BS: Coke=Dems, Pepsi=Republicans?

Subject: BS: Coke=Dems, Pepsi=Republicans?
From: Mrrzy
Date: 22 Sep 04 - 01:54 PM

Or is that just here?

Subject: RE: BS: Coke=Dems, Pepsi=Republicans?
From: frogprince
Date: 22 Sep 04 - 01:59 PM

Are you somewhat serious, Mrrzy? I don't think you could get any correlation among people I know around here.

Subject: RE: BS: Coke=Dems, Pepsi=Republicans?
From: Nerd
Date: 22 Sep 04 - 02:18 PM

Me either. In GA you probably wouldn't find to many Pepsi folks at all...but I could be wrong. Any Georgia Mudcatters have a comment?

Subject: RE: BS: Coke=Dems, Pepsi=Republicans?
From: Joe_F
Date: 22 Sep 04 - 02:29 PM

Last I heard, it was CocaCommunism in China, PepsiCommunism in the USSR.

The damnedest things can become party questions.

Subject: RE: BS: Coke=Dems, Pepsi=Republicans?
From: pdq
Date: 22 Sep 04 - 02:34 PM

During the 1960 presidential campaign, Kennedy took a great deal of money from Coke Cola, Nixon from Pepsi.

One reason for the donations was the opening of foreign markets. This battle was called "The Cola Wars".

In later years, with the opening of China as a major market, I believe Coke Cola and McDonald's were two of the early retail businesses allowed to establish shops in China.

Most Americans drink Coke. This is especially true in rural areas. Pepsi has little flavor - kind of like sugar water with dye thrown in. Pepsi has some following, mainly urban.

Subject: RE: BS: Coke=Dems, Pepsi=Republicans?
From: PoppaGator
Date: 22 Sep 04 - 02:42 PM

I prefer Coke, which outsells Pepsi by a huge margin here in metropolitan New Orleans (where there is a fairly even split among the population between the two parties).

Coke is also more popular in its birthplace, Atlanta, but my understanding is that Pepsi -- insipid though it may be -- is by far the bigger seller throughout the USA as a whole (perhaps due to its corporate connection with several major fast-food chains.)

Nixon's connections with Pepsi turned out to have lasting worldwide implications, so there is probably something to the "equation" that serves as this thread's title.

Subject: RE: BS: Coke=Dems, Pepsi=Republicans?
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 22 Sep 04 - 03:17 PM

They both taste pretty well the same to me. Rather unpleasant. I'd much prefer a lemonade, if I'm past my limit for driving.

I suppose if you work hard enough at it the differences could be identified and elaborated on.

I'm reminded of the beer festival at Wallingford a couple of weeks ago - about 50 different beers in their casks on racks behind the table. A man next to me asked the young women serving what she recommended - "I don't know - personally I think they all taste much the same." Which isn't what you're really supposed to say at such events...

Subject: RE: BS: Coke=Dems, Pepsi=Republicans?
From: Don Firth
Date: 22 Sep 04 - 03:18 PM

Root beer. (But that doesn't mean I'm voting for Nader.)

Don Firth

Subject: RE: BS: Coke=Dems, Pepsi=Republicans?
From: Nerd
Date: 22 Sep 04 - 03:22 PM

I can definitely tell them apart and prefer Coke. I think Poppagator makes a good point: regardless of what most Americans would CHOOSE, the corporate connections between certain restaurants and the two soft drink giants might result in more of the other drink being consumed. In other words, even if we all preferred Coke, Pepsi's connections with McDonald's could make Pepsi the more popular pop.

That's interesting about Pepsi and Nixon! I was not aware of that. PoppaGator, what are the lasting worldwide implications thereof?

Subject: RE: BS: Coke=Dems, Pepsi=Republicans?
From: Amos
Date: 22 Sep 04 - 04:11 PM

I am sure there is no preponderance of alignment between these four classes (C, P, D and R).

A

Subject: RE: BS: Coke=Dems, Pepsi=Republicans?
From: Bill D
Date: 22 Sep 04 - 06:03 PM

well, I think Coke outsells Pepsi generally, but I, a sincere Democrat have always preferred Pepsi.....I don't think it is a very profitable idea to judge that way...*grin*

Coke has a 'bite' to its flavor that distinguishes it, and is almost a generic term, like Kleenex, and I suspect that Republicans are more susceptable to "Name Brands", which gives them an edge in this tally.

Subject: RE: BS: Coke=Dems, Pepsi=Republicans?
From: GUEST,Claymore
Date: 22 Sep 04 - 06:26 PM

Hell no, back when I was voting democrat, the Coke company came out with New Coke, which tasted like Pepsi. I bought up every case of old Coke I could get my hands on, figuring I could sell them at a couple of bucks a pop, which I did, until Coke regained it's senses and put the old Coke back on the market.

