I was born in 1948. I've been watching politics my entire life. I remember Ike. The so-called Republican Party is no longer the Republican Party, as long as TFG has any influence. I think Robert Reich said a day or three ago that the Independents are the largest group of voters, at around 40%. I'm not trying to defend the Republicans. It…
I was born in 1948. I've been watching politics my entire life. I remember Ike. The so-called Republican Party is no longer the Republican Party, as long as TFG has any influence. I think Robert Reich said a day or three ago that the Independents are the largest group of voters, at around 40%. I'm not trying to defend the Republicans. It's just that I remember what is was like when it felt like we were all on the same side, and the arguments were about how far and how fast to move forward -- not whether or where to go.
Don’t forget Nixon the Tricky Dick so fast, David! And then there was Joe McQarthy, sowing their miserable hate. I grew up in NYC starting in 1949 and my parents discussed all the events of the day with us.
Even Tricky Dick faded into the sunset instead of crying, yelling, acting like Linda Blair's character from The Exorcist. He faced his fate with some dignity, unlike TFG.
Sorry, Nixon did not face his fate with dignity! He should have been prosecuted and maintained his innocent with comments like (when a President does it, it's legal) (paraphrased)
Growing up in a 1950's Republican household was as you say, arguments among democracy loving rivals. This current Repugnant Party is way beyond the pale. I am a dedicated Democrat, who still likes Ike...
Indeed so Craig, me too! Ike only seems to get better with time, what he accomplished and what he resisted simply grow in significance with the passing of time and political experience.
Eisenhower was the last true Republican with vision and honor. During his presidency those like Goldwater, William F. Buckley, and others began sowing the seeds and fear of ¨socialism¨ and ¨communism¨. Eisenhower wanted to follow in FDR's legacy. They didn't.
I remember Vietnam & the Cold War, even though I was a kid. I didn't always process all that was going on. The division that we have now makes the Vietnam war demonstrations look like an argument over a game of " Go Fish " or " Spit in the Ocean ".
I dropped out of college in my third semester. I was doing ok, could have kept going. I enlisted in the Army -- on Richard Nixon's birthday (also Joan Baez' birthday) Jan 9 1968. I spent a year of my life in the war. After returning home I applied for discharge as a conscientious objector -- and won, on the first application, based solely on my written statement. There was a series of demonstrations in Washington DC in April 1970 -- when John Kerry was running for President we saw him and a bunch of other veterans throw their medals on to the steps of the Capitol or the Supreme Court building. I was stationed at Fort Meade, Maryland and I had a car, and it took about half an hour to drive to DC. I was in a march or demonstration one day when the papers estimated the crowd on the Mall at around 600,000 people. I actually saw somebody put a flower into the barrel of a rifle held by a member of the National Guard. Everybody was smiling that day. During one of those demonstrations, maybe the one I was in, the Attorney General, John Mitchell, stood on a balcony, surveying the crowd, and made a public declaration that everyone in the crowd was unpatriotic. I didn't feel unpatriotic at all, and I imagined that most of the people there felt as I did, that just because the government wants to do something, does not make it right.
When you listen to "For What It's Worth" by Buffalo Springfield you can probably recognize that today's struggles have been going on for a long time.
One can’t help wonder why Ivanka was interred at Bedminster and why the mysterious gathering. Can’t help but wonder if Trump’s select ‘top secret files’are in her crypt for potential blackmail purposes.
Buffalo Springfield - I usually listen to " We Didn't Start the Fire ", because it ticks a lot of the boxes. Or " Ball of Confusion ( That's What the World is Today ) ".
A few days ago "We Didn't Start the Fire" started playing in my mind, but I wasn't sure why. I was probably thinking: this has been going on for a long time. I don't know "Ball of Confusion" -- I'll look for it.
I was there, too, David H! What a wonderful story of how you enlisted, but after seeing and realizing what was really going on in Vietnam, you got CO status. Bravo!!
Daniel, while recognizing that you refer to just the demonstrations, it was no game of fish for those required to serve. In fact, I recall some of the demonstrations were no picnic either if you think about the Chicago Republican convention of 1968.
I was approximately 10 years old, & it seemed like there was change in the air to a kid such as young me even then. Anyway, if we can ensure that the change taking place now is POSITIVE, all this cr-pstorm will mean something & be worth it - especially if we can loosen the DAMN DEATH GRIP that the GOP and the Evangelical sellouts have on the Bible Belt Red states.
