This is one reason why Obama has been able to defeat Clinton....

[damonm]

...and is something I've been saying for months:
Obama is the long-awaited (and desperately needed) Progressive answer to Ronald Reagan.

The parallels between now and 1980 are startling, IMO:

-In 1980, Liberalism was widely perceived as having overreached and run out of ideas;
-In 2008, Conservatism is so perceived.

-In 1980, an unlikely candidate (Reagan) with a powerful, persuasive oratorical style changed the political dialogue by offering a message of optimism about the greatness of America and a promise to change the rules in Washington.
-In 2008, Guess what? Unlikely candidate (Obama), powerful oratorical style, changing the dialogue by offering optimism about the greatness of America and promising to change the rules in DC.

-In 1980, Reagan correctly perceived a tectonic shift in the popular mood, rode it to his party's nomination and to the WH despite fears within the party establishment that he was unelectable.
-In 2008, Obama has correctly perceived the tectonic shift occurring in the popular mood, ridden it to the brink of his party's nomination and will likely ride it to the WH despite fears within the party establishment that he is unelectable.

-In 1980, the Republican candidate had a maddening ability to draw Democratic voters, and seemed immune to Democratic attacks - they just made him stronger.
-In 2008, we have a likely Democratic candidate who scares Rethugs silly as he attracts many of their voters and seems to find ways to turn attacks to his advantage.

Just some points to ponder.

[damonm]

1. A shameless kick...

[roguevalley]

17. good analysis. they will be going over this race for a long time for

truth and wisdom.

[Joyce78]

2. We all understand the need for change.

We need a change from the RepubliCONs. But Obama isn't giving me, my family, and friends any specifics about anything. We all know we're all against the war in Iraq, however, his solution ending this? We're disgusted with high gasoline prices with no end in sight ... his ideas??

[NewHampshireDem]

4. Well, consider yourself newly englightened

http://www.barackobama.com/pdf/ObamaBlueprintForChange.pdf

Warning: That is a pdf document in the link above.

On edit: If you don't like pdf documents, you can probably find what you need here:

http://www.barackobama.com/issues/

[damonm]

5. And ANOTHER parallel to 1980 -

..one I missed.

Reagan wasn't big on details either. But Obama has a website, where you can go and see what he wants to do. So I say (without snark), get thee to http://www.BarackObama.com and find the truth for thyself.

I'm just here for the history. :)

[NewHampshireDem]

6. Heck, I'll made it even easier than that

Iraq

Bringing Our Troops Home

Obama will immediately begin to remove our troops from Iraq. He will remove one to two combat brigades each month, and have all of our combat brigades out of Iraq within 16 months. Obama will make it clear that we will not build any permanent bases in Iraq. He will keep some troops in Iraq to protect our embassy and diplomats; if al Qaeda attempts to build a base within Iraq, he will keep troops in Iraq or elsewhere in the region to carry out targeted strikes on al Qaeda.
Press Iraq’s Leaders to Reconcile

The best way to press Iraq’s leaders to take responsibility for their future is to make it clear that we are leaving. As we remove our troops, Obama will engage representatives from all levels of Iraqi society – in and out of government – to seek a new accord on Iraq’s Constitution and governance. The United Nations will play a central role in this convention, which should not adjourn until a new national accord is reached addressing tough questions like federalism and oil revenue-sharing.
Regional Diplomacy

Obama will launch the most aggressive diplomatic effort in recent American history to reach a new compact on the stability of Iraq and the Middle East. This effort will include all of Iraq’s neighbors — including Iran and Syria. This compact will aim to secure Iraq’s borders; keep neighboring countries from meddling inside Iraq; isolate al Qaeda; support reconciliation among Iraq’s sectarian groups; and provide financial support for Iraq’s reconstruction.
Humanitarian Initiative

Obama believes that America has a moral and security responsibility to confront Iraq’s humanitarian crisis — two million Iraqis are refugees; two million more are displaced inside their own country. Obama will form an international working group to address this crisis. He will provide at least $2 billion to expand services to Iraqi refugees in neighboring countries, and ensure that Iraqis inside their own country can find a safe-haven.

As for the gasoline prices ... you're going to have to accept that there's really nothing short-term that *any* politician can do--unless he or she has huge petroleum reserves in their backyard.

[Egnever]

8. His solution to ending it I think is ending it

Instead of promoting it actually working to end it. I doubt anyone is exactly sure how he will get there including himself as things are totally subject to change between now and when he gets into office. However there will be a paradigm shift from stubbornly beating our heads against the wall to actively trying to extricate our troops. Including aggressive diplomacy in the surrounding regions.

His solution to gasoline prices is going to hurt at first but it will pay off down the road. It comes through investments in alternative fuels and fuel conservation as well as increased environmental protections that will cause the cost of energy to go up short term. However he will also offer an additional 1k tax break to people making under 200k? I think that number might be wrong but it should help out with the rising food/energy costs.


He has a ton of ideas and even better he is also open to hearing new ones.

[silverweb]

10. You need to do your homework.

That old whine that Obama's not providing "specifics" is seriously overworked, out of date, out of touch, and totally false.

The expectation that he's got a magic set of 1-2-3 steps that will cure all ills is also foolishly false.

