"Our long national nightmare of Nixonism-Reaganism-Bushism is almost over"

I originally posted this as a reply in another thread. nothingshocksmeanymore encouraged me to give it its own thread:

"I'm keeping a historical perspective in mind.

Kerry was the first time since 1988 we had a northeasterner heading the ticket. Kerry was the first time since 1960 we had a Catholic heading the ticket. The last Democratic landslide we ever had was 1964 with LBJ.

We arguably only won in 1992 and 1996 because of H. Ross Perot playing the spoiler role, and in 1976 because of Watergate. In both cases we had a relatively conservative southerner heading the ticket. And 1976 was a *very* close election, 50.08% for Carter, 48.02% for Ford. So was 1960, the last time we had a liberal Catholic northeasterner heading the ticket: Kennedy 49.72%, Nixon 49.55%.

The best election to compare 2004 with is 1988. Dukakis only took 10 states plus DC running against Bush's daddy. The list of states that went red in 1988 that are now solid blue is long and amazing: Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, New Jersey, California, Illinois, Maryland, Delaware, Pennsylvania, Michigan, Connecticut.

Comparing 1988 with 2004, both had similar lineups, a liberal northeasterner against a Bush. We just had one of the most hotly contested elections in the nation's history with that lineup. In 1988, there was no contest.

2004 was a test of whether we could win a national election with a solid liberal heading the ticket, without a southerner heading the ticket, and without Ross Perot playing the spoiler role. And we came very, very close to winning. Looking at the last 4 decades, that is an amazing feat. What it tells me is our long national nightmare of Nixonism-Reaganism-Bushism is almost at an end, and liberalism is resurgent.

Given that, I am amazed at all the people saying they are going to leave the country, or calling for liberals to abandon the Democratic Party. Retreat, when we are almost on the verge of triumph? Liberalism is resurgent in this country and if we don't build on that momentum like the right wing did after Goldwater '64, we are fumbling a big opportunity. It's practically being handed to us on a platter."


Discuss.

not seen before,

This is why expoosing the dirty tricks is CRITICAL

machine companies and have their legislators fight tooth and nail against paper trails.
What on earth do they have to fear from paper trails? Indeed.

The long run probably favors us by quite a bit.

Bryant
Check it out --> http://politicalcomment.blogspot.com

...since we just voted in a majority of Dems in our state legislature. To me, it means that the conservatives will now put a laser beam on our state. Next election, our Repuke governor is out since he's term limited. We have some clout but we'll also be challenged by the Rove machine.

That's the kind of optimism that can make things happen. I'm going to bookmark this one and save it for when things look bleakest. I think we should continue and build and talk to people about what matters to them.

135,000 votes short in a state with 27 electoral votes. Frankly, I think he was the best candidate we ran in ages.

"and I'll be there, in all my glory, when it comes crashing down!!!"

I have to believe hate, ignorance and depression can't win forever. Have people from liberal areas ever visited red areas? You really should. SO depressing, poverty and hopelessness just hangs in the air of some of these places. We have to sling open the doors, go into the belly of the beast, bring the truth of a hopeful America. Equal respect, equal opportunity.