That turned out to be a four month lesson in Market Futures and made me a nominal Republican ever since...

Subject: RE: BS: Coke=Dems, Pepsi=Republicans?
From: Nerd
Date: 22 Sep 04 - 06:35 PM

Yes, Claymore, new Coke DID taste like Pepsi. Boy did THAT suck!

Subject: RE: BS: Coke=Dems, Pepsi=Republicans?
From: Bill D
Date: 22 Sep 04 - 06:39 PM

I always suspected that Republicans were defined by 'market share' concepts..*grin*....whatever leads to more $$$, huh?

Subject: RE: BS: Coke=Dems, Pepsi=Republicans?
From: PoppaGator
Date: 22 Sep 04 - 06:58 PM

Nerd --

As noted in a couple of posts immediately above mine, Pepsi got the inside track when capitalism made its first inroads "behind the Iron Curtain" during the Nixon years.

One of the writers tells us he thought one brand is prevalent in Russia and the other in China -- I'm not sure about that, but it might well be true. Nixon was the first American president not only to visit Communist China, but the first to recognize its existence, so I would have thought his Pepsi-influence would be more evident in China than Russia, but maybe not, who knows.

Subject: RE: BS: Coke=Dems, Pepsi=Republicans?
From: PoppaGator
Date: 22 Sep 04 - 11:57 PM

My employer provides software solutions for companies that sell products via vending machines. My coworkers who provide customer telephone support and who travel to provide on-site training and installation services know much more than I do about vending-machine sales trends nationwide.

They tell me that most of our customers -- that is, a large number of privately-owned vending operations scattered across most of the US -- sell much more Pepsi than Coke. The New Orleans area is an exception to this general rule, and of course there are numerous other exceptions here and there.

PDQ may be correct in asserting that Coke is more popular in rural (i.e., thinly populated) areas while Pepsi does better in cities.

Vending-machine sales are worth considering because they have little or no dependance upon the corporate alliances linking Pepsi to KFC/TacoBell/etc.

Pepsi's success is nothing new -- it's the reason Coca-Cola brought out that stupid "New Coke" several years ago, which was nothing more than imitation Pepsi. If they hadn't switched back to the old favorite original formula, they'd have lost the customers who always *preferred* Coke -- millions of people, even if not a majority - and the company would be long gone by now.

Subject: RE: BS: Coke=Dems, Pepsi=Republicans?
From: GUEST
Date: 23 Sep 04 - 03:16 AM

Actually, Republicans drink Dr. Pepper...


I'm a Pepper, he's a Pepper, she's a Pepper... Wouldn't you like to be a Pepper, too?

Drink Dr. Pepper.

Subject: RE: BS: Coke=Dems, Pepsi=Republicans?
From: GUEST,Mingulay
Date: 23 Sep 04 - 04:01 AM

You may care to look carefully at the small print on your chosen soft drink packaging, this shows who actually makes it. For example Guest with no name cites Dr Pepper which is actually made by Coca Cola. Lots of well known brand names bamboozle in this way.

Subject: RE: BS: Coke=Dems, Pepsi=Republicans?
From: Zany Mouse
Date: 23 Sep 04 - 07:22 AM

Well, if anyone knows about these things, Peter - YOU should! lol

Rhiannon

Subject: RE: BS: Coke=Dems, Pepsi=Republicans?
From: robomatic
Date: 23 Sep 04 - 10:30 AM

It's fun to try this out, but you'll find that amongst Americans, it don't break down that way. A lot of it is regional, Coke is headquartered in Atlanta, I believe, I dunno about Pepsi.

My best friend drinks Pepsi first, you could leave a case of it in my fridge during a summer heat wave and I wouldn't touch it. We are both dems.

I've also tried the Chevy is Dems, Ford is Reps but it don't work. There are complicated regionalisms which trump such an over-arching theme. (The only thing we can agree on is that BMWs are for assh*les).

Subject: RE: BS: Coke=Dems, Pepsi=Republicans?
From: GUEST,Mingulay
Date: 23 Sep 04 - 11:20 AM

.....BMW's are for assh*les.

Is that not a slur on the good name of the average and useful arsehole? They serve a very necessary function which is more than can be said for BMW drivers. Incidentally, have you noticed that the new MINI (which is a BMW) has what appears to be the tiniest cup holder ever. It is in fact where the driver has to stow his/her brain before being able to drive off.

Subject: RE: BS: Coke=Dems, Pepsi=Republicans?
From: Uncle_DaveO
Date: 23 Sep 04 - 01:23 PM

GUEST Mingulay said, in part:

For example Guest with no name cites Dr Pepper which is actually made by Coca Cola. Lots of well known brand names bamboozle in this way.

