Electon Results--Learning about Lakewood

[Stan Austin]

This morning's Plain Dealer has presidential election results for Cuyahoga County. The Lakewood results-----Obama 69% to McCain 30%.
Several weeks ago I made a prediction of 55%Obama to 45%McCain. This was made based on several factors. Lakewood being very middle of the road, somewhat cautious at the state and national level (used to be exactly 50-50 for national elections) and the elephant in the room-race. It was only a little over 30 years ago that I was involved in a project that broke the silence of Lakewood's racial prejudices. So, I guess that memory influenced my prediction.

But a 69 - 30 margin is a landslide by any definition.

So, how best to explain it and in the process learn a little bit more about ourselves and community?

Let me throw out a few starter questions. They fall under two broad categories. One is the candidates and their issues. The second is campaign techniques.

First, was the candidate and the issues just an overwhelming factor in this election?

Were you contacted by either campaign? If so, how. Did it influence you?

Did TV ads influence you? How?

Did you have any conversation in your group of friends, social organization, church group or civic group?

Did you ever think that Lakewood would make such a decisive political and electoral statement?

[Stephen Eisel]

If you consider that over 65% of Lakewood residents are registered Democrats then this is not really shocking nor a landslide.

[Stephen Eisel]

In 2004, Kerry won Lakewood by about the same margin..


Kerry 64%
Bush 36%


disclaimer: If I remember correctly... getting old

[Stephen Eisel]

2000 Presidential results for Lakewood

Bush 37.4%
Kerry 54.3%
Nader and others got the remaining 8.3% of the votes

[Mike Deneen]

Local dems, including the Lakewood Democratic Club, did an outstanding job talking to residents and turning out the vote. Kudos to everyone involved!

However, there is a deep and troubling trend here. To paraphrase Ronald Reagan (who I suspect won Lakewood twice)...."Lakewood didn't leave the GOP, the GOP left Lakewood".

GOP hatred against immigrants, gays, science, education, unions, intellectuals, arabs, muslims, blacks, etc. has irreparably damaged the Republican brand in Lakewood and throughout most of the county.

Not only are there no elected Republicans in Lakewood, but now they can't even field candidates for countywide office (it's downright frightening that a mediocre candidate like Tim Hagan can be UNOPPOSED).

Caribou Barbie's disastrous visit to Lakewood only aggravates the situation. She personifies everything that Lakewood finds wrong with the current GOP. The decision to bring her here was is the stupidest thing I've seen since Dukakis climbed into a tank.

Even though I'm a partisan democrat, I'm very concerned about the GOP's future. I think they are going to drift EVEN FURTHER to the hateful right, which could turn large parts of the nation (especially outside the Confederacy, Alaska, Wyoming and Utah) into one-party areas. As Jimmy Dimora has demonstrated, this is not good for anyone, dems or republicans.

[Stephen Eisel]

Local dems, including the Lakewood Democratic Club, did an outstanding job talking to residents and turning out the vote. Kudos to everyone involved!

However, there is a deep and troubling trend here. To paraphrase Ronald Reagan (who I suspect won Lakewood twice)...."Lakewood didn't leave the GOP, the GOP left Lakewood".

GOP hatred against immigrants, gays, science, education, unions, intellectuals, arabs, muslims, blacks, etc. has irreparably damaged the Republican brand in Lakewood and throughout most of the county.

Not only are there no elected Republicans in Lakewood, but now they can't even field candidates for countywide office (it's downright frightening that a mediocre candidate like Tim Hagan can be UNOPPOSED).

Caribou Barbie's disastrous visit to Lakewood only aggravates the situation. She personifies everything that Lakewood finds wrong with the current GOP. The decision to bring her here was is the stupidest thing I've seen since Dukakis climbed into a tank.

Even though I'm a partisan democrat, I'm very concerned about the GOP's future. I think they are going to drift EVEN FURTHER to the hateful right, which could turn large parts of the nation (especially outside the Confederacy, Alaska, Wyoming and Utah) into one-party areas. As Jimmy Dimora has demonstrated, this is not good for anyone, dems or republicans.

I think that Mike's post says more about Mike than it does the republican party...

a little song to help Mike deal with all of that bottled up hate and anger (clicky)

All propaganda has to be popular and has to accommodate itself to the comprehension of the least intelligent of those whom it seeks to reach.

[Danielle Masters]

As a once registered republican I totally agree Mike. I guess I will get flamed for this statement too but I am really ashamed of the recent hateful GOP campaign. The hate that fills people is very disturbing.

[Will Brown]

I think the campaign was too hateful, certainly, but I thought both sides were uncivil. This forum, for example, had more than its share of venality, most, if I recall correctly, directed at the Republicans (many posters seemed to think that either Bush was running, or that McCain was a clone of Bush).

But if you look at our history, you would realize that campaigning has been a dirty business for almost as long as we have been a country. I don't think that will be easily changed, as a consistently civil candidate would be viewed by many as lacking strength; so it is regular business that you have staffers who throw the mud, and disclaim personal responsibility. Apparently it works.

Don't consider me to be defending the Republicans. I don't vote a party ticket, and I don't give money to either side.

