Maybe someone who has followed politics longer than I can remember when that was first used. I think it might have started back in the Reagan years.
You may be right. I do remember the Rats saying Reagan wanted to throw old people out in the street. Hearing that comment first thing in the morning really ticked me off. He said it with such malice and hate in his voice. I wish I knew who it was that said it. Just have to shrug it off as typical Rat's sophmoric behavior I guess.
As you can see, not much has changed with that rag, or the left, for that matter, over the years.
1968 was really the debut for the "New Politics" types in the Democratic party (read: extreme left takes over an established political party). Great impetus was gained from McCarthy's (Eugene, not Joe!) 43% "win" in New Hampshire's primary, an event that must have sent the nation's newspeople into a bout of orgasmic joy.
But enough of that history.
You're right, tho. The press and their soul brothers on the left did rachet up the decibel level when Ronnie won in '82. The landslide of '86 did quiet things down a bit for a while, but Bush I's assumption of the party leadership pretty much ensured a return to "politics as usual".
We have a tremendous opportunity coming up with 2004. Unless the Repubs do a number of incredibly stupid things (never dismiss such a possibility where politicians are concerned!), I stand by my earlier view that November 2004 will see a Dow at 12,000+, a NASDAQ at 2000+, and an economy poised to rebound very nicely, thank you.
Additionally, Bush must address the Iran and North Korean questions firmly and, one would hope, convincingly.
Should these things come to pass, it is quite probable that the Democrats will be enjoying minority status for some time to come, and I can't think of a nicer group of people it should happen to!
CA....