Reply #10: Yes. [View All]

[TwilightZone]

Grew up in South Dakota and have lived in Nebraska for 15 years, roughly 14 years longer than I wanted.

Even the Democrats here tend to be moderate or somewhat conservative, including our barely-a-Democrat Senator, Ben Nelson.

The conservatives are generally very conservative and are in families that have been conservative for generations. Bush's approval ratings in this state, even now with all of the negative press lately, are still in the 60s. To these people, he can STILL do no wrong.

Yes, TV can be an influence, but I think its effect on converting people from one ideology to another is highly overrated, particularly in areas that are very conservative or very liberal. You don't see large numbers of liberals jumping ship to support Bush because of the media. If anything, it's reinforced their beliefs to the contrary.

People in truly red states were conservatives well before TV began the big push right and will continue to be so even if we retake it.

Lastly, here is perhaps the most important point. These people do not WANT to be liberal and they don't CARE whether or not they ever get the liberal point-of-view, and they're more aware of liberal views than you might expect. It's deeply cultural and familial and it's not something easily influenced.