Unlike our current emperor-wannabe, Obama will not sit in the Oval Office and issue decrees. Therefore, no matter what "specifics" he puts forth now to satisfy the doubters and naysayers, implementation of his plans will involve Congress.

It will take participation from ALL OF US to help change things, so I suggest you familiarize yourself with his plans, starting here:

http://www.barackobama.com/pdf/ObamaBlueprintForChange.pdf

http://www.barackobama.com/issues/

[Cha]

19. I know..when I saw that I thought..

"whoa, what a cop out in this computer age of information and videos where Obama does lay out his specific plans". That was a hilary talking point way back.

[silverweb]

26. Yup.

The same people who repeatedly demand "specifics" then repeatedly reject information offered, insisting instead that they be spoon fed the predigested material so they have to put forth no effort. And even then, no answer is "specific" enough for them.

It's nothing but a ploy and I'm completely out of patience with them.

[Cha]

27. It's really pathetic the way hilary

is encouraging Low Information Voters.

[silverweb]

31. Great cartoon!

I hadn't seen that one yet and it's absolutely dead on.

[Cha]

32. Good response...

'Cause it's brutal but true.

[IronLionZion]

22. You can lead a horse to water

but you can't make him drink. Come on, only n00bs make that false claim.

Detailed plans are listed on his website: www.barackobama.com/issues

[Egnever]

3. hopefully the same results are achieved

and after 8 years we have a dramaticaly shifted america.

[damonm]

7. This is exactly what I foresee happening.

I see Obama positioning himself at the forefront of this tectonic political shift occurring in America now. As Reagan was then, Obama is now - the right man FOR THE TIMES, and he has the ability to alter the political dynamic as effectively as Reagan did then.

[Egnever]

9. We shall see.

I agree the potential is definately there.

[Hippo_Tron]

11. Reagan was actually the frontrunner for the nomination in 1980

Bush started to catch up to him due to his not even campaigning in Iowa but he ended Bush and swept the primaries with his "I paid for this microphone" stunt.

Obama won a hard fought political battle against someone who had nearly the advantage that an incumbent VP does. He had a superior strategy that tipped the balance in his favor.

[damonm]

13. Very true,

And that IS a difference - but Reagan came from a background that made for an unlikely presidential candidate, you must admit.

And the other parallels remain strong. I also see some similarities to 1968 as well, but they're not as pervasive as 1980.

[Hippo_Tron]

14. I think there are lessons to learn from previous elections but I think this is new territory

I've seen way too many threads on this board from Clinton supporters still angry that McGovern beat Muskie in the '72 primaries because they are under the impression that Muskie would've actually won.

They are already saying this is like '72 with Clinton being Muskie and Obama being McGovern. I don't think this is anything like 1968, 1972, or 1980. It's 2008 and we're dealing with very different political conditions than those elections.

[damonm]

15. I think you're misunderstanding my point...

I spoke of parallels, not repeats.

Absolutely the political conditions are different now, examined on a case-by case basis - I concede that point, as it's obvious.
However, looking at it as a macro view - with tectonic shifts in the electorate happening, the similarities are fascinating, and may yield similar results.

[FrenchieCat]

12. That's why so many have "hope"......

Read this rant from Utah!

White Problem? Tell That To Utah, And Most Of The States Obama Has Won
The Personal IS Political Wednesday, May 7, 2008
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=132&topic_id=5878671&mesg_id=5878926

[damonm]

16. Another shameless kick

[BlackVelvet04]

18. He's had the press all but kissing his ass on national t.v....

and he still couldn't close the deal.

[wileedog]

21. What part of the deal isn't closed at this point?

And when was all of this kissing going on, between the "Wright Wright Wright and now for some more Wright!" coverage?

[theboss]

24. So, we should reward the person in second place who never had the chance to close the deal?

What does "close the deal" mean anyway?

[sudopod]

33. Cliched cliche is cliched. nt

[WeDidIt]

20. George Will Calls Obama "The Demnocrat's Reagan" n/t

[damonm]

29. Smart Guy, that Will - even if he is a rethug...

[theboss]

23. It's an interesting parallel

In fairness to Reagan, he was far far far better known in 1980 than Obama is this year. He had been a nationally-known political leader for nearly 20 years, and had been in the public eye for nearly 40 years.

He also fairly well stomped George Bush in the primaries.

Here is what is interesting to me though.

In 1976, the Republicans almost certainly should have nominated Reagan for the presidency. Ford won due to this odd sense of loyalty to a sitting president that nobody ever elected. And they lost to a candidate who under any ordinary circumstances would never have sniffed the White House.

Hillary is in some ways playing the Ford role this time. She ran as a de facto incumbent even though she wasn't really the incumbent. The Party feels a sense of loyalty to her, even though the loyalty is really to her husband.

In 2012, are we going to be apologizing to Obama for not nominating him four years earlier?

[damonm]

30. What you say is true...

...but as I said in another post, Reagan's background as an actor was most certainly an unlikely place for a POTUS to come from. That's HIS "unlikely" - Obama's comes from his relative lack of time in Washington (but what he's made of it - !!)

[TragedyandHope]

25. Good historical context

Thanks for the refreshing post!

[invictus]

28. K & R. GO OBAMA: Our Next President! n/t