Vegasmike,
In 2003 8 out of 10 states with the highest levels of poverty all had GOP governors currently serving, or finishing up their term.
1 Louisiana GOP
2 Mississippi GOP
3 New Mexico GOP
4 West Virginia DNC
5 Kentucky DNC
6 Alabama GOP
7 Texas GOP
8 Oklahoma GOP
9 Arkansas GOP
10 Arizona GOP
The next 15 states with the highest levels had 8 GOP governors to 7 DNC - statistically it is close enough to 50-50 to call it that.
The 10 states with the lowest poverty levels had 3 GOP governors to the DNCs 6. And again - all were either currently serving or finishing their term in 2003.
41 Vermont DNC
42 Wyoming GOP
43 Massachusetts GOP
44 Virginia DNC
45 Delaware DNC
46 New Jersey DNC
47 Maryland DNC
48 Connecticut GOP
49 Minnesota Independent
50 New Hampshire DNC
It is also interesting to note that wealth redistribution is happening on a state level - my state (MA) gets back about 82 cents for every dollar we send to the IRS. Pretty much all the 'red states' take more than they pay in. Nevada is a big exception to this - they are the only solid red state in a big group of blue states at the top of the payer states (49th - just behind New Jersey on the list of payer states).
I'm guessing that you are from Nevada - kinda sucks that we keep having to pay for those slacker states doesn't it?
Oh, and the quote you listed is not Lincoln, though that does not change the fact that it is a good one. It was some pastor but I forget his name.
Steve