I was 16 years old in 1980: A Cautionary Tale

[Viking 1]

I remember how Ronald Reagan could never get elected. I remember him being the Republican that the Carter team most wanted to run against.

I cannot fucking conceive a Bachmann or Palin or Perry taking the Oath of Office on January 20, 2012. Then again, my parents couldn't conceive an old B-movie actor defeating an incumbant nuclear engineer.

All I'm saying is: Let's never be complacent.

[CaliforniaPeggy]

1. Absolutely right!

[villager]

2. I remember, as a kid, watching California gubernatorial results in '66

...staying up late (was political, even then!)

And I remember the laughter when the resigned joke came -- after it was clear Reagan had beaten Pat Brown -- that "if he ever becomes President, I'm leaving the country!"

Since that was, of course, an impossibility, everyone felt free to laugh.

And of course, in the decades since, the country has experienced irredeemable ruin.

[oberliner]

25. There was a Laugh-In joke along those lines as well

One of their news of the future skits where they made reference to President Ronald Reagan being president in 1988 - got a big laugh.

Here is the link:

http://www.neatorama.com/2011/04/11/laugh-ins-prescient-news-of-the-future/

[LuckyLib]

30. And one of the Repug slogans during that election was "Why not an actor? We've had a clown

for eight years!" My Dad laughed at that and promptly voted for Bozo's straight man. We gave him nothing but shit for years, including when Raygun was pResident.

[murielm99]

3. I agree with you.

I laughed at him, too.

By election night, I was worried. I made sure my husband, who was in the hospital, got his absentee ballot, and I hand-delivered it to the courthouse. They were very nice about it in my Republican county.

I laughed at W, too. Never again. GOTV!

[cutlassmama]

4. Scary. And to this day, look at how messed up Reagan made

everything. There is no more "welfare" for poor single mothers, the mentally and/or neurological challenged people were/are still dumped onto the streets to fend for themselves, often dying in the process, meanwhile the fat cats go on living like kings/queens.

[Art_from_Ark]

5. The thing that really killed Carter's chances was the failed rescue mission,

including the televised images of Iranians dancing around the charred remains of American helicopters.

[bluestateguy]

6. I can promise you that Palin, Bachmann or Perry will not take the oath of office on January 20, 2012

In fact, neither will Obama.

Because Inauguration Day is on January 20, 2013.

[jonthebru]

11. Whew! I was worried for a few seconds.

Thanks.

[Name removed]

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[buddysmellgood]

7. I hate how you say that like you're old or something.

[Name removed]

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[pa28]

8. Good advice. I don't remember that but I've read Reagan was considered unelectable.

Not just unelectable but a joke really. That was until a general election demonstrated his skill at connecting with the public.

For now I'm not worried because I think the party gatekeepers really don't want her. You can refer to the recent comments of Karl Rove, George Will and Roger Ailes. They want a loyal retainer they can trust with their money and Sarah Palin is not part of the club. Palin is an unpredictable, emotional outsider who could probably be eliminated by a ridicule campaign just like Mike Huckabee was in 2008.

I don't want to underestimate her but for now I believe her own party is going to step on a Palin candidacy in just the same way.

[struggle4progress]

9. Reagan served two terms as governor and had substantial acting experience. He also had crafted,

over many decades, support from the business community

He was also on the Gallup ten most admired list in 66, 67, 70, 74. 75, 76, 77, 78, 79, and 80

Palin didn't finish her first term as governor, lacks Reagan's speaking experience, and I doubt the business community will find her exciting, though she has made the Gallup ten most admired list in 08, 09, and 10

[Bluenorthwest]

22. Good points, may I offer a fine tuning...

The business community crafted Reagan so that he would support them. He did not reach out to them, they came and got him, and placed him where they wanted him. Starting with MCA, Wasserman, etc. Reagan was recruited to be their guy, long before the Presidency was up for grabs.....

[struggle4progress]

29. +

[OmahaBlueDog]

10. I was around that age in 1980, and I agree.. but

There are differences.

Reagan was widely perceived as an idiot, but he'd been Governor of the nation's most populous state for eight years.

Reagan was a unifying force for a GOP that was in shambles after Watergate, the loss in 'Nam, and the Ford pardon.

As bad as the economy seems now, it was horrid in the late 70s. High unemployment, high inflation, and double digit interest rates.