Excepept the Neighborhood Kids who went to Vietnam and not UCLA never came back. I never saw them again until I touched their engraved names on the Vietnam war wall in DC.
David H, a good year to be born! "Twould appear Ike was the last truly decent, honorable Republican to serve as POTUS. Unlike virtually any human we have seen he had access to true nearly absolute power in two spheres, military and political. And yet he remained true to democratic ideals serving country over party and warning us of the apocalypse of power coming in the form of "the military-industrial complex!" ...truly a man for all seasons.
“It's just that I remember what is was like when it felt like we were all on the same side, and the arguments were about how far and how fast to move forward -- not whether or where to go.” That’s it exactly! Just had this conversation with my son. There’s currently no competition between the 2 parties, that would end in our country moving forward the quickest, and to the place where we all gain the most benefit.
I have other stories to tell as well, about how the Members of Congress would fight all day in their respective chambers, and then gather at the local "water holes" to commiserate, regardless of party affiliation. The friendships went across the aisle. Their families got together, they were truly friends, regardless of political party. I went to Washington DC in the summer of '66, with 4-H, for a Citizenship Short Course. I shook hands with Senator William Proxmire from Wisconsin. By most accounts, that feeling of comradery dissipated by around 1975 -- and eventually morphed into what we see today, with Members heckling the President during the State of the Union address. Some of us believe that the "conservative movement" is responsible for most of the loss of the sense of all of us being on the same side.
You must be thinking of Eisenhower. I grew up under his relatively beneficent rule. Since then, all the repugnicant "leaders" I can count have been corrupt.
I was born in 1948. I've been watching politics my entire life. I remember Ike. The so-called Republican Party is no longer the Republican Party, as long as TFG has any influence. I think Robert Reich said a day or three ago that the Independents are the largest group of voters, at around 40%. I'm not trying to defend the Republicans. It's just that I remember what is was like when it felt like we were all on the same side, and the arguments were about how far and how fast to move forward -- not whether or where to go.
Don’t forget Nixon the Tricky Dick so fast, David! And then there was Joe McQarthy, sowing their miserable hate. I grew up in NYC starting in 1949 and my parents discussed all the events of the day with us.
Even Tricky Dick faded into the sunset instead of crying, yelling, acting like Linda Blair's character from The Exorcist. He faced his fate with some dignity, unlike TFG.
Sorry, Nixon did not face his fate with dignity! He should have been prosecuted and maintained his innocent with comments like (when a President does it, it's legal) (paraphrased)
And yet, after 20 years of laying low, he emerged as an “elder statesman”—barf!
Growing up in a 1950's Republican household was as you say, arguments among democracy loving rivals. This current Repugnant Party is way beyond the pale. I am a dedicated Democrat, who still likes Ike...
Indeed so Craig, me too! Ike only seems to get better with time, what he accomplished and what he resisted simply grow in significance with the passing of time and political experience.
I am friends with one of Ike's descendants. She says that, without question, her grandfather would now be a Democrat.
And the Republican Party would have lost yet another strong and thoughtful mind.
Eisenhower was the last true Republican with vision and honor. During his presidency those like Goldwater, William F. Buckley, and others began sowing the seeds and fear of ¨socialism¨ and ¨communism¨. Eisenhower wanted to follow in FDR's legacy. They didn't.
I remember Vietnam & the Cold War, even though I was a kid. I didn't always process all that was going on. The division that we have now makes the Vietnam war demonstrations look like an argument over a game of " Go Fish " or " Spit in the Ocean ".
I dropped out of college in my third semester. I was doing ok, could have kept going. I enlisted in the Army -- on Richard Nixon's birthday (also Joan Baez' birthday) Jan 9 1968. I spent a year of my life in the war. After returning home I applied for discharge as a conscientious objector -- and won, on the first application, based solely on my written statement. There was a series of demonstrations in Washington DC in April 1970 -- when John Kerry was running for President we saw him and a bunch of other veterans throw their medals on to the steps of the Capitol or the Supreme Court building. I was stationed at Fort Meade, Maryland and I had a car, and it took about half an hour to drive to DC. I was in a march or demonstration one day when the papers estimated the crowd on the Mall at around 600,000 people. I actually saw somebody put a flower into the barrel of a rifle held by a member of the National Guard. Everybody was smiling that day. During one of those demonstrations, maybe the one I was in, the Attorney General, John Mitchell, stood on a balcony, surveying the crowd, and made a public declaration that everyone in the crowd was unpatriotic. I didn't feel unpatriotic at all, and I imagined that most of the people there felt as I did, that just because the government wants to do something, does not make it right.
