One thing I've noticed of late that the two parties have in common is BOTH sides like to push some insane history revisionism that the "other party used to be honorable and patriotic" 30-40 years, but since they've since become "extreme" and bear no resemblance to their former selves. Even more ridiculous, we're supposed to believe that so-and-so iconic other party's historic figure from the 50s & 60s would be a member THEIR party now. Both sides shovel this BS and convince themselves that the history revisionism will convince modern-day members of the other party that "their party has left them", but I haven't met a single person (again, on either side), who goes "OMG you're right! The OTHER party REALLY has the values I grew up with!!" Even traitors like Specter, Chaffee, Jeffords, etc. don't cite the Dem talking that "Eisenhower was like today's Democrats" as their reason for switching.
For the RATs, they'll tell with a straight face that Republicans have gone so far to the right that Reagan wouldn't recognize them today or be allowed to be a Republican, and they'll tell you that the tea party "took over" the "once honorable, moderate" GOP, and that today's Democrats differ little from "Einsenhower era Republicans" (I'm sure Ike would have just LOVED gay marriage and socialized medicine, of course). Rachel Maddow actually claims her beliefs are like the "1950s Republican Party platform" and I know a black Dem who claims Obama is an "Einsenhower Republican" Since Ike was a squishy centrist, they'll take a handful of Ike quotes out of context to "prove" he was a "progressive"... Ike warned us about the military-industrial complex, etc. Nevermind the fact that actual 1950s liberals despised the man because he wasn't liberal enough for them.
For the GOP, you have a bunch of talking heads, and even some severely misguided freepers, who will tell with a straight face that Democrats "used to be" a good, conservative "patriotic" party 30-40 years ago (they'll cite a couple Dems that had zero chance of ever gettng the RAT nomination, like "Scoop Jackson" as proof of how "honorable" they were, and ignore the fact that that slimeball marxist LBJ was the RAT leader at the time) Then they'll add some insane BS about how JFK was "more conservative than many of today's Republicans" (yeah, Teddy's brother was downright tea party material... righttttttt) and they'll take a handful of JFK quotes out of context to "prove" he was a conservative... JFK fought communists, unlike TODAY'S Democrats, JFK cut taxes, unlike TODAY'S Democrats. They'll ignore the fact that JFK agreed with the left on everything else, of course, had the morals of a goat, and ridiculed conservatives at the time.
Again, neither side wins over ANY converts with "Ike was like today's Dems" / "JFK was like today's GOP" lies, but they continue to attempt this pursue this idiotic tactic anyway. Well, I guess the lefties convinced Bob Dole (haven't found any Dem who buys the "JFK would be a Republican today" BS, though) Alright Dems! You convinced a 90 year old senile old coot. 1 Republican down, only 50 million to go!