40
Menu Home Diaries dKosopedia Search Create account Login Lose Your Password? wide narrow Advertising Support Bloggers' Rights! Candidates Blue Majority Candidates The End of the Reagan Era by DHinMI Sun Jul 06, 2008 at 07:29:41 PM PDT What makes a political era? In trying to understand any particular political era, it's necessary to understand the previous era, its duration, its characteristics, what brought it in to being, what stresses led to its demise. In trying to figure out our politics since the late sixties, and definitely since the early eighties, few books have been as helpful to me as a collection of essays published in 1989 by Steve Fraser and Gary Gerstle, Rise and Fall of the New Deal Order: 19301980 . In their introductory essay, Fraser and Gerstle laid out the premise underlying their investigation of a political order: Our notion of "political order" draws its conceptual inspiration from the notion of "electoral system" and "party system" developed by political scientists and the "new political historians" in recent years. These scholar have depicted American political history since 1800 in terms of relatively long periods of electoral stability punctuated by brief but intense political upheavals and electoral realignments. In each of the five periods of electoral stability (18001820's, 1820's1850's, 1850's1890's, 1890's1930's, 1930's1970's), the major parties had a fixed relationship to an electoral coalition; the size of the parties' respective coalitions, in turn, determined the relationship that prevailed between the two parties—in particular, whether one dominated or whether the two struggled on a relatively equal footing... This approach diminishes the importance of particular political actors—presidents, senators, and others—as well as of the normal two, four, and sixyear electoral cycles. It elevates, by contrast, importance of economic events and social trends. Fundamental changes in political life—those which produce a change in party systems—are seen as issuing from crises in the nation's economy, social structure, and political structure... [...] In probing why such fundamental historical events are required to change party systems, the new political historians have generally offered "ethnocultural" explanations. American voters, at least from the midnineteenth to the midtwentieth century, they have argued, viewed political parties as the protectors of their most treasured beliefs and vital interests: their religions, their ethnic traditions, their families and their neighborhoods. Voters thus developed profound emotional loyalties to parties; these loyalties, in turn, influenced individual electoral behavior far more than rational reflections on a party's platform or shortterm, instrumental calculations of the likely return on casting a ballot for one party or another. Such loyalties were not easily forsaken. Only major economic and social crises triggered broad shifts in loyalty from one party to another. The New Deal voting coalition was anchored by Southern white protestants and Northern Catholics and Jews. Membership in labor unions, then as now, made one far more likely to vote Democratic. Unlike now, however, where the percentage of workers represented by a union is barely over 10%, by the mid1950's union members were almost 35% of the workforce. Within a short time Black voters, previously loyal to the party of Lincoln, shifted allegiance to the Democrats (although they were disenfranchised in the Jim Crow South). After the economic and social devastation of the Great Depression—which lasted throughout the thirties, and didn't fully lift until the country mobilized for war starting in about 1940—Roosevelt, Truman and the New Dealers in Congress used tax policy to largely ameliorate the worst in wealth and income disparities. Increased unionization led to wage pattern bargaining, where union contracts raised wages for all workers in that particular sector. In his book The Conscience of a Liberal , Paul Krugman calls the 20 year period of the Roosevelt and Truman administrations, when the ultrawealthy became the merely wealthy and the middle class expanded to include the majority of Americans—even if it included few minorities—the Great Compression. The US didn't follow the path of almost every industrialized nation and create a social democratic welfare state. But after the Kennedy assassination and the huge 1964 Democratic landslide, the Johnson administration pushed through the Great Society initiatives, including Medicare, to go with New Deal and postWWII measures like Social Security, the G.I. Bill and FHA loans to further expand and extend the partial welfare state. Johnson also, of course, finally brought the government to grant full franchise and citizenship to Black Americans by passing the Voting Rights and Civil Rights acts. These ended the Jim Crow system in the

End of the Reagan Era

Embed Size (px)

DESCRIPTION

A narrative recounting of our political history since the new deal. Good for use in framing and narrative making/story telling

Citation preview

Menu

TheEndoftheReaganErabyDHinMI SunJul06,2008at07:29:41PMPDT Whatmakesapoliticalera?Intryingtounderstandanyparticularpoliticalera,it'snecessaryto understandthepreviousera,itsduration,itscharacteristics,whatbroughtitintobeing,what stressesledtoitsdemise.Intryingtofigureoutourpoliticssincethelatesixties,anddefinitelysince theearlyeighties,fewbookshavebeenashelpfultomeasacollectionofessayspublishedin1989by SteveFraserandGaryGerstle, RiseandFalloftheNewDealOrder:19301980 .Intheir introductoryessay,FraserandGerstlelaidoutthepremiseunderlyingtheirinvestigationofapolitical order:

Home Diaries dKosopedia Search Createaccount Login LoseYourPassword? wide narrow

Advertising

Ournotionof"politicalorder"drawsitsconceptualinspirationfromthenotionof "electoralsystem"and"partysystem"developedbypoliticalscientistsandthe"new politicalhistorians"inrecentyears.ThesescholarhavedepictedAmericanpolitical historysince1800intermsofrelativelylongperiodsofelectoralstabilitypunctuatedby briefbutintensepoliticalupheavalsandelectoralrealignments.Ineachofthefive periodsofelectoralstability(1800 1820's,1820's 1850's,1850's 1890's,1890's 1930's, 1930's1970's),themajorpartieshadafixedrelationshiptoanelectoralcoalitionthe sizeoftheparties'respectivecoalitions,inturn,determinedtherelationshipthat prevailedbetweenthetwoparties inparticular,whetheronedominatedorwhether thetwostruggledonarelativelyequalfooting... Thisapproachdiminishestheimportanceofparticularpoliticalactors presidents, senators,andothers aswellasofthenormaltwo,four,andsixyearelectoralcycles. Itelevates,bycontrast,importanceofeconomiceventsandsocialtrends.Fundamental changesinpoliticallifethosewhichproduceachangeinpartysystemsareseenas issuingfromcrisesinthenation'seconomy,socialstructure,andpoliticalstructure... [...] Inprobingwhysuchfundamentalhistoricaleventsarerequiredtochangeparty systems,thenewpoliticalhistorianshavegenerallyoffered"ethnocultural" explanations.Americanvoters,atleastfromthemidnineteenthtothemidtwentieth century,theyhaveargued,viewedpoliticalpartiesastheprotectorsoftheirmost treasuredbeliefsandvitalinterests:theirreligions,theirethnictraditions,theirfamilies andtheirneighborhoods.Votersthusdevelopedprofoundemotionalloyaltiesto partiestheseloyalties,inturn,influencedindividualelectoralbehaviorfarmorethan rationalreflectionsonaparty'splatformorshort term,instrumentalcalculationsofthe likelyreturnoncastingaballotforonepartyoranother.Suchloyaltieswerenoteasily forsaken.Onlymajoreconomicandsocialcrisestriggeredbroadshiftsinloyaltyfrom onepartytoanother.

SupportBloggers'Rights!

CandidatesBlueMajorityCandidates

TheNewDealvotingcoalitionwasanchoredbySouthernwhiteprotestantsandNorthernCatholics andJews.Membershipinlaborunions,thenasnow,madeonefarmorelikelytovoteDemocratic. Unlikenow,however,wherethepercentageofworkersrepresentedbyaunionisbarelyover10%, bythemid1950'sunionmemberswerealmost35%oftheworkforce.WithinashorttimeBlackvoters, previouslyloyaltothepartyofLincoln,shiftedallegiancetotheDemocrats(althoughtheywere disenfranchisedintheJimCrowSouth). AftertheeconomicandsocialdevastationoftheGreatDepressionwhichlastedthroughoutthe thirties,anddidn'tfullyliftuntilthecountrymobilizedforwarstartinginabout1940Roosevelt, TrumanandtheNewDealersinCongressusedtaxpolicytolargelyamelioratetheworstinwealthand incomedisparities.Increasedunionizationledtowagepatternbargaining,whereunioncontracts raisedwagesforallworkersinthatparticularsector.Inhisbook TheConscienceofaLiberal,Paul Krugmancallsthe20yearperiodoftheRooseveltandTrumanadministrations,whentheultrawealthy becamethemerelywealthyandthemiddleclassexpandedtoincludethemajorityofAmericanseven ifitincludedfewminoritiestheGreatCompression. TheUSdidn'tfollowthepathofalmosteveryindustrializednationandcreateasocialdemocratic welfarestate.ButaftertheKennedyassassinationandthehuge1964Democraticlandslide,the JohnsonadministrationpushedthroughtheGreatSocietyinitiatives,includingMedicare,togowith NewDealandpost WWIImeasureslikeSocialSecurity,theG.I.BillandFHAloanstofurtherexpand andextendthepartialwelfarestate. Johnsonalso,ofcourse,finallybroughtthegovernmenttograntfullfranchiseandcitizenshiptoBlack AmericansbypassingtheVotingRightsandCivilRightsacts.TheseendedtheJimCrowsysteminthe

South.ButprovidingpathsforAfricanAmericanstojointhemainstreamofAmericansociety,according toFraserandGerstle,contributedtothestressesthatledtotheendoftheNewDealorder:

Thestate'srhetoricalcommitmenttodistributingcivilrightsandeconomicabundanceto allitscitizensinevitablypushedracetotheverycenterofnationalpoliticsthenation's growingmilitaryobligationsdiminishedtheeconomicresourcesnecessarytosolveorat leastmitigatethebrewingracialcrisisandtheimportanceattached(bypurveyorsof masscultureandideologuesofamodernistdomestiticity)toachievingafulland expressivepersonallifepredictablyresultedinaninsatiablehungerfor"authenticity" andautonomyinallsocialspheres...TheNewDealorder'sunabashedlymodernist characterintensifiedthesetensionsandwasbound,soonerorlater,toprovokethe moraloutrageoftraditionalists.Asecondsourceoftensionresultedfromthefailureof theDemocraticpartyandorganizedlabor,inthe1930'sand1940's,totransform, throughwagelegislationandunionization,theSouth'ssocialstructure.Such failures...meantthananextraordinarykindofjudicialfiatitself,thoughcloakedin constitutionallanguage,akindofviolence wouldbenecessarytointegrate southerners(andespeciallyblacks)intotheNewDealorder.

Assuggestedinthepreviousparagraph,theeraoftheNewDealwasaperiodofgreatchangein Americanfamilyrelationships.FromtheextendedfamiliesofagrarianAmericathatprevaileduntil roughlytheendofWWI,throughtheascendancyofthenuclearfamilyastheAmericannorm,tothe burgeoningoffeminismandtheincreasedintegrationofwomenintotheworkforce,andthereforethe endofthestay athomemomastheAmericannorm,manymoresandbeliefsaboutfamilyandgender profoundlychanged.Aswithanyprofoundsocialchange,itcreatedpoliticaltensionsanddivides. MuchoftheconflictinAmericanpoliticsfromthelate1960'snearlyuptothepresenthasbeenover socialandculturalissues,mostrootedinthechangeswroughtbyfeminismandracialintegration. JohnsonpredictedthatsigningtheCivilRightsActwouldmeanthattheDemocratswouldlosethe Southforageneration.Inpresidentialpolitics,hewascorrect,andbelowthePresidentiallevel,what hadbeenthe"solidsouth"becamethegeographicbaseoftheRepublicanparty.IntheNorth,where thefrontiersofracialintegrationandaccommodationwerepopulatedbyAfricanAmericansandmostly ethnicCatholicsintheurbanareasandinnerringsuburbs,issueslikeschoolbusingandtheriotsof thelatesixtieswereuseddeftlybyRepublicanstopryaparttheNewDealcoalitionandcreate "ReaganDemocrats."Crimeandwelfare,associatedastheywerewithAfrican Americansintheminds ofmanyofthesevoters,becameproxiesforrace. Onculturalissues,probablynothingcutthroughtheNewDealcoalitionmoretraumaticallythan abortion.Butitwasn'tjustabortion,ormorefringeissueslikeprayerinschools.TheDemocraticParty itselfbecametarredwiththechargeofelitism,whichwas,sinceWallace,associatedwithpointed headedintellectuals,judgesandbureaucratstellingpeopleespeciallymenwhattheycouldand couldn'tdo.Manyoftheculturalissuesbecameproxybattlesoverfeminism,andliberalsandthe Democraticpartybecameassociatedwithtraitsgenerallythoughttobeeffete,ortotaketheroot wordfurther,feminine. Reagancamealongandputasunnysheenovertheangeroftheright.Theworkingclass,sincethe oilshocksofthe1970'sandthedestructionofcoreindustrieslikemining,textiles,heavy manufacturingandbasicsteel,hadbeenpummeledeconomically.Butthedamagehadbeenmitigated bytherelativelyuntouchedNewDealsocialwelfaresystem,justrecentlyexpandedbyJohnson. ReaganfoughtCarterthroughacloseelection,andbyconvincingenoughvotersthathewasn'tcrazy, surgedtoatenpointwin. Onceinoffice,ReagancommencedacounterrevolutionagainsttheNewDeal,butthevisibleattacks tendedtobemostlyinthecontextofwelfareandthelike,whichformostvoterselicitednotionsof raceratherthanhostilitytowardregulationoftheeconomyorgovernmentinterventiontomitigatethe harshnessofunfetteredandunregulatedmarkets.Attacksonregulationandthewelfarestatethat weren'tseenasdisproportionatelybenefitingAfrican Americanslargelywentunderground.Through theReaganera,evenupthroughGeorgeW.Bush'scampaignin2004,theRepublicansstuckmostlyto socialandculturalissues,ortotaxes.Taxeswereanotherproxyforrace,asmanyswingvotersfelt theirtaxesweretoohigh,andfelttheirtaxdollarswerebeingsquanderedonwelfarepaymentsto peoplewhorefusedtoworkoronsupposedlyexorbitantforeignaidtopeopleoverseas.Butpublicly theRepublicanslargelyavoidedfrontalassaultsontheNewDeal. WiththedemiseoftheSovietUnionandtheopeningupofChina,fearsofwarfadedfromthe consciousnessofvoters.Thislessenedred baiting,butitalsoremovedthelastinhibitionpreventing whatinthe90'sbecameknownasthepoliticsofpersonaldestruction.LedbyNewtGingrich,the notionthatpoliticsstopsattheocean'sshoreended,andeverything,includingpreviousofflimits aspectsofapolitician'spersonallife,wasgroundsforattack. By2000,mostAmericansweredeeplydisillusionedwiththispettyandnastypolitics,buttimeswere generallygood.AfterthehugeRepublicanwinin1994,RepublicanlostseatsinCongressthenext threeelections.Otherthanatwo yearperiodduringtheEisenhoweradministrationan administrationatpeacewiththeNewDealDemocratshadheldthepresidencyoratleastone chamberofCongressforseventyyears.Theineptness,hostilitytowardsoundgovernanceand corruptionoftheGOPhadnotbeenfullyexposedtotheAmericanpubliconlytheGingrich led governmentshutdownof1995hintedtocasualobserversthetrueintentionsofthenewmainstream oftheradicalizedRepublicanparty.MuchofJohnson'sGreatSocietyhadbeengutted,butthemain legislativepillarsoftheNewDeal,suchassocialsecurity,afterthescares19811983and1995,had

