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The remarkable death of Dixie America

By the beginning of the 21st century the Dixification of America was more or less complete. Bill Clinton, from Arkansas, had handed over the presidency to George Bush, a Texan. Congressional Republicans were led predominantly by Southerners. The governing agenda was low taxes, the revival of conservative moral standards and a hardened foreign policy.

But now consider this. Just six years later, Dixie is in eclipse. With the Democratic victory in the mid-terms last year the leadership in Congress has passed into the hands of Westerners from California and Nevada with an agenda – antiwar, liberal on abortion and gay rights – wholly at odds with the South.

Even more striking, the Democrats look likely to nominate as their presidential candidate someone from outside the South – Hillary Clinton or Barack Obama – and, at least on current form, she or he is the firm favourite to win next year.

The one Democratic contender from the South is John Edwards but the former South Carolina senator has gone out of his way to oppose most of what his fellow Southerners believe – from the war to socially conservative values. And how many good ole boys have paid $400 for a haircut?
Read entire article at Times (UK)