Remembering a Comment on the Occasion of Carter's Loss to Reagan

Freep | 04/04/2016 | Charles O'Connell

[CharlesOConnell]

"Politicians are the People Who Ran for Class President."

I find the whole election so far, hilarious, because, it's been like knocking the walls with a sledgehammer in an old Greasy Spoon to get the roaches to scurry out, seeing the Neo-Conservatives so up in arms over the loss of their supposedly non-existent, elite privileges.

So, can anyone come up with the source for this?

This was remarked upon, on the occasion of Jimmy Carter's disgrace at the hands of conservative Cro-Magnon Ronald Reagan. (It's an anti-pejorative, since we are all Cro-Magnons, it's the Neanderthals who are knuckle-draggers.) It's about the kind of people who end up as political candidates.

Some talking head came up with the criminal profile, that in school, the people who become politicians are the people who were trying to manipulate the student body into electing them.

This is of interest to me, a person who doesn't care about Trump, since anyone who gets to the top has to be a crook. (I'm glad, therefore, that Sarah Palin got out, as when she resigned from the Alaska governorship, Cincinnatus-like.)

I don't personally care about Trump, because I don't believe in Democracy, my favored political form is Monarchy. (I look forward to the 11th hour salvation of Europe after the invasion of the Russians & Arabs, by a prophesied, hidden member of a European royal family, named Charles, who walks with a limp. This is from a book titled Catholic Prophecy by Yves DuPont.)

I would have more of a sense of civics if there were greater intelligence among the electorate, but my opinion is that it's not possible in a country that hasn't been invaded since the war of 1812.

[CharlesOConnell]

My other favorite line about Carter, is from an Atlantic Monthly article, I think, in 1976, titled "Jimmy Carter Revealed: He's a Rockefeller Republican", seems the night he was elected governor of Georgia, he called up the Rockefellers asking for political patronage, then he ran as a stealth-liberal, supposedly "Evangelical" candidate.

I'm so happy I don't have to vote for Cruz. I can now take the clothespin off my nose.

[DoughtyOne]

Perhaps this isn’t the time to say this out of respect for Cruz supporters, but I do not see him like I saw Reagan in 1976.

Reagan didn’t turn off a massive part of his party’s electorate in 1976.

Reagan came back, because the party members could easily sign on to him.

Folks need to think about this. I’m not going to state the obvious.

[Psalm 144]

I think, in 1976, titled “Jimmy Carter Revealed: He’s a Rockefeller Republican”, seems the night he was elected governor of Georgia, he called up the Rockefellers asking for political patronage, then he ran as a stealth-liberal, supposedly “Evangelical” candidate.

+++++

I was not a Christian back then, but was attending a private Baptist college. The on campus hysterical enthusiasm for Jimmy Carter as a fellow Baptist was amazing. Carter’s morality compared to the evil overlordness of Richard Nixon would make all the bad things go away, forever and ever, amen. My contempt was absolute.

Long, long ago. So much has changed.

[Psalm 144]

Agreed.

[Neoliberalnot]

Not the brightest communication to use your pejorative comment of neo- conservative and attack Cruz supporters too. These are not the enemy as the old media would have you think. BO, Hillary, the senile commie, and the old media are ALL enemies of ALL conservatives, new and old.

[MeganC]

I supported Ted Cruz at one point and now I support Trump.

Either way I would have been happy.

Which means I’m happy!

[ilgipper]

I don’t compare Cruz to Reagan politically because Reagan is the gold sanders when it came to conservative principle and unmatched political skill. Cruz has half of that in my opinion and built a rock solid organization unmatched outside of the Obama structure of 08 and 12. He’s just not the happy, charismatic campaigner. That’s a rare skillset and one that rarely comes out of Harvard Law.

To say Reagan didn’t turn off a massive part of the electorate, it was every bit as polarizing of an election year and things said about Reagan were every bit as demeaning this race. He was hated by many and for the same reasons that he was against the current political class.

They are not the same but there probably haven’t been two more similar in the time since. The difference is a loved charismatic actor vs a smart, high achieving constitutional lawyer. Actors are loved. Lawyers not so much.

[Larry Lucido]

Reagan is the gold sanders

******

And Bernie is the gray sanders.

[DoughtyOne]

Thank you.

[fireman15]

First I am a huge fan of Reagan from way back. I have two signed letters from the Reagan Whitehouse thanking me for my efforts which are framed and among my most valued possessions.

Reagan would not have made the terribly disparaging comments that Cruz did yesterday morning and then drop out in the afternoon. This campaign has provided numerous examples as to why Cruz was and is still so despised by his fellow congress critters. Reagan also wouldn’t have walked across the street to confront and berate American working folks who were protesting at his campaign. I was present during situations similar to this and he did not do it.