beenleftmostlyintact.Andasoftenhappenswhenthingsaregood,frivolitieslikehowmanytimes oneofthecandidatessighedduringthedebatebecameabigissue. AlGore,hissighsandhissupposedexaggerationsweresavagedinthemedia.Nevertheless,hewon thepopularvote,almostcertainlywontheelectoralvote,andwaskeptoutoftheWhiteHouseonlyby theinterventionoftheconservativemajorityontheSupremeCourt.AndDemocratswonseveral upsetsintheSenate,leadingtoatiebrokenonlybythevoteofVPDickCheney. AsI'vepreviouslyargued(here,hereandhere),Ibelieveweareonthevergeofatransforming election.Butjustasonecanarguewhethertheendofapoliticaleraendedin1968orwas interrupteduntil1980becauseofWatergate,onecouldarguethattheendoftheReaganerabegan in2000butwasinterruptedthenextyearbytheterroristattackson911.RuyTexeiraandJohnJudis werealreadyrefiningtheirargumentfor TheEmergingDemocraticMajority,showingthat demographicchangesandlong termvotingpatternspresagedanendtotheReaganera.But9 11 andtheenvironmentoffearexploitedbytheRepublicanspreventedGOPlossesin2002.Eventhen, however,theGOPCongressionalgainsin2002and2004(afterTexasredistricting)wereconsistent withthechangesinapportionment,withmoredistrictsdrawntobeproRepublicanaccountingforthe GOPgains. Thenin2005GeorgeBushandtheGOPwereexposed.BushtriedtomountanovertassaultonSocial Security,precipitatingthedeclineinhisstandingthatcontinuestoday.Thedisastrousresponseto KatrinashamedmostAmericans.AndthewarinIraqfinallywasseenasanotherdisastermadeby BushandtheGOP.Democratswentonin2006tobigwins,andallindicationsarethatwecouldbeon thevergeofmorebigwinsthisNovember. NowmanyAmericans,includingmanywhogrewupinfamiliesliftedintothemiddleclassbytheNew Deal,feelintenseeconomicpain.Byhistoricalstandardsunemploymentisnotparticularlyhigh.But otherthanafewyearsinthelate1990's,earningsadjustedforinflationhavefallensteadilysince 1973.Someofthatlossinearningsandwealthwasmadeupforwithlowandeasycreditand skyrocketinghomevalues,andhomeownersspentagainsttheirincreasedequity.Butnow,as people'shomevaluesplummet,foreclosuresmount,creditisunavailable,andwagescontinueto decline,there'snothingtosoftentheeconomicblowstoworkingfamilies,evenincludingmanywhichin thepastwouldhavebeenconsideredcomfortablyintheuppermiddleclass. Asthewageandwealthhitsaccumulate,Americans'economichealthisbeingattackedfromother directions.Securepensionsarenolongeragiven,and401Kaccountshavebeendevastatedbythe recentcrashinthestockmarket.Healthcarecostscontinuetorisefasterthaninflation,andthe numberofuninsuredAmericanscontinuestogrow.Andthecostsofgoingtocollegeorhavingchildren aretoogreattobearformanyyoungerAmericans. ThelongperiodofdoingnothingtoaddressAmericans'addictiontogasguzzlers,combinedwith instability(andmostlikelypricemanipulation)inthepetroleummarkets,hascreatedyetanother economicstressonAmericans.Asinthe1930's,wheneverythinginpoliticswasdominatedbythe efforttosubduethedepression,incomingyears,almostallthemajorpolicyproblemsfacedby Americaourforeignpolicy,thepriceandavailabilityoffoodintheUSandthefooddemandsin developingcountries,ourdecliningmanufacturingbase,ourbalanceofpaymentstoforeignnations, wageandincomeinequality,environmentalandclimatechanges,construction, the"financialization" oftheAmericaneconomywillbeconnectedtoenergyandclimatechange. Finally,there'sasensewithmanyAmericansthatthere'ssomethingseriouslywronginAmerica.All thepollsshowit.TheyounghavebeenvotingDemocraticforthelastthreeelections,andyoung votersappearreadytovoteinmuchhighernumbersthisNovemberthaninanyelectionsincethevote wasextendedto18yearoldsin1972,maybeinhighernumbersthaneverseen.Blackvoters,driven bythecandidacyofBarackObama,appearreadytovoteinrecordnumbers.Latinoscontinuetogrow asapercentageofthevote,andcontinuetobecomemoresolidlyDemocratic.Butthegreatest movementmaybeamongworkingclassandmiddleclassvotersnolongermotivatedtovoteonissues ofrace,socialchangeorculturalissues,butinsteadmotivatedbytheinequitiesofwealththathave reopenedduringtheReaganera. AccordingtoNYTReporterStevenGreenhouse,authorofTheBigSqueeze:ToughTimesforthe AmericanWorker,

thetop1percentofhouseholds,averaging$1.1millioninannualincome,received nearly22percentofallreportedincomein2005,upfrom9percentin1980.Thatincome shifthelpedcreatethegreatestlevelofinequalitysincetheRoaringTwenties. LawrenceSummers,theformerHarvardpresidentandTreasurySecretary,foundthat wereitnotforthisincreasedinequalitythebottom80percentofAmericanswouldbe doingconsiderablybetter.Ifthedistributionofincometodaywerethesameasin1979, Summerssaid,assumingthesamelevelofeconomicgrowthsincethen,incomeofthe bottom80percentofAmericanswouldbeabout$670billionmoreayearorabout $8,000perfamily.Formanyhouseholdsinthebottomhalf,thiswouldmeanawelcome 20to30percentincreaseinincome,perhapstheboostneededtoavoidforeclosure. [...] Onecanseetheeconomicdividewideninanotherway.Theaverageincomeforthetop 1percentofhouseholdswastentimesthatforthemiddlefifthin1979.By2005,those inthetop1percentearned21timesasmuchasthoseinthemiddle.Incomeforthetop 1percentofhouseholdsaveraged70timesthatofhouseholdsinthebottomfifth,the

greatestgaponrecord,upfrom23timesasmuchin1979. Atthepinnacleoftheinequalitypyramidarethenation'sCEOs.Americancorporations maybetightfistedaboutraisesformostworkers,buttheypaidtheirchiefexecutives $10.5milliononaveragein2005,includingsalary,bonusesandstockoptions.Thatwas quadrupletheirpayadozenyearsearlier.ThismeansthetypicalCEOearns369times asmuchastheaverageworker,upfrom131timesin1993and36timesin1976.

Wehavereachedthepointwherewehaveunsustainableenergypolicy,andunsustainableforeign andmilitarypolicy,anunsustainablefiscalpolicy,and,asmanyAmericansnowfeelpersonally, economicinequitiesthataren'tsustainableifwewishtomaintainthebroadmiddleclasscreatedby theNewDealorder.We'vereachedtheendoftheReaganera,andareonthecuspofsomething new,hopefullybetter,andcharacterizedbyabold,vigorous,creativeDemocraticpartywithwhich peoplebondastheydidwiththeDemocraticpartyoftheNewDealera. :: Tags:2008Election(alltags)::PreviousTagVersions

Permalink |173comments

It'sabouttime (17+/0)

byBustedFlatinBatonRouge onSunJul06,2008at07:32:17PMPDT

Ihopeit'stime.IgetsickenedwhenIthink... (16+/0)

...that2008,like2004,canbetakenfromussocruellyagainbytheRepublicansvia fear,xenophobia,racism,sexism,younameit. Inshort,Iwon'tfullyrelaxandbehappyabout"theturningofthetide"untilIseeiton January20,2009,whenhopefullyaPresidentElectBarackObamaisinauguratedinto office. BEthemovement.ObamaforPresident. byboofdah onSunJul06,2008at07:39:39PMPDT [Parent ]

Thatturningtidefeelssostrong (8+/0)

tome.Iliketofollownationalopinionpollsregardingspecificissues.Idon'tknowif I'veeverseensomanylob sidedpollsthatpointtoamajorpoliticalshiftinthe country.Ithinktheneoconshaveoverplayedtheirhand,andeveniftheyuseevery lastdirtytrickinthebookthisupcomingelection,Ijustcan'tcomprehendthatthey canforestalltheinevitableanylonger. byBustedFlatinBatonRouge onSunJul06,2008at07:47:10PMPDT [Parent ]

God,Ireallyhopeyou'reright. (4+/0) IloveJanisJoplin,too,btw.:) BEthemovement.ObamaforPresident.

byboofdah onMonJul07,2008at01:13:54AMPDT [Parent ]

amen (2+/0)

2008willbearealignment.Thestarsarealigned. TheRepublicanPartyisneitherpro republicnorpro party.Discuss! byNathanielAmentStone onSunJul06,2008at07:56:40PMPDT [Parent ]

Iagree,mypersonalobservationisthat (6+/0)

therealignmentwouldhavehappenedthisyearanyway,buttheevidenceoftheBush betrayalofourcountry,andofhisbasehasacceleratedtheswingofthependulum awayfromtheright. Eachpassingdaybringsmorebadeconomicnews,muchofitfallingontheheadsof theBushpoliticalbase,whichisfinallyawakeningfromits7yeardenialofthefacts

theBushpoliticalbase,whichisfinallyawakeningfromits7yeardenialofthefacts surroundingtheBushpresidency. TheRepublicanPartywillbearadicalizedorganizationincapableofwinningelections becauseitscenterrightmoderateswhoarepragmaticaboutgoverningfromthecenter arenolongerwelcomeintheradicalizedRepublicanPartyandwillbeforcedtoleave fortheIndependentorDemocraticranks. TheBush/Cheney/Neoconadministrationhaspulledthepoliticalprocesssofartothe rightthatformermoderateRepublicanswillfeelquitecomfortableworkingwitha Democraticmajoritypartywhichwantstobalancebudgets,avoidwar,forcethe governmenttolivewithinitsmeans,andtomakeresponsibleinvestmentsin improvingtheAmericaneconomy,infrastructure,andenvironmentwhichweallmust livein.TheabstractnotionthatthereisastrongleftinAmericanpoliticsissimply wrong.Theentirepoliticalprocesshasbeenmovedsofartotherightthatitwilltake 20yearsormorebeforeafullyliberalagendawillbepossibletoimplement. Stopgappublic/privatehealthinsurancepartnerships,implementationofasomewhat regulatedmortgageandfinancialmarketandthelikewillbealltheDemocratic governmentlikelytobeelectedin2008willbeabletomanage.Theinertiaofthe enactedlegislationandtheconservativeorradicalconservativejudicialsystemwill makelargemovementstotheleftimprobableand/orimpossibleinthenextfour years.TheReagan/Bush/BushSupremeCourtisverysimilartothecourtthatFDR wasforcedtodealwithinthe1930's,andthelitigationpipelinetocontinuethepushto therightfromthecourtsisfullandcasestoeffectaslowingofapushleftwillcontinue topreventastrongchangeofdirectionforthenextfewyears.Therightsideofthe RobertsCourtisfairlyyoungand/orvigorous,andasignificantchangeinthecourtwill nottakeplaceuntilThomasorScalitoleavethecourt.Thismaytake10yearsor more. IthinkthevotersleavingtheRepublicanPartywillfeelbetrayedandwillworkvery hardtoattackthesourceoftheirbetrayal,andthatistheBushadministrationandits congressionalsupporters.TheymayleavetheRepublicansinarage,andbethe strongestproslytzerstheDemocraticPartyhashadforquiteawhile.Ihavebeen predictingthisforseveralyears.Ihopeithappensin2008. ItistimetorenouncefearandgooutandkicksomeRepublicanAss byOhiodem1 onSunJul06,2008at08:47:39PMPDT [Parent ]

Importantpoint. (6+/0)

Theentirepoliticalprocesshasbeenmovedsofartotherightthatit willtake20yearsormorebeforeafullyliberalagendawillbepossible toimplement.

AnyoneexpectingsweepingliberalchangesevenintheeventofaDemWHand Congressisinforawake upcall.Itwilltakesometime.Afilibusterproofmajorityin theSenatewouldhelp,butIbelievethat'stoomuchtohopefor.Andyourpointre SCOTUSiswell taken.ThebestbasicthingtheDemscoulddoisbescrupulouslyopen andhonestwiththeelectorateandkeeptheirdamnskirtsclean. Kickapartthestructures. byceebee7 onSunJul06,2008at10:42:12PMPDT [Parent ]

Itwouldalsohelp.... (3+/0) iftheygrewsomedamnbackbones.

