Dixie's long reign of terror has finally ended.

[Pab Sungenis]

Last night Barack Obama did something no other Democratic President other than Franklin Roosevelt has ever done: he managed to win more than 270 electoral votes in two elections without a single Southern state.

At 11:15 pm, Ohio put Obama over the magic number by bringing his electoral total to 274 and ensuring his re-election. When that happened the southern "swing states" of Virginia, North Carolina, and Florida had yet to be called. Even though Virginia eventually fell into his column and Florida is likely to do so once absentee ballots are counted today (North Carolina returned to form by going back to Romney), their votes were icing on the cake. A coalition of Northern and Western states soundly broke the pattern formed by Richard Nixon's "Southern Strategy" and laid to rest 236 years of terror pushed upon this country by reactionary southerners.

In 1776, American Independence was nearly scuttled by South Carolina over the issue of slavery; only after the removal of a reference to slavery from the Declaration of Independence and a tacit promise to preserve the "peculiar institution" did the resolution declaring Independence pass. From that day up until the Civil War, the Southern States held an effective stranglehold on American politics through the three-fifths rule (which counted slaves toward population, and thus representation and electors, while not granting them voting rights) allowing them to block any legislation that might negatively impact them. After Reconstruction, the "Solid South" formed by racist white Democrats in the former Confederacy gave them effective control of the Democratic Party.

The adoption of a civil rights platform plank in 1948 began the defection of racist whites from the Democratic party with the formation of the "Dixiecrat" party, and the passage of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 led to a nearly complete exodus of this bloc to the Republicans. Richard Nixon courted these votes to carry him to victory in 1968, and from that day until the election of Barack Obama the southern states have either joined the landslide or provided the winning edge in every Presidential election.

With the building of an electoral coalition that can carry a Democrat to victory without having to pander to the South, the effective control of American policy by Dixie has ended. The racist elements of the Old Confederacy have been shown that in the end they are irrelevant. We don't need you, so you don't get to have a veto over our candidates or our policies any longer.

So whither the South? Who knows. Perhaps the progressive elements in some of the states will reassert themselves (as has happened with Virginia twice now, and happened in 2008 with North Carolina). Maybe the moderates in those states will finally come to the table to collaborate rather than dictate. Maybe the last of the old guard will die out and demographics will overtake them. The South may still prove itself a political force, but Dixie no longer will.

[disillusioned73]

1. Fantastic post..

Thank you

[Tennessee Gal]

2. Do you think this is helpful?

Do you think there are no progressives in the South fighting the good fight? Do you discount our votes in the popular vote?

[Wednesdays]

5. Last paragraph.

The last sentence in particular.

[Hermit Extrovert]

8. It gets old

There are living, breathing progressives in those states who count.
This summer in Oklahoma City, my gf and I took to photographing all the Obama stickers, yard signs, etc. to prove to Rachel Maddow, that yes, yes, there are "Obama lovers" in Oklahoma.
You'd think these states all had a 90/10 split in favor of conservatives, the way people talk.

[Tennessee Gal]

10. Yes, it does get old. nt

[Pab Sungenis]

11. Did you even read my article?

I wonder.

[Tennessee Gal]

16. Yes, I read your article.

Perhaps I am overly sensitive, but those of us fighting the right wing lunatics in the South are faced with challenges on a daily basis. It is not comforting to come to DU and read something negative about the South, even though you attempt to differentiate between the South and Dixie.

You might want to take into consideration that there are other areas of this country that are also voting strongly right wing on a consistent basis. Just consider the vast expanse of the country in bright red from Texas to California and north to the Canadian border, excluding only Colorado and New Mexico going for Obama.

I wonder what former President Jimmy Carter and former Vice President Al Gore would have to say about this.

[Pab Sungenis]

19. Not negative about the south.

About the traditional southern attitudes.

Nothing against progressives in the south. Thus the last paragraph.

