Welcome to DU! The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards. Join the community: Create a free account Support DU (and get rid of ads!): Become a Star Member All Forums Issue Forums Culture Forums Alliance Forums Region Forums Support Forums Help & Search
16 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight: NoneDon't highlight anything 5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
What a young woman said to Adlai Stevenson, Jr., Democratic nominee for President, in 1952... (Original Post) Kid Berwyn Feb 2020 OP
Love that quote. underpants Feb 2020 #1
That makes me glad. Wish more knew his wisdom... Kid Berwyn Feb 2020 #3
Yup, and Stevenson was attacked as an "egghead." Archae Feb 2020 #2
Ignorance really must be contagious. Kid Berwyn Feb 2020 #4
First time I voted, homegirl Feb 2020 #5
Was that in 1952 or 1956? (eom) StevieM Feb 2020 #6
I know it was1952 because I remember Butterflylady Feb 2020 #7
I think you might be misunderstanding the post I replied to. StevieM Feb 2020 #10
OK, I am a really old lady... homegirl Feb 2020 #15
I believe it was Stephenson who was approached by the Russians in the 1960 election. shockey80 Feb 2020 #8
You know, that's been MISSING from coverage about the Trump-Russia Thing Kid Berwyn Feb 2020 #12
The 'egghead' smear was the first shot in the GOP's efforts to dumb us down. PatrickforO Feb 2020 #9
Every word you said. Kid Berwyn Feb 2020 #13
Eighty years ago, it was the Republicans who were seen as the eggheads Wednesdays Feb 2020 #11
The Democratic Roosevelt saved the country twice. Kid Berwyn Feb 2020 #14
True, that. Wednesdays Feb 2020 #16

Archae

(46,262 posts)
2. Yup, and Stevenson was attacked as an "egghead."
Sun Feb 23, 2020, 11:39 AM
Feb 2020

It was just one aspect of the "Cult Of Ignorance" that Isaac Asimov wrote about a couple years after that election.

Instead we got "We Like Ike" and his vice-president who "traveled the country by sewer," Richard Nixon.

The "Cult Of Ignorance" has mutated, today it's the "Cult of Stupidity."
Just look at those Trump rallies.

Kid Berwyn

(14,651 posts)
4. Ignorance really must be contagious.
Sun Feb 23, 2020, 12:25 PM
Feb 2020

The antidote should be truth, but I think it’s “belief.”



(Ideo)Logical Reasoning: Ideology Impairs Sound Reasoning

Abstract

Beliefs shape how people interpret information and may impair how people engage in logical reasoning. In 3 studies, we show how ideological beliefs impair people's ability to: (1) recognize logical validity in arguments that oppose their political beliefs, and, (2) recognize the lack of logical validity in arguments that support their political beliefs. We observed belief bias effects among liberals and conservatives who evaluated the logical soundness of classically structured logical syllogisms supporting liberal or conservative beliefs. Both liberals and conservatives frequently evaluated the logical structure of entire arguments based on the believability of arguments’ conclusions, leading to predictable patterns of logical errors. As a result, liberals were better at identifying flawed arguments supporting conservative beliefs and conservatives were better at identifying flawed arguments supporting liberal beliefs. These findings illuminate one key mechanism for how political beliefs distort people’s abilities to reason about political topics soundly.

https://psyarxiv.com/hspjz



Old news to you, Archae. Shocking news to most US citizens, if only they could know.

StevieM

(10,499 posts)
10. I think you might be misunderstanding the post I replied to.
Sun Feb 23, 2020, 02:48 PM
Feb 2020

The poster I responded to wasn't the OP (original poster). It was someone who had responded to the OP themselves. I then posted to her.

It wasn't clear from her comments which election she was talking about. She only said that he first time voting was when she went with her parents to the polling place to vote for Stevenson. She must have been at least 21, which was the voting age back then, but it could have happened in either 1952 or 1956.

But that is a cool story about your memories of "I like Ike" from when you were a kid. I appreciate your sharing it.

 

shockey80

(4,379 posts)
8. I believe it was Stephenson who was approached by the Russians in the 1960 election.
Sun Feb 23, 2020, 02:04 PM
Feb 2020

He, unlike Trump, exposed it. He notified Ike who was still president.

Kid Berwyn

(14,651 posts)
12. You know, that's been MISSING from coverage about the Trump-Russia Thing
Sun Feb 23, 2020, 07:14 PM
Feb 2020

Thank you for bringing the “propaganda support” to my attention, shockey80!



How Adlai Stevenson Stopped Russian Interference in the 1960 Election

The Soviets offered the former presidential candidate propaganda support if he ran in 1960, an offer he politely declined


By Jason Daley
The Smithsonian Magazine, January 4, 2017

One of the ongoing narratives in the aftermath of this year's election is the U.S. intelligence community's claim that Russia sought to influence the race through hacking and social media. While those stories continue to develop, historian Bruce W. Dearstyne writes at History News Network writes that it’s not the first time Russia—at that time the Soviet Union—tried to influence a presidential election.