Peoplerespondtosomeonewillingtofightandstandupfortheirconvictions.People scornsomeonewhotalksbigandthentuckstailandcowerswhensomeonecallsthem weakinaloudvoice. It'slikegoingthroughasewerinaglassbottomboat.We'reinthisshitbutclearly aboveit! byKalakzak onSunJul06,2008at10:46:57PMPDT [Parent ]

You'vemadeabigassumption (2+/0)

You'reassumingthatincumbentDemocratsshareouragenda. If,ontheotherhand,they'remerelymiddle oftheroaderswhoAPPEARliberalmerely byconstrastwiththewingers,they'restandingupfortheirwatereddownconvictions now. "Unseen,inthebackground,Fatewasquietlyslippingtheleadintotheboxingglove." P.G.Wodehouse

bygsbadj onMonJul07,2008at05:49:48AMPDT [Parent ]

IhopesomeDemocratsshareouragenda (2+/0)

IamhopefulthatasolidworkingmajorityinbothhousesandaDemocraticpresident whowillleadwithaprogressiveagenda,andwhowillsignprogressivelegislationinto lawwillhelpsomeDemocratsinCongressreturntotheirliberalandprogressiveroots. ItistimetorenouncefearandgooutandkicksomeRepublicanAss byOhiodem1 onMonJul07,2008at06:43:27AMPDT [Parent ]

Ohmanyofthemdo (0+/0)

Butsomeofthemdon'tandit'snotproductivetoworkourselvesupintoalather whentheydon'tvoteourway. Wejustneedtoelectmorecandidatesthatwillgoalongwithus. "Unseen,inthebackground,Fatewasquietlyslippingtheleadintotheboxing glove."P.G.Wodehouse bygsbadj onMonJul07,2008at01:41:32PMPDT [Parent ]

Verysalient (1+/0)

TheideathatourformofGovernmentcanswiftlychangeismorethanamyth. The24/7newscyclerequiresnewproductconstantlyandthereisalargeandloud contingentoftheseplayers. Becauseofthisneed,theAmericanmindisconstantlybeingbombardedwith messagesofurgencywheninfact,noimmediatesolutionexists. Wearetalkingabout40yearsofthisnationgoinginonedirectionwiththe accompanyingstartsandstops,allthetime,marchingtowardsthepoliticalright. Those40yearswilltakemorethanonePresidentialtermtoexecutethechange. Electionsin2006areaperfectreminderoftheslownessofourformofGovernment. SomanyAmericansexpectedmorethanwhatcouldbedeliveredfromwhatis basicallyaDemocraticMajorityintheHouse,foundtheirimpatienceincreasedand theirirritationgrowingwiththehelpofthemediaandit'snewscycleneedsplusthe Republicanoperativeswhorelishedpointingouttheobvious(minusthereason)that theDemocratswereineffectiveintheiractions. OurNation'scoursechangehasjustbegun,anditwillbedemographicsthatthateffect thechange. That24/7newscyclenowbeingtheconstant,hasalsodevelopedinotherways, decentralizationofmessaging,nolongercanafewmediaplayersdictatethemessage, evenwiththeconsolidationofownershipdownintoevenfewerplayerssimplybecause theirbusinessmodelsdictatesubdivisionofdemographicsandaconcomitantappealto capturethedemographicbyappealingtotheirwants. Whilecontrollingthespigotsofinformationandcommentary,themediagiantsopen thespectrumtodiversityofthoughtandcommunicationthatisprovingtobebeyond theireditorialcapabilities. HistorianswillpointbacktothedawningofCablenewsoperationsandthenthe Internetandthetimethelidcameofthebox,astimewillhavewrittenthestoryof personalizedmasscommunicationandpublishingbecominguncontrollable. StoriesemergingabouttheintenseeffortsChinaisundertakingfortheOlympics underscoretheisuesthatconfrontthosewhoattempttocontroltheexpanding inventoryofthoughtdeliveredinincreasinglyuncontrollablemannersduetotheirsize andportability. WhileAmericanmediawillsurelyfocusontheespionageangleofthisevent, promotingtheideathattheChinesearesetuptointerceptandstealanyinformation possiblefromallwhoenterintotheircountry,thelikelihoodthatinformationtheyseek toprevententeringChinawillinfiltratetheirdefenseslikewaterpouringthroughfilter paperisgreater. BacktotheUSA,thisnationnowhashadover100millionlivebirthssincetheCivil RightsActpassedduringJohnson'sAdministrationandover130millionshavebeen born. Thenumbersofeligiblevotershavingbeenbornsincethenarenowintothesecond generationJohnsonspokeabout. ConcurrentlythenumberofAmericanvoterswhoweresucceptibletothepullof Reaganismhavediminshedthroughdeathandforotherspersonalgrowth. InthewordsofthelateJOHNNYCASH"ICANHEARTHETRAINACOMMIN".

InthewordsofthelateJOHNNYCASH"ICANHEARTHETRAINACOMMIN". PoliticalpardonsareunacceptableMrBush,andsoishidingyourdaddy'ssecrets behindexectutiveorders,freethetruthnow.Econ3.50&Soc.5.79 bywmc418onMonJul07,2008at09:02:14AMPDT [Parent ]

Iwouldsayyou (4+/0) arevery optimistic:

...asignificantchangeinthecourtwillnottakeplaceuntilThomasor Scalitoleavethecourt.Thismaytake10yearsormore.

Maybe20,even25years.Wehaveaseriousproblemwiththecourt,andwehavea casethatthecourtisnotwhatitshouldbe.Weshouldnotsettleforitasitis.Although itcan'tbereversed,thebasicallyillegalfashioninwhichthecurrentcourtwas constitutedmustbeaddressed.Congresshasthepowertodothat,andweshouldn't stopuntiltheydo.Bushlostthe2000election,andthenthecourtappointedBush,who inturnbeefeduptheradicalrightwingofthecourtwithAlitoandRoberts.Toanyone capableofreasoning,thereisablatantconflictofinteresthere.Ithinkweneedtwo morejusticesonthecourt,foratotalofeleven,orperhapseventhirteenanditwould beonlyfairtohavethemappointedbyBarackObama,withnoconservativelip,fully andunconditionallyforcedbyaDemocraticsenateinthespiritofcompensationforthe unfairwayinwhichthecurrentcourtwasseated. IfMcCainmakesthenextSupremeCourtappointment,wewillthinktheBushdays werethegoodolddays! byphaktor onSunJul06,2008at11:09:08PMPDT [Parent ]

Courtpacking! (2+/0)

Ithinkweneedtwomorejusticesonthecourt,foratotalofeleven,or perhapseventhirteenanditwouldbeonlyfairtohavethem appointedbyBarackObama,withnoconservativelip,fullyand unconditionallyforcedbyaDemocraticsenateinthespiritof compensationfortheunfairwayinwhichthecurrentcourtwasseated.

Willitreallyhappenthistime?Orwillitserveasmeanstoconvincethecurrentcourt togivegroundonkeyissues? WhatdoweseeObamaattemptingtodothatwilllikelybeblockedbythecourt?The elementsoftheNewDealthatObamawouldliketorecreate(ieGreenCorps, increasedprotectionforunions,attemptsatinfrastructureimprovementprojectsetc) arenowlesscontroversialthaninthe1930's.Willhehaveoppositionhere?Orperhaps theoppositionwillbetowardsmoreinnovativeideasthatObamamighthave,perhaps onesthathehasn'tproposedyet. byscotths onMonJul07,2008at03:31:09AMPDT [Parent ]

Let'shopethecourtreadsthepapers. nt (1+/0)

ItistimetorenouncefearandgooutandkicksomeRepublicanAss byOhiodem1onMonJul07,2008at06:52:47AMPDT [Parent ]

Thisisnot (0+/0)

aboutObama.ThisissomethingprogressivesshouldpursuethroughtheSenate.This courtisgoingtohurtalotofpeople.Theyaregoingtocausealotofpainand suffering.Youcanbettheyarenotgoingtogoaway.Wehaveafewotherproblems relatedtouncheckedauthorityinthiscountry,andthiscourtwasseatedwiththe expresspurposeoflookingtheotherway.Wehavearighttoexaminethevalidityof howthecurrentcourtcameabout. IfMcCainmakesthenextSupremeCourtappointment,wewillthinktheBushdays werethegoodolddays! byphaktor onMonJul07,2008at11:11:44AMPDT [Parent ]

howitcameaboutisan (1+/0)

interestingquestion...WhileIagreethisisaproblem,itseemsasifitwouldbehard tobeprovethatinvalidity.Especiallysincethecourtdecisioneffectedaracethatwas verynearlyatie.PartoftheproblemIthinkisthatsomuchisdecidedinabinary functioninourcountry.Iftheelectionhadgonetheotherwaybyjustasmallnumber ofvotesinFloridaandentirelydifferenthistorywouldhaveresultedandtodaywe wouldhavedifferentjustices.Suchasmallnumberofvotesshouldn'tmakesucha largedifferenceinthecourseofevents.I'mnotsurewhatthesolutionisexactly,but whenthecountryisveryclosetotied(asitwasin2000)thegovernmentshould reflectthisrealityandideallythepoliciesitcreatesshouldbesomewhatnearthe center.Thesystemasitstandsnowallowsthepartywhichwinsbythetinniestof marginstopushthepartyfarinthedirectionitwantsto.Thisleadstosituationssuch asthis,whenwehaveasupremecourtthatdoesnotreflecttheviewsofmost Americans.Ithinkitalsoleadstostrongerpendulumswingsasthepartiesviefor controlthenpushashardastheycanwhentheyobtainit. I'mnotsurewhatthesolutiontothesupremecourtproblem.Thesupremecourt seemstomeanuglyinelegantcreation.WeelectanewPresidentevery4yearsanda newcongressevery2.Thecourtisasmallbodywhichwaitsforjusticestoretireon theirownordie.Thusthecompositionofthecourtdependsgreatlyonwhenjustices endtheirtermsandwherethishappensinrelationtothependulumasitswingsback andforth.Thus,luckycanlanduswithacourtthatstronglyreflectsonepartyorthe otherand/orlagssignificantlybehindtheviewsofthecountryatlarge.Iunderstand thatthepointofthisistoensurejudicialindependenceandprobablyalsotoensure cautiononthepartofthecourt.Iwonderifthereisanotherwaytoaccomplishthis. PerhapstermlimitswhichalloweachPresidentasetnumberofcourtappointmentsper term.Atleastthiswouldlikelyleadtocourtmemberswhoseidealsreflectequallythe individualsthepublichaschosenasPresident.(Ratherthenemphasizingafewlucky Presidentswhogetmorethantheirfairshareofcourtappointments).Itdoesseema difficultproblem.... byscotths onTueJul08,2008at03:22:15AMPDT [Parent ]

Thepurposeofthe (0+/0)

lifetimeappointmentswastoinsulatethecourtfrompoliticalwhimtomakeit stable.Unfortunately,whentheappointmentprocessistamperedwith,asithas beenlately,thatstabilitycanbefixedinanextremestate,sothecourtisnow extremist,yetstable.Itispermanentlybroken,sortoflikesomethingthatgets supergluedtogetherinthewrongway! Asfarasthelargeeffectsofsmalldifferencesinvotes,unlessthepartyincharge illegallyoverstepsitspower(asBushhas),thencloseracestendtoleadtofrequent shiftsinpowerandrandomdistributionofdifferentpartiesinthethreebranches (sometimescalledgridlock whichisasortofbuiltin"braking"mechanismfor whenthecorrectcourseisn'tclear).TheRepublicanshavecarefullyand intentionallycreatedthis"perfectstorm",andillegallymanipulatedthesystemto createafalsedirection.Eventhoughtheintenseandoutlandisheffortrequiredtodo itdestroyedtheirpartyreputationtemporarily,theyreallyhavewoninabigway. Thatiswhytheyarenotsoupsetaboutthefacttheymay"lose"inNovember(with emphasison"may",becauseweDemocratsstillhaveouroldknackforsnatching defeatfromthejawsofvictory). Theconservativeshavefreeze driedthegovernmenttotheirownliking,intheir owndistortedfashion,foratleast30years.Theywereabletodoitthrougha carefulcombinationofarrogantillegalactioncombinedwithtechnologicaladvances incommunications,thelatterofwhichthefounderscouldnothaveclearlyforeseen. Ittookthem30yearstodoit,butnowtheycantakeabreakandenjoyspending themoneywhilewetrytoregroupandfigureoutwhathappened,andtrytogetour democracyback.Theproblemispoliticalawarenessandvotereducation(which conservativesusedtechnologytodestroy).Althoughliberalshavebeen uncomfortablewithwhatwasgoingonforalongtime,theyerroneouslythought theycouldcorrectitquicklywhentheygotthetime,becausetheydidn'tpay attentioningovernmentclass.Unfortunately,theywerewrong! Thepointis,ifeverybodyplaysbytherules,thenclosevoteshavetheintended effect.Thesystemworks.Somebodyhadtobreakthelawinordertobreakthe system.Andthatcomestomypoint:WehaveacasetomaketoCongressthat interventionisrequired,andthatitispreciselycasessuchasthisthattheyare empoweredtointervenein.Theconservativeshavecheated.Correctiveactionis necessary,anditreallyisouronlyhope. IfMcCainmakesthenextSupremeCourtappointment,wewillthinktheBushdays werethegoodolddays! byphaktor onTueJul08,2008at10:04:39AMPDT [Parent ]

courtsandrandomness.... (1+/0)

Asfarasthelargeeffectsofsmalldifferencesinvotes,unless thepartyinchargeillegallyoverstepsitspower(asBushhas), thencloseracestendtoleadtofrequentshiftsinpowerand randomdistributionofdifferentpartiesinthethreebranches (sometimescalledgridlock whichisasortofbuiltin"braking" mechanismforwhenthecorrectcourseisn'tclear).The Republicanshavecarefullyandintentionallycreatedthis "perfectstorm",andillegallymanipulatedthesystemtocreate afalsedirection.

Theproblemisthatthesamplesizeistosmall,only2.5electionsperdecade. Themeansifthecourtconsistsof4decadesofappointments,only10elections wereinvolvedatmost.Someoftheseelectionsweren'tcloseinthepast4 decades,(the80'sforinstance).Thus,themakeupofthecourtdependsona fewcloseelections.Therepublicansmayhavebeenabletoswingthosetotheir favor,buteveniftheyhadn'ttheycouldverywellhavewonthoseelectionsby smallmargins.Ifeachelectionwasacoinflip,thechancesof2coinsinarow comingouthead'sisonly1in4.Bypurechancealonetheoddsofthe republicanswinningbothtimesarenotthathorrible.Thisofcoursedoesnot considerthedistributionofthejudgesdeaths/retirementswhichmakethe problemworse.Itislikeapollthatdoesnothavealargeenoughsamplesize togiveanaccuratereading,bypurechancealonethecourtcouldwinduptoo stronglytoonesideortheotherinsuchawaythatitisnotreallyreflectiveof theopinionofthepopulation.

TheRepublicanshavecarefullyandintentionallycreatedthis "perfectstorm",andillegallymanipulatedthesystemtocreate afalsedirection.Eventhoughtheintenseandoutlandisheffort requiredtodoitdestroyedtheirpartyreputationtemporarily, theyreallyhavewoninabigway.Thatiswhytheyarenotso upsetaboutthefacttheymay"lose"inNovember(with emphasison"may",becauseweDemocratsstillhaveourold knackforsnatchingdefeatfromthejawsofvictory).

Thetimestheyareachangin....We'llwininNovermber...Itisn'tlikethose othertimes....

Theconservativeshavefreeze driedthegovernmenttotheir ownliking,intheirowndistortedfashion,foratleast30years. Theywereabletodoitthroughacarefulcombinationof arrogantillegalactioncombinedwithtechnologicaladvancesin communications,thelatterofwhichthefounderscouldnothave clearlyforeseen.Ittookthem30yearstodoit,butnowthey cantakeabreakandenjoyspendingthemoneywhilewetryto regroupandfigureoutwhathappened,andtrytogetour democracyback.

