Larry Wines: “They told me if I voted for Goldwater in 1964 that there would be racial violence in the streets and a major war in Southeast Asia. And you know what? I did, and they were right!”
From Ayn Rand and Barry Goldwater to Donald Trump and Ted Cruz
Tom Hall: Both Trump and Cruz are trying to be today’s Goldwater. Goldwater positioned himself as a champion of racist, xenophobic, colonial war mongering. And he got crushed in the election.
The New Year: Corruption of the Norm—Good or Bad?
Rodolfo F. Acuña: The common sense is that the political spectrum has shifted from the left to the middle and the middle to the right. Today fascism is an accepted part of the conservative norm. The old left has a faint heartbeat.
Why Some Americans Want Big Guns
Steve Hochstadt: Imaginary patriotism of right-wing extremists has been translated into a surge in demand for assault weapons, not for hunting or for protection against criminals, but to make war against our government.
Republicans Down, Not Out
Berry Craig: Don’t get me wrong. I fervently hope I’m off base in sweating a GOP comeback. Yet I don’t see the Republicans going the way of the dinosaurs, at least not any time soon.
The Proto-Paul Ryans of My Salad Days
Berry Craig: Like the college Republicans of my day, Ryan is crazy about all things military. He also opted for college over military service.
Romney at the NAACP
Karen Finney: Romney could strike his own legacy and tell the audience that while he and President Obama differ on many issues, they are both children of God and sons of America.
Will the GOP Add Color to the Presidential Ticket?
David Love: Surely, as Romney etch-a-sketches his way back to the center, Republicans are thinking that a brown or black face on the ticket will help them with moderate and independent voters.
What’s the Matter with Arizona?
Victoria Defrancesco Soto: Western states have their own personality. Arizona’s brand of cowboy politics is largely unbridled by partisan institutions and a republican form of government.
It’s Halftime in America, Ya’ll
Scott Prosterman: Karl Rove’s articulated objections to the Chrysler ad, which is paraphrased as, “How dare anyone take the high road with a positive message unless is it also trashes Obama and promotes Republican ideals.”
I-Ronnie of I-Ronnies
Tom Degan: The Republican party has sunk so deep into the ideological cesspool since January 20, 1981, Ronald Reagan is starting to look like Theodore Roosevelt!
Time to Get Moving
It would seem to me in recent weeks that President Obama’s week-kneed moderation is starting to give way to a bit of moxie. This has been welcome news indeed. This guy needs to engage in some serious political ass whupping.
Rick Perry, Social Security, and the Ghost of Barry Goldwater
Mark Nevin: In the 1964 presidential campaign, Republican Barry Goldwater initially criticized Social Security but then backed away from that criticism after he fell under attack from fellow Republicans. Despite his backpedaling, Goldwater could never shake the label of Social Security foe. Might current Republican front-runner Rick Perry be in a similar situation?