I don't see any bamboozlement there. It's a different drink, merely manufactured by a given company. Many companies have different models, if that's what to call it.

Dr. Pepper originally was a separate company, but was bought up by Coca Cola. But the Dr. Pepper flavor is still the fresh, fruity flavor it has been, with no hint of masquerading as Coke.

Dave Oesterreich

Subject: RE: BS: Coke=Dems, Pepsi=Republicans?
From: frogprince
Date: 23 Sep 04 - 01:28 PM

Dr. Pepper was around for decades, many I think but I don't know the specifics, as more of a regional thing, before it was bought up and promoted nationally in any substantial way. More power to those who like it, I just can't get it yet myself; but over the years I have had differences in preference sneak up on me, so who knows.

Subject: RE: BS: Coke=Dems, Pepsi=Republicans?
From: WFDU - Ron Olesko
Date: 23 Sep 04 - 01:47 PM

Isn't RC Cola still popular with southern voters?

For me it depends on what I'm eating. Nothing beats a Pepsi with pizza, but if I am having a nice deli sandwich a Coke is the choice. Seven-Up is the choice for fish, and Dr. Pepper works well with fowl.

Ron "The Galloping Gourmet" Olesko

Subject: RE: BS: Coke=Dems, Pepsi=Republicans?
From: Nerd
Date: 23 Sep 04 - 02:29 PM

Anyone remember those RC Cola ads with the young hobo/folksinger character in them:

Rode fifty miles with some chickens
In the back of a pickup truck
Rode with a guy who smoked cigars
and charged me half a buck....

Me and my RC, Me and my RC
What's good enough for other folks
Ain't good enough for me.

I cannot believe I remembered that! Talk about the power of song!

Subject: RE: BS: Coke=Dems, Pepsi=Republicans?
From: Mrrzy
Date: 23 Sep 04 - 04:07 PM

Well, this has been interesting. What prompted my question was noting that here in Cville, as I wander from company to company as a temp, it seems the staunch reps have pepsi machines, the staunch dems have coke machines, and the people who do money or education have both... I personally am a coke preferrer, pepsi tastes like melted Kraft caramels to me. Yes, I'm a dem, or is that redundant since I'm here?

Subject: RE: BS: Coke=Dems, Pepsi=Republicans?
From: Bobert
Date: 23 Sep 04 - 04:24 PM

Word on the street is that Bush prefers Coke...

Bobert

Subject: RE: BS: Coke=Dems, Pepsi=Republicans?
From: GUEST
Date: 23 Sep 04 - 05:02 PM

What's sad is the millions of dollars going to both these companies who sell little more than sugar, water and CO2. There budgets for advertising alone are larger that the GDP of probably 20% of the poorest nations. People are starving and many of you are sitting here discussing the flavor of tis stuff and who might like it more.

Pitiful.

Get a life - or better yet, die and leave your money to the poor.

Subject: RE: BS: Coke=Dems, Pepsi=Republicans?
From: WFDU - Ron Olesko
Date: 23 Sep 04 - 05:07 PM

Well Guest, it is obvious that you drink RC!

Subject: RE: BS: Coke=Dems, Pepsi=Republicans?
From: GUEST
Date: 23 Sep 04 - 05:19 PM

I don't drink any of that stuff.

It's bad for me.

Subject: RE: BS: Coke=Dems, Pepsi=Republicans?
From: beardedbruce
Date: 23 Sep 04 - 07:09 PM

Dr. Pepper is best on a cold winter night, heated to near boiling, and served with a lemon slice floating in it.

IMO

Subject: RE: BS: Coke=Dems, Pepsi=Republicans?
From: robomatic
Date: 23 Sep 04 - 08:34 PM

I used to be a DJ in University of Alaska Anchorage K Building. For a few years they had both coke and pepsi machines, then they pulled out the coke machines and added MORE pepsi machines. I came to the conclusion that they made a deal with the Pepsi distributor. Pissed me off because I was there after hours and I had to remember to bring my own drink.

Subject: RE: BS: Coke=Dems, Pepsi=Republicans?
From: Bill D
Date: 23 Sep 04 - 08:42 PM

both Coke & Pepsi have a history of offering 'deals' to institutions who will offer ONLY their product. It is unfair, but it works...

Subject: RE: BS: Coke=Dems, Pepsi=Republicans?
From: Little Hawk
Date: 23 Sep 04 - 08:55 PM

Well, maybe there's something to that. When I was a kid I loved Coke and detested Pepsi. I have always detested Pepsi. It's too sweet. Now, however, I don't like either one of them any more...which is how I feel about the Democrats and Republicans too....

Like I say, maybe there's something to it.