I'mnotsurewhatyoumeanhere....Wearenotgoingtoberegrouping.We haveregrouped!Wearetakingpower.Theyneedtoregroup.Theircoalitionof socialandfiscalconservativesisbroken,whileourpartyisstrongerand growing.TheMillennialGeneration(those525,thelargestgenerationinthe historyofAmerica)favorthedemocratsbyatleasta2:1margin.Theywerean importantpartofthe2006gainsandarelikelygoingtobeanimportantpartof anObamavictoryandmoregainsincongress.In4yearstherewillbemore Millennialsintheelectorate,and4yearsafterthatevenmore.Thisisn'tashort termpendulumswing,thisisan80yearlongpendulumswingingbackthrough thecentertotheleft.Itisn'tmerelythatconservatismfeelstomuchofthe countrytobetiredanddead,itisn'tmerelyreligiousfolkswhowanttofocuson povertyandenvironmentalconcernsratherthangaysandabortion,itisn't merelywesternlibertarianswhonolongertrusttherepublicanstoprotecttheir civilrights,anditisn'tmerelytheshortandlongtermdamagetherepublicans havedonetotheirparty.Allthosethingswouldleadtoatleastashortterm pushtotheleft,butthisismuchbiggerthanthat.Therepublicanswillbethe onesregroupingandfiguringoutwheretherepartyisgoing,thedemocratsare goingtobefiguringoutwheretostartcleaningupthemess!

Althoughliberalshavebeenuncomfortablewithwhatwasgoing onforalongtime,theyerroneouslythoughttheycouldcorrect itquicklywhentheygotthetime,becausetheydidn'tpay attentioningovernmentclass.Unfortunately,theywerewrong!

Whycan'tliberalscorrecttheproblems?Ifyoumeanthecourtwillbea problem...Well..itwasinthe1930'saswell,andweovercameit.Wecandoit

again.....

Thepointis,ifeverybodyplaysbytherules,thenclosevotes havetheintendedeffect.Thesystemworks.Somebodyhadto breakthelawinordertobreakthesystem.Andthatcomesto mypoint:WehaveacasetomaketoCongressthat interventionisrequired,andthatitispreciselycasessuchas thisthattheyareempoweredtointervenein.Theconservatives havecheated.Correctiveactionisnecessary,anditreallyis ouronlyhope.

Ithinkmypointaboveisthatclosevoteswon'tnecessarilyhavetheintended effect(becauseofsmallsamplesize)andperhapswewouldbebetteroffwitha systeminwhichthatwasmoreguaranteed.Ithinkthiswouldbeatoughcase tomaketocongress.WithKennedyatthecenter,isthecourtgoingtobeso difficulttoworkwithastostopObama'splans?I'dbecuriousastowhereyou thoughtthestumblingblockswouldbeifyoufeelitwillbe.Perhapsthe legislativeandexecutivebranchwillhavetobemorecarefulindraftinglaws andpoliciestoensurethatourconstitutionalrightsareprotectedifwecan't countonthecourtstodothisforthetimebeing.I'mmoreconcernedabout whatthecourtsmightdotoblockessentialplansweneedtomovethroughthe comingcrisis...toredevelopourphysicalinfrastructure,regulatebusinessand finance,redistributewealth,providejobsandopportunitiesfordisadvantaged individuals,moveusentirelyoffofoil,dealwiththepotentialenvironmental catastropheetcetc. byscotths onTueJul08,2008at10:54:38AMPDT [Parent ]

Oh,talk (0+/0)

dirtytome!Idesperatelyhopeyouarecorrect.Pleasemakeitcometrue! Iwillcomebackonthesamplingandthecourt,though.Thewholepointis thatthecourtisnotintendedtoberepresentative.Myargumentisnotthat thecurrentcourtdoesn'trepresent me.Myargumentisthattheyare biasedbecausetheywereappointedincorrectly,andtheywereappointed forthespecificpurposeofrepresentingsomeone (therightwing).Theyare supposedtobetheleastrepresentativeofourofficials.Theyarenot supposedtobeappointed,theoretically,onpoliticalgrounds.Thatiswhy theyareinnowayelected.Theyarechosenbythemosthighlystable representativesfromtwobranches,andtheyaresupposedtobeneutral, becauseitissupposedtobeacompromiseamongallbiases.Youcouldget somemorerepresentativenessintoitifyoucountthesenateelections, becausethesenateisnotsupposedtobetherubberstampthattheDems lethappenthistime.Theywerenotsupposedtobeharassedinto submissionbytheillegalthuggeryoftheBushadministration thethreats ofrulechanges,andalltheextremismofthosedayswhenBushstillgothis waybysimplythreateningtantrumsandyelling"nationalsecurity". Thejusticesaresupposedtobepeoplewhoeveryonefeelssafewith, enoughsothattheyarebeyondtheneedtobeheldaccountablethrough elections.Wedon'twantthemissuingrulingsforvotes,thewaystate judgessentenceinnocentpeopletodeathandlifeimprisonment,fully knowingtheyareinnocent,becausetheydon'twanttobeaccusedofbeing softoncrimecomeelectiontime. Thatisn'thowitworkedthistime.Bushappointedhighlypartisan,highly biased,highlypoliticaljustices(AlitoandRoberts),whowouldhave normallybeenscreenedoutthroughthesenate.ButoursenateDemswere preoccupied,spineless,complicit,anddefensive,sotheyignoredtheir responsibility.Theywerebeingterrorizedbyanillegalexecutivewithno respectforlaw. TheBushadministrationwasn'tevensupposedtobetheretobeginwith, anditisveryrelevanttomycasethatthecourtitselfinstalledhim!The processhiccuped,andthecourtgotcompromisedinafewshortyearsof someunprecedentedhankypankyandinbreeding.AllIwantisforustoget thebalanceback.Imightevenbepersuadedifoneofthosenewjustices madesomefaintsignofbeingimpartial,buttheyseemtobeshameless. Obviously,theconstitutionsimplydoesn'tmeantothemwhatitmeansto commonpeople,andtheydon'tseeusasdeservingofanyprotection underthelaw. Yes,thecourtcanbeslowlydrugalongwithmassivesocialchange.Butwe areinadangeroussituationnow,andwehaven'tthetimetowaitonthat process.Wecouldtipintomilitarydictatorshipatanyminute,andthecourt couldn'tbereliedontostopit.IthinkCongressshouldact. Kennedyisnotacentrist.Heisanhonestconservativewhotendstobe fair.Herulesagainsttheinterestsoftheleftmoreoftenthanforus.

IfMcCainmakesthenextSupremeCourtappointment,wewillthinkthe Bushdayswerethegoodolddays! byphaktor onTueJul08,2008at12:39:19PMPDT [Parent ]

IhopeIamnotoverlyoptimistic (0+/0)

RobertsandAlitoarefairlyyoung(bothintheir50's,Ithink),Scaliais73andIamnot sureofThomas'age,buthemustbeover75. IjusthopeJusticeStevenswillsurviveuntilwehavePresidentObamaintheWhite House. GWBwillgetnonewSCOTUSappointments,butaseriesof4 4tiescouldstillworkto advancetheradicalrightagenda,byaffirminglowercourtdecisions. YouareabsolutelyrightthatRobertsmaysitintheChiefJusticechairfor30yearsor morewithAlitoashisrighthandman.Whatanuglythought. ItistimetorenouncefearandgooutandkicksomeRepublicanAss byOhiodem1 onMonJul07,2008at06:51:05AMPDT [Parent ]

ClarenceThomasis60 (1+/0) Born23June1948.

Firstsummerinmyfamily'snewhousejustWofBellaireTX.JustafterLyndon JohnsonhadwonaDemocraticrunoffbyjustahandfulofvotes,withwhatmany consideredtobefraudulentvotesinthecountiescontrolledbypoliticalbossGeorge Parr. byscott5js onMonJul07,2008at09:09:02AMPDT [Parent ]

Ohdear (0+/0)

GladamIthatImissedsharingabirthdaywithhimbyafewhours. 8.38,7.49 bypapercut onMonJul07,2008at10:13:35AMPDT [Parent ]

Thekeyisracism. (1+/0)

Thevoterwilllietopollstersabouttheirvotes.Rememberthe"TomBradley"effect. RushandFauxcontrolthemasses. bymikeofelctown onSunJul06,2008at08:41:08PMPDT [Parent ]

Really? (4+/0)

Well,theBradleyeffectdidnotexactlymaterializeinthe2006TennesseeSenaterace (HaroldFordactuallyoutperformedhispollingnumbersthere),nordiditmaterializein thevastmajorityofthe2008primarycontests,asObamaactuallydidbetterthanthe pollingshowedinalargenumberofallwhitestates. AndtheonlypeopleRushandFaux"control"aretheright wingbase,whowouldvote RepublicanregardlessoftheraceoftheDemocraticcandidate. byechatwa onMonJul07,2008at02:44:57AMPDT [Parent ]

The12mostfrighteningwordsintheEnglish... (12+/0) ...language:

Hi.I'maRepublican,andI'mheretosaveyoufromthegovernment.

bydaulton onSunJul06,2008at07:35:37PMPDT

Imean,13.n/t (3+/0)

bydaulton onSunJul06,2008at07:36:41PMPDT

[Parent ]

Nevertrustsomeonetorunthegovernment (12+/0) iftheirstatedgoalistodrownitinabathtub.

byBustedFlatinBatonRouge onSunJul06,2008at07:37:11PMPDT [Parent ]

GroverNorquist'sBathtub (21+/0)

Therevolutionwillnotbetelevised,butwe'llanalyzeittodeathat TheNextHurrah . byDHinMIonSunJul06,2008at07:40:10PMPDT [Parent ]

Irememberseeingthisatthe9/05WDCrally... (2+/0)

...itwasalargerthanlifeposterdisplayedinfullviewonornearConstitutionSt., whenmemoriesofKatrinawerestillfresh,anddoubledtheangerthatmostofus alreadyfeltattheBushAdministrationfortheirfuckingupcolossallyinbothIraqand inourowncountry. BEthemovement.ObamaforPresident. byboofdah onSunJul06,2008at07:44:44PMPDT [Parent ]

WhataboutjustdrowningtheGOP (9+/0)

Inthebathtub.Wearehelpingthemslimdowntheirmembershiptothepointwhere whomeverisleftwillfitintoafullbathtubverynicely.Allwehavetodoistohelp themwiththefirst"dunk". Weareatthemomentwhenourlivesmustbeplacedonthelineifournationisto surviveitsownfolly.MartinLutherKing. byEyesWideOpen onSunJul06,2008at07:53:43PMPDT [Parent ]

IwishGroverNorquist... (0+/0)

...wouldslip,fall,anddrowninhisownbathtub! Floatlikeamanholecover,stinglikeasashweight.JohnMcCain=OldBoatAnchor byJeffWonSunJul06,2008at09:09:53PMPDT [Parent ]

ThiscountrycannotaffordtoEVER (5+/0)

andImeanEVER,allowanotherRepublicannearthePresidency.Ifwehaveto physicallyrestrainthemfromruiningourcountry,thensobeit. NEVER.EVER.EVER.AGAIN. Theyhavedonesomuchdamage,wewillnotbeabletorecoverforanother30years. WeneedtoABOLISHtheRepublicanParty,anddeclaretheRepublicanPartyUn American. Weareatthemomentwhenourlivesmustbeplacedonthelineifournationisto surviveitsownfolly.MartinLutherKing. byEyesWideOpen onSunJul06,2008at07:46:02PMPDT [Parent ]

Saveyoufromthegovernment? (0+/0)

Agovernmentoccupyingacountrythousandsofmilesaway.Agovernmentthatwould crimnalizeabortion.Agovernmentthatdoesnotgiveequalprotectiontosame sex marriages. byscott5js onMonJul07,2008at09:12:58AMPDT [Parent ]

TherecentstatementsfromPIMCO'sCFO (10+/0)

ConcerningBush'sattemptstomimictheeconomicstrategyof"anotherera"should putagoodnailinthatcoffin. WhenWilliamGrossistellingyouthatcuttingtaxesfortherichandderegulating marketsiskillingtheeconomy,thingshavechanged. byDevilstower onSunJul06,2008at07:35:56PMPDT

AsIWroteAboutHowEnergy... (6+/0)

...willdominatealmosteverypolicyareaforyearstocome,Ithoughtofyourpost fromlastnight,andhowmaybeIshouldwrite"resource"insteadofenergy. Therevolutionwillnotbetelevised,butwe'llanalyzeittodeathat TheNextHurrah . byDHinMIonSunJul06,2008at07:37:20PMPDT [Parent ]

Thebestenergypolicywillbeindependentof (5+/0)

resources,andbe dependent ontechnologies.Imean,ifsomethingislimitless, withoutborders,andcan'tbetrulymonopolized(solar,wind),thenmaybeitdoesn'tfit theclassic,historicaldefinitionofaresource.Hereisthelitmustestcanyoufighta waroverit? Gentlemen,youcan'tfightinhere!ThisistheWarRoom! bybigtimecynic onSunJul06,2008at07:48:55PMPDT [Parent ]

Well,IsupposetheChinesecould... (2+/0)

...threatentobuildabigumbrellaoverNorthAmericatoblotoutthesunandwecould fightoverthat. Kiddingaside,thewhole"windandsolarasanantidotefortheresourcewars"isa provocativeideathatI'veneverseenanyonementionbefore.Thanksforthe brainfood. Thegoalisnottobringyouradversariestotheirkneesbuttotheirsenses. Mahatma Gandhi bykingubu onSunJul06,2008at08:12:45PMPDT [Parent ]

Theproblem (3+/0)

isthatinvestmentfollowsthelineofmaximumprofitpotential,soit'sentirelypossible thatmorewillbeinvestedincontrollable(i.e.,higher profit)technologies,andthis meansthosetechnologieswillgrowfasterandhaveagreaterlikelihoodofbecoming thestandard. Asolarthermaldishcontainingnothingbutasiliconmirrorandastirlingenginemight becheapasdirtandsimpleastic tactoe,butthatmeansanyonecouldbuildonewith alittlemoneyandminoralterationstododgeyourpatent.Plentyofcompanieswill pursueit,buttheirprofitmarginswillberazor thiniftheyexistatall,andwillnotscale

asfastasthecompetition. ACIGSpanel,however,isnottrivialtechnologydespitepromisingcheapunitcosts, anditinvolvesexoticelementslikeindiumandgallium.Ifthatbecametheglobal standard,indiumandgalliumwouldsimplyreplaceoilasthepreciouscommodity peoplekillanddietocontrol.Thetrivialtechnologieswouldnotseesubstantialgains againstthehigherprofittypesuntilresourceshortagesyetagainforcedachange.It's tortoiseandhare. Theupshot:Whateverisbothscarceandimmediatelynecessary,nomatterhowfar removeddownthesupplychain,willbeamotivationforwar.We'llchipawayatthe listofthosemotivations,butevenifenergywastakenentirelyoffwe'djustbefighting overlife extensiondrugs,orrocketfuel,orcontrolofanorbit,etc.etc. Freedomisinthefight. byTroubadour onSunJul06,2008at09:06:55PMPDT [Parent ]

