“Few remember exactly when it changed; only that it did. It was felt, at the time, this was the exact moment that the change was monumental.”
I think it goes a LONG, LONG way back. For me it started with Gore Vidal on William F. Buckley’s “Firing Line.” The inclination to just be horrible & see what the other side does about it. It’s funny that Buckley’s response was to threaten to punch his lights out. If we’d kept up that response, with a follow-up punch when it didn’t stop, we might not be seeing the country in this shape today.
Fist fights replacing political debate? Though Firing Line is remembered; seldom watched. Not much interest in politics those days and so little from which to choose. Nixon was a disappointment; Carter an even stronger disappointment. Politics became a dormant issue until the fact became obvious the d’rats were attempting to take control of everything held dear. Willie, OwlGore, BO’B, these are the faces seen when speaking of this party. Shrewd men who stop at nothing to get what they want. The republicans at last found a strong man and voice - yet they do their best to quieten him. President Reagan’s win gave hope that the tide had turned; only to be lost to an alley cat like BO’B. One fact: there will NEVER be another vote here to cast for a d’rat. Those days are long gone.