Comments on: The End Of The Party http://www.oliverwillis.com/2007/12/19/the-end-of-the-party/ Like Kryptonite To Stupid Sat, 11 Feb 2012 06:02:16 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.1.4 By: megamoze http://www.oliverwillis.com/2007/12/19/the-end-of-the-party/#comment-58699 megamoze Thu, 20 Dec 2007 05:15:46 +0000 http://improveman.com/ow2008/?p=4492#comment-58699 <i>That being said, it's well to remember that many persons do have legitimate concerns about illegal immigration that shouldn't be ignored.</i> What E.L. said. There are legitimate concerns but the message from the GOP isn't meant to address them. And the loudest advocates for rounding up all the brown people aren't trying to address them either. That is because there are only two viable solutions to the issue: a) the status quo or b) mass naturalization. Deportation (aka "shipping them all back to Mexico") WILL NOT HAPPEN. It's not only prohibitively expensive but it is physically impossible. The GOP leadership knows this but they need it as a wedge issue because it plays well to their xenophobic and racist base. That being said, it’s well to remember that many persons do have legitimate concerns about illegal immigration that shouldn’t be ignored.

What E.L. said. There are legitimate concerns but the message from the GOP isn’t meant to address them. And the loudest advocates for rounding up all the brown people aren’t trying to address them either. That is because there are only two viable solutions to the issue: a) the status quo or b) mass naturalization. Deportation (aka “shipping them all back to Mexico”) WILL NOT HAPPEN. It’s not only prohibitively expensive but it is physically impossible.

The GOP leadership knows this but they need it as a wedge issue because it plays well to their xenophobic and racist base.

]]> By: Enlightened Liberal http://www.oliverwillis.com/2007/12/19/the-end-of-the-party/#comment-58698 Enlightened Liberal Thu, 20 Dec 2007 04:23:02 +0000 http://improveman.com/ow2008/?p=4492#comment-58698 True, there are legitimate concerns about illegal immigration. However, until the racists and bigots are removed from the debate, a real decision can't be made. True, there are legitimate concerns about illegal immigration. However, until the racists and bigots are removed from the debate, a real decision can’t be made.

]]> By: Quaker in a Basement http://www.oliverwillis.com/2007/12/19/the-end-of-the-party/#comment-58697 Quaker in a Basement Wed, 19 Dec 2007 22:44:18 +0000 http://improveman.com/ow2008/?p=4492#comment-58697 Tancredo is done? Shoot. That means he'll be coming home to Colorado. It was good while it lasted. Tancredo is done?

Shoot. That means he’ll be coming home to Colorado. It was good while it lasted.

]]> By: I'm a Hick http://www.oliverwillis.com/2007/12/19/the-end-of-the-party/#comment-58696 I'm a Hick Wed, 19 Dec 2007 21:34:41 +0000 http://improveman.com/ow2008/?p=4492#comment-58696 That being said, it's well to remember that many persons do have legitimate concerns about illegal immigration that shouldn't be ignored. Aside from the race card, the "Southern" strategy has always been about getting people (originally white males) to feel like they're getting screwed over by liberal politicians, media members, pointed headed intellectuals, etc. That won't change. But maybe it won't be as effective as it's been in the past. That being said, it’s well to remember that many persons do have legitimate concerns about illegal immigration that shouldn’t be ignored.

Aside from the race card, the “Southern” strategy has always been about getting people (originally white males) to feel like they’re getting screwed over by liberal politicians, media members, pointed headed intellectuals, etc. That won’t change. But maybe it won’t be as effective as it’s been in the past.

]]> By: Enlightened Liberal http://www.oliverwillis.com/2007/12/19/the-end-of-the-party/#comment-58695 Enlightened Liberal Wed, 19 Dec 2007 21:29:35 +0000 http://improveman.com/ow2008/?p=4492#comment-58695 Hick, you're probably right to distinguish. Archie was part of the "Silent Majority" that was neither. Nonetheless, the attitudes were similar. Hick, you’re probably right to distinguish. Archie was part of the “Silent Majority” that was neither. Nonetheless, the attitudes were similar.

]]> By: I'm a Hick http://www.oliverwillis.com/2007/12/19/the-end-of-the-party/#comment-58694 I'm a Hick Wed, 19 Dec 2007 21:18:34 +0000 http://improveman.com/ow2008/?p=4492#comment-58694 The "Southern" strategy was directed as much towards Archie Bunker as it was towards Gomer Pyle, and Archie lived in Queens, not Mayberry. As a Southerner, I can see the difference in attitudes towards race between my parents' and my generation, and I think you're right about gays and immigrants today. The “Southern” strategy was directed as much towards Archie Bunker as it was towards Gomer Pyle, and Archie lived in Queens, not Mayberry. As a Southerner, I can see the difference in attitudes towards race between my parents’ and my generation, and I think you’re right about gays and immigrants today.

]]> By: Enlightened Liberal http://www.oliverwillis.com/2007/12/19/the-end-of-the-party/#comment-58693 Enlightened Liberal Wed, 19 Dec 2007 20:36:31 +0000 http://improveman.com/ow2008/?p=4492#comment-58693 Also, this is why anti-gay sentiment is a loser for the GOP. The great majority of young people (under-30) are comfortable with gay people. Even in the military we see this trend. The GOP is going after a diminishing demographic. They should have taken the hint when Archie Bunker died. Even he had a TG friend though. Also, this is why anti-gay sentiment is a loser for the GOP. The great majority of young people (under-30) are comfortable with gay people. Even in the military we see this trend. The GOP is going after a diminishing demographic. They should have taken the hint when Archie Bunker died. Even he had a TG friend though.

]]> By: Enlightened Liberal http://www.oliverwillis.com/2007/12/19/the-end-of-the-party/#comment-58692 Enlightened Liberal Wed, 19 Dec 2007 20:31:59 +0000 http://improveman.com/ow2008/?p=4492#comment-58692 The "Southern Strategy", amended to include immigrants (though their ire seems to be confined to the Spanish-Speaking) is less effective because its base of voters is dying out. Young people today are more accepting of minorities because they deal with them everyday, even in formerly homogeneous communities. Virginia is an interesting case. The 90's and early 2000's explosion in the counties around DC have drowned out the more conservative population in Appalachia and other parts of Virginia. Even in Hampton Roads, the military population is more comfortable with Latinos than their parents because Latinos are a decent portion of the military. When people are exposed to Latinos and other immigrants, they vote more rationally and can't be whipped up by anti-immigrant furor. They see legal and illegal immigrants as people, not as bogeymen. The “Southern Strategy”, amended to include immigrants (though their ire seems to be confined to the Spanish-Speaking) is less effective because its base of voters is dying out. Young people today are more accepting of minorities because they deal with them everyday, even in formerly homogeneous communities.

Virginia is an interesting case. The 90′s and early 2000′s explosion in the counties around DC have drowned out the more conservative population in Appalachia and other parts of Virginia. Even in Hampton Roads, the military population is more comfortable with Latinos than their parents because Latinos are a decent portion of the military.

When people are exposed to Latinos and other immigrants, they vote more rationally and can’t be whipped up by anti-immigrant furor. They see legal and illegal immigrants as people, not as bogeymen.

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