Gonnahafta... (1+/0)

...startlookingforasteroidrichinthemfancyschmancymetals! Floatlikeamanholecover,stinglikeasashweight.JohnMcCain=OldBoatAnchor byJeffWonSunJul06,2008at09:12:15PMPDT [Parent ]

TheMoonwouldbeeasier. (1+/0)

It'snotexactlydrowninginthem,butit'sclose,itstaysclose,andithasdecentgravity tooperatein.Ofcourse,seafloorminingwilltakeofflongbeforelunarmineswould becosteffective. Freedomisinthefight. byTroubadour onSunJul06,2008at10:34:34PMPDT [Parent ]

AfellownamedMing... (1+/0)

oncetriedmovingthemoonclosertousforeasieraccessbutsomemaniac quarterbackgotaburrinhisjockstrapandstoppedhim. It'slikegoingthroughasewerinaglassbottomboat.We'reinthisshitbutclearly aboveit! byKalakzak onSunJul06,2008at10:55:41PMPDT [Parent ]

Godawfulmovie. Butclassiccamp. (1+/0)

Freedomisinthefight. byTroubadour onMonJul07,2008at01:49:12AMPDT [Parent ]

Thetechnologyandthematerials (0+/0)

willbecometheresource.Copper.Semiconductormaterials.Raremetals,etc.The reasonwehadoilisbecauseofit'ssimplicity.Theequipmentforsolarisvery expensive,andtosomeextentconsumed.Manyofthematerialsarethemselves becominglessabundant.Neverhidethecostoftheequipmentwhenlookingatsolar. IfMcCainmakesthenextSupremeCourtappointment,wewillthinktheBushdays werethegoodolddays! byphaktor onSunJul06,2008at11:15:18PMPDT [Parent ]

Link?n/t (0+/0)

BruceinLouisville Visitmeat brucemaples.com bybmaples onMonJul07,2008at01:38:20AMPDT [Parent ]

TheReaganeracouldn'tendquicklyenoughto (9+/0)

suitme.Itwasaneraofunbridledgreedandabsolutecontemptfortheconceptof diversitythathadhistoricallymadeAmericasoinvitingandstrong. "Ifafreesocietycannothelpthemanywhoarepoor,itcannotsavethefewwhoare rich."JFKJanuary20,1961 byrontunonSunJul06,2008at07:36:44PMPDT

Itdid,however,spawn... (2+/0)

agreatseriesonHBO.IhavefondmemoriesofNotNecessarilytheNews. It'slikegoingthroughasewerinaglassbottomboat.We'reinthisshitbutclearly aboveit! byKalakzak onSunJul06,2008at10:57:15PMPDT [Parent ]

IftheReaganeratrulyends (14+/0)

itwillbeprimarilybecausetheeconomybecomesmoredemocratic.Thatrequiresa resurgentlabormovementaboveallelse,Ithink. Idowanttonote,whileanotherwisegreatpost,I'mconcernedaboutthecomment thatbasedonhistoricalrecords,unemployementisnotveryhigh. AsKevinPhillipsnotesinarecentarticle everyoneshouldread,Presidentsfrom NixontoBushII(includingClinton)havemanipulatedfiguresandredefinedthe ConsumerPriceIndextomakethenumbersreflectbetterontheirrespective administrations.Sotheofficialnumbersareactuallybullshit:

Therealnumbers,tomosteconomicallymindedAmericans,wouldbe afacefullofcoldwater.Basedonthecriteriainplaceaquarter centuryago,today'sU.S.unemploymentrateissomewherebetween9 percentand12percenttheinflationrateisashighas7oreven10 percenteconomicgrowthsincetherecessionof2001hasbeen mediocre,despiteahugesurgeinthewealthandincomesofthe superrich,andwearefallingbackintorecession.Ifwhatwehave beensoldinrecentyearshasbeendelusional"PollyannaCreep,"what wereallyneedtodayisapictureofoureconomyexdistortion.For whatitwouldrevealisanationindeepdifficultynotjustdomestically butglobally.

Riselikelionsafterslumberinunvanquishablenumber. Shakeyourchainstoearthlike dew,whichinsleephadfallenonyou.Yearemany theyarefew. bycruz onSunJul06,2008at07:37:52PMPDT

ButWe'reNotAtFiguresLikeThose... (3+/0)

...seenintheDepression(whereover30%wereunemployed)oreventheReagan minidepression,whereunemploymentwentuptosomethinglike1617%.Evenifyou addinthosewhoaredefinedasnotactivelysearchingforjobs,Idon'tthinkwe're over10%.10%isbad,realbad,butnotasbadasinsomeofthoseprevious economiccrises. Therevolutionwillnotbetelevised,butwe'llanalyzeittodeathat TheNextHurrah . byDHinMIonSunJul06,2008at07:42:08PMPDT [Parent ]

Myguessistherealunemploymentraterightnow (5+/0)

issomewherearound12%(ifyoucountthe#ofpeopledefinedasnotactively searching)... Butnextyearisgoingtoreallystink,andObama'sgonnagetcrushedforit.Hopefully theeconomytakesanupturnby4Q2009or1Q2010... 4.63,4.41 bydpinzowonSunJul06,2008at07:45:12PMPDT [Parent ]

Addintheunder employedandyougetamore (5+/0) accuratepicture.

"Nothingismorepowerfulthananideawhosetimehascome." VictorHugo

bylordcopper onSunJul06,2008at07:46:46PMPDT [Parent ]

Underemploymentisthekey (2+/0)

ThestatisticconcerningthegapbetweenCEOpayandtheaveragesalaryworkeris thetelltalesignofunderemploymentanditisdoingallthedamageofunemployment andperhapsmoreb/cofitsinsidiousness.The"haves"bestargumentisthatthereis fullemployment,andariseinrealwageswouldthreatenthatfigure,thisisacrockof shitthatwehavebeenspoonfedsinceReagan'svoodooeconomicsbecamethe drivingforceinAmerica.LOOKaroundtheworldpeople,theUSisn'teveninthetop 10inaveragestandardoflivinganymore,manycountriesthatemploymore progressivewagestructureshaveamuchhigherstandardofliving,Sweden,Iceland, Germany,Canada, thesecountrieshavenotsuccumbedtothe"greed"isgood notionthatAmericaneverletsgooff.CEO'soffailingcompanies(HomeDepot)are showeredwithmillionsastheyleave,asureasignasanythatourcountryisstuckin poverty,thegovernmentsent"stimulus"checksof$600,tofamilies,expectinga "bump"intheeconomy,theveryfactthat$600DIDhelpagreatmanypeopleat $4.00agallongastimes,isallthetestamentthatIneedthatthericharecontentwith thegrowinggap,andmerelywanttheproletariattoshutupandwatcht.v.PAYUS WHATWEAREWORTH!!!! "Ishereadytolead,myanswerisno,BarackObamaisagifted,eloquentyoungman [whoshouldknowhisplaceandstaythere]Joe"Racist"Liebermann by4CasandChlo onMonJul07,2008at07:25:48AMPDT [Parent ]

Nobodywilllistentothemedia (1+/0)

iftheytrytoblameObamafornextyear.Notjustbecauseit'spreposterous,but becausehisboldnessandintelligenceasaleaderwillmarksuchastunningchange thatpeoplewillthinkhimblindinglygloriousforsimplyfailingtobeavillain.Andhe willdoconsiderablymorethanjustrefrainfromevil. Freedomisinthefight. byTroubadour onSunJul06,2008at09:22:58PMPDT [Parent ]

Agreed.Partofourcurrentproblemis (3+/0)

thedifferencebetweenincomeandwealthattheupperend.Unemploymentisnotas badasthedepression,buttaxationeffectsmakethedisparityinincomeworse.The middleclassisnolongeranywherenearthemiddle,andtheygettaxedatahigher ratethantheincreasinglysmallupperclass. Itisn'tthatwehaveunemploymentsomuchasthefactthatemploymentdoesnot guaranteeafamilysufficientincomeforaplacetoliveorhealthcare,forinstance.The Reaganrevolutionhasbeenamassiveshiftofwealthtoaverysmallpartofthe population.ThepollyannacreepinthearticlebyKevinPhillipshasallowedthisto happenwhileclaimingthateverythingisfine. Thanksforthispost. Outsideofadog,abookisaman'sbestfriend.Insideofadogit'stoodarktoread. Marx(nonotthatone,Groucho) bymarketgeek onSunJul06,2008at08:00:39PMPDT [Parent ]

Niceplacetostopfortonight (1+/0)

Itgoesbackmuchfurther,suggestingthattheleft,wheninpower,isjustasdeceptive astheright. Question: HasObamachangedhispositiononanythingsinceClintonconceeded? byURMissTaken onSunJul06,2008at07:54:41PMPDT [Parent ]

Iwouldargue (4+/0)

thattheonlytimethelefthaseverbeen"inpower"wasforabout15minutesinthe 1930s.Maybe. Butasidefromthat,Iagreecompletely. Idon'texpectanythingfromObama,andIthinkanyonewhodoesisafool.Sorry,but it'swhatIbelieve.WhatIdoexpectisforustogetorganizedandapplyan unbelievableamountofpressure,likewedidinthe30sand60s(butwithtacticsand

unbelievableamountofpressure,likewedidinthe30sand60s(butwithtacticsand methodssuitabletothepresent),topushObamaandahopefullymoreprogressive Congresstoact. Buthewillthrowbullshit/deceptionatus,makenomistake. (Andno,I'mnottrashingtheman.I'marealistandastudentofhistory.) Riselikelionsafterslumberinunvanquishablenumber. Shakeyourchainstoearthlike dew,whichinsleephadfallenonyou.Yearemany theyarefew. bycruz onSunJul06,2008at08:16:18PMPDT [Parent ]

ObamaRepublicansanyone?n/t (2+/0)

You'vegottobecou rageous,toplaytheoddsthatlovewillwin.Whatevercityyou're in.Was/NotWas byNoodles onSunJul06,2008at07:39:01PMPDT

Howabout"ConstitutionalRepublicans"instead? (1+/0)

Thatgivesthemalittlepatonthebackintheprocess,andhelpsdefinetheir counterpartsforwhattheyare not. Gentlemen,youcan'tfightinhere!ThisistheWarRoom! bybigtimecynic onSunJul06,2008at07:52:26PMPDT [Parent ]

Right.LeadthemfirstawayfromtheGOP, (0+/0)

andletthemmakeuptheirownmindsaboutwheretheyshouldgo. Forinstance,toBobBarr.Anywhere,justawayfromMcSame. byNimbusonSunJul06,2008at07:56:29PMPDT [Parent ]

AsanantidotetoReagenDemocratsthis (0+/0)

isameme,orframe,ormovementorwhat have youwhichwouldmoreeasilystickin people'smindsasawelldefinedstatementofwhatweareasaparty.NordoIseethis somuchasacultofpersonalityaboutObamaawhatherepresentsintermsofthe correctdefinitionofliberalism,awordbadlysmearedoverthelast30years.An antidotetowhatReaganrepresentedwhentheNeoconmovementstarted. You'vegottobecou rageous,toplaytheoddsthatlovewillwin.Whatevercityyou're in.Was/NotWas byNoodles onTueJul08,2008at10:19:07AMPDT [Parent ]

greatarticleD (2+/0)

it'seitheryourconclusion(hopefully)orit'sgoingtobechaosandworse. Iamquitesurenowthatoften,veryoften,inmattersconcerningreligionandpoliticsa man'sreasoningpowersarenotabovethemonkey's.MarkTwain byroute66 onSunJul06,2008at07:39:14PMPDT

Proxybattlesre:feminismalsofueledhomophobia (4+/0)

Manyoftheculturalissuesbecameproxybattlesoverfeminism,and liberalsandtheDemocraticpartybecameassociatedwithtraits generallythoughttobeeffete,ortotaketherootwordfurther, feminine.

WhichiswhyitwassoeasyfortheRepublicanstograspontothesame sexmarriage issuewithsuchsuccess,becausetheywereabletoframeDemocraticmen(andmore specifically,Democraticmalepoliticalcandidates)as"effete,""feminine,"and thereforetehgay. The49orsopercentofAmericanswhostillthinkofourgovernmentintermsofthis womanhating,gaybaitingmindset(andkeepingthewomenandtheirgay "counterparts"down)trulyfrightenme.

BEthemovement.ObamaforPresident. byboofdah onSunJul06,2008at07:43:10PMPDT

Definitely (2+/0)

Gayissuesaredefinitelylinkedtoit.However,Idon'tthinktheRepubsreallyhadas muchsuccesswithgaymarriageasmanythink.Sure,theywontheinitiativesuntil lastyearinAZ,butIdon'tthinkitwasreallybecauseofhostilitytowardgaysasmuch asnotionsaboutmarriagebeingtiedtochurchesandsuch.Ifyouaskpeopleif they'reOKwithsame sexcoupleshavingalistofrights,andyoulistalltherightsof marriage,andyoujustdon'tcallitmarriage,majoritiesarefinewithit.It'sahang up overwhatyoucallit. AndIdon'tthinkgaymarriagedidanythingin2004exceptmaybeginuptheturnout amongconservativeandfearfulelderlyvoters.Idon'tthinkitchangedvoters'votes forpresident. Therevolutionwillnotbetelevised,butwe'llanalyzeittodeathat TheNextHurrah . byDHinMIonSunJul06,2008at07:47:24PMPDT [Parent ]

Fortunatelyforus... (1+/0)

thepredatoryclosethomosexualswhomakeuptheGOP'smostdevotedcadrescan't seemtostayoutofthenews. Freedomisinthefight. byTroubadour onSunJul06,2008at09:32:15PMPDT [Parent ]

That'smybiggestconcern (2+/0)

Itsureseemslikethewormhasturnedontheeconomyinthesensethatthe electorateiswakinguptothefactthattheGOPhasnointerestinprovidingtrue economicbenefittoanyclassotherthanthewealthiest3%whopatronizeandfund partyoperations. However,thesocialdivisionsarestillthere.Thosedivisionshavebeenusedsince Nixon(andmuchfurtherback)todividetheworkingclassandconvinceittovote againstitsowneconomicinterest. Ithinkdivisionsbasedongenderhavelargelyabated.Ithinkthatdivisionsbasedon sexualpreferencearestartingtoabate. Iquestion,however,whetherdivisionsbasedonracearemuchbetter.Ithinkthatthe potentialexistsforObamatobreakuptheracialdivisions,atleastamongtheyounger generationofvoters.Idon'tholdoutmuchhopeforwhite50+y/o'sthey'regoingto voteGOPregardless. However,thepotentialforObamatobustuptheseracialdivisionsisgoingtodepend largelyonhowsuccessfulaPresidenthewillbe.Ifhepresidesoveraprotracted, bloodypulloutofIraqandtheeconomycontinuestogosouth,therightisgoingto painthimaslivingproofthatblackpeoplecan'tgetthejobdone. Obamaisgoingtoneedtobeasuccessfulpresidentforthiselectiontobetheendto anera. "Unseen,inthebackground,Fatewasquietlyslippingtheleadintotheboxingglove." P.G.Wodehouse bygsbadj onMonJul07,2008at06:06:15AMPDT [Parent ]

