Hugh Hewitt: The End of the Sixties (Bush's victory marks the end, finally, of the '60s)

More than a win for conservatism, Bush's victory marks the end, finally, of the '60s.

THE SIXTIES ended on September 11, 2001, but they were interred on the morning of November 3, 2004, when a senator from Massachusetts played the reverse role of another senator from Massachusetts 44 years earlier.

In November of 1960, John F. Kennedy had received a call from Richard Nixon, conceding the election, an act of statesmanship that still redounds to Nixon's credit. Nixon's chances of successfully waging a recount of Illinois and Texas votes were higher than Kerry's of contesting Ohio's votes from Tuesday, but both would have been long-shots, and both would have strained the country's reserves of civility. Both men chose well, and John Kerry's final act of Campaign 2004 was by far his best.

When the first JFK won, it set in motion events that would pummel America and its politics right through this just-completed campaign. The triumph of Jack Kennedy elevated style, new money, and a new elitism into the mainstream. It launched a war that would divide the country as none before--excepting the Civil War--had. It led to the credentialing of a media elite just now beginning a long overdue mass retirement. And it set in motion a swirl of cultural change that would culminate in the bipolarization of the political world into red and blue.

WHEN JOHN KERRY played Nixon to Kennedy's Bush, it brought the curtain down on this long-playing drama. Bill Clinton was the second, farcical Kennedy, and John Kerry was trying to be the third Kennedy--a serious, old European version of Camelot grown up. Vietnam was Kennedy's adventure, and it framed the Kerry campaign, if not the election. Bush and red state America were talking about a nearly completely different set of issues and priorities, divorced from the dramas of the '60s that still consume much of the left. Scratch one of Kerry's angry supporters and you'll find one of the old guard still organizing. What is MoveOn.org and the Michael Moore crowd but SDS grown up and using video cameras instead of bullhorns--gone gray and with bad knees, but still amusing the middle class with the rhetoric of rage against the backdrop of vast comfort?

THE BEST PART of the Democratic smash-up is the credentialing of a couple of new Democratic leaders who are completely untethered to the old guard. Ken Salazar beat Pete Coors in Colorado because it was hard not to like this genial rancher. Salazar's Mexican-American ethnicity was just part of the appeal he made, and not an angry part at all. Coors, ever the gentleman, couldn't disguise the fact that he, and most Coloradoans, thought Salazar a pretty decent guy. Salazar will be a new force in the Democratic party, a genuinely Western voice in a club too long dominated by Yalies and their Hollywood buddies.

The same can be said for Barak Obama. Goodbye tired old leadership elites that stridently grind and condemn. Obama comes to the table armed with smarts, charisma, and youth. John Kerry lost on Tuesday, but so did Sharpton, Jesse, Julian, and the rest of the old school. Obama will never say so, but the '60s era civil rights tactics are long past there prime. Salazar and Obama send a message to the GOP that cannot be missed either: Persuade the ethnic middle class that the policies of economic growth do genuinely work for them and not just their bankers, or understand that the next few years as a majoritarian party will be your last.

THE WORST LEGACY of the '60s was its Vietnam complex. The opposition to the war in Iraq--even after 9/11, even after inspections of the vast munitions dump that was Saddam's wasteland--was as much about legitimizing the huge mistakes of 1974 and 1975 as it was about concern of a new "quagmire." The collective trauma of those years--relived in the Swift Boat Vets' campaign and stage lit by the reactions they produced--had a last revival tour in 2004. When Senator Kerry called the president, it put a tombstone on that debate. It didn't end it, but it is hard to see how it will ever play on center stage again. Everyone is too damn old, and sick to death of the shouting.

A NEW LEFT, confident of American power in the service of security at home and freedom abroad, could still emerge. Joe Biden has to be shoved aside, and Joe Lieberman elevated. Pat Leahy has to get an elbow and a talking to about how his extremism has played over two election cycles. In short, the old left has to let go, and let the new left grow up and learn to shun the nuts like Michael Moore while learning to support American foreign policy.

