes a “middle suburb” and no longer an outer suburb. Democrats permanently take over, winning both moderates and liberals.
8. Pattern repeats itself in the next county outward.

This is the story of Fairfax County from 1970-2000. It is the story of Loudoun County from 1985 to today. It will be the story of Fauquier County from 1990 to 2010.

This is the reason Bush won 97 of the fastest growing 100 counties. Watch who those counties vote for in 12 years as they become “settled”.

Thou doth protest too much.

Good thing Dr. Dean spent all the DNC’s money on picking up a state senate seat in Virginia. Too bad there’s barely any left for the mid-terms.