Political Terms.

 It is good to know some political terms.

Yellow Dog Democrat was mainly used to describe voters in south eastern US and how they would vote.  In the days prior to the civil rights movement, most people in the south would vote democratic, so much so that it was said they would vote for a "yellow dog" rather than a republican or independent. It is said that in South Carolina and Mississippi the democratic party has "yellow dog club".

In 1848 Abraham Lincoln used the term to ridicule democratic presidential candidates who modeled themselves on Andrew Jackson.

"Carolina Dog" allegedly a bred of dog in America only.  Used in 1928 to describe democrats who voted for Herbert Hoover because Al Smith (Dem candidate for President) was a Roman Catholic.

"Boll Weevil".  In the mid to late 20th Century term for conservative southern democrats who while supporting New Deal and Fair Deal were "opposed to de-segregation and civil rights movement.   This group ran a third party candidate in 1948-Strum Thurmond, in 1960 Harry Byrd and in 1968 George Wallace.  Representative Howard W. Smith first used the term in Virginia in 1950's; term became more popular in the 1980's.  A boll weevil is a "pest that was destructive of cotton crops".

In the north the term "Gypsy Moth Republicans" was used to describe moderate republicans in north east and midwest who oppose Ronald Reagan's economic policies.

"Blue Dog Democrats". Democrats who were "centrists or conservatives" on national defense. (Don't know how they fell about civil rights or de-segregation.

Of course there are "RINO" and "DINO"; but they will have to wait for another day.

October 5, 2022.  Politics and 2000 Modern US.