Permanently Blue

November 15, 2010
Timing is everything. When Loewe wrote, "Democrats have the opportunity to control Congress and the White House for... the next 24 years," wherein the Dems readjust and secure their grip on the entire political structure of the United States, a little thing called the midterm elections of 2010 had yet to play out. For Loewe, this position isn't idealism, it's confidence based on the current economic climate, the decline of the Republican party, the growth of the Democratic party during Obama's campaign, and a general liberalization of political viewpoints. Of course, the pendulum swing of November 2010 proved the opposite (at least for now), making it hard to buy the "opportunity" for domination Loewe predicts with unrelenting optimism throughout his fast-paced book. "After 2012, if all goes well, the Democrats will have been in power for six years... the American Government is still very much a Democratic stronghold." Often repeating himself, Loewe nonetheless persuasively sets forth measures Democrats need to take in order to hold a majority, and many of them, involving demographics, redistricting, population growth, Republican party turmoil, and voting patterns, do seem to trend toward a 2020 that washes the Red out of American politics.

September 1, 2010
The same social and political forces that made possible the election of President Obama also make possible a permanent majority status for the Democrats for the next 25 years, asserts political commentator and avowed Democrat Loewe. He offers historical perspective on the ebb and flow of the fortunes of the two main political parties, highlighting the enduring progressive legacy of the Democrats during the Roosevelt and Johnson administrations, when the party held control of the White House and Congress. The future may hold similar promise because of the Republicans self-destructive move to the radical Right and stronger Democratic political strategizing and fund-raising. More fundamentally, Democrats are likely to be helped by favorable demographics (younger, more liberal; more minorities) and upcoming redistricting. Loewe progresses from the inauguration of Obama through a very detailed projection of the reelection of Obama and the Democratic search for his successor, conceding Republican victories in 2010, in an analysis that asserts that the longer view belongs to Democrats. Whatever readers political viewpoints, Loewe offers strong analysis of political trends.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2010, American Library Association.)