Conservatism2.0

OK now what?

I believe that the version of conservatism that we have been used to for the last 14 or so years died last night. I think it is time to reassess what it means to be a conservative and actually act like we mean it.

To start turn off the T.V. read a book, do a sudoku or play with your child like I did tonight, but just stop thinking about the news for a while. There will be plenty of time for that later. This a time we should reflect and ask ourselves what has gone haywire in the last few years to cause the results of 2006 and 2008.

I will not put fourth any new ideas in this post, but I would like to create a dialogue between many who consider themselves conservative and find out what it means to be conservative today.

West Coast Complete

I have been plugging away at more states, but I nearly forgot to post a complete image of the West Coast.

BTW: You can take a peek at West Texas (Green counties in TX go to Wallace in 1968 and Perot in 1992) as well as Oklahoma.

Here they are:

1960:


1964:


1968:


1972:


1976:


1980:


1984:


1988:


1992:


Again, feel free reference the images, but don't forget to throw me some street cred.

Note: Data available via web and the Election Archives of various Secretaries of State.

West Coast & Southwest Completed

More calls and plugging away at my dataset have resulted in the following maps:

Take note that what is now Carson City, NV was Ornsby County also La Paz County, AZ was Yuma. If you don't know who was running for President in these years you should have paid more attention in your American history classes.

1960:


1964:


1968:


1972:


1976:


1980:


1984:


1988:


1992:


Stay tuned I will post a complete West Coast image in a few days.

Next up, CO, KS, OK, TX & NM.

Again, feel free reference the images, but don't forget to throw me some street cred.

Note: Data available via web and the Election Archives of various Secretaries of State.

Pacific Northwest Maps Done

After a few calls and searching on the Internet I have finished the Pacific Northwest maps.

Here is 1960 (Kennedy & Nixon):



Here is 1964 (Johnson & Goldwater):


1968 (Nixon & Humphrey):


1972 (Nixon & McGovern):


1976 (Ford & Carter):


1980 (Reagan & Carter) BTW: Republicans can win Western states:


1984 (Reagan & Mondale):


1988 (Bush & Dukakis):


1992 (Bush & Clinton):


I am now off to do the Southwestern half of the country... Up next is sunny California, Nevada and Arizona. I had better take my sunscreen along.

Feel free reference the images, but don't forget to throw me some street cred.

Note: Data available via web and the Election Archives of various Secretaries of State.

The Presidential Race is Set and I'm Unexcited

It has been a long primary season and frankly speaking the last few months were pretty boring. I did like seeing Team Hill and Obama spend lots of money and tear into each other, but that kind of entertainment lasts only so long.

Now it is all about McCain and Obama and to be honest I'm not thrilled with either candidate.

The Cainster has a lot of issues mainly convincing me that he is a Republican with big "R." His awful attempt at immigration reform nearly destroyed his quest for the White House, but time will tell if it effects his returns in November.

The Big O has his problems as well. One he is a democrat. Two he is too vague and inexperienced for his own good. Third he may have alienated many of his fellow d's by being a little too snooty about his thoughts towards rural America i.e. the whole Bittergate thing. Fourth he has the "support" of Hillary and that should prove interesting before it is all over.

So let us recap... we have two candidates that have major issues with members within their own party and I am sure the race will be interesting. However I'm not nearly as jazzed about the race like I was back in 2004.

I'm still here, but I have been busy...

If you scroll way down to the bottom of my blog you will find what I have been up to for the last month.

I have decided to create the now famous Red and Blue county maps for the Presidential elections going back to 1960.


Why 1960 you ask? Well that is the first year all 50 states voted for President. The 1992 map was not really what I would have started with, but the data was partially available on the web via the various SoS sites.

So stay tuned I promise to have all of the maps developed by the end of this year.

Back From Hiatus

OK, I'll admit it has been a while and there has been plenty of stuff to write about, but my newborn daughter always seems to win over my attention.

Since things are getting into a routine I think I can sneak in a few posts in between the feedings and diaper changes.

Later

Chris