Theonlyproblemwithyourthesis (4+/0)

onthecuspofsomethingnew,hopefullybetter,andcharacterizedbya bold,vigorous,creativeDemocraticparty

isthatthisboldness,forthemostpart,isfoundincommoncitizensandnotin Democraticpoliticians.Butthen,contrarytowhathistorybooksteach,"leaders"very rarelylead.Theyoftenjustfollowthegroundswelltheysenseinthecountry.ButIdo senseachangeinthegeneralpopulation.Sohere'stohopingthatthesheepin Washingtonwillfollowalongdutifully. Gentlemen,youcan'tfightinhere!ThisistheWarRoom! bybigtimecynic onSunJul06,2008at07:44:21PMPDT

Roosevelt... (5+/0)

...ranaverysafeandrisk aversecampaignin1932 . Asyousay,partofleadingisfollowing,andassumingObamawins,wewon'tknow wherehe'llgountilhegetsintooffice.Also,theCongresshehaswillbecrucial,and onthatscoreI'mfairlyoptimistic,becauseIthinkwe'regoingwinbigmajorities. Therevolutionwillnotbetelevised,butwe'llanalyzeittodeathat TheNextHurrah . byDHinMIonSunJul06,2008at07:50:41PMPDT [Parent ]

Peopleforget (0+/0)

ThattheDemocraticparty(Southernpart)thatRooseveltledweregenerally conservative.SomeoneoncecommentedtoSen.WalterF.George(D)ofGeorgiathat "Rooseveltwashisownworstenemy."TowhichtheSenatorreplied"NotsolongasI amalive." byedbb onMonJul07,2008at05:02:18PMPDT [Parent ]

Soifracism/xenophobia (3+/0)

isnolongereffectiveenoughtowinelectionsforRepublicans,whatwillbetheirnext scaretactictotrytoregainpower? Weshouldbeabletodeliverbottledhotwatertodehydratedbabies. byTFinSF onSunJul06,2008at07:45:55PMPDT

IDon'tKnow,andNeitherDoThey (5+/0)

They'reatanimpasse.Manyofthemthinktheirproblemsarebecausetheyhaven't beentruetotheiridealsandtotheirbase,whichmeansthatnexttimethey'lljustget longerrunningstartsbeforebashingtheirheadsintoawall. Therevolutionwillnotbetelevised,butwe'llanalyzeittodeathat TheNextHurrah . byDHinMIonSunJul06,2008at07:53:09PMPDT [Parent ]

Theproblemisconservatism (3+/0)

thelast8yearshasbeenconservativeideologybeingexposedbyempiricism. Iran,Russia,SaudiaArabia,andNorwaywillnolongerbeoilexportersby2030.Link byaztecraingod onSunJul06,2008at07:56:36PMPDT [Parent ]

Theywillcontinuetoappealtothe (2+/0)

richandtheevangelicals,Ithink.TheywillalsotrytohoodwinktheLatinocommunity intovotingforthem. Theywillcontinuetodowhattheyalwaysdo:Lie,cheat,steal,rape,andpillage. Ireallydon'tseetheRepublicanPartycontinuingasapartyverymuchlonger. Weareatthemomentwhenourlivesmustbeplacedonthelineifournationisto surviveitsownfolly.MartinLutherKing. byEyesWideOpen onSunJul06,2008at07:57:20PMPDT [Parent ]

Twopotentials,notmutuallyexclusive: (2+/0) 1.

Radicalization .Yes,Iknowthey'realreadybatshitwingnuts,butthey're spinelessbatshitwingnuts.Beingforcedintothewildernesssosoonafter tastingabsolutepowerwillcreateanincrediblelevelofbitternessonthe right,andofcourseitwillbedirectedagainstusratherthanthemselves.For nowit'sabstract,butwhenPresidentObamaispilingsanityonsanity,one rationaldecisionafteranother,theirragewillprobablyboilover.Expectthe reemergenceofanunprecedentedlevelofright wingdomesticterrorist activity,someofitpossiblywithunofficialGOPsanction.

2.

Clintonization .BillClintonpretendedtobealiberalwhilegivingtheGOP 90%ofwhatitwanted,andRepublicanscandoexactlythesamepretendto bereasonableandstillget90%ofwhattheywant.Expecttosee"Green Republican"asthenew"compassionateconservative."Thesejokerswould

expresstheirprofoundangeranddeepsadnesswhenevertheirmoremilitant comradesmurderorkidnapsomeone.Theywould"feelourpain." Freedomisinthefight. byTroubadour onSunJul06,2008at09:57:48PMPDT [Parent ]

MostLikelyRadicalization (2+/0)

They'regoingtobewipedoutintheHouse,andtheonlyonesremainingwillbefrom solidlyRepublicandistrictswheretheelectionismostlyoveraftertheprimary.There won'tbemanyleftwhohavetobotherpretendingthatthey'remoderate.Andinthe Senate,eveninthefaceofwhat'scomingatthem,thereareonlyafew,likeSpecter, Snowe,SmithandCollinswhoevenpretendtonotbewaytotheright. Afterfeedingthebasealmosteverythingitaskedforthelast15years,theywon'tbe abletoquicklyshiftgearsandmoderatethemselves.Thosewhotrytomoderatewill gettakenoutinprimaries. Theironlyhopeofmoderatingthepartywillbeiftheynominateamoderategovernor orsomeotherDCoutsiderforPresidentin2012.Idon'tknowwhothatwouldbeoff thetopofmyhead,butIdon'tthinkthepartybasedinCongresswillbeabletoshiftto amoremoderateorcentriststance. Therevolutionwillnotbetelevised,butwe'llanalyzeittodeathat TheNextHurrah . byDHinMIonMonJul07,2008at01:03:27AMPDT [Parent ]

Good. (0+/0)

Ifthey'reradical,wepwnthem. Freedomisinthefight. byTroubadour onMonJul07,2008at02:17:34AMPDT [Parent ]

ThenwhyisBushcontinuingtodismantle.. (2+/0) programslikeMedicare,SS,etc.?Whatarewemissinghere?

WhyareDemocratsinCongresscontinuingtogoalongwithabandoningtheMiddle Class,theConstitution,andstandingbywhileBigOilrakesinthecashattheexpense ofAmericanworkersandfamilies?WithsupportingFISAandimmunityfortelecoms? No,Idon'tseetheReaganeravanishing,Iseeitbeingbolstered,andpropagated forwardbyboththeGOPandtheDemocrats. Goodluck. byquantumspin onSunJul06,2008at07:46:39PMPDT

HeFailed (3+/0)

He'snotstilltryingtodismantleSocialSecurity.Hetrieditin2005,anditfailed miserably.That'soneofmymainpoints. Therevolutionwillnotbetelevised,butwe'llanalyzeittodeathat TheNextHurrah . byDHinMIonSunJul06,2008at07:54:09PMPDT [Parent ]

OnepointofangerthatIdohaveisthatthe (1+/0)

Democratsbackthendidn'truntheirownversionoftheinfamous"HarryandLouise" ads.IwishthattheyhadruntheirownadsprotestingBush'splans. byoceanstar17 onSunJul06,2008at08:06:49PMPDT [Parent ]

Iwouldhavebeengreat,but... (2+/0)

...the"HarryandLouise"ads(whichwereactuallyonlyonecomponentofthe overallcampaigntodefeathealthcarereform )weren'tpaidforbythe RepublicanpartytheywerepaidforbyHIAA(theHealthInsuranceAssociationof America).Thatis,bythecorporationsthatstoodtoloseprofitsinour"forprofit"health (non)caresystem. WhowouldhavepaidfortheequivalentcampaignagainstSocialSecurity"reform"? LowerincomeworkingfolkswhowillreallyneedSocialSecuritywhentheyretire? Theydon'thavethatkindofmoney.TheDemocraticParty?Theyweren'texactly

awashinextracash,andaren'tlikelytobewhenthecostsofgettingDemocrats electedremainssoobscenelyhigh. Likeyou,Iwouldhavelovedtohaveseenitandnotjustbecauseitwouldhavehelped beatbackattemptstoprivatizeSocialSecuritywhichfailedinanycase butbecause itwouldhavedonesomelongtermdamagetotheRepublican"mefirstandtohellwith you"modelofhowoursocietyshouldfunction. Butthat'salwaystherub.Thesmallgroupofthewealthyandthepowerfulhavethe resourcestoshapethedebate.Therestofus...notsofar.We'rehopeful,ofcourse, thattheinternetwillprovidetoolstoshapethedebateinanewway,butthetraditional mediaisstillverypowerfulandwhatreachesmostAmericans.Weshallsee. Iamnotgoingtosithereandbeanidlespectatortothediminution,thesubversion, thedestruction,oftheConstitution.BarbaraJordan byJanetStrange onSunJul06,2008at09:03:41PMPDT [Parent ]

ThereWEREAdsonSocialSecurity (0+/0)

Theyweren'trunnationally,oratleastiftheyweretheyweren'trunheavily,butthey wereusedtotargetmembersofCongresstokeepthemfromsigningontoBush's plan.Theywereusedinatargetmanner,andtheyworked.Andtheywerelargely paidforbyorganizedlabor. Therevolutionwillnotbetelevised,butwe'llanalyzeittodeathat TheNextHurrah . byDHinMIonSunJul06,2008at09:15:17PMPDT [Parent ]

That'sgood,butstill... (0+/0)

...asyoupointoutyourself,unionmembershiphasfallendrastically,soorganized laborhasmuchlessclout(andmoney)thanitusedto.(SadlyI'maunionmember myself.) I'mgladthattheydidthis,andthatitworkedinthoselocal,targetedareas,butIdon't thinkit'sinanywaycomparableto"HarryandLouise"andthatwholecampaignthat completelyshiftedtheconversationabouthealthcareinthiscountry. Asaresultofit,thatconversationshiftedfrom"howcanweimproveaccesstohealth carethroughgov'tprograms,asMedicaredid,"toabjectfearthatwhateverwehad (andmostvotersdidhaveatleastdecenthealthinsurancecoverageatthetime)any gov'tinitiativetoexpandhealthcarewouldresultinthelossofbothaccessandquality ofcareforthemajority.HarryandLouise=gov'tiscomingtotakeawayyourhealth care!!!Waitingforyearsforsurgery!NoMRI's!Can'tchoosemydoctor gov'twill assignmeone! Therebyveryeffectivelyprotectinginsurancecompanyprofitsforanother15years. Anditseffectsarestillstrongandwillmakehealthcarereformextremelydifficulteven nowwhenmostAmericansaredisgustedwithourcurrentfor profitsystem.Theyknow thecurrentsystemsucks,butb/cofH&L,they'restillscaredthatanygov'tplanwill makethingsworse. Ijustdon'tseetheadsyoumentionhavingsuchaprofoundimpactonthenational consciousnessasH&L,etc.Goodon'em,andhopeweseemore,buttheothersideis stillmuchmorepowerful. Canwefightbackagainstsuchmoneyandpowerwithgrassroots/netrootsactivism?I hopeso,butwecan'tunderestimatethedifficultyofit. Iamnotgoingtosithereandbeanidlespectatortothediminution,thesubversion, thedestruction,oftheConstitution.BarbaraJordan byJanetStrange onSunJul06,2008at10:02:26PMPDT [Parent ]

ThePointWasThatWithSocialSecurity... (0+/0)

...itreallywasn'tallthatnecessarytoshifttheconversation.There'sneverbeen supportforrollingbackSocialSecurity.TheHarryandLouisecampaignwasto preventtheadditionofamajorpillartothewelfarestate.Itbuiltonfearsofmaking thestatusquoworse.WithSocialSecurity,people'sonlyfearisthatitwon'tbe around.Buttheydon'twantitprivatized.Thus,theeffortneededwasmuchlessthan whathappenedwithhealthcare. Thereasonsconservativesaresoterrifiedofnationalhealthcareisthattheyknow onceitpassesthatitwillalmostcertainlynevergetrepealed.Bushevenconceded thatwiththeMedicaredrugbillin2004,whichmostmovementconservativeshated becauseitfurtherexpandedtheprogram,onetheywantrepealed.Andtheirmodelof theclassiccaseofsomethingthatonceimplementedwillprobablynevergetrolled backbecausethepublicgrowsaccustomedtoitisSocialSecurity. Wedidn'tneedHarryandLouisetokeepSocialSecurity.Theconservativeswerethe

oneswhoneededtocomeupwithacomparableefforttoattackSocialSecurity,and theycouldn't. Therevolutionwillnotbetelevised,butwe'llanalyzeittodeathat TheNextHurrah . byDHinMIonMonJul07,2008at01:10:00AMPDT [Parent ]

SocialSecurityPrivateers (0+/0)

Thevariousbubblesdissolvedanysupportfordismanatlingsocialsecurity.Atthe heightofaWallstreetbubble,401KAmericansareeagertogettheireasymoney. BarakHusseinObama GodBlessAmerica. byodenthal onMonJul07,2008at08:12:40PMPDT [Parent ]

Notsofast... (7+/0)

I'dsaythisisawonderfuldiary.Thoughtful,worthreading,informativeevenfor historicalandpoliticaljunkieslikeourselves.Arareacheivement. Thatsaid,Iamamongthepessimists.Mysenseisthatwearestillfirmlyinthe Reaganeraandwillbeforsometimetocome. Inessence,oneofthehallmarksoftheReaganeraisthedegreetowhich conservativeconceptsandmoralcodeshavedeterminedthediscourseofthedebate and,byproxy,thelocationoftheOvertonwindowofpoliticallyacceptablepolicies.We arestillinanerawherethecentristsarethedominantpowersamongdemocratsand theworldisstillveryverysafeforarchconservatives.Arch liberalsarestillderided viciouslyinawayconservativesarenotinthemainstream. Thecoretosomedegree,IwouldargueisAmericanthinking.Althougheconomics andsocialchangesareobviouslyhugelimportant,culturalvaluesystemsunderpinthe meaningtheelectoratemakesofthosechanges.Isthevastriseininequalitythe hallmarkoframpantlysuccessfulcapitalisminitspurestform,orofsavagely rapaciouscapitalisminitsvilest?Americans,Ibelieve,stillbelievetheformer rhetoric,andthat,isstillwhat'swrongwithKansas.Untilthatchanges,thekindof socialsystemthatsupportspoliciesthatvalueslookingafterallAmericans(to guarantee,say,universalhealthcare,orhighertaxesasaformof"doingourparts") willnottakeholdfullyenoughtotransformthepoliticalerainwhichwelive. Unfortunately,thenotionthat"wedon'tleaveoneofourownbehind"appliesin militarysituations,butisnottranslatedintoasocialethicofsocietyasawhole.Weare notanationofpeoplewhofeelthemselvesourbrothers'keepers.Untilwedo, Reagan,withhisresoundingdenunciationofsocialresponsibility,willbebeamingdown upontheAmericansocialproject. Mostrespectfullyyours, G. Likecommunismandfascismbeforeit,fundamentlismwillnotrestuntilitisthoroughly discreditedortheentireworldisunderitsyoke. byGuinhoonSunJul06,2008at07:47:54PMPDT

