These sites provide interesting perspectives on the election results
(1) A great interactive map showing changes in geographic voting patterns over time at the New York Times. Here is a fantastic slide show of the changes.
(2) This graph shows the same pattern, an increase in Democrat’s vote in almost all States, but from another perspective.
(3) To see how far we have come since 1967: “Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner“, Frank Rich, op-ed in the New York Times, 2 November 2008.
(4) Looking at State legislatures (critical for redistricting), the Democratic Party says they have majorities in 70 of the nation’s 98 partisan chambers, up from 57 (MT and TX still undecided). Here and here are an interactive graphics.
At press time, only seven states have split legislative control: AL, IN, KY, OH, MI, PA, and VA. Democrats control 27 state legislatures, and Republicans have 14. At the time of this release, MT is undecided because control in the House remains up in the air. NB’s Legislature is nonpartisan and unicameral. Factoring in the results of the 11 governor races held this year, Democrats control all of state government in 17 states, Republicans have eight and 24 states have divided government. (source).
(5) To see the demographics of the election — and how this probably signals an almost irreversible shift in political dominance to the Democratic Party: “The Pluralist Coalition Manifests“, Chris Bowers, posted at Open Left, 4 November 2008.
The gerrymandering of districts will be very interesting after the 2010 census. If there’s a 55-45% imbalance, the idea is to concentrate a lot of the minority opposition into a few overwhelming opposition districts, with a larger majority of districts for the majority, to result in a 65-35 or so split of district votes.
This works, but also means the minority seats become very very safe, while the extra-majority seats are all more vulnerable.
But I haven’t seen real studies of these second order issues.
On Democratic Party domination, I have to laugh — solidly Dem CA voted against gay marriage. If Reps could get all the anti-gay marriage voters, they would easily win.
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Fabius Maximus replies: If the Blue Fairy blessed the Republicans, they would easily win. That is as likely as people voting for Republican legislators or executives on the basis of a single issue like gay marriage. Comments like this indicate the desparation and essential bankruptcy of the Republican Party, and conservative thought in general.
Neither is or should be dead; just needing time to reflect and regenerate.
Speaking as an Appalachian and a Democrat, I find the anti-Obama trend in Appalachia actually more interesting than depressing. Obama essentially lost the Dr. Pepper vote. (I actually spent some time yesterday looking for Dr. Pepper marketing data to back me up on that.)
Appalachia is a highly alienated part of the country. West Virginia actually seceded from the secession as did many individual Appalachian counties in the deeper South.
Essentially, Appalachia has been denied the benefits of the American commonwealth for so long that it no longer takes seriously promises of social progress. Whatever general benefits may accrue ain’t for them ( so why should anyone else get them? ).
As such – to use a very Appalachian metaphor – it has become a canary in the coal mine. As the federal government becomes less and less able actually to deliver the goods ( and the enactment of – or failure to enact – any serious healthcare reform is crucial here ) the Appalachian mentality will spread.
Palin: “I never asked for anything more than a Diet Dr. Pepper once in a while,”
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Fabius Maximus replies: Health care is the Democrats top policy priority. I suspect that over the next 8 years we will see changes beyond those most people expect.