………….. we say good-bye to Gerald R. Ford, 38th President of the United States. The Ford-Reagan primary was the very first contested election I closely followed. Counting up those delegates on a weekly basis fed my interest in politics.
My mother was a Ford Republican who believed in supporting the President, although she loved Ronnie Reagan, in those days. That primary cycle kind of makes one long for the days when we took our time in the nomination process doesn’t it? A race or two coming down to the convention, or maybe a June primary, would surely engage the public and produce a more informed electorate.
The Carter Ford election was just as close and just as addictive. Watching President Ford close the gap on Jimmy Carter surely excited the human instinct to cheer the underdog and fueled my competitive instincts even more. Even my old time Democrat father admitted regretting the Carter vote in 76, a mistake he didn’t make twice I’m happy to say. That is the first election where I knew that we were right and the Democrats were wrong, on pretty much every issue.
Jerry Ford suppressed the national bitterness of Watergate and avoided the personal bitterness that often comes from close losses, a lesson in the grace required of losers by democracy that many other recent close losers should review. I think that history will treat President Ford kindly. What do you think?
My mother was a Ford Republican who believed in supporting the President, although she loved Ronnie Reagan, in those days. That primary cycle kind of makes one long for the days when we took our time in the nomination process doesn’t it? A race or two coming down to the convention, or maybe a June primary, would surely engage the public and produce a more informed electorate.
The Carter Ford election was just as close and just as addictive. Watching President Ford close the gap on Jimmy Carter surely excited the human instinct to cheer the underdog and fueled my competitive instincts even more. Even my old time Democrat father admitted regretting the Carter vote in 76, a mistake he didn’t make twice I’m happy to say. That is the first election where I knew that we were right and the Democrats were wrong, on pretty much every issue.
Jerry Ford suppressed the national bitterness of Watergate and avoided the personal bitterness that often comes from close losses, a lesson in the grace required of losers by democracy that many other recent close losers should review. I think that history will treat President Ford kindly. What do you think?
5 comments:
Sporer,
That is the first election where I knew that we were right and the Democrats were wrong, on pretty much every issue.
I don’t want to beat this topic to death, but I really think this is where both sides have gone wrong. Can you think of one issue where you think the D’s are right and the R’s are wrong? Or at least D’s have a good, valid point? Because of your party position, I understand if you need to decline to answer.
Honestly, I’m a bit concerned that you may still be looking at things through that Carter sweater, those gas lines and the hostage crisis coverage. At least you are one decade ahead of the large D consistency that is still living in the sixties. I would really appreciate if we could somehow discover the many issues and values that we do share and work together for common good. That’s why I cruise these conservative blogs and engage in discussion. I know, I’m a real idealist. A true liberal, I suppose. But despite your hard partisan edge, I have detected some miniscule cracks.
Ford was a good man. Completely inept as President, but a good man.
When I read the posting below, I thought of Sporer. Have a great new year Ted!
Humans originally existed as members of small bands of nomadic
hunters/gatherers. They lived on deer in the mountains during the summer and would go to the coast and live on fish and lobster in the winter.
The two most important events in all of history were the invention of beer and the invention of the wheel. The wheel was invented to get man to the beer. These were the foundation of modern civilization and together were
the catalyst for the splitting of humanity into two distinct subgroups:
1. Liberals
2. Conservatives
Once beer was discovered, it required grain and that was the beginning of agriculture. Neither the glass bottle nor aluminum can were invented yet, so while our early humans were sitting around waiting for them to be invented,
they just stayed close to the brewery. That's how villages were formed.
Some men spent their days tracking and killing animals to B-B-Q at night while they were drinking beer. This was the beginning of what is known as the Conservative movement.
Other men who were weaker and less skilled at hunting learned to live off the conservatives by showing up for the nightly B-B-Q's and doing the sewing, fetching, and hair dressing. This was the beginning of the Liberal
movement.
Some of these liberal men eventually evolved into women. The rest became known as girliemen.
Some noteworthy liberal achievements include the domestication of cats, the
invention of group therapy, group hugs, and the concept of Democratic voting to decide how to divide the meat and beer that conservatives provided.
Over the years conservatives came to be symbolized by the largest, most powerful land animal on earth, the elephant. Liberals are symbolized by the jackass.
Modern liberals like imported beer (with lime added), but most prefer white wine or imported bottled water. They eat raw fish but like their beef well done. Sushi, tofu, and French food are standard liberal fare.
Another interesting evolutionary side note: most of their women have higher testosterone levels than their men. Most social workers, personal injury
attorneys, journalists, dreamers in Hollywood and group therapists are liberals. Liberals invented the designated hitter rule because it wasn't fair to make the pitcher also bat.
Conservatives drink domestic beer. They eat red meat and still provide for their women. Conservatives are big-game hunters, rodeocowboys,lumberjacks,
construction workers, firemen, medical doctors, police officers, corporate executives, athletes, Marines, and generally anyone who works productively.
Conservatives who own companies hire other conservatives who want to work for a living.
Liberals produce little or nothing. They like to govern the producers and decide what to do with the production. Liberals believe Europeans are more
enlightened than Americans. That is why most of the liberals remained in Europe when conservatives were coming to America. They crept in after the
Wild West was tamed and created a business of trying to get more for
nothing.
Here ends today's lesson in world history: It should be noted that a Liberal may have a momentary urge to angrily respond to the above before forwarding it. A Conservative will simply laugh and be so convinced of the absolute
truth of this history that it will be forwarded immediately to other true believers and to more liberals just to piss them off.
OK, Max I am officially LMFAO, almost to the point of intraclothing urination.
rf,I frequently disagree with the party line, although I unfortunately cannot do it in public anymore.
the problem with Dems is they really haven't been right about anything since the 60s. Even when my instincts lead me, like Bush, into a more caring vision of government-like with Ws prescription drug plan-the Ds attack so vicously that whatever credibility they have on the issue dissolves into just sheer partisan hatred.
Same with environmental issues. Many Republicans underestimate the vulnerability of the ecosystem and its irreplaceable value. But we also can't freeze in the dark because humans have a right to exploit the earth just like any other animal, and we do it better than any other animal. Even as I say this I see that W is preparing to list Polar Bears on the threatened species list. Go W.
AIDS is another area where Republicans got on the bus too late but are now making up for lost time.
The biggest difference between the practical policy differences is Democrats, or more realistically liberals, never get past the process of problem solving. So when I share their objectives, like curtailing AIDS in Africa, the Dem solutions are just utterly impractible or demonstrably failed.
I also agree with the whole 60s crowd. Every problem isn't a crises. Every disagreement doesn't pit good vs. evil and we would be better served if the cranky radicals from the 60s passed from the scene.
Which is why I say, get rid of the "liberal lions" like Ted Kennedy, John Kerry, purge the Clintons (a whole class by themselves that has, especially with Bill, very little to do with ideology) and get some non trial lawyer public servants, like Bill Richardson, Evan Bayh, etc...in charge of the Dems, 'cause it isn't good when half the political leadership has utterly lost touch with reality.
Just heard the statistics. The Democrats had a 145 seat House majority during the Ford tenure - and Ford vetoed 66 bills!
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