[Tennessee Gal]

24. Traditional southern attitudes? What does that mean?

Are there attitudes attributable to people only in the south? I don't think so.

[cordelia]

40. ^^ This ^^

I wondered how long it would take for the South bashing to start.

I'm shocked it didn't begin immediately when the MSM reported the first Southern state had gone for Romney; maybe it did and I didn't notice.

It is utterly demoralizing to come here day after day after day to see the hatred, bigotry, ignorance, and intolerance directed at DUers who happen to live in a "red" state, particularly if that state is in the South.

I simply cannot understand why people who claim to be so tolerant and welcoming can exhibit the absolute hatred they have for you, me, and all our brothers and sisters, whether we are straight or gay, white or African American or Hispanic, poor or rich.

That little afterglow of feeling united was certainly short-lived thanks to the OP and I am sure the other demonizing posts yet to come or others I haven't encountered.

[Tennessee Gal]

46. Thank you ..... I agree. nt

[tavalon]

35. But you are not Dixiecrats

That's what is being discussed. You are liberals, not faux Democrats. Dixie stands for racism. You don't. This really, really, isn't about you.

[Dawson Leery]

3. K/R

Nixon and Reagan were defeated last night. How does that sound FReepers?

[DonCoquixote]

4. Hey

As Virginia (and soon Florida) will prove, there are those of us down South who are fighting the good fight. We need you, and you need us, especially in 2016 when the GOP reloads it's ammo. Of course, I do feel giddy knowing my state is Blue, unlike North Carolina. If I knew they wouldpull this crap, I would have gladly moved the convention to Milwaukee, so I tip my hat of concession to you on that issue.

[Pab Sungenis]

9. That's why I said "Dixie" and not "the South."

The racist white power structure is now irrelevant. They will now have to work with us (including progressives in the South) or disappear.

[coalition_unwilling]

6. Superb analysis and writing. It took an African American to drive a stake

through the heart of Dixie. There's no greater irony than that, I would say.

[malaise]

7. True but he did win Florida

after he reached 270

[Whisp]

12. awesome read! thanks much. n/t

[gaspee]

13. Old Dixie vs The New South

As a New Englander, I've hated the way Old Dixie held the rest of us back and held us hostage - well, they will no longer have the leverage.

If they want to play ball, they can't play my way or the highway anymore. I think that will be the lasting consequence of this election.

I think this will embolden moderates and liberals and the Old South will completely lose it's stranglehold on even its own people.

[Pab Sungenis]

14. My point exactly.

Dixie used extortion to get an unfair advantage early on, then used that advantage to get their own way. Then after the Civil War they took over the Democrats until Hubert Humphrey forced the civil rights issue in 1948. Now that a coalition can win without the South, much as in 1860, the racists have lost their power.

I hope the South rises from these ashes and we finally complete Reconstruction. This is the opening Southern Progressives have been looking for.

[DevonRex]

34. As a Southerner, it could relate to "A Rose For Emily"

by William Faulkner which was an Old v. New South story. This is like that but in political terms, taking into account that the New South has wonderful Democrats in it now like yardwork and TennesseeGal.

We no longer have to rely on the blue dogs even though they're still the office holders by and large. That will change with time, slowly, as most things do in our South. Now we have wonderful African Amercan leaders who don't have to fear for their lives, even as Ole Miss had protests and riots last night after President Obama was reelected.

It's still part of me even though I no longer live there. I want it to succeed so much and I believe it will. That is where hope and change must happen for every single person, for so many reasons.

[OmahaBlueDog]

15. When I read your post, I could not resist responding with this

I see the GOPs "Southern Strategy" as really being about white, suburban and exurban wedge-issue politics rather than about geography. These issues may have their roots in the Dixiecrat South, but they play in places like South Dakota and Idaho.