TheProblemWithYourPremise... (3+/0)

...isyou'reusingthatOvertonWindowstuff.Overtonisafarrightcrankatathink tankbackinmyhomestateofMichiganwhotriedtoconvincepeopleifyoukeep pushingmoreextremepositions,themore"moderatelybad"positionswillbeadopted. It'safinetheoryifrealityneverintrudes.LookatIraq.Theypushedextreme positionsuntilitfellapart,andnowthewarisdeeplyunpopular.Ontheeconomy, theymosthidtheirintent,andwhentheyactuallytriedtopushthingsonSocial Security,therewasamassivebacklash. Spinanddeceptionworksforawhile.Butrealitieslikelosingyourjob,yourhouseor yoursonincombatintrudeanddestroythecompletelyunempiricalandprovenfalse theoryofthatOvertonthing. Idon'tmeantobeharsh,especiallysinceyouweresocomplimentaryofmypost,but IreallywishpeoplewouldstoppushingthatOvertonWindowstuff. Therevolutionwillnotbetelevised,butwe'llanalyzeittodeathat TheNextHurrah . byDHinMIonSunJul06,2008at07:59:13PMPDT [Parent ]

Aminorreference... (1+/0)

IappreciateyourinformationabouttheOvertonwindowidea.Ireallyhadnoidea, andyouputittobedwell.Toacertainextent,I'mnotsuretheconceptisn'tauseful heuristic.Since1980,I'veseentherightpushevermoreextremevisions,untilwhat

seemedradicalisnowcommonplace.Maybethat'sjustanillusioncreatedbyamore generalrightwardtilt.Afterall,thatwouldmaketheevermoreacceptableright leaningstuffthedriverofarightwardmovingwindow,nottheresultofit.Thanksfor bringingthatup.Ihadn'tthoughtofit.Certainly,thatovertonwindowstuffhas converselyfailedmiserablyontheleft.Wecertainlyhaveourfairshareofcrankstoo whoneverseemtomakemoderateleftproposalslikesinglepayerseemacceptable. NowthatIthinkaboutit,Iwishthetheoryactuallyworked,sincecomparedtothe BurningManeconomicssomeespouse(astrawman,ifyouwillforgivetheabsolutely dreadfulpun.Ihaverealrespectforburners.),thenareturntobalancedbudgetsand thecreationofasimple,progressivetaxpolicywouldbeaneasysellifOvertonwere right!Damn! Overall,though,thisisanothercasewhereI really hopeyouarerightandIam wrong.Still,itseemstomethatmanypeopledon'tmaketheconnectionbetweenthe taxpolicyofBushandtheirdifficultiesinmakingendsmeet,ortheconnection betweenthedeificationofforprofitcorporationsandtheiroffthechartshealthcare costs(sotospeak) Asineconomics,politicsseemstobeallaboutthefailuresthatcomeaboutfrom boundedrationalactors(orsomedeviationfromperfectrationality)actingon imperfectinformation. Thanksagain!nowIoweyoutwice! Likecommunismandfascismbeforeit,fundamentlismwillnotrestuntilitisthoroughly discreditedortheentireworldisunderitsyoke. byGuinhoonSunJul06,2008at08:34:35PMPDT [Parent ]

Likealltheories, (0+/0)

itworkswithinlimits.Itissurelyagoodexplanationofhowwegotthisfar.Wetendto assumethecontinuumisinfinite,butitisn't.Therearelimitsatwhich,asyousaid, realityintrudes. IfMcCainmakesthenextSupremeCourtappointment,wewillthinktheBushdays werethegoodolddays! byphaktor onSunJul06,2008at11:24:27PMPDT [Parent ]

TherewasaDiarytheotherdayaboutOverton (0+/0)

WhichdidagoodjobofdescribingthetheoryoftheOvertonWindow.Regardlessof Overtonbeingacrank,whichI'minnopositiontoargueeitherway,sinceIhaven't readhiswork,Idothinktherearesomeobvioustruthsbehindthetheory,ifnotinthe author'sconclusions. Theproblemis,theconceptoftheOvertonWindowdoesn'tflyexceptinextreme macro trends,andcertainlynotinaspecificincidentsuchasthetrumpedupIraqwar. Macrotrendsaremuchtoolargetobemanipulatedbyanybody,sincethetrendistoo amorphousandtoosubtletobeseenfrominsideit.Extremeradicalsthatcouldpusha trendforwardwouldbythenatureofbeingfaroutsideconventionalsocietywould neverhavethepowertoperformtheirhistoricaltaskonpurpose,butwouldonlybeen seentohavedoneitinretrospect. Forthistheorytoworkonasubstantivelevel,andbythatImeanforradical individualsorgroupstodrivechangeinthewaytheOvertonWindowsuggests,they wouldhavetohavebeenpoliticalgeniuseswiththemoralsofaMarvelComicsvillain. Suchagroupwouldhavetohavebeenabletoidentifyaverylargetrendinsociety, identifydemographicandhistoricalelementsofit,andtakeactiontopushexactlythe rightbuttons,withoutregardforanyoneelse. Iagreethisisunlikelyintheextreme.Still,it'sausefulwaytolookathowtrends begin,andhowsmartpoliticiansmanipulatepeoplecaughtupinthem. Here'sanexampleofwhatImean. Intheearly1960s,therewasalreadyanidentifiablemovementtoendsegregation, andtosecurepoliticalandhumanrightsforBlackpeopleinAmerica.Themovement hadbeengrowingslowlyoveralongperiodoftime.However,asthepolitical environmentbecamemoreunstableinthe1960sand70s,notjustMLKandthe nonviolentmovementmadestrides,buttheBlackPanthersandmoreaggressive movementsscaredtheshitoutofthe"silentmajority."Antiwarprotesters Yippies, etc.mademiddleAmericaveryuncomfortable.TheWeathermen,andotheranarchist orantigovernmentgroupsscaredjustabouteveryone. Iamofthatgeneration,andIbelievethattheradicalsofthe1960sandearly1970s playedaveryrealroleinmovingourculturemuchfurtherleftthanitwouldhavegone withoutthatpush. Ibelievethatradicalfeminists,forinstance,cantakeprideintheRoevs.Wade decision,whichwouldneverhavebeenmadewithouttheinfluenceofthem. InthiscontexttheOvertonWindow,inretrospect,explainsalot.

Now,theOvertoneWindowlosescoherencywhenonerealizesthattheBlackPanthers, forexample,couldnothavepredictedtheresultsoftheiractions.Asapoliticalforce forBlackPower,theywerebettersymbolsthanpoliticians(despitethefactthatsome ofthemlaterbecameextremelyablepoliticians).Theiraffectontheoverallmovement wastodriveitforwardbyforcingpoliticiansandsocietyingeneraltobecomeawareof theirissues.Thiswasn'ttheirintent,though.Theintentwastocreateaunifiedand powerfulBlackcommunitywhichtheywouldleadbyafusionofforceandpolitics.At thattheyfailed. SoOvertonwouldseethePanthersastheprovocateursthatpushedaleftward movementtowardracialequailtywhileignoringtheactualhistoryoftheirsuccesses andfailures. TheonlycurrentradicalsIcanthinkofatthemomentthatfittheOvertontheoryare theMiddleEasternfanatics,suchasOsamaBinLaden,whouseterrorismtogain noticeoftheirgrievancesbytheworldatlarge.Theirgranddesignisunlikelyto succeed,buttheireffectswillbestudiedforages. Obviouslywedidn'tidentifythescaleofterrortheywouldproveabletoinflict,butthey didn'trealizetheextentofthedamagetheywouldcause,andtheycertainlycouldn't haveaccuratelypredictedbeforehandwhattheidiotsintheBushadministrationwould donext. So,IfindtheOvertonideainteresting,andagoodwaytolookathowmovementspick upsteam.Thefirstproponentsofsubstantialchangearealwaysoutaheadoftheworld theylivein,andarealmostalwaysmisunderstoodandderidedintheirday,butturn outtohavebeenrightlater. Beyondthatmitsallacrapshoot. FWIW IsupportBarackObama,notforhisoratory,norforhispositionsnorhislifestory,but becauseofhisgeniusforleadership. byDHinIAonSunJul06,2008at11:50:03PMPDT [Parent ]

Brother'sKeeper. (0+/0)

Reaganmocked"brother'skeeper",liftinginsteadthe"moralmajority" god'schosen, whovote!Welfarequeens,unions,thecourtsandgovernmentweretheenemy. JesseHelmswasgoingtostandinthedoor."Workingfamilies"havebeenwithus since. ReaganyankedoutNewDealgovernment,leaving"his"democratsontheirown clingingtotheirgunsandreligion.God,andthemarketwillprovide.Getagun,a 4wheeldriveHummer,prayonlythestrongwillsurvive. MoreGOPcrap:"Withalevelplayingamericanscancompetewithanyone".We competewhileCEOsselloffeverythingtothenewlandlords. TheReaganfantasywasthat"rampantlysuccessfulcapitalism"wouldbestowits blessingsuponallwhofullyembracedthe"greedisgood"ethic.Untetheredfrom welfare,unions,entitlements,theindolentandtheweak,thefaithfulwouldfloatupin their401KbubblesalongsidenewneighborsontheReaganranch,orwithBushesin Kennebunkport.The1000pointsoflightaresobeautifulfromupthere. Bush2kepthisfootonBrother'sKeeperwith"compasionateconservatism"Double Speakmeaningcrueltobekindwouldcontinue. 911didtriggercompassiontowardfellowAmericansbutwasquicklyhijackedintowar lust. Katrinadidnotrestoreasenceofcommunityitwaspackagedasablackproblem. EnergycrisisIIImayrestoresomesenseofcommunity. Whatdoesthe"partyofideas"offer?GOP,humblysuggestsoildrilling. HopefullyDemswon'tdissolveintorecycling,compostheaps,andtiltingatwindwills. Obamaisn'ttiedtoideology.Hewillrestoreasenseofcompromise,asenseof community,ablendofmarketandgovernment.FinallyburyReagan. BarakHusseinObama GodBlessAmerica. byodenthal onSunJul06,2008at09:20:16PMPDT [Parent ]

Let'shope (1+/0)

becauseIforoneandtiredofbeingtrickledon. IguessinthelastfewdaysthatI'vemadeupmymindthatwe'vecreatedafalse choicebetweenstandingforprincipleandwinning.Obamawillrestoreasenseof compromise,sure,butcompromisewillnotachieveanything.I'llreachforthe ridiculousHitleranalogy.IfyouarecompromisingwithHitlerwhatdoesthatentail?

Killinghalfasmanyjews,gypsies,gaysanddissidents?Colormeunimpressedby that. Likecommunismandfascismbeforeit,fundamentlismwillnotrestuntilitisthoroughly discreditedortheentireworldisunderitsyoke. byGuinhoonSunJul06,2008at09:40:37PMPDT [Parent ]

Inevergot (0+/0)

trickledon.Iamstillstandingherelookingupawards,palmsandmouthwideopen, completelydry. IfMcCainmakesthenextSupremeCourtappointment,wewillthinktheBushdays werethegoodolddays! byphaktor onSunJul06,2008at11:25:24PMPDT [Parent ]

TheendoftheReaganerabeganbackin1996 (2+/0)

withthesocalled"ContractwithAmerica."BecauseatthattimetheGOPbeganits declineintouttercorruptionandideologicalthuggery.WhentheSCOTUSforcedBush onusin2000,theendwasaccomplished.Therapeofanyshredofdecency,values andintegritythatRonaldReaganhadenvisionedfortheGOPwascompleteatthat point.SonowwehavethisrecentpronouncementbyMedvedev,onelittlesignthat theReaganeraismorethanoverinternationally: http://www.nytimes.com/... ReaganRepublicanismdiedalongtimeago. byconcernedamerican onSunJul06,2008at07:48:12PMPDT

Justtoclarify I'mnotsayingIthinkReagan (0+/0)

wasdecentorhadintegrity I'mjustsayingthat'showhesawhimself,andthat'show hisimmediatefollowersandacolytesworshippedhim,andthat'sbecomethebasisfor hisidolization. byconcernedamerican onSunJul06,2008at07:50:05PMPDT [Parent ]

Thanksforthat.:) (0+/0)

"Bettertolightonecandlethancursethedarkness."TheChristophers'motto byKlick2con10ue onSunJul06,2008at08:01:23PMPDT [Parent ]

BushtoursAmerica. (2+/0) http://www.youtube.com/...

byBushBites onSunJul06,2008at07:49:05PMPDT

ThatwasHILARIOUS! (0+/0) TRUE.SAD.But,Hilarious!

Weareatthemomentwhenourlivesmustbeplacedonthelineifournationisto surviveitsownfolly.MartinLutherKing. byEyesWideOpen onSunJul06,2008at08:11:03PMPDT [Parent ]

onecouldargue (0+/0)

onecouldarguethattheendoftheReaganerabeganin2000butwas interruptedthenextyearbytheterroristattackson9 11.

ThatonewouldbeKevinPhillips.Somewherebetweenthehijackingofourdemocracy onDecember12,2000andthehijackingofourplanesonSeptember11,2001,he wroteanopedpiecethatarguedthatwhatwewereseeingintheBushadministration wasnotthefinaltriumphofconservatism,butitslastgasp.Itwasacomforting thoughtatthetime.

