General Discussion
Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsThere's a cap on the cultishness of a Democratic Presidency
All post-JFK Democratic presidents have a built in limitation on how blindly followed they can be.
There is a quasi-fascist, authoritarian component in any population. It takes a critical mass of such people for fanatical or unquestioning support of an executive to coalesce around.
Before World War II no party had a monopoly on reptile-brain thinking but over time the Republican Party has staked out the fascist psychology as 100% theirs.
LBJ goes big into VietnamCan't seek another term.
Nixon goes big into Vietnam... and Cambodiawins 48 states
Reagan oversees so-so economy. Greatest hero ever.
Clinton oversees rip-snorting boom-town economy. Symbolizes the greed of narcissistic baby boomers.
Clinton tries to kill Osama Bin Laden it was a fake publicity stunt. Osama Bin Laden never hurt anybody!
Bush make half-assed effort to find Bin Laden. Greatest hero ever.
Obama kills Bin Laden. Meh.
Bottom line:We, to our credit, just don't have enough atavistic nazi-wannabees to fuel a cult presidency. We can have a highly regarded presidency, like Clinton and like I imagine Obama will be, but the over-the-top monarchistic presidency will elude us. (Good thing,) It is also hard to imagine a Democrat pegging a 90% approval rating, for a similar reason. The Republicans are more petulant.
dkf
(37,305 posts)Republicans thrive on it.
zbdent
(35,392 posts)about an issue ... whereas Faux has ... what ... maybe 1 liberal on for a few minutes?
dkf
(37,305 posts)BumRushDaShow
(128,979 posts)saras
(6,670 posts)...and in fact their history and values can't be factually discussed without risking violation of Godwin's law.
Since WWII there's been no hope of support for progressive policies from the media.
alcibiades_mystery
(36,437 posts)They disowned Bush after 2006 or so, after all.
We'd do better not to think of our opponents as subhumans (reptile-brained or otherwise). As JFK himself once said,
Our most basic common link is that we all inhabit this planet. We all breathe the same air. We all cherish our children's future. And we are all mortal.
Fumesucker
(45,851 posts)zbdent
(35,392 posts)piece of legislation passed by Pelosi/Reed ... if it had "bipartisan support" (read: written by a Republican), it got his signature.
No, they disowned him after the "liberally-biased media" took Bush43's **** out of their mouths and started to expose him, and then when the economy went into the shi**er, they said THEY never voted for him ... (odd, I can't find more than a handful, with a finger or two for change, who admit voting for him, but he had a "mandate from The People", right???)
regnaD kciN
(26,044 posts)...something only equalled by...Reagan.
cthulu2016
(10,960 posts)Poor DC...
Yes, 49 states.