Last night, we saw what I believe is a tipping point in American politics. The "Southern Strategy" officially began to pay diminishing returns. It's not dead, to be sure, but the GOP will (from this point forward) get less and less bang for the buck trying to play upon the fear, hatred, and religious intolerance that is found in many white middle and upper class households. Marriage equality is starting to become a reality. Women and Latinos sent the GOP a sharp reminder that their interests cannot be dismissed.

[yardwork]

17. I think that this is kind of obnoxious, Pab.

What about most of the western states? There's an unbroken line of red from the Canadian border to the Gulf of Mexico, right down the middle of the country, but I don't see anybody beating up on Montana today. When was the last time Indiana supported a Democrat for the White House?

And I don't understand this sentence at all: Maybe the moderates in those states will finally come to the table to collaborate rather than dictate. What does this mean? The moderates aren't dictating anything. If only.

[Pab Sungenis]

18. Re-read.

Not southern states or western states. I'm referring to the old southern mindset.

[Tennessee Gal]

25. I think you are calling southerners racists as if racism does not exist in the rest of the country.

I think that is what is behind some of your phrases such as "southern mindset."

I find it offensive.

[Pab Sungenis]

28. No, I'm referring to the South's history of racism

and how it fueled their dominance of American politics for so long.

[yardwork]

42. There's a long history of racism in other parts of the country, too.

Lynchings in Indiana, horrific attacks due to busing in Boston in the early 1070s, etc. Blaming it all on the south or a "southern mindset" seems to let everybody else off the hook. And it's not very accurate.

[Tommy_Carcetti]

44. Exactly.

Anyone who thinks that the history of racism in this country was somehow contained below the Mason Dixon line is sorely mistaken.

[obamanut2012]

38. I 100% agree, Yardie

This type of OPs and posts are really insulting, and beyond old.

And, yes, PS, I did read the whole thing.

[arely staircase]

20. when texas turns purple in the next decade and solid blue in 20 years

it is over for them (the gop)

[leftlibdem420]

21. Not helpful at all...

It's better to recognize that just about every region of the United States is ideologically heterogenous and that no region should be excluded from influence simply because of the electoral system's arbitrary rules.

Ann Richards was a Texan (albeit by way of California), and I think she would have made a better President than either Hillary Clinton or Barack Obama. The mayor of Salt Lake City, Rocky Anderson, was the only major-city mayor in the United States to call for Bush's impeachment, and yet Romney won Utah by more than he won any other state. We can't silence their voices and those like them simply because 60 - 70% of their neighbours do not share in their enlightened perspectives.

[Fumesucker]

36. DU has a long history of blaming all America's problems on the South

Just like the Freepers blame everything on the bicoastal librul eyeleetists, it allows them to ignore the problems within their own communities.

[obamanut2012]

39. THIS is a great post

You said what I should have said upthread.

[DemoTex]

22. Two more things about atavistic South Carolina

1. The Civil War: On March 4, 1861, South Carolina was the first southern slave state
to secede from the Union. On April 12, 1861, hostilities were initiated by South Carolina when
the federal facility - Fort Sumpter - was fired upon by SC traitors.

2. Dixiecrats: In 1948, Sen. Strom Thurmond (SC) broke from the Democratic Party to form the meretricious
Dixiecrat Party.

As a South Carolina resident, I can assure you that not much has changed.

[Spider Jerusalem]

23. wha?

"no Democrat since FDR ...managed to win...without a single southern state"

FDR carried the South four times.

[Pab Sungenis]

29. But if you took the South out of his vote totals

they would still have exceeded 270 electoral votes. LBJ only managed that once, in 1964. Other than those two no Democrat has been able to win without the South.

[Spider Jerusalem]

31. 270 is irrelevant to FDR's era because the total number of electors was 531?

And the South was less important, relatively, at the time because the Northeast still had the most electors; in 1944 New York had 47 electors, Pennsylvania had 35, California only had 25 and Florida 8...NY and PA have 29 and 23 today, and California and Florida have 55 and 29; you're comparing apples and oranges, really.

