It's amazing how the politics of this has changed

Not that we're not in for years of fighting over this, but the modest steps Cooper has taken here has gone from being seen by many as radical and politically risky, to very mainstream.

And that's not at all meant as a backhanded compliment to AG Cooper -- he seems like a very solid candidate.

---

by: IndianaProgressive @ Sun Apr 19, 2009 at 20:13:04 PM UTC

Regardless

Cooper would be an amazing improvement over Burr. This is just another great reason to support him. I really, really hope that he hops in this race. I'll try to send some love his way... In the form of money of course. hahaha

---

by: Venslor @ Sun Apr 19, 2009 at 21:20:49 PM UTC

I think that

NC Democrats are successful because they don't run on or flaunt their political ideology like their Democratic counterparts in other Southern states. Because they don't define themselves as moderates or conservatives or even progressives, they have wider freedom in pursuing policies that they want. This makes them seem more honest and straightforward than the self-described conservative Republicans they run against.

And with the possible exception of Heath Shuler and Kay Hagan, it is rare for NC Democrats to actually describe themselves as conservative or even moderate. I can't think of any NC statewide officials that openly describe themselves as being that way.

I think that's why North Carolina has remained for the most part a fairly Democratic state while its neighbors have turned bright red. Some people say it's because of all of the New Yorkers, but lots of people in rural areas still vote Democratic too, so there's more to it than that.

That's what so cool about North Carolina and why I love NC politics!

---

by: possumtracker1991 @ Sun Apr 19, 2009 at 23:23:34 PM UTC

As an NC outsider

I find that interesting too.

My blog
Twitter
Scribd
28, New Democrat, Female, TX-03 (hometown CA-26)

---

by: californianintexas @ Sun Apr 19, 2009 at 23:29:39 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

I think there's another reason

fairly lax voting laws.  The Democratic governors and legislature has allowed for easier registration, one-stop voting, and early voting to be made easier, which results in many more Democratic voters.

---

by: IHateBush @ Mon Apr 20, 2009 at 05:05:42 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

I think Kay Hagan has generally been very good

She did not get near the gang of 17-18 who tried to sabotage the stimulus, she has kept her distance from the Bayh group and she has generally voted with the majority of the caucus on almost everything. (The only vote of hers that annoyed me was the DC gun rights vote.)

---

by: LeftistAddiction @ Mon Apr 20, 2009 at 10:08:46 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

Well, she's from the South. That one was a given.

But don't forget, she also gave the keynote address to the Human Rights Campaign, something that was unthinkable just a few years ago!

http://www.bluearkansasblog.com

---

by: ARDem @ Tue Apr 21, 2009 at 01:57:50 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

Here's another good one-He took on Wal-Mart.

http://www.bluenc.com/Wal-Mart...

http://www.bluearkansasblog.com

---

by: ARDem @ Mon Apr 20, 2009 at 03:34:27 AM UTC