Is the Republican party really the peace party?

[Beet]

- In the U.S.'s infancy neither party had a monopoly on pacifism. The Federalists were more aggressive over the XYZ affair but the Republicans were more aggressive over the war of 1812.

- In the 1830's-1850's the Democrats were the most hawkish party. Take for example the expansionist policies of Andrew Jackson, James Polk, and the dreams of Democrats to annex Cuba. Contrast that with the anti-war "spot resolutions' offered by Abraham Lincoln.

- In the 1860's the GOp was more hawkish, but one could argue they had good reasons for that.

- William McKinley was highly reluctant to get into the Spanish-American war, fearing it would hurt business. Theodore Roosevelt, who was hated by Mark Hanna and hardly your typical Republican, was highly pro-war.

- Wilson got us into WWI.

- The Democrats were a lot more hawkish in the 1930's.

- Truman got us into Korea.

- Eisenhower got us out.

- Kennedy and Johnson got us into Vietnam.

- Nixon got us out. Nixon went to China.

- Reagan/Bush got us into Lebanon, Grenada, Panama, Somalia, and Iraq, but Clinton got us into Haiti, Bosnia, and Kosovo.

- The 'neoconservatives' come from a left-wing tradition.

- Bush is currently reading a book about the French in Algeria.

- De Gaulle, a highly successful French conservative, defeated the FLN as well as destroyed the (left-of-centre Fourth republic), triumphing over all. Yet in the end he got France out of Algeria. Could Bush be channelling De Gaulle?

Why would the GOP be the pro-peace party?
1.) The GOP is the party of big business. War can often be bad for business. It involves expanding the federal government and throwing all kinds of things into upheaval. For example, Marxism-Leninism came to power as a result of war.
2.) ...

Discuss.

[Undisguised Sockpuppet]

In the past maybe. Now? Hell no.

[Lief 🗽]

Nixon and McKinley weren't trigger happy? Wha?

[Beet]

In the past maybe. Now? Hell no.

It does seem implausible today. Perhaps the parties switch places in the '60s.

[Speed of Sound]

Nixon and McKinley weren't trigger happy? Wha?

You dare challange the validity of the Spanish American War?!?!?!?!?!?!/1/1/1/1/


 

[Padfoot]

Why would the GOP be the pro-peace party?
1.) The GOP is the party of big business. War can often be bad for business. It involves expanding the federal government and throwing all kinds of things into upheaval. For example, Marxism-Leninism came to power as a result of war.

IIRC WWII is usually credited as bringing the country OUT of economic crisis due to the massive amount of government spending necessary to keep the war machine going.