[JI7]

30. that was before civil rights

[slackmaster]

26. South Postpones Rising Again For Yet Another Year

HUNTSVILLE, AL–For the 135th straight year since Gen. Robert E. Lee's surrender at Appomattox, representatives for the South announced Monday that the region has postponed plans to rise again.

Enlarge ImageThree of the estimated 45 million Southerners who have not yet gotten around to rising again.

"Make no mistake, the South shall rise again," said Knox Pritchard, president of the Huntsville-based Alliance Of Confederate States. "But we're just not quite ready to do it now. Hopefully, we'll be able to rise again real soon, maybe even in 2001."

Pritchard's fellow Southerners shared his confidence.

"Yes, sir. The South will rise again, and when it does, I'll be right up front waving the Stars and Bars," said Dock Mullins of Decatur, GA. "But first, I gotta get my truck fixed and get that rusty old stove out of my yard."

http://www.theonion.com/articles/south-postpones-rising-again-for-yet-another-year,377/#enlarge

[Barack_America]

27. OK, I'll say it. It is true that there are many excellent progressives in the South...

...And it is also true that the South has fucked up our nation's politics for far too long.

I generally do not understand the common DU argument of, "hey, don't say anything negative about the South because I live everyday with all of the fucked up people in the South". I have tremendous respect for progressives living in the South. I truly don't think I could handle it. I can understand the frustration when people suggest the Civil War was a mistake and secession should have been allowed to stand. But I don't understand criticisms of a post like the OP. Southern Progressives should understand the OP's point particularly, because he is highlighting what they have been fighting against.

[Tommy_Carcetti]

45. It's not the message that one disagrees with, it's the patronizing tone.

And yes, when a non-Southerner goes on a missive about how messed up the South is, it comes off very patronizing.

Just like it would be patronizing for a suburban white person to talk about some of the real problems of the inner cities. They're not necessarily wrong, but they come off sounding like an asshole.

[Canuckistanian]

32. Some are calling it "LBJ's Revenge"

LBJ knew that he was potentially throwing away the South by instituting the Civil Rights act. And that was a HUGE risk, politically.

He knew that it meant a loss of the south for decades, maybe even longer. And future GOP presidents took advantage... Nixon, Reagan especially. Then the two Bushes.

Now, the WASP, white, evangelical vote isn't the same demographic force it was even a few years ago.

It's a new world now, dominated by Latinos and an super-energized black vote.

It's about time.

[Tsiyu]

33. From 2008

ALABAMA: 813, 479 people voted Obama; roughly TOTAL population of VERMONT

FLORIDA: 4,282,074 people voted for Obama; roughly the TOTAL population of CONNECTICUT

GEORGIA: 1,844,137 people voted for Obama; roughly the TOTAL population of NEW HAMPSHIRE


I could go on, but you get the point: there are a lot of Obama votes in the South. And some of us are still in the grips of SuperMajorities of the Dark Side.

WE mourn....do novenas for us or cast the runes...something...I'm expecting the goons in our TN legislature to ban public schools, re-institute slavery and have roving bands of menstruation inspectors all over the hills. Packing heat, of course.

[yardwork]

43. This is an excellent point. Thank you for this evidence-based post.

[Tsiyu]

47. You're very welcome

Here are some more numbers frm 2008:

TENNESSEE: Votes for Obama - 1,087,437

NORTH CAROLINA: Votes for Obama - 2, 142, 651

KENTUCKY: Votes for Obama - 781,985

Total of Above voters is about the TOTAL population of Oregon

[Art_from_Ark]

37. FDR won every state of the Old South in all 4 of his elections

The only states Adlai Stevenson won in 1952 and 1956 were in the Old South.

Three of the last 4 Democratic presidents have been from the Old South.

Meanwhile, Nixon was from California. Reagan was from California by way of Illinois. The Bush family is from New England.

[cordelia]

41. "Reign of Terror". Really.

Can you try and get a little more divisive?

ETA: And, yes, I did read your post.