Democratic Unity

[Tetro Kornbluth]

Nixon wasn't really a rightist.

Oh he was... it's just that he was clever enough not to let his actual views influence policy when votes were at stake.

That... and he was afraid of people going towards the Anti-war movement. That imo was what drove alot of his progressive legislation.

I don't think this feud will matter too much.. most of those who are died hard for Obama aren't really crucial swing voters anyway (and are much more likely not to vote than vote for a republican) - at least that is my perspective.

[Tetro Kornbluth]

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Catastrophes seldom shift countries to the left.

The Great Depression certainly did. When something bad happens, people blame the people (and to a certain degree, the ideology espoused by those people) in power, and vote for the guys on the other side of the aisle.

And arguably, the hyperinflation of the 1970's shifted the county to the right.

That Depends.. IMO I think that had to do with the reaction to the Counterculture than specifically economics. (Or rather the "left" had became anathema to some of its traditional supporters.)

[Tetro Kornbluth]

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Catastrophes seldom shift countries to the left.

The Great Depression certainly did. When something bad happens, people blame the people (and to a certain degree, the ideology espoused by those people) in power, and vote for the guys on the other side of the aisle.

And arguably, the hyperinflation of the 1970's shifted the county to the right.

That Depends.. IMO I think that had to do with the reaction to the Counterculture than specifically economics. (Or rather the "left" had became anathema to some of its traditional supporters.)

The "counterculture," as the term was used in the 1960's, was dated by the 1976 election; it was effectively dead.  A "hippie" in the late 1970's was living in the past.

Oh yes I would agree with that. But it was really the perception that the counterculture had led to the Anarchy of the 70s (or perceived Anarchy; rising crime, drug offences especially, etc) - there was also a clear nostalgia for the period before the Vietnam war. Which in the strange way Reagan represented. That is not the only reason o\c; but it is significant.

[Tetro Kornbluth]

You must be logged in to read this quote.

Catastrophes seldom shift countries to the left.

The Great Depression certainly did. When something bad happens, people blame the people (and to a certain degree, the ideology espoused by those people) in power, and vote for the guys on the other side of the aisle.

And arguably, the hyperinflation of the 1970's shifted the county to the right.

That Depends.. IMO I think that had to do with the reaction to the Counterculture than specifically economics. (Or rather the "left" had became anathema to some of its traditional supporters.)

The "counterculture," as the term was used in the 1960's, was dated by the 1976 election; it was effectively dead.  A "hippie" in the late 1970's was living in the past.

Oh yes I would agree with that. But it was really the perception that the counterculture had led to the Anarchy of the 70s (or perceived Anarchy; rising crime, drug offences especially, etc) - there was also a clear nostalgia for the period before the Vietnam war. Which in the strange way Reagan represented. That is not the only reason o\c; but it is significant.

Yes....and Nixon was already talking about the social dsorder in his campaign in 1968. He was the one who promised non-activist judges and to limit social change.

Indeed. What is known as the "counterculture" was just Hippies and the such. It was any sort of radical movement of the time, especially those opposed to the Vietnam war. O\c this was hated by the vast majority of Americans.

Why do you think McGovern did that badly, after all?