To me, however, the key difference is this: Carter lacked Barack Obama's communication skills, and never appeared as competent as Obama. Go look back at Carter's speeches when he was President -- they were bad (odd, because Hunter Thompson wrote about how great a speaker Carter was after his law day speech in '76). Carter had difficulty being inspiring when he spoke to the nation. He also came off as inept. I think the final straw for most Americans was Desert One. Whether in Nicaragua, Iran, or Angola - Jimmy Carter's America always seemed like we were being played for chumps.

That is not to say Barack Obama's re-election is a slam dunk. I think he's still got challenges holding many key states he won in '08. But, with the killing of OBL, the GOP Medicaire fiasco, and the growing perception (for better or for worse) that a budget deal will get done (and with the Medicare fiasco, if it's not done, the GOP likely gets blamed -- and they know it), the Republicans cannot win with just anyone. Factor in the unpopularity of Teabagger governors right now, and you are looking at the necessisity of them nominating someone in the Romney/Christie/Pataki line of country to win the GE. At this point, if they nominate someone in the Palin/Bachmann/Santorum camp, the'll get smacked in the GE.

[elocs]

Here in WI if Democrats had not been complacent last November we would not have Walker & his minions

now.

Every election is important, every one. There should be no excuses for not voting because the stakes are way too high.

[elocs]

12. Here in WI if Democrats had not been complacent last November we would not have Walker & his minions

now.

Every election is important, every one. There should be no excuses for not voting because the stakes are way too high.

[jonthebru]

13. Essentially I agree.

But I feel that President Obama is doing better than President Jimmy Carter. The real key is keeping people involved with the truth and knowing what the lies are being put forth by the media. The ability for tons of money to be spent by non-persons, like corporations is very disturbing. All Liberal/Progressive candidates in any race are vulnerable. Turn off enough people from voting,insure that minorities have difficulty casting a ballot, make certain their supporters go to vote, corrupt the vote tally and the fascists win.

[Enrique]

14. it was a joke on "All in the family"

Archie Bunker wanted Ronald Reagan for president, ha ha ha.

[tblue37]

15. And of course "W" was always an impossibility, too! nt

[jonthebru]

16. Essentially I agree.

But I feel that President Obama is doing better than President Jimmy Carter. The real key is keeping people involved with the truth and knowing what the lies are being put forth by the media. The ability for tons of money to be spent by non-persons, like corporations is very disturbing. All Liberal/Progressive candidates in any race are vulnerable. Turn off enough people from voting,insure that minorities have difficulty casting a ballot, make certain their supporters go to vote, corrupt the vote tally and the fascists win.

[Cobalt-60]

17. 1980 results were from splitting the Democratic Vote

Let your mind drift back once more.
Republicans flooded the field with brand X candidates labeled as "independent" or "Libertarian".
They financed them too, but we didn't know until it was too late.
While they were splitting the vote Republican traitors were making promises to handsomely pay the Iranians to hold their hostages until after the election.
Ronald Reagan could't carry Jimmy Carter's jock strap, much less beat him one on one.

[harun]

24. And your point is?

[Name removed]

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[Cobalt-60]

49. They're going to try the same sh*t this time

Any vote not cast for the Democratic Candidate is in fact a vote for the Fascist Candidate.
My point is that we all better vote for Obama.
If we don't we'll get more Fascists in the White House.
AND
I've loathed that rat bastard Reagan even since his ignorant neo nazi ass befouled the White House. I want to vomit when I hear anyone putting that empty headed pus bag on the same level with our Democratic statesman.
The filthy fascist tricks that put him in office need to be remembered too.

[MadMaddie]

54. That's right about the Iranians Reagan I think committed

treason by doing what he did. No one really talks about it anymore

[pamela]

18. President Palin

I, too, laughed when Reagan got the nomination. Same with Bush. In a sane world both of those elections shouldn't have even been close and this world is a hell of a lot less sane now.

I want to laugh at the thought of Palin running but I just can't. After Reagan and Bush, a President Palin or President Bachman seems almost like the natural progression. Probably not in 2012 but who knows? What if one of them gets the nomination and Obama gets hit with an October surprise that makes the Carter hostage fiasco look mild by comparison?

[SkyDaddy7]

19. THANK-YOU! THANK-YOU! THANK-YOU!

It sure is nice to know others here on DU understands the American People have a very bad track record when it comes to electing Republican Presidents!

And with the Tea Bagger fury going on in this country the stage is set for the dumbest of all Republican Presidents to be elected.