Adlai Stevenson II was a popular governor of Illinois between 1949 and 1953, known as a witty, articulate and smart politician. He was the Democratic nominee for president in 1952 and 1956, losing both times to Republican Dwight D. Eisenhower. During the 1956 campaign, he advocated a ban on the testing of hydrogen bombs, a stance that led to accusations of Stevenson being “soft” on national security issues.

It also led the Soviets to believe that he might be someone they could work with, reports Dearstyne. Stevenson publically stated he would not seek the nomination again in 1960. But Soviet ambassador Mikhail A. Menshikov hoped he would reconsider. On January 16, 1960, Menshikov invited Stevenson to the embassy for caviar and drinks to thank him for helping negotiate Soviet premier Nikita Kruschev's visit to the U.S. But there was an ulterior motive. At one point, reports John Bartlow Martin at American Heritage, Menshikov pulled notes from his pocket and began delivering Stevenson a message he said came directly from his boss, encouraging him to seriously consider another run for president. In a memorandum dictated a week later, Stevenson recounted Menshikov’s speech:

“Before returning last week from Moscow, he [Menshikov] had spent considerable time alone with Premier Khrushchev. He [Khrushchev] wishes me [Menshikov] to convey the following: When you met in Moscow in August, 1958, he [Khrushchev] said to you that he had voted for you in his heart in 1956. He says now that he will vote for you in his heart again in 1960. We have made a beginning with President Eisenhower and Khrushchev’s visit to America toward better relations, but it is only a beginning. We are concerned with the future, and that America has the right President. All countries are concerned with the American election. It is impossible for us not to be concerned about our future and the American Presidency which is so important to everybody everywhere.

“In Russia we know well Mr. Stevenson and his views regarding disarmament, nuclear testing, peaceful coexistence, and the conditions of a peaceful world. He has said many sober and correct things during his visit to Moscow and in his writings and speeches. When we compare all the possible candidates in the United States we feel that Mr. Stevenson is best for mutual understanding and progress toward peace. These are the views not only of myself—Khrushchev—but of the Presidium. We believe that Mr. Stevenson is more of a realist than others and is likely to understand Soviet anxieties and purposes. Friendly relations and cooperation between our countries are imperative for all. Sober realism and sensible talks are necessary to the settlement of international problems. Only on the basis of coexistence can we hope to really find proper solutions to our many problems.

“The Soviet Union wishes to develop relations with the United States on a basis which will forever exclude the possibility of conflict. We believe our system is best and will prevail. You, Mr. Stevenson, think the same about yours. So we both say, let the competition proceed, but excluding any possibility of conflict.

“Because we know the ideas of Mr. Stevenson, we in our hearts all favor him. And you Ambassador Menshikov must ask him which way we could be of assistance to those forces in the United States which favor friendly relations. We don’t know how we can help to make relations better and help those to succeed in political life who wish for better relations and more confidence. Could the Soviet press assist Mr. Stevenson’s personal success? How? Should the press praise him, and, if so, for what? Should it criticize him, and, if so, for what? (We can always find many things to criticize Mr. Stevenson for because he has said many harsh and critical things about the Soviet Union and Communism!) Mr. Stevenson will know best what would help him."


Dearstyne writes that the ambassador made it clear that the Russians were no fans of the likely Republican nominee, Vice President Richard Nixon, especially after the Kitchen Debate between Khruschev and Nixon in July 1959.

Continues...

https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/how-adlai-stevenson-stopped-russian-interference-1960-election-180961681/



Wow! As in in Nunes Holy Cow!

PatrickforO

(14,516 posts)
9. The 'egghead' smear was the first shot in the GOP's efforts to dumb us down.
Sun Feb 23, 2020, 02:07 PM
Feb 2020

By creating a culture of militant ignorance, Republicans (and their corporate funders) ensure that we are docile sheep who, instead of thinking, are obedient workers. Problem is the tech revolution is upon us and it demands at least some critical thinking skills. Troubleshooting, problem solving.

To to the Wall Street corporate lizards, I say, "You cannot have it BOTH ways!"

Wednesdays

(17,249 posts)
11. Eighty years ago, it was the Republicans who were seen as the eggheads
Sun Feb 23, 2020, 03:41 PM
Feb 2020

such as Wendell Willkie and Thomas Dewey. It was the Democrats back then who were perceived as the "dumb ones," maybe in part because much support came from "ignorant Dixiecrats."



That perception changed as the Dixiecrats' influence on the Democratic party waned.

Kid Berwyn

(14,651 posts)
14. The Democratic Roosevelt saved the country twice.
Sun Feb 23, 2020, 07:29 PM
Feb 2020

Thank you, President Franklin D. Roosevelt.



His policies defeated the Depression and built the great American middle class.

His leadership won World War 2 and built the industrial might to keep us free during the Cold War.

Latest Discussions»General Discussion»What a young woman said t...