Scoop Jackson is long gone, but his party needs him back. Folks like Salazar and Obama can be part of that necessary revival. But only if the ghosts of the '60s are finally exorcised, or at least exiled to Hollywood.

John Kerry's call to the White House yesterday was a bold act, and one for which I am genuinely grateful. There were no doubt voices around him who urged a scorched earth campaign, and it would have had some upside for the radical caucus, even though it would have been a long-term loser. Money would have been raised, lawyers made famous, and the commentariat fed fresh controversy. It wasn't an easy decision, just the right one. One that the new democrats in Afghanistan and Iraq should study and keep in mind. Losing an election isn't the end of the world. Countries should celebrate and honor those who concede quickly and with grace.

I am submitting this vanity for all Freepers to show how much of a different every one person can make. I call this a “Freepers Tale.” Please read the whole thing and I sweated over this.

I am a conservative attorney from New York with a strong accent who was so furious this past year, that I contacted the RNC to do my part. I attended a meeting in September in NY where lawyers were asked to sign up to volunteer to go to the battleground states to support the President. The reason for not staying in New York is obvious.

I considered this election to be personal. I live around too many liberal jerks. I live in NY and know about 9/11. I was so upset over Michael Moore and lies. I broiled in anger about the unfairness towards GWB. I knew in my heart that GWB was the right man for this job and that I had to do something. Additionally, I was fearful about the message a Kerry victory would send to our veterans and soldiers alike, not to mention the terrorists and Europe. Therefore, I considered this election to be my chance to contribute to the effort.

Anyway, around October, 2004, I received notification from the RNC that I was going to Duval County in Florida to gear up for a contested race. This New Yorker has never been to Duval County before, but was eagerly waiting my chance to do my part.

On October 29, 2004, I flew down to Jacksonville Airport to meet some of the other attorneys who I would be working with in Duval County. These were Charlie (Atlanta GA attorney), Phil (Attorney from Atlanta and Fellow Freeper), and Gene, a paralegal from Alabama. We all met and were excited for the days ahead.

On October 30, 2004, we went to the Duval County Canvassing Board to monitor the counting on absentee votes and ballots with disputed signatures. Upon our arrival, we met with Chris (DC Attorney), John (DC attorney, and Margaret (Florida attorney). We monitored the counting and kept tabs on the angry Kerry/Edwards people. There was also Ryan (Freeper lawyer from Atlanta), Marty (local counsel), Olivia (Texas attorney and Freeper), and one other great lady whose name escapes me right now.

Later that day, we attended a meeting and got to know each other better and made plans for the days ahead. We had another meeting on Sunday, where we got “Voting Rights Counselor” shirts, buttons, and hats. These looked very official and were given to attorneys to where. I thought we looked extremely professional when compared with the Kerry Edwards people.

We took a ride by the Duval County headquarters to get ID’s and get more instructions. At a minimum, I was extremely impressed by the people volunteering for the Republicans. There were many many college kids there. There were even college students from Texas who came in to volunteer. They were awesome and went door to door and gave out signs, etc.

A group of people from Texas came to volunteer for the Republicans as well. They called themselves the “Texas Strike Force.” They were great and seemed to have an affinity for this NU YAWK “Yankee” who was working with them side by side. Particularly, “Glen” and “Skipper” were my favorites.

On Monday, November 1, 2004, myself, Phil, and Gene, traveled to the “Regency Library” to monitor the early voting. We wore our “Voting Rights Counselor” gear and brought a bunch of signs etc, to give out. The headquarters told us to expect heavy democratic turnout in this area.

We arrived at the site and the Kerry Edwards people had already set up shop right at the 50 foot line. They looked sort of surprised to see us, but we went and introduced ourselves to them nonetheless.

As voters arrived, we greeted them nicely and gave out GWB items. The Kerry people gave out buttons and fans. They also gave out water as if it were a marathon or something. As the turnout increased, the Kerry people brought in some additional bodies. Although they initially outnumbered us, the office sent us Skipper and the Texas Strike Force. They blew me away with their enthusiasm and Skipper had a huge sign that all voters could see that read “Who would Osama Vote For?” The other Texas people gave out B/C items. The people took as much as they could get and were very positive towards us.