[DoughtyOne]

To respond fully to you, I’d have to lay down some things that would lend itself to a flame war.

There are a number of issues that surround Cruz that would make it impossible for him to run again.

We learned too much about him, his fellow travelers.

[DoughtyOne]

I agree with your take on these matters.

[t4texas]

Here’s the deal. Republicans decried the fact that the reason they lost the last two POTUS elections (2008/2012) because the “tent” wasn’t big enough. They also “said” we need to be more inclusive and so we can expand the tent. Guess what? Trump has turned out the voters in spite of the fact that he was (and is) up against the Republican party, the media, and 17 other “contenders.” Is that not showing results? That’s the difference between Trump and GOPe. RESULTS! Not only that but he”s wrapped up the nomination, e.g. he has no one left to run against. Can you say seismic shift? Come on!

To your comment regarding Reagan not turning off a massive part of his party, the actual numbers of primary voters don’t lie. He has mobilized a monster. The Republicans in congress need to wake the “F” up and realize what a bird nest on the ground they have. To do anything less, at this point, can only mean one thing. It’s not about winning. It’s about control! Because Trump is not “their guy” they reject his candidacy for fear they won’t be able to manipulate him, or whatever. The thing they should fear is their future ability to keep their “jobs.”

It’s a different game now and they only have themselves to blame. Throw away the old playbook! If you want the job, do the job!!

[DoughtyOne]

Yes, good comments. I agree with you.

[arthurus]

Cruz started well but was unable to stay out of the mire of attacking the other candidates and flinging slurs just like the rest of them. That way is a loser for the candidates with less access to publicity. Reagan did not attack the other candidates and dealt with the Democrat in his debates more effectively with some slightly cornball humor. “There you go again,” perfectly delivered is what finally convinced me that this hopeless dumb Hollywood actor would win and that he had the right stuff.

[DoughtyOne]

Thanks Arthurus. I agree.

I will go a bit further and mention that by the end, all Ted seemed to be talking about was Trump.

I’m sure that’s not totally true, but wow. It was far more true than it should have been.

[usurper]

Which means I’m happy!

I am too. I was a Cruz supporter for a long time. I even gave him $400 bucks early on which is $300 more that I have ever given during an election.

It all started to fall apart when the nutcase Glen Beck joined the team. From that point on the campaign started to loose credibility.

To bad so sad but the primary is over. Cruz put up a hell of a fight and Trump is now stronger for it. The GOPe has been relegated to crying on NRO their power striped bare.

I am so looking forward to Trump's epic smack down of Hill and Sanders and everything the left holds dear. It will be an exciting and fun election from here on out.

BTW: Cruz would be excellent at DOJ or DHS or the State Department.

[Attention Surplus Disorder]

I don’t disagree with you RR compared to Cruz; but ponder if you will the outcome of the RR election had we had 1: twitter and ‘net blog rooms full of snide teenagers and even more snide self-proclaimed semi-adults; 2: the complete collapse of any sort of moral standards and general life aspiration simul with the elevation of perved out victimhood. 3: The elevation of socialism and SJW-dom as shining models of social conduct.

RR would probably have still won, maybe not by the type of landslide he did.

[t4texas]

Thank you. And now I ask only one thing.

Spread the word!

[arthurus]

I was a zealous Cruz partisan until he started throwing crap back. I knew he did not have the right attitude or the foresight to be president. I defaulted to Trump because he was using those same tactics cynically and calculated manner. He knew what he was doing every inch of the way and that he had the lion's share of the publicity possibilities.Idon't like much of what Trump has said. It is not conservative. That said, he is the only one running in opposition to the Commucrats who can institute the necesary changes because he has a dictator's sensibilities and because this election will select a dictator. That is what the office has become since Reagan. Cruz would, if he had won the nomination and the election, a failed dictator and the true rule would have finally totally passed to the Democrat controlled bureaucracy. As a dictator who understands that he is, indeed, a dictator, Trump can by fiat eliminate the agencies- the EPA, both DOEs, FDA, DoC, etc. He might. I don't expect him to do it but the slim chance that he would do it are sufficient to make him the preferred winner. Ideally the new dictator would eliminate the agencies and impel (not compel) that Article V convention and when it had done its work, would step down. In the real world there is no "ideally," alas but he just might delay the final collapse of the Empoire for a decade or a little more.

The worst possible outcome of the election will be a win by Mrs. Bill. I expect she will collapse the economy and the society forthwith and she or her successors who will be of the same Party proceed to suck up the remaining resources and assets of America to go on an actual military empire building binge. She will have to because she will have no real way to acquire the wealth she requires than that after the economy is gone and the population despoiled.