Ain't what she used to be

Ezra Klein on the waning influence of the American South in American politics, saying that times are tough and don't look to improve anytime soon. Which, I would think, contributes substantially to the tea party freakout. This region is used to being in the mix. The South has always been in the fold, real and perceived as Atrios says:

This was true for so many years that the politician archetype in pop culture was always some middle aged white dude with at least a modest southern accent.

What a fascinating part of the world. The American South.