I hope like hell it does not happen but I have a very sick feeling it could.

Could you imagine Bachman, Palin, Perry or any of the Republican Candidates with a Republican controlled House & Senate??

[Name removed]

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[SkyDaddy7]

53. Yes, I know! I think about that all the time...

I know I should think positive but until that scenario is eliminated in the primary process it will haunt me!

[Vicar In A Tutu]

20. Well, Carter was drab, and...

..he was seen as weak and, to top it off, he was serious,ly primaried - ALWAYS an absolute folly if you want your party to retain control -. He then came off as surly around debate time against a considerably more charismatic character. Obama isn't going to have those problems. If he loses Allan Lichtman's keys, I'll begin to worry!

Gore was the dullest candidate imaginable, he lost his home state and STILL had to be defeated by a highly dubious court ruling.

Obama also has the advantage of the 2010 midterms, such a catastrophe have the Republicans been. I dare say that there would be more of an anti-incumbent wave aimed towards Democrats if the GOP hadn't had that particular moment in the sun.

[Bluenorthwest]

21. That's funny I am from CA and was old enough to vote in 80

No one in CA with a brain said Reagan could never get elected, he'd been CA Governor twice, President of a Union (imagine that) and he had been groomed for the run for decades by politically powerful backroom players. Ronald Reagan, worst President ever, had given hundreds of political speeches before he ever ran for public office, he was trained, long and hard, by people who knew what they were doing.
Reagan had a very successful film career. He was not an old B movie actor, he was a movie star, twice elected Governor of the most populous state in the Union, former President of his own Union, deeply tied to greatly powerful people.
Never be complacent, but also, don't be daft. Specious comparisons serve no one.

[FailureToCommunicate]

23. Sage advice. Welcome to DU.

[Name removed]

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[Mass]

27. I agree. There was no way Scott Brown could win the Senate election in MA.

All I'm saying is: Let's never be complacent.

[brooklynite]

31. One major difference...

I was in College, taking a Senior Symposium on the Presidential election, which involved tracking the candidates (Carter, Reagan and Anderson), very closely. It was apparent very early on that, separate from whatever you felt about Carter as President, he was a terrible politician who had burned many of his links to the Party establishment, such that they were unwilling to go the extra mile for him in the Fall campaign.

President Obama is far more politically astute, and from my personal connections, I can see a much stronger link to the people and organizations that will turn out the Democratic vote.

[Name removed]

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[avebury]

33. K&R

[n2doc]

35. That's not what I remember

I remember a lot of people thinking that Carter was toast. Maybe this was after the debates and the failed rescue mission, but I never dismissed his chances.

[LetTimmySmoke]

36. I can't conceive of it either

Let's hope neither of them take office on January 20, 2013 either. ;)

[Alexander]

39. LOL! I was wondering if I was the only one to catch that.

It would be strange times indeed if the president took the oath of office a year early.

[LetTimmySmoke]

40. I would say that I would like Obama to take office on that date.

But not really. I mainly just want the GOP *not* to have the presidency, since they are so scary.

[Name removed]

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[Name removed]

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[femrap]

38. Thank you....

I lost money on a bet about Raygun winning. I was absolutely shocked that he won. I've never trusted the intellect of the American people again.

Plus, they are more mis-informed and full of propaganda now as opposed to 1980/1984.

Thank you for posting this.

[Name removed]

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[femrap]

45. And

btw, Welcome to DU.....an excellent addition!

[jimlup]

46. I have similar memories...

Reagan seemed like a charlatan and a yahoo... but that was from our perspective, not the rank -n- file voters.

[AlanCranston]

47. reagan wasn't that bad

i spent most of my grade school and jr high years while he was president. But if he could win a gubernatorial election in California of all places, and win in blue states like Vermont or Massachusetts as a president, he can't be all that bad. Bachmann or Palin would probably get below 30 percent in either of the three states I mentioned.

[Tripod]

I agree.

Be careful here. I was told that if I liked Reagan then I would be nuked. At least the WALL came down.

[Tripod]

51. ,

.

[DutchLiberal]

52. Since when is the amount of votes one gets any indication of one's performance?

[Lydia Leftcoast]

48. Your average voters vote not on policies but on how much they "like" the candidate

Reagan was a familiar figure from TV all through the 1950s, and he always had the "I'm just a genial ordinary guy" air about him.

[Tripod]

50. What?