When you listen to "For What It's Worth" by Buffalo Springfield you can probably recognize that today's struggles have been going on for a long time.
And speaking of John Mitchell, Martha's suspicious death was eerily prescient of Ivanka's . . . As Marvin asked, "What's Goin' On?"
One can’t help wonder why Ivanka was interred at Bedminster and why the mysterious gathering. Can’t help but wonder if Trump’s select ‘top secret files’are in her crypt for potential blackmail purposes.
Ooops Ivana
Heather, I've wondered the same things about Ivana's grave. I don't think she's been interred at Bedminster. I hope to see an investigation.
WOW!!! That's an incredible idea! And too insane to not be true.
Buffalo Springfield - I usually listen to " We Didn't Start the Fire ", because it ticks a lot of the boxes. Or " Ball of Confusion ( That's What the World is Today ) ".
A few days ago "We Didn't Start the Fire" started playing in my mind, but I wasn't sure why. I was probably thinking: this has been going on for a long time. I don't know "Ball of Confusion" -- I'll look for it.
I pay respect to Billy Joel's "We didn't Start the Fire" ... "because it's always burning ... always turning".
Billy would appreciate that one of his best works is still so powerful.
I was there, too, David H! What a wonderful story of how you enlisted, but after seeing and realizing what was really going on in Vietnam, you got CO status. Bravo!!
Thanks, kdsherpa - Cheers!
❤️ Buffalo Springfield- will definitely check it out. Also your recollection of the flower in the barrel- powerful. Thank you for your post.
Didn’t that happen at Kent State?
Surprisingly, it’s not
https://www.songfacts.com/facts/buffalo-springfield/for-what-its-worth
I love this so much. So powerful. So honest. Such truth.
Daniel, while recognizing that you refer to just the demonstrations, it was no game of fish for those required to serve. In fact, I recall some of the demonstrations were no picnic either if you think about the Chicago Republican convention of 1968.
I was approximately 10 years old, & it seemed like there was change in the air to a kid such as young me even then. Anyway, if we can ensure that the change taking place now is POSITIVE, all this cr-pstorm will mean something & be worth it - especially if we can loosen the DAMN DEATH GRIP that the GOP and the Evangelical sellouts have on the Bible Belt Red states.
Excepept the Neighborhood Kids who went to Vietnam and not UCLA never came back. I never saw them again until I touched their engraved names on the Vietnam war wall in DC.
David H, a good year to be born! "Twould appear Ike was the last truly decent, honorable Republican to serve as POTUS. Unlike virtually any human we have seen he had access to true nearly absolute power in two spheres, military and political. And yet he remained true to democratic ideals serving country over party and warning us of the apocalypse of power coming in the form of "the military-industrial complex!" ...truly a man for all seasons.
As someone else here observed, "I still like Ike".
“It's just that I remember what is was like when it felt like we were all on the same side, and the arguments were about how far and how fast to move forward -- not whether or where to go.” That’s it exactly! Just had this conversation with my son. There’s currently no competition between the 2 parties, that would end in our country moving forward the quickest, and to the place where we all gain the most benefit.
Thank You, Kathy for amplifying that point.
I have other stories to tell as well, about how the Members of Congress would fight all day in their respective chambers, and then gather at the local "water holes" to commiserate, regardless of party affiliation. The friendships went across the aisle. Their families got together, they were truly friends, regardless of political party. I went to Washington DC in the summer of '66, with 4-H, for a Citizenship Short Course. I shook hands with Senator William Proxmire from Wisconsin. By most accounts, that feeling of comradery dissipated by around 1975 -- and eventually morphed into what we see today, with Members heckling the President during the State of the Union address. Some of us believe that the "conservative movement" is responsible for most of the loss of the sense of all of us being on the same side.
You must be thinking of Eisenhower. I grew up under his relatively beneficent rule. Since then, all the repugnicant "leaders" I can count have been corrupt.