[Brian Pedaci]

I think you need to look up the definition of venality, unless you're suggesting we were all bought off.

[Jim O'Bryan]

However, there is a deep and troubling trend here. To paraphrase Ronald Reagan (who I suspect won Lakewood twice)...."Lakewood didn't leave the GOP, the GOP left Lakewood".

All propaganda has to be popular and has to accommodate itself to the comprehension of the least intelligent of those whom it seeks to reach.

Stephen

More to the point, this is absolutely correct. For a long time you had to be Republican to get elected in Lakewood. Robert Lawther, David Harbarger, and the 4 time mayor Anthony Sinagra. These were people that also realized how little national politics played on a local level. But came out of a incredibly strong Lakewood club.

That would appear to be over, for the time being.

Of late Ryan Patrick Demro seemed to be one person that could actually reach across the aisle, while carving himself out of somewhat of a folk hero with residents whose life he touched. Of course that was lost when he possibly over reached, with a terribly run campaign for mayor.

As for Mike's anger I can completely understand the frustration, first their was the persecution then prosecution of Bill Clinton. When the Whitewater investigation turned into Monicagate. Unlike many I can see why Slick Willey need the prosecution, when he cut into prime time TV to lie to the American people about a personal failure. He did lie, and that is a no-no for presidents.

Well until the election of the many that would bring honor back to the White House. Then with their candidate in office it would seem that Republicans turned their back on everything they seemed to want to stand for, since Lincoln. Lies, imperialism, bigger government, and on and on and on. Not one of them batted an eye, walking lock step assuring America that this guy was good, no great. Not just in the pocket of big business, but a few select big businesses.

Then as the 2008 election neared the national Republicans jumped ship in mass. They would not even allow GWB to appear at the convention, what alone in ads or with their candidate. Why? After all for eight years we were assured this was the golden candidate? Then watching from afar we were able to see one of the good Rs be taken in with promise, no guarantees of power. Hiring the very people that derailed his candidacy. I think it was at this point he lost any hope of male democratic support. Then came Maverick getting slapped down and made to accept a unvetted Governor Palin. After all, she was a woman, and everyone that supported Hillary would blindly with no mind follow her. Then instantly while once again we were assure she was the real deal, she was put on ice. I mean what would happen if the American people actually found out how unprepared Governor Palin was!

I think what bother me and to a certain extent maybe Mike and others is the blind party line BS. As we have watched this country become the laughing stock of the world, we had to listen to how great it was all going. How good John McCain would be, and how ready Governor Palin was to lead the country. It is just pitiful when cloaked in "we love America."

So with that in mind maybe you can understand Mike's frustrations.

As I mentioned in other threads, no critical thinking, no pro American thinking, just party line rhetoric. And as with fashion it seems to make it to middle America much later than the coasts. Nw we have the Republicans turning on themselves and letting out the truth as the party sinks and looks to redefine itself.

I hope that the Republican party does find itself as it was years ago, smaller government, tight purse strings, and forget the imperialist BS that has ruined us around the world. I also hope that the Democratic party finds their balls and starts standing for something, other than the other party.

I think we have ended the darkest 8 years of American history. Hoover can now rest as he will no longer be "the worst ever."

The future? Who knows?

Judging from world opinion, we have a chance.

Judging from national opinion, we have a chance.


.

[Stephen Eisel]

Judging from world opinion, we have a chance.

Judging from national opinion, we have a chance.

Home for the Holidays (1995)~ "Opinions are like assholes. Everybody's got one and everyone thinks everyone else's stinks."

[Jim O'Bryan]

Home for the Holidays (1995)~ "Opinions are like assholes. Everybody's got one and everyone thinks everyone else's stinks."

[/quote]

So you do understand Mike's frustrations.

Or is this where I write, "Wow two minutes, I won a dollar"


.

[Jim O'Bryan]

To get this discussion back on track in a more positive light, then where the Buddha Steve was at.

Mr. Frost moving to Lakewood from Rocky River should be a great sign for Lakewood Republicans. He is the real deal, with a strong history in the party and worked with Anthony Sinagra when he was much younger.

Speaking of young and Sinagra, Chris Sinagra I would think could have a very nice career in Lakewood and in politics.

Throw in Ryan Patrick Demro coming back, it would seem there could be a future for Rs in Lakewood, against the very strong D machine built by FitzGerald, Bullock, and Jeni Matousek.

It will be interesting.


.

[Stephen Eisel]

Stephen

More to the point, this is absolutely correct. For a long time you had to be Republican to get elected in Lakewood. Robert Lawther, David Harbarger, and the 4 time mayor Anthony Sinagra. These were people that also realized how little national politics played on a local level. But came out of a incredibly strong Lakewood club.

The GOP did not leave Lakewood. GOP voters left Lakewood.

Lakewood being very middle of the road, somewhat cautious at the state and national level (used to be exactly 50-50 for national elections) and the elephant in the room-race.

False! Lakewood has overwhelmingly supported the Democratic ticket in the last 3 presidential elections. The 50-50 is hogwash

[Stephen Eisel]

As for Mike's anger I can completely understand the frustration

The Dems win the Whitehouse and he is upset with the republicans... That sounds rational to me