November 2, 1980...a day I didn't think I'd live through

[PlanetBev]

I was two weeks from turning 30, young and idealistic. I couldn't believe that Jimmy Carter was going to lose and 17 Democratic senators (most of them genuine liberals) would be swept from office. I was depressed and sleepless for weeks. Then, John Lennon was assassinated. The final kick to the curb in a supremely rotten year.

Approaching 60, I'm a little more calmer and level headed now, but much more cynical. The Republicans that came into office then were mean and crazed for power after being in the minority for 40 years. But compared to this bunch, they were Socialists. My hope is, whatever the results are today, the GOP is now so over the top that the final meltdown has begun. Usually extremists destroy themselves from within.

No matter how bad it is now, the one thing I'm so grateful for today is the Internet. I'm not so sure we'd have a chance to hold back this tide of right wing insanity without it. Back in 1980, we comforted each other by telephone or meeting together, but it wasn't enough. I joined Democratic Underground in January 2001, and without the creators of DU and all of the members, I would have gone completely insane in the Bush years.

During times like this, I have to remind myself how lucky I am to have all of you fighting with me.

Heartfelt appreciation to all...
:grouphug:

[liberalmuse]

1. I admire you...

and others who have been politically aware for so much longer than I have. You guys went through hell! I'm so glad I wasn't into politics when Reagan was around, though I did get into politics by the time he was done. Bless you!

[PlanetBev]

2. Awwww....

that was nice, muse.

[SheilaT]

3. On election day in 1980 I was on my honeymoon

in Poland. My husband and I had voted a couple of weeks earlier -- Virginia at the time (and I wonder if they were the first state to do so) had set up early voting places about three weeks before the election. In an era when getting an absentee ballot, if you knew ahead of time that you'd be away from home, was a HUGE hassle, Virginia made it pleasant and easy to vote when it was convenient.

So here we are in Krakow,Poland, unable to pick up an English-language radio station on our short-wave set in the room. The day before we could pick up reports about the early turn-out in the U.S., but now, when it all should have been decided, we couldn't get a thing. So we went to breakfast in the youth hostel where we were staying, and some French students at the next table told us that Reagan had won. We were stunned and horrified. We went over to the U.S. Consulate office to see if they knew anything more, and the Consulate guy himself said he knew absolutely nothing beyond the fact that Reagan had won and he understood the Republicans now had control of Congress, and was hoping to get his weekly diplomatic pouch from Warsaw delivered a little early.

We flew back to the U.S. about a week later, still not believing what had happened. And that election, my friends, was the beginning of our long national nightmare that continues to this day.

[Ter]

4. The Republicans gained 17 Senators that year?

Where can I check to see gains by a party for various years? Anyone know?

[maryellen99]

5. I was 9 when he was elected and I was pissed

I knew what a disaster it would be.

[KingFlorez]

6. 6 years before I was born

I'm glad I wasn't around to go through that, it would have be thoroughly devastating.

[callous taoboy]

7. Great post. I'm 45, and the angst you felt in 1980 is what I felt in 2000.

I can certainly feel your pain, though I was a political imbecile in 1980, voted for Ray-gun in 84.