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Tells you everything you need to know

I just got back from voting at my local precinct. This is one of the most Republican counties in California. Turnout so far, is the lowest recorded in over 16 years.

San Francisco, which can arguably be called the polar opposite from this precinct has a different story.

Momentum. It tells you everything you need to know.

You know, its not like we havent already been campaigning for a year because we have. Its not like rock ribbed conservatives didnt get a chance or didnt raise enough money, they did. Its not like people didnt get their message out because "big media is out the get them", if that were really true, Huckabee would never have left Arkansas and Ron Paul would be leading a reenactment of the Boston Tea Party somewhere.

The problem is that no one is buying what they are selling. If solid conservative is a good product then why did Tancredo fold up like a wet paper sack? Thompson? Didnt get their message out? Come on guys, Huckabee won Iowa on a $1.95. Its not just money, you have to have something to say on those big media buys.

In 1976, Jimmy Carter ran on a campaign of change and people bought it. It was refreshing and fun to watch someone like us rise to be President, the only problem was that the world wouldnt wait for us to feel better about ourselves by electing a nice man to be President. We very nearly lost it all in 1978, and yes kids, it was that close.

I was there. I watched it happen. I watched gas lines, forget paying lots for gas, you just couldnt get it. You had "odd/even" rationing. I watched gas go over a dollar a gallon and I thought there would be a revolution in the streets, I really did. It was that bad. I watched mortgages with interest rates like credit cards. I watched as my countrys flag was torn down and burned everywhere in the world.

I watched in agony as my President used the word "Malaise" in public and it made me wretch. (And just to run salt in the wound, I think he wore a sweater when he did it.)

The late 1970's were a dark time for the United States. It was an era, marked by Gov. Jerry Brown saying that people needed to "Lower their expectations", that Americans needed to understand that America was in decline and would remain there. That was what passed for leadership in the 1970's.

I hated the Jimmy Carter 1970's the first time I lived through them. I'm really going to hate them the second time when they are warmed up and resold to us in 2008, but thats whats coming.

And no, I dont think that means that another Ronald Reagan is going to rise from the grave and save us all from this horror. In this party, in this climate of todays political world, the mortal Ronald Reagan couldnt get elected to anything under this Republican party.

The God Ronald Reagan didnt get elected to anything by the way.

The God Ronald Reagan didnt come about until long after he died. We forget that the veneration for Ronald Reagan didnt come into universal appeal until after he had left office and until after he died. While he was in office, and while he was in competition, he was hated and feared and despised and dismissed - by Republicans!

Reagan brought Democrats, Independants and yes, Republicans into the party. Once upon a time, we thought this was a good thing, now we get snotty when we hear that Democrats might like one candidate or another.

Its not the candidates fault that this disaster has happened. Its ours. Candidates are a reflection of the party, and this party has turned its back on the country in a fit of self pity.

Well, we get what we deserve. You'll excuse me for awhile, I have to find my 2 stroke moped, my bellbottoms and white Adidas shoes and my pukka shell necklace. If I have to live through the 1970's again, I might as well look good doing it.

Posted @ February 05, 2008 04:56 PM | Current Affairs

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Comments

Are you thinking this has some reflection on the final election? I don't see it. That the casual voter doesn't give a rat's patootie which of the current crop (esp. with everyone giving it to McCain already) wins the GOP nom is not the least surprising.

The Dem nom, however, is exceedingly polarizing. It's feminists vs. blacks, new guard vs. old establishment, Kennedy-cum-Clinton lovers vs. I-Hate-Clintonites. The fact that it is still very close causes a lot more fervent activity than the GOP, with its "already in the bag, Mr. McCain" sitting there.

Posted by: Vootie at February 6, 2008 12:03 AM

I'm not predicting a sea change before November, but it's a H*** of a long time before then. Both Dems are vulnerable on many levels, whereas neither of the GOP likelies is comparatively vulnerable. It's likely to be Clinton, and she can be trounced on so many issues -- socialism, shrewishness, you name it -- for four solid months.

Any successful terrorist attack also hands it to the GOP...

The only question is, do they really want it? Or do they want to let them trash the economy by screwing things up even more than the government usually does, and really ruin the Dem party for good?

Posted by: Vootie at February 6, 2008 12:04 AM

Ugh,this election is looking like a trainwreck whomever gets elected, from either party. I've generally Republican since the mid 80's. but it seems like the party has been drifting generally to the left for the last twenty years. People are being seduced by the socilistic ideal of the government giving away "free" stuff.

I fear we'll have to go through a repeat of Carter 70's before we straighten out.

I'll continue voting for the least damaging candidates, but I won't be happy about it.

Posted by: RPD at February 6, 2008 07:20 AM

You are right about Carter and Reagan. Tancredo and Thompson, and certainly about the Dems having the momentum. But how has the party turned its back on the American people?

Posted by: Bob agard at February 9, 2008 03:04 PM

> Reagan brought Democrats, Independants and yes, Republicans into the party. Once upon a time, we thought this was a good thing, now we get snotty when we hear that Democrats might like one candidate or another.
==============================

The Democrats have changed. Yes, they have. They have moved steadily leftward as the boomers have joined their ranks -- the Dems have been "Fonda-ized" as the Haydens and the Fondas and the Naders have mainstreamed themselves.

As this has happened, the old guard has left -- the Zell Millers see the problem with their party and find themselves unable to grasp their behavior.

When a politician with *principles* like Joe Lieberman is reviled and rejected by his own party, that says a lot about what They Believe In.

So yeah, there's a rational, sensible reason why the idea that "the Dems support him" is currently a downcheck in the book of reasons to support a candidate these days.

Posted by: Vootie at February 23, 2008 05:10 AM