Doug Henwood wrote:
>
>
> The historical moment is really different now from the 1980s. Then,
> Reaganism was a new phenomenon on the world stage, and the right was
> ideologically clear and energized. Now it's as fuzzy as Al Gore's
> math. I doubt a serious right-wing agenda would be anywhere near as
> popular as it was during the first Reagan term.
Moreover, the Reagan Era began when Carter was president. Carter reignited the
Cold War. Carter launched deregulation. Carter ordered a military rescue of the
Iran hostages. Carter started the defense build up. Carter bears major
responsibility for the Reagan Era just as Truman bears major responsibility for
the 'McCarthy Era.' No matter where you look in Democratic history of the last
60+ years the party or some major party politician is allegedly "betraying" is
base. I say allegedly because to call them traitors to their base implies that
they ever intended to honor that base. Humphrey's first act as mayor of
Minneapolis (after winning with union support) was to appoint as Police Chief
the one man in the whole department that theUnions most feared. Korea was
divided and the Korean war waged under Truman. Stevenson lead the bloodhounds at
the time of the Cuban Missile Crisis. Kennedy ("We shall sacrifice everything in
the defense of freedom" yadda yadda yadda) more or less formally declared war on
the Third World and made a national emergency over the success of liberation
struggles in Laos. Etc. Etc. Etc.
The Democratic Party's core excuse for being is to cripple the left.
Carrol
