Boy, if our democracy survives this, I’ll bet Minnesota’s state-level GOP will be a mess and will need to do a lot of backpedaling. But worse for them: even having seen over the last decade how pathetically short-sighted and amnesic people are politically, I can’t foresee Minnesota ever forgiving the GOP nationally in my lifetime. They’ve burned this bridge badly. Wishful thinking, but I think this is how you create a solid blue state.
I wouldn’t call Minnesota a “solid blue state” right now by any metric. Your Senate is split 34–33 DFL–Republican and the House 65–67 (plus two vacant). Your progressive governor has caved to pressure over a nonsensical scandal not to run again, and despite the fact that he was on the ticket as the VP, the Harris–Walz ticket only beat Trump – an insane, far-right fascist – by 50.92–46.68%.
Those are great numbers to bandy about, but they’re different from being here and participating in the local politics.
Like many other blue states and many other places worldwide we’re suffering from a resurgence of right wing authoritarianism and political disenfranchisement.
But we’re actively fighting it, and winning. And doing far better than most other blue states.
We have a free school lunch program, we have excellent social programs, we have sanctuary status firmly in place for reproductive and trans rights.
Walz stepping back from the Governor seat is local politics inside the DFL. He’s been a lightning rod of hatred for our red/purple voters since COVID, and after being party to an honestly embarrassing loss on the national stage seems a good time to transfer power, despite his fantastic successes.
Okay, no, see, that’s all nice, and I’m glad you’re apparently doing well at a local level and fighting back against far-right authoritarianism, but words have meanings, and the numbers you can pretend all you want aren’t relevant don’t lie: you’re not even approximately a “solid blue state”.
2011: Senate 29–37 DFL–Republican; House 61–72
2013: Senate 39–28; House 62–72
2015: Senate 39–28; House 61–73
2017: Senate 32–34–1(V); House 55–75
2019: Senate 30–35–2(I); House 75–55–4(NR)
2021: Senate 31–34–2(I); House 69–59–4(NR)–1(IR)–1(I)
Because I think you completely missed the word “solid” or don’t understand what that means in terms of politics (nor do I think you fully understand what “blue state” means, because no, that doesn’t just apply to the presidential election, although that is a big part and is heavily correlated).
Sound like Washington. Our state GOP is basically just the craziest Trumpers you can imagine. Anyone with anyone even resembling a moderate position has found a home in the conservative wing of the Democrats (which, in fairness, is pretty fucking conservative).
It honestly feels like democracy is dead already and that to be trying to get back to what USA may have once been is a bad idea because the foundation is already rotted an corrupted.
trying to fix what we had and create something new
They don’t rule each other out, also you’ll never ever get a blank page to start with even if you write a constitution and a book of laws all from scratch. But i agree that going back will very likely lead to the situation you have now.
Honestly… Understanding chaos and how to live in it seems like the only truth alive.
On an individual level i think this is the only way, you have to play the cards you’re dealt whether you like it or not. But please don’t just sit back and take it, you deserve better than that.
Boy, if our democracy survives this, I’ll bet Minnesota’s state-level GOP will be a mess and will need to do a lot of backpedaling. But worse for them: even having seen over the last decade how pathetically short-sighted and amnesic people are politically, I can’t foresee Minnesota ever forgiving the GOP nationally in my lifetime. They’ve burned this bridge badly. Wishful thinking, but I think this is how you create a solid blue state.
We’ve been a solid blue state since the '70s. And we’ve only voted Republican 3 times since 1932.
Our GOP is already pathetic and impotent. Our local Democrats (DFL) are already significantly more progressive and effective than the DNC.
But this is adding fuel to the fire in a big way, no doubt.
I wouldn’t call Minnesota a “solid blue state” right now by any metric. Your Senate is split 34–33 DFL–Republican and the House 65–67 (plus two vacant). Your progressive governor has caved to pressure over a nonsensical scandal not to run again, and despite the fact that he was on the ticket as the VP, the Harris–Walz ticket only beat Trump – an insane, far-right fascist – by 50.92–46.68%.
Yep. The entire reason Trump and co. are even here is to push the state red by interfering with the election (hence their demands for voter rolls).
Those are great numbers to bandy about, but they’re different from being here and participating in the local politics.
Like many other blue states and many other places worldwide we’re suffering from a resurgence of right wing authoritarianism and political disenfranchisement.
But we’re actively fighting it, and winning. And doing far better than most other blue states.
We have a free school lunch program, we have excellent social programs, we have sanctuary status firmly in place for reproductive and trans rights.
Walz stepping back from the Governor seat is local politics inside the DFL. He’s been a lightning rod of hatred for our red/purple voters since COVID, and after being party to an honestly embarrassing loss on the national stage seems a good time to transfer power, despite his fantastic successes.
Okay, no, see, that’s all nice, and I’m glad you’re apparently doing well at a local level and fighting back against far-right authoritarianism, but words have meanings, and the numbers you can pretend all you want aren’t relevant don’t lie: you’re not even approximately a “solid blue state”.
Blue State has a generally accepted meaning of ‘votes blue in the presidential election’.
Doesn’t mean that 100% of our politics is democratic.
Are you arguing this for any particular reason?
Because I think you completely missed the word “solid” or don’t understand what that means in terms of politics (nor do I think you fully understand what “blue state” means, because no, that doesn’t just apply to the presidential election, although that is a big part and is heavily correlated).
What state is bluer, by your measurement?
… Is this a joke?
And some of those like “New Mexico” I wouldn’t even call “solid blue”. Dude, you can still be proud of your state and acknowledge reality.
Sound like Washington. Our state GOP is basically just the craziest Trumpers you can imagine. Anyone with anyone even resembling a moderate position has found a home in the conservative wing of the Democrats (which, in fairness, is pretty fucking conservative).
If we were solid blue then the country side would also be voting blue but they don’t. Therefore we are a purple state.
The “color” of the state doesn’t matter if you’re not intending to hold elections again. Which I absolutely could see them attempting.
I’m not so sure
It honestly feels like democracy is dead already and that to be trying to get back to what USA may have once been is a bad idea because the foundation is already rotted an corrupted.
They don’t rule each other out, also you’ll never ever get a blank page to start with even if you write a constitution and a book of laws all from scratch. But i agree that going back will very likely lead to the situation you have now.
On an individual level i think this is the only way, you have to play the cards you’re dealt whether you like it or not. But please don’t just sit back and take it, you deserve better than that.