The so-called GOP “movement” depicted on the cover of Time

[WCGreen]

Was more reactionary in nature than Revolutionary...

Why I call this movement reactionary is that it was all based on reacting to LBJ's War on Poverty, the Civil Right Movement and the unrest caused by the Vietnam War and racial tensions which exploded in the 60's...

In other words, it was all about tearing down what democratic leaders from FDR to LBJ built for the people, the common people…. And republicans, who have chosen to champion the rich and powerful, have despised the democratic approach to governing since they purged Teddy Roosevelt from their ranks in 1912…

LBJ said as he signed the Civil Rights legislation that he was tolling the death knell for the Democratic Party... And he was right… And sadly, it has taken more than forty years for America to grow up to the responsibilities that LBJ laid out in 1964…

That Civil Rights Act was the last straw as legendary yellow dog democrats, which we now refer to as DINO’s, started to drift slowly toward the Republican Party.

But it was GOP’s pioneer spin doctor Kevin Phillips who is the man most responsible for starting this reactionary movement... By dubbing the term “The Silent Majority”, Phillips gave cover to racism, greed and just plain meanness which allowed those who embraced the Nixon heavily coded Law and Order message a silent place to vent their fears and anger; the voting booth….

That drift toward a GOP majority in the House started in 1964 but wasn’t realized until 1994 because many “Dino’s” did not want to give up their positions of power and the ability to bring home pork for their districts by switching to the GOP… After the 1994 elections, several prominent Dino’s switched parties and caucused with the GOP…

What we are seeing here is a party that has run out of things to tear down, dismantle… And the American Public is taking notice…

Great political movements are about taking the message further, to a place where people can work together and society can move forward… JFK’s hope for the future’s message at the dawn of the sixties was replaced by the Nixon Message of cruelty, barbarism and despicable behavior and culminated in Rovian cynicism…

All that remains to make this election truly a realigning event is for the Dem’s to articulate a clear agenda when they take power in 2005 and rally behind a charismatic leader who can hone that message and once again bring hope to the American People…

A tall task… But we have done it before… We can do it again…

[skooooo]

1. "...he was tolling the death knell for the Democratic Party"

Did LBJ really say that? So he knew there would be such a backlash against liberal principles back then?

[WCGreen]

2. He knew that the strong southern base of the Democratic Party

would erode due to Civil Rights Act....

[Greeby]

3. The quote apparently was

"We have just lost the South for a generation."
* To an aide, upon having signed the Civil Rights Act.

http://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Lyndon_B._Johnson

[WCGreen]

6. That's why I didn't put quotation marks...

I was paraphrasing ...

[many a good man]

15. LBJ was overly optimistic

Forty-two years is more like TWO generations. I guess America is more racist than even HE knew. And he knew a lot.

Fact: Democrats have not won the majority of the white male vote in a national election since 1964.

I can't tell you how many times I've had long discussions with conservatives, swatting down every one of their positions point by point, and in the end it always comes down to race. Pathetic.

[Jackpine Radical]

4. I think you mean "blue dogs," not yellow ones.

Yella Dawg Democrats would rather vote for a yella dawg than a Repugnican. You can take that from Gus, my dog, who also wants you to know that he's not a fat cat (just an overweight Golden).

[WCGreen]

7. I meant yellow dog because the candidates were playing

on the Yellow Dog mentality to keep them in power...

[mcscajun]

10. Yellow dog always refers to the voters, not the candidates

No yellow dog Democrat would have become a DINO.

The candidates you're attempting to refer to, certainly.

[WCGreen]

11. Got it...

Thanks...

I'm a northerner

[AnneD]

16. Amen...

brothers and sisters. Yellow dog dems vote straight ticket. They believe in unions, small farmers, small business, civil rights. They believe that raising the living standards for the least raises the standards for all. Yellow dog dems are optimistic, that's why they want good education for all. They believe in such 'quaint' notions as public trust and common good; that's the whole reason for taxes in the first place. Since when did being progressive (and there by for progress) become a BAD thing. Yellow dog dems actually believe the values of the dem party, not just flaunt them around in a shallow, cynical play for power.

[DeepModem Mom]

5. You're right -- K&R.

[housewolf]

8. Some Republicans refer to it as the "backlash movement"

as it developed in response to the increasing liberties unleashed in the 60's and 70's, i.e. trying to "leash back" what had been "unleashed". I've heard that term from Pat Buchanan, Phylis Schlafley and other so-called "movement conservatives" and others who are struggling against the so-called "culture wars."

[WCGreen]

9. It's really about freedom, revolutionary..

and repression, reactionary.....

[CaliforniaPeggy]

12. K&R........

An excellent synopsis of these tumultuous decades........

[driver8]

13. Does anyone else think of "an elephant having a bowel movement" when

they read the words "GOP Movement"??

Just wondering.

[WCGreen]

14. "Crack" me up.....