Replies

Clinton reminds me alot of Nixon. Remember how much the liberals hated Nixon, and still do? Yet Nixon, in terms of his domestic policy, and what he actually did, was possibly the most liberal Republican President we have ever had. It was under Nixon the the EPA was established, Earth Day was recognized, affirmative action and minority set asides were established in the Federal government, Keynsian wage and price controls were used to fight inflation, etc, etc, etc. He got huge chunks of their agenda enacted, but the libs still hated Nixon with a white hot passion.

By the same token important elements of the conservative agenda were enacted under or acquiesed to by Clinton, who is maybe the most conservative Democrat president in modern times, yet conservatives hate. And yes, I know why they hate him, and I hate him too, but I still think this is an interesting parallel.

The next question, then, is whether Bush will emulate Nixon in his own way (by governing well to the left of his own party).

Serious point. Name the last democratic presidential nominee whose policies were more conservative than Clinton. Clinton stuck his finger into the wind and went along with alot of the contract with america, but basically... Clinton is the democratic version of Nixon. Hated by the opposite side, but actually in policy terms, not terrible as opposed to others. Nixon of the EPA, affirmative action, etc is despised by democrats, while Clinton of the death penalty, welfare reform is loathed by republicans.

Mike Dukkakis is ridiculed, not loathed, but the sinkmaster was much more to the center than the tank commander.

"The next question, then, is whether Bush will emulate Nixon in his own way (by governing well to the left of his own party)."

I think the next question should be whether W wants re-election. He is rapidly losing conservatives and hopefully he's not so stupid as to believe he can win without them.

By the same token important elements of the conservative agenda were enacted under or acquiesed to by Clinton, who is maybe the most conservative Democrat president in modern times, yet conservatives hate. And yes, I know why they hate him, and I hate him too, but I still think this is an interesting parallel.

I did not vote for Dole in 1996 (I voted for Browne). It is truly unfortunate that the Republicans wasted so much political capital backing such a lousy candidate, when they should have worked to keep strong enough control on Congress to keep Clinton in check.

Imagine what would have happened if Republican congresscritters running for reelection ran ads which acknowledge Clinton's claimed "accomplishments", but reminded voters that they came from a Republican Congress and suggest that if voters like Clinton's accomplishments they should support Republicans in Congress.

Had Republicans done that, they would have scored a major coup. Not only would such ads have struck a major chord with voters who were tired of negative campaigns, but the Democrats would be unable to counter it without attacking themselves.

Unfortunately, rather than Republicans taking credit for their accomplishments, they expended their energy trying to trash Clinton and his (i.e. THEIR OWN) accomplishments. While I'd hardly call Clinton a conservative, many of his actions were in fact to the right of many of his Republican detractors.