Maybe Eisenhower was right after all...

or at least close enough to it that we can take heart. I'm thinking of the statement attributed to President Eisenhower from 1952:

"Should any political party attempt to abolish social security, unemployment insurance, and eliminate labor laws and farm programs, you would not hear of that party again in our political history."

Only just a few weeks ago this quote came to my mind and I actually scoffed at it. I was feeling some considerable doubt and perhaps even a little despair. From all appearances it seemed to me that the right wing might finally be within grasp of their #1 all-time goal of destroying Social Security and Medicare.

I was feeling that the American public had either become jaded and duped into believing the Republican lies or just didn't really care what our elected officials did, epecially considering the kind of win the Rethugs got in Congress in 2010.

Well, the Hochul win last night gives me renewed hope that there may still be a kernel of wisdom in old Ike's proclamation. This couldn't have come at a better time and I do hope it represents a real trend for the coming 2012 elections.

:dem: I'm actually beginning to feel like my old optimistic Dem self again! :dem:

according to snopes.

http://www.snopes.com/politics/quotes/ike.asp

"Should any political party attempt to abolish social security, unemployment insurance, and eliminate labor laws and farm programs, you would not hear of that party again in our political history. There is a tiny splinter group, of course, that believes you can do these things. Among them are H. L. Hunt (you possibly know his background), a few other Texas oil millionaires, and an occasional politician or business man from other areas. Their number is negligible and they are stupid."

http://www.eisenhowermemorial.org/presidential-papers/first-term/documents/1147.cfm

He makes reference to those who wish to destroy Social Security as a "tiny splinter group". Unfortunately that designation is no longer appropriate. I only wish it were so. Their number is no longer negligible... but he is definitely still right about the "stupid" part. :rofl:

with an inordinate amount of money capable of distracting enough people with wedge issues. ;)

mainstream will cut it in a "kinder, gentler" manner.

and we will all cheer.

"yay! we saved medicare!!!"

repeat next year.

"Yay!"

to his brother Milton.

I am just re-reading a bio of Ike. His private contempt for the right-wing fringe of his day - who were just as nutty as ours, but about different things - was apparently quite boundless even though he avoided criticizing them harshly in public.

It's Pres papers Doc#1147 for Ike.

congressional race! :patriot:

He was a smart man, who had his nation's people's interests at heart.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DF9PsMDjc8g

Hilarious!

I wasn't born until 1955, don't know when we got a TV, either.

I wasn't born until the '70s!

check out these ads for 1952 ads for Adlai Stevenson. They were listed on the page your Eisehower ad is on.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xgaUVvmMRLU&NR=1

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MxYDTTNYMic&feature=related

But many recent attacks on Social Security have made me question the truth to that quote.

The third rail these days seem more to be defense and not so much Social Security.

that the NY election results weren't about Medicare, but about the Teabagger in the race. He got 9 percent of the vote. If he hadn't been in the race, those votes would have definitely gone to the Republican, who would have won.

if Medicare hadn't played a role in the election, it's more likely that Hochul would have had only 9% of the vote instead of the teabagger. Just sayin' :shrug:

The Dem candidate got 34 percent of the vote and the Republican candidate got 38 percent. There were several third party candidates in the race. So, it's not as lopsided as you imagine.

....Eisenhower is such a breath of fresh air compared to the thugs who run his party today. He even appointed some of the best justices to the Supreme Court during his presidency: Earl Warren, William Brennan, and Potter Stewart.

R.I.P. Ike!

on how the current President plays it.

I guess he's one of the best things our party has produced lately.

Oh, wait. Wrong party.

Ike would be a Flaming Liberal by today's standards.

http://blueworksbetter.com/EisenhowerFlamingLiberal

I've been trying to visualize what these republiCons are striving for. The best I can envision is that they want to have a private membership club of millionaires called the 5 percenters living in fortresses with the other 95 percent of us occupying tent cities isolated from view without healthcare, clean water, or the barest of necessities. I don't see how they even get any support from any region.