Politics: Illinois isn’t flyover country?
“Day By Day” is my favorite online-only comic strip. Today, they dis the people who dismiss anything outside the Beltway and the Left Coast.
And what is “flyover country?” From Wikipedia:
“Flyover country or flyover states is a somewhat derogatory Americanism popular among entertainers, businessmen, and others concerned with doing business on the coasts. The name comes from the fact that many such individuals shuttle between coastal locations — e.g., Manhattan and Los Angeles — by air. “Flyover country” thus refers to the part of the country that such Americans only view by air. Even Chicago, one of the larger cities in the U.S., is often considered part of the region. However, the term tends to refer to regions such as the Great Plains and the Rocky Mountains which are sparsely populated and not as much of a draw to visitors as the coastal regions. It is a term that became somewhat common during the 2000 U.S. presidential election[1] due to the tendency of such states to lean towards George W. Bush.
Note for Chris Muir: Chris wants Peorians’ input over whether Illinois is “fly over country.”
My two cents: It most certainly is. Our very own Gov. Rod Blagojevich, a Democrat, cannot stand to live in Springfield, located in the moderate-to-conservative middle of the state. So he lives in liberal, gun-control-loving Chicago, and flies back and forth on state business. All on the taxpayer’s dime, of course. There is Cook County. There is Sangamon County. The rest are flyover counties.
July 5th, 2008 at 10:13 pm
Obviously Illinois ceased to be “flyover country” in the political/journalistic sense when Obama came along. Is that, perhaps, the implied punchline of this particular comic strip?
On the other hand, since Illinois has been a deep blue state for the last few election cycles and it’s pretty much in the bag for Obama, it could be EVEN MORE of a flyover state than ever because neither presidential candidate will want, or need, to do much campaigning here.
July 6th, 2008 at 12:41 am
It’s Jan’s view that Illinois is a deep blue state-liberals love labels. Of course, every town or State has a mix of views,not just red and blue.
But it could be read as dissing Peoria-arghhh!
Peoria Pundit rules-if you guys could suggest a modification here,I’ll rework the toon tomorrow.
Because that’s how it plays in Peoria!
July 6th, 2008 at 12:49 am
Chris: I saw it as Democrats being dismissive of MOST states that don’t touch an ocean. Jan thinks of Illinois as in the pocket for the Dems, which is its own kind of dismissiveness, when you think about it.
And I love your cartoon. It is not only the most politically aware strip out there … the women are hot! When are you going to sell good-girl art? I never did get to see Sam’s ammo calender …
You realize, though, that most Peorians grind their teeth at the cliche “Play in Peoria” …
July 6th, 2008 at 12:59 am
Hey there,Billy!
Jan,of course, is dismissive as her character should be…and yet,I certainly see your point.Please play around a bit,suggest some direction from a Peorian? point of view,it’ll be fun!
I can hear the grinding of teeth from here! But it really is all in fun.But I don’t want to dis Peoria,and that you’re a reader from way back(I keep track).
It’s 2am here,gotta hit the hay,but as to women,2 things:
I will be emailing you something tomorrow,and something of that subject matter will be available 4 sale at the end of this month!
Thanks,
Chris
July 6th, 2008 at 1:04 am
Just saw the bolded(is that correct way to say that?) words,much appreciated.
Still,give me a hand with this,it’ll be a hoot!
Thanks,catch ya tomorrow….
July 6th, 2008 at 8:16 am
Billy, you are talking about Peoria being “flyover country” on a much smaller scale. -It does make sense, perhaps as an extension of terms like “”downstate” and “Forgottonia”.
But I assume that Chris’ question refers to “flyover country” on a national scale.
In the political sense it seems to refer to states or regions whose electoral votes are not likely to be contested because they are pretty much in the bag for one party/candidate or the other. Therefore, the candidates fly over them on their way to places like Florida, Ohio, and other battleground states they need to win.
In that sense, Peoria and all of Illinois are still flyover country even with Obama as presumptive Democratic nominee. So Jan might be more accurate in saying “Well, even with Obama Illinois is STILL flyover country.”
July 6th, 2008 at 2:15 pm
Yeah, Peoria is flyover country. Obama lost Peoria County to Hynes in the ‘04 primary. And Obama came in third in Tazewell County behind Hynes and Hull.
Barack Obama is the Paris Hilton of politics. People think he’s cool, but don’t really know why. He hasn’t changed anything in Illinois. As the catch phrase alludes too, however, Peorians are not considered the best of judge of whats new and cool.
Obama didn’t play in Peoria very well, which re-enforces the Plays in Peoria stereotype and that Peoria is flyover country both at the national and state level.
It’s a great strip. Don’t worry about offending Peorians. Everybody does it and its often deserved. Peorians are just happy to be talked about outside of Peoria at all.
July 6th, 2008 at 2:20 pm
TaxMeMore may be right. Peorians are very insecure. It’s what drives the muckety-mucks into thinking we must spend, spend, spend in order to have mini-versions of everything Chicago or NYC has.
July 6th, 2008 at 2:45 pm
I’d also point out Hollywood and New York have more claim to making Obama in to the contender than Peoria has. As it turned out the election that mattered in 04 was the primary.
Now Chicago being flyover country will change dramatically if Obama wins. Think of all the new money Daley and Stroger and Madigan will get their hands on even after their tax increases. Most of the DNC has already moved to Chicago. So there will be rings to be kissed in Chicago in between New York and California.
But the rest of Illinois is still flyover country. And Democrats certainly aren’t proposing any real world solutions to anything in Illinois. Illinois Democrats are throwing political tantrums while salivating and jockeying for position under an Obama Presidency and the rewards that will come.
Your strip is even smarter than intended. Does the caller know Democrats are destroying Peoria and Illinois who only propose more spending without specific programs and fiscal accountability? Does Jan not know that? Does the caller know there is more to Illinois than just Chicago and how Chicago politicians are thought of outside of Chicago? Does Jan think Chicago and Illinois are synonymous, like the arrogant Chicago politicians running things are prone to do?
There’s the opinions of Peorians that pay attention, and then there will be the majority opinion of those that don’t pay attention and just think Barack Obama is cool. As usual, Peorians are just late to the game.
July 6th, 2008 at 3:02 pm
Chicago has the moniker of America’s Second City, after New York. How exactly does that make it flyover country?
July 6th, 2008 at 5:52 pm
Chicago has never been flyover country. There are, however, a handful of ignorant and arrogant folks on the coasts who have an appalling grasp of geography (and trade, and transit, and banking, and …), typically hating on so-called “flyover country” for being ignorant and bigoted, while being unable to locate Chicago on a map and full of the hate for places they’ve never been. Because nothing says “sophisticated” like “irrational hatred” and “never left home to go somewhere new.”
It’s all right, though — if folks like that could FIND the Midwest, then they’d COME here, and they’re mostly not very nice.
July 6th, 2008 at 7:12 pm
The midwest is a great place to live.I was there for 5 years…
University of Cincinnati grad!