how to connect the coasts? least red of the red states....how long to turn (if we can?)

[NRaleighLiberal]

I was looking through election results just now on the CNN map - http://www.cnn.com/election/2012/results/main

Wondering how the west coast can somehow be connected to the Northeast....

These appear to be the least red states (moving west to east): Arizona (R +11), Montana (R+13), Texas (R+16), South Dakota (R +18), Louisiana (R+17), Missouri (R+10), Mississippi (R+11), Indiana (R +10), Georgia (R+12), South Carolina (R +11), North Carolina (R +3)

I don't see how to connect (since a deeply red state is always in the way)....I guess I can see how NC (of course, since they were blue in 2008 and barely red this year) can most easily flip, and was surprised to see how relatively close GA, SC and MS were...that would be interesting, creating a full blue east coast.....

I can see evolving demographics changing AZ and TX first - but how long may it take?

Was pondering this after reading an article on CBS news on how the GOP may not win a presidency for a long time if they don't react to the changing demographics - indeed, if they continue to misread this and just move even further right...

[get the red out]

1. Cities

Connect through each state's largest cities and cities with universities?

[hollysmom]

2. Pakistan has an east and west portion, with india in between

it can be done.

[oldhippydude]

4. check your maps..

east Pakistan has been independent from Pakistan since the 60's.. It's known Bengla Desh...

[hollysmom]

10. I am getting so old,

I can't keep up with Asia and Africa. It did work for a while though.

Take a refresher geography course since the 60"s. Lost decades to working hard at my job.

[oldhippydude]

14. welcome aboard!!!!!

[SoCalDem]

9. Not for decades

[oldhippydude]

3. i'm betting Arizona can flip possibly as early as next presidential cycle...

that's the reason i was excited about Carmona there...that appeared to be a bit of a reach... the one thing about the Senate is that with the exception of overwhelming scandal, or massive incompetence (sometimes) senators, for the most part are career positions..

for that reason i was eager to see Arizona not send a Flake to the Senate alas so close.. had we been able to pursue a 50 state strategy this year i think it would have flipped this cycle.. keep in mind also that Arizona has another rapidly aging Republican senator

this particularly true for those of here in New Mexico... every since i moved here in the 70's we had predominately Republican senators and reps.. that almost flipped in 06, in 08 it flipped big time.. wee now have both senators Democratic and 2 out of 3 house districts reliably blue..

[SoCalDem]

5. They have been "separated" for a very long time

[FSogol]

8. The 1860 name for Oklahoma is surpringly apt!

[ipfilter]

13. Things have changed little in the last 152 years.

[msongs]

6. let's build a....pipeline! nt

[Kber]

7. Interesting question

I can see Arizona and Texas switching.

I can also see Missouri changing color some day.

Of course North Carolina and eventually Georgia and South Carolina.

Maybe Indiana.

After that, i hit a wall. Maybe Montana? But with Idaho and North / South Dakota are tough nuts to crack.

And Mississippi and Alabama are going to stay deep red for the foreseeable future. West Virginia might be open to the right candidate with the right pitch, but Tennessee and Kentucky? I just don't see it.

So basically both the northern and soothern "land bridges" will likely remain blocked.

[Can o Beans]

11. The most likely chain probably includes NE.

It would require Omaha to grow and flip the entire state.

CA - AZ (in 2016?) - NM - CO - NE (in 2020, maybe) - IA - IL - IN (in 2016?) - OH - PA.

[HereSince1628]

12. Think that NE might respond to policy goals like these?

Expand Telecommunications Services in Rural Areas
Secure Energy Innovation, Affordability and Sustainability for Rural America
Improve Access to and Quality of Rural Health Care
Promote Practical and Effective Immigration Reform
Support Transportation Improvements that Protect the Freedom of Mobility
Cultivate Civic Participation in Our Society
Enhance Public Safety/Homeland Security in Rural Areas
Improve the Quality of Rural Education