I saw CNN's Race for the White House on the 1988 race yesterday.

[Tommy_Carcetti]

It was interesting, because 1988 was the first presidential election of which I have a good recollection (I have some vague memories of 1984, but all I really knew is that my parents hated Reagan and were disappointed when he was re-elected), but still there's a lot I didn't realize as a kid living in the moment.

A couple of takeaways:

1. Michael Dukakis was very much like Jimmy Carter. Exceedingly honest, and liked to take a hands on, personal approach on everything. Unfortunately, much like 1980, these virtues didn't translate into electoral success. The good, honest guy lost to the sleazy cheats. It's a sad testament to electoral politics.

2. Reagan's "I won't pick on an invalid" crack at Dukakis (referencing unfounded rumors of Dukakis' depression) was not only disgusting (and a Trumpian backhanded insult), but also highly ironic given that Reagan's Alzheimer's Disease was most likely beginning to manifest itself at that point.

[Kip Humphrey]

1. Aw, elections of yesteryear, when dirty tricks were the sole provence of republicons, before

the Clintons.

[sharp_stick]

3. Jeesus

I wish stupid was painful

[Kip Humphrey]

5. Can you enlighten us with documented Democratic dirty tricks that occurred before the Clintons?

just curious because you apparently know.

[sharp_stick]

6. No I don't think so

Comparing the likes of Lee Atwater and his merry band of fuckwits to the Clintons is pathetic.

Back up your own damned claims.

[Kip Humphrey]

9. You remember 2008 or maybe this week?

Not my job to educate you. Try the Google: "Hillary campaign dirty tricks" and learn something.

[surrealAmerican]

11. They did exist.

In all likelihood, dirty tricks won us the 1960 election for one. For all the good he did, Lyndon Johnson was a very dirty politician.

[Gidney N Cloyd]

8. :-)

[snooper2]

12. If you actually, really believe what you typed, you need to really educate yourself LOL

I don't think you really believe it though....

yeah, pretty sure

[muntrv]

2. I remember the racial politics with the Willie Horton ad.

[Johonny]

10. Me too

In that election Papa Bush brought in the evangelicals and held onto the racists (Reagan Democrats) but at the cost of losing liberal Republicans over the next 4 years which was a thing back then but not anymore except in very small regional areas...

[Bluenorthwest]

4. I sure remember Reagan. Obviously even some where were adults back then have forgotten,

nt

[RandySF]

7. I remember Dukakis bringing Sasso back in October

And nearly catching Bush in a lot of key states.

[calguy]

13. Afraid that what GOP did to Dukakis

is exactly what they'd do to Sanders if by some remote chance he got the nomination. Even though I've always liked Bernie a lot, this is why I go with Clinton over Sanders.

[ScreamingMeemie]

14. That race (my very first vote) came down to name recognition and the fact that

Poppy was Veep. For me, there isn't anything really to decipher.

[calguy]

15. Old Man Bush was a weak VP

Dukakis was leading big in the polls coming out of the conventions. The GOP slime machine went into action, Dukakis failed to respond, and the rest is history.

[Yavin4]

16. That 1988 race was pivotal for the Democrats

It was the 4th presidential election lost since 1968, with their only victory being 1976 after Watergate. At the time, it looked like the Republicans had a hammer lock on the presidency. After the election, the DLC was formed. The Democrats took a centrist/moderate stance.

Since then, the Dems have won 6 out of the last 8 presidential elections. Their only losses were the controversial Gore/Bush in 2000 and the post 9/11 re-election of Bush in 2004, and they seem poised to win it again in 2016.

Many people here deride the DLC with some justification, but it put the party on a successful path.