Phil was great too as he mirrored the Kerry/Edwards guy giving out sample ballots and countering every statement made the Kerry guy. Gene, who is a female, laid on the Alabama charm to the people waiting in line.

Myself???? I am a big guy, very muscular, and seemed more like security and crowd control.

We completely demoralized the Kerry people. We outnumbered them, out charmed them, out spent them, and out politiced them.

After the day was over, we had another meeting, and all agreed about the great reception we received and how meager the Kerry people were. I am convinced that their claim of 10,000 lawyers was fabricated to scare us. It backfired! We had the manpower in place for anything they had, times three!

Ok. Now it is Tuesday, November 2, 2004, the big day. The local attorneys were stationed inside the polls and us out of state lawyers were part of roving quick response legal teams. I was teamed up with “Glen” a member of the Texas Strike Force. Although the two of us could not be more different, we both got along great and I think I made a good friend.

Unfortunately, we had to respond to an accident that one of our volunteers got into. I can’t give details for obvious reasons, but it took up some of our time. Glen and I responded to a number of problems with voters, mostly minor and nothing worth writing about. What is notable is the fact that our “Voting Rights Counselor” gear had a huge impact and made us look very official, organized, and professional. Some mistook us for actual election officials. I think that was the intent.

Throughout the day, the headquarters was busy with activity. There were many people being dispatched to places with little presence. It was great - it seemed like we had people all over the place!

I must admit, at one point during the day I got a chance to look at Drudge. I was very nervous and in fact was expecting the worst. Others were too.

As the day came to an end, we went over to the party arranged by the Republican party to watch the returns. It was a job well done on our part, and now hopefully would prove it. Once Florida was called for GWB, we all went nuts. It proved that average people can make a huge difference! In fact, Duval gave GWB a tremendous amount of votes to counter South Florida. As the night wore on, the mood increased. I became a little buzzed from too many beers, but we all knew we were sharing a great moment. I worked hard alongside the efforts of so many others with the same zeal and passion to keep our nation strong and get GWB re-elected.

I am so impressed with the caliber of the people of Duval county. After being somewhat down on the average voter, my faith and opinion has changed. The Duval County folks all came together and each contributed in his/her own way. Don’t get me wrong, Liberal New Yorkers are still scum and deserve Dante’s Hell.

My point is this, get involved! Your contribution will make a difference. This election has taught me that if we come together we will never lose, Never! Only if we get complacent will we lose.

I had a great experience and thank God GWB is our President. Although he is not perfect, he is a fundamentally good decent man and has only the USA as his priority.

Freepers - I love you all. This board has helped GWB and this nation!

The "Sixties" never were. Decades may have a "general" perceived feel but that feeling does not have any meaning if it extends into other decades (4 decades out).

Additionally much of what the left/baby boom celebrates about "the sixties" wasn't true for everyone's worldview (just as some people point out differences of opinion about whether the 1950s were "good" or "bad").

Babyboom radicalism has been rebuked by last night's election. Most sixties radical musicians from the 1960s realized by the early 1970s that they couldn't change the world but they could at least get rich.

John sKerry gave them renewed hope. Much more than Bill Clinton ever did. Kerry has said that America has not been this divided in 30 years. He never mentioned to the American public that he was at the forefront of that revolt too.

The left is trying to build on this powerbase. Read up on the anarchist-socialist left (some of whom will vote Democrat, even though they don't agree with them). They have been building strength since the WTO protests of the 1990s.

The antiwar protests of 2003 were organized by these commies (with the help of the Communist Party USA). Sheeple just don't want to accept the influence of communist rhetoric in American politics. CPUSA even endorsed John Kerry this year.

This threat to America's constitutional form of government got beat down on Tuesday and the Supreme Court is safe from their activist judge stacking but communism has bubbled up again and again in the 20th Century America: 1920s, 1930s, 1940s, 1950s, 1960s, 1970s (some waning here), 1980s (resistance to the arms race), 1990s (ramping up again).

It remains our nation's second greatest threat next to Islamonazism.

The "sixties" are over because they never were.

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