Martin Longman a contributing editor at the Washington Monthly.
He is also the founder of Booman Tribune and Progress Pond. He has a degree in philosophy from Western Michigan University.
Of course. But from my history studies, I’ve always felt that the events of 1968 marked a drastic turn away from the liberalism that had dominated the country up to that point.
Had John Kerry won in 2004, George W. Bush would have gone into the history books in a much better standing than he will now. The narrative would have been that “he was a mostly popular president that led the nation following the 9/11 attacks, began the “War on Terror” including the invasion of Iraq, but followed in his father’s footsteps by failing to win a second term.” His administration’s singular responsibility for the catastrophic Iraq war would instead have been shared with the subsequent Kerry administration.
As it is, Bush winning a second term may end up being the worst thing to ever happen to him. It is now possible that the crimes of his administration will be exposed for all to see, maybe even punished. And the ‘unitary executive’ will be whipped back into being checked and balanced, rather than lying dormant waiting for the next power-grabbing Republican president to come along.
That was the death of liberalism.
How different things would have been if RFK were president instead of Richard Nixon.
or John Kerry instead of a second term for George W. Bush.
Or Al Gore instead of a first term for George W . . . oh the heck with it.
Of course. But from my history studies, I’ve always felt that the events of 1968 marked a drastic turn away from the liberalism that had dominated the country up to that point.
The Wheel of Life.
Had John Kerry won in 2004, George W. Bush would have gone into the history books in a much better standing than he will now. The narrative would have been that “he was a mostly popular president that led the nation following the 9/11 attacks, began the “War on Terror” including the invasion of Iraq, but followed in his father’s footsteps by failing to win a second term.” His administration’s singular responsibility for the catastrophic Iraq war would instead have been shared with the subsequent Kerry administration.
As it is, Bush winning a second term may end up being the worst thing to ever happen to him. It is now possible that the crimes of his administration will be exposed for all to see, maybe even punished. And the ‘unitary executive’ will be whipped back into being checked and balanced, rather than lying dormant waiting for the next power-grabbing Republican president to come along.
It was the death of the willingness to change and to act on it.
He was the only–and to this day, the last man that disaffected whites and blacks and other people of color could respect and dialogue with.
Now we have consultants, sound bites, PR, posturing, instead of leadership.
Thanks for posting these Booman. It is painful to watch, and think of what might have been.
But, to paraphrase some jerk, we go forward with the history we have, not the history we might wish to have, eh?