> gotten the cart before the horse

I think you got it perfectly hitched. When we discussed this before, I thought it was clearly established that it was a creation of the (color age) TV pundits, and used to be revolved even-handedly between the parties with no specific referent. Of course, language being what it is, people established their own connotations so now you're stuck with a colour scheme at variance with the whole civilised world... ;)