"I'mnotnegative I'mANGRY!" HowardtheDuck byRoddyMcCorley onSunJul06,2008at07:49:42PMPDT

HeWasn'tPayingCloseEnoughAttention (0+/0)

Cheney,Rumsfeld,therestofthecrew,theywereprimedforaliteraltakeoverand launchofglobalwar.Theybarelyhaveanyotherskills. Wearecalledtospeakfortheweak,forthevoiceless,forvictimsofournationandfor thoseitcallsenemy....MLKing"BeyondVietnam" byGooserock onSunJul06,2008at07:52:40PMPDT [Parent ]

Phillipsis/wasright (0+/0)

HeauthoredtheEmergingRepublicanMajority.Buttheendofthe1968GOPcoalition startedwithClinton'swinin1992,whenhebrokeintowhathadbeen60%Republican suburbsjustfouryearsearlier.ClintonservedtohavebeentheEisenhowerofthat era.JustlikeEisenhower,whobrokeintothesouthandothersolidDemocraticeras andstartedsofteninguptheNewDealCoalitionduetogrowthintheSunbelt,Clinton brokeintotheGOPdominationofsuburbanAmerica. byoceanstar17 onSunJul06,2008at08:02:50PMPDT [Parent ]

IwasshockedtoseethevictorofGulfWarIlose (0+/0)

WhydidBush1lose?Thewarwasahugesuccess.Inandoutwith~50casualties. SchwartzkoftandPowell,Patriot.v.scud.Nintendowarfare.Oilkeptflowing. Perot'sgiantsuckingsound,inthevotingbooths?Wimpfactor/visionthing? WhydidGOPhateClintonsomuch?BecausehebrokeuptheReaganparty? BarakHusseinObama GodBlessAmerica. byodenthal onMonJul07,2008at08:23:39PMPDT [Parent ]

Itwasboundtohappen (0+/0)

Theissuesthatfusedthecoalitionof1968hadstartedtofraybythe1990s.Withthe endoftheColdWarandwiththememoryof1968furtherback,andcombinedwiththe factthattheDemocratsdidn'tnominatesomeonefromNewEngland,itwasthe electioncyclefortheDemocratstowinback. byoceanstar17 onMonJul07,2008at08:52:33PMPDT [Parent ]

pendulum (0+/0)

nowthecyclesays...democrat. Soweoscilateonan8yearperiod,aroundatrendline?Progressive,conservative?Is thereanarch,theriseandfalloftheAmericanCentury? The68coalition.Responseto60'sexcesses,culturalvertigo,anendlesswar.Civil rightsandwomen'srightsweretoomuchchangetoofast? Gorewasn'tfromNewEngland.ThoughheseemedtorejectTennesee.Avictimof timingorClintonexcesses? Americaadrift.200yearsofwesternexpansion.100ofimmigrantassimilation.75 yearsoftechnologicalpioneering.What'snext?Conservation?Yawn. Maybecarbontrading?Wealreadyhaveahousebuiltonbankcards,flimsyfinancial gimmicksdisconnectedfromriskandreward.Carbontradingseemsdoublydubious sellingindulgenceslikebaseballcardsortulips.Ifyoupolluteyoupay. Anywaykeepswingingforthefences. BarakHusseinObama GodBlessAmerica. byodenthal onMonJul07,2008at10:24:04PMPDT [Parent ]

AnAwfulLotofEnergyIsSquanderedDiscussing (2+/0)

theReaganandlatererasofglobalcrimesyndicatetakeoverinhistorictermsof politics.

It'sreallyalotsimplertodescribeitintermsoftheheistofwealth,opportunityand governingpowerthatit'sbeen. Wearecalledtospeakfortheweak,forthevoiceless,forvictimsofournationandfor thoseitcallsenemy....MLKing"BeyondVietnam" byGooserock onSunJul06,2008at07:50:55PMPDT

HopefullyObamacomesup (1+/0)

HopefullyObamacomesupwithsomethinglikethe'NewDeal',aswe'vediscussed herebefore. Ireallybelieveyou'reright,thatthiselectionwillbelikeFDR's. AcatchynameforhisagendawouldhelpinNovember. :P McCain:USeconomicwoes'psychological' byDAVEDIALonSunJul06,2008at07:56:34PMPDT

I'vebeenhavingthatthoughtmyself. (2+/0)

Ofcourse,it'stooearlyforpithinessitwouldjustgrowstalebeforetheelection.But whateveritis,itshouldbeevocativewithoutbeingtorridhard hittingwithout bombastandleaveRepublicansnoeasyavenueofridiculeforthename.Definitely needstobetwowordsintwosyllables,thatmuchisclear. Freedomisinthefight. byTroubadour onSunJul06,2008at10:14:29PMPDT [Parent ]

TheProgressiveMovement, (0+/0) theNewDeal, theGreatSociety, andthenthe__________.

IfMcCainmakesthenextSupremeCourtappointment,wewillthinktheBushdays werethegoodolddays! byphaktor onSunJul06,2008at11:27:34PMPDT [Parent ]

Heshouldcallhisprogram"AmericaAlive." (0+/0) 1. Alliterative(alwaysgood). 2. Containsthecountryname. 3. LetterAlooksniceandassertive. 4. Justtherightbalanceofpromiseandwarning. Freedomisinthefight. byTroubadour onMonJul07,2008at02:54:28AMPDT [Parent ]

Ihopeitstrue (0+/0)

We'vereachedtheendoftheReaganera,andareonthecuspof somethingnew,hopefullybetter,andcharacterizedbyabold, vigorous,creativeDemocraticpartywithwhichpeoplebondasthey didwiththeDemocraticpartyoftheNewDealera

Yes...butisthisgoingtobetheelectionthatsetsthenewagenda,orarewegoingto seeatransitive,placeholderelectionthatkicksthecandowntheroadwiththepolitics oftriangulationandRepublicanlite? ThemoretheDemocratsvotewiththeRepublicansandembracetheirpositions,the harderitisgoingtobetodistancethemselvesfromtheRepublicanswhenitreallyhits thefanandthepeasantsshowupatthegatewiththeirpitchforks&torches.Itmight evenbetoolate. Whathappensifthereisnogas?nofood?nojobs?DowegetbetterDemocrats...or doesthecountryembracefascism? Iputmyfaithinthepeople,Butthepeopleletmedown. SoIturnedtheotherway AndIcarryon,anyhow RareEarth,IJustWantToCelebrate

bySpiny onSunJul06,2008at08:00:57PMPDT

Probablythelatter.n/t (1+/0)

bysrkp23 onSunJul06,2008at08:11:13PMPDT [Parent ]

WethrowtheBumsout! (3+/0)

Andthenweinstallpeoplewhocangovernwithoutcriminality.AndNO,Fascismisn't anoption. Weareatthemomentwhenourlivesmustbeplacedonthelineifournationisto surviveitsownfolly.MartinLutherKing. byEyesWideOpen onSunJul06,2008at08:13:12PMPDT [Parent ]

Withprejudice!!!!!! (0+/0) CLEANOUTTHEBARN!!!!!!!!!

IfMcCainmakesthenextSupremeCourtappointment,wewillthinktheBushdays werethegoodolddays! byphaktor onSunJul06,2008at11:28:21PMPDT [Parent ]

TheRepublicansarewheretheNewDealCoalition (0+/0)

wasin1968.After1992theystartedlosingthe"ReaganDemocrats"andwhiteethnics inthesuburbs.WhatkepttheGOPcoalitiontogetherforseveralmoreelectioncycles wereClinton'smisstepswithMonicaLewinskyand9/11.Icouldwritemoreaboutthis andhave,buttheissuesfacingthecountryin1968arenotthesameasnow.Andwhat broughtthatcoalitiontogether angeroverthewelfarestate,crime,theVietnamwar, theCivilRightsarea,riotinginourcities,taxes,inefficientgovernmentandsoforth arenolongerincontention. TheGOPbasicallyisprobablygoingtobeleftwiththe170orsoelectoralvotesthat BobDolereceivedin1996.TheEmergingDemocraticMajoritywascorrectinits argumentsitsauthorswerejusttwoorthreeelectoralcyclesaheadofthemselves. byoceanstar17 onSunJul06,2008at08:01:15PMPDT

Reallyinteresting,DH. Thanksmuch. (0+/0)

byLithiumColaonSunJul06,2008at08:04:11PMPDT

AtleastwithBushtheturningpointforhim (1+/0)

wasprobablythe"politicalcapital"commentthathemaderightafterthe2004election. Hefailedtorealizethathisre electionwasmoreofavoteAGAINSTKERRYthanitwas forhisownpolicies.Hisattempttoprivatizesocialsecurityprobablywillonedaybe rememberedinthesameveinasClinton'shealthcareplan.Althoughitdidn'tgetasfar asClinton'splandid,thepublicrespondedinthesameway.BeyondthatI'dhaveto saythattheultimateturningpointwasprobablyKatrina.Toseethegovernment mishandlethefirstmajornaturaldisasteronthescaleof9/11since9/11inthat mannerreallyhurtBush. byoceanstar17 onSunJul06,2008at08:05:51PMPDT

Progressivecapgainstax (4+/0)

I'manEnrolledAgent(taxperson),soItendtoseepoliticalproblemsthroughatax prism. Ihumblysuggestmakingthecapitalgainstaxrateandthetaxondividends progressive.IfyouareaWalmartheirlivingon10milliondollarsayearofdividends, youshouldnotbepayingata15%taxrate!Capitalgainsanddividendsforverylow incomeindividuals(whorarelyhavesuchgoodies)shouldbezero,andforBillGates andtheveryhighnetworthfolks,theyshouldbepayingatleast50%.Thiswon't affectverymanypeoplebutitcouldraiseagreatdealofrevenue,anditmightstartto correcttheincomedisparitybymakingsuchobscenelyhighincomelessattractive.. byDoubleBonus onSunJul06,2008at08:08:41PMPDT

Alongsimilarlines,whendidthe"DeathTax" (7+/0) becomesuchanissuetobluecollarworkersearningunder~40K/yr?

Thepeople"hurt"bytheestatetaxare...thechildrenofwealthypeople,whoare "disadvantaged"inthatthereisareductioninthepilesofmoneythereceivewhich theymayhavedonelittleornothingto"earn".WhereIcomefrom,mostfolksaren't bigfansof"trustfundkids",butnowthememeis"youworkedhardallyourlife,and nowwhenyoudiethebigbadgovernmentistakingyourmoneyfromyou". Er,no,you'redead.It'stakingitfromyourkidswhomaynotbeabletopartyquiteas hardontheirparent'smoney. Andre:dividends,itusedtobethatthefirst$Xwherenottaxed,andonlyamount abovethatweresubjecttotaxation(atordinaryincomerates).Thiseffectivelygavea taxbreaktomanypeoplewhohadonlyalittledividendincome,whilefolkswho receivedlargeamountsofdividendincomeandwereinhightaxbracketsstillpaid theirshareoftax. Ifyoulookatthebigpicture,almosteverythingtheBushAdministrationhasdone regardi


The End of the Progressive Era

The End of the Progressive Era

Documents
End nodes in the Multigigabit era

End nodes in the Multigigabit era

Software
Period 9 Term Review: The Reagan Era and Modern Times

Period 9 Term Review: The Reagan Era and Modern Times

Documents
To What Extent Did Ronald Reagan End the Cold War? Emily Wolfe

To What Extent Did Ronald Reagan End the Cold War? Emily Wolfe

Documents
© HarperCollins Publishers 2010 Significance Did Ronald Reagan really end the Cold War?

© HarperCollins Publishers 2010 Significance Did Ronald Reagan really end the Cold War?

Documents
REAGAN vs. CITIES: THE 20TH CENTURY BATTLE OVER SOUTH ... · · 2 · reagan vs. cities: the 20th century battle over south african apartheid & lessons for the trump era by abhilasha

REAGAN vs. CITIES: THE 20TH CENTURY BATTLE OVER SOUTH ... · · 2 · reagan vs. cities: the 20th century battle over south african apartheid & lessons for the trump era by abhilasha

Documents
Charitable Giving and Tax Legislation in the Reagan Era

Charitable Giving and Tax Legislation in the Reagan Era

Documents
The End of the Cold War: Moscow - Reagan Foundation

The End of the Cold War: Moscow - Reagan Foundation

Documents
Americana Red Dawn And Reagan Era

Americana Red Dawn And Reagan Era

Education
END OF AN ERA - Greenpeace

END OF AN ERA - Greenpeace

Documents
Topic 28 The Reagan Era The Conservative Ascendancy Reagan – Bush 1981-1993

Topic 28 The Reagan Era The Conservative Ascendancy Reagan – Bush 1981-1993

Documents
The End of the Putin Era?

The End of the Putin Era?

Documents
Ronald Reagan and The End of the Cold War Emerson Peacock, Britney Wells

Ronald Reagan and The End of the Cold War Emerson Peacock, Britney Wells

Documents
End of an Era

End of an Era

Entertainment & Humor
THE REAGAN ERA TAX POLICIES - IRET

THE REAGAN ERA TAX POLICIES - IRET

Documents
The end of an Era

The end of an Era

Documents
Urban Politics Federal Policy 7. Overview Reagan Era Retrenchment Clinton Continuity W in the City

Urban Politics Federal Policy 7. Overview Reagan Era Retrenchment Clinton Continuity W in the City

Documents
Ronald Reagan. Also Ronald Reagan Reagan Public Approval Ratings

Ronald Reagan. Also Ronald Reagan Reagan Public Approval Ratings

Documents
Carlisle & Golson. Reagan Era

Carlisle & Golson. Reagan Era

Documents
The reagan era

The reagan era

Documents
ESSENTIAL AMERICAN HISTORY TEACHING AMERICAN HISTORY … Ronald Reagan End the Col… · ESSENTIAL AMERICAN HISTORY TEACHING AMERICAN HISTORY GRANT DID RONALD REAGAN END THE COLD

ESSENTIAL AMERICAN HISTORY TEACHING AMERICAN HISTORY … Ronald Reagan End the Col… · ESSENTIAL AMERICAN HISTORY TEACHING AMERICAN HISTORY GRANT DID RONALD REAGAN END THE COLD

Documents
From Reagan to Obama 1980-2008. New Conservative Era

From Reagan to Obama 1980-2008. New Conservative Era

Documents
END OF AN ERA - ALYTH VOICE

END OF AN ERA - ALYTH VOICE

Documents
LECTURE #24: THE REAGAN REVOLUTION & THE END OF THE COLD WAR (1981-1991)

LECTURE #24: THE REAGAN REVOLUTION & THE END OF THE COLD WAR (1981-1991)

Documents
Newsletter - End of an Era

Newsletter - End of an Era

Documents
Ambassador- the end of an era

Ambassador- the end of an era

Automotive
Ronald Reagan: Intelligence and the End of the Cold War

Ronald Reagan: Intelligence and the End of the Cold War

News & Politics
Embracing the New Era of End-To-End Channel Automation

Embracing the New Era of End-To-End Channel Automation

Education
Chapter 33 The Reagan Era

Chapter 33 The Reagan Era

Documents
End of the call center era?

End of the call center era?

Economy & Finance