Open Left

I'm not just talking about '64 and Goldwater (4.00 / 6)

but about the entire arc of conservative ascendance through 2004, that culminated with Nixon, Reagan, Gingrich and Bush II. This was accomplished through exceptional movement building, both within and outside the GOP, which was eventually taken over by them.

Why can't we do that? If the NRA, anti-abortion groups, anti-gay groups, and white racist nativists can, why can't we? Yes we can! ;-)

And identity politics had everything to do with the Goldwater movement. It was all about suburban white Protestant nativists fearing the loss of their America to everyone else, a reaction to Brown v. Board (blacks!), JFK (Catholics!), Sputnik (Ruskies!), etc.

Why can't we react to THEM at last?

"Those who stand for nothing fall for anything...Mankind are forever destined to be the dupes of bold & cunning imposture" -- Alexander Hamilton

---

by: kovie @ Tue Jan 26, 2010 at 03:47:55 AM CST

[ Parent | ]

Bingo! (0.00 / 0)

This is precisely what I would love Open Left to debate: how do progressives take back the Democratic party from the DLC and moderate Republicans who currently run the party? I would love for Paul Rosenberg, David Kowalski, and anyone else to thoroughly debate an actual program based on historical experience.

Progressive policies used to define Democrats prior to Clinton, through a focus on issues important to working people, the 90-99% of Americans who are not wealthy and never will be wealthy.

---

by: TSlavin @ Tue Jan 26, 2010 at 15:25:15 PM CST

[ Parent | ]