Will history repeat itself in 2012?

[William769]

1968 presidential election

Entering the 1968 election campaign, initially, no prominent Democratic candidate was prepared to run against a sitting president of the Democratic party. Only Senator Eugene McCarthy of Minnesota challenged Johnson as an anti-war candidate in the New Hampshire primary, hoping to pressure the Democrats to oppose the war. On March 12, McCarthy won 42% of the primary vote to Johnson's 49%, an amazingly strong showing for such a challenger. Four days later, Sen. Robert F. Kennedy of New York entered the race. Internal polling by Johnson's campaign in Wisconsin, the next state to hold a primary election, showed the President trailing badly. Johnson did not leave the White House to campaign.

By this time Johnson had lost control of the Democratic Party, which was splitting into four factions, each of which despised the other three. The first consisted of Johnson (and Humphrey), labor unions, and local party bosses (led by Chicago Mayor Richard J. Daley). The second group consisted of students and intellectuals who were vociferously against the war and rallied behind McCarthy. The third group were Catholics, Hispanics and African Americans, who rallied behind Robert Kennedy. The fourth group were traditionally segregationist white Southerners, who rallied behind George C. Wallace and the American Independent Party. Vietnam was one of many issues that splintered the party, and Johnson could see no way to win Vietnam<68> and no way to unite the party long enough for him to win re-election.<86>

In addition, although it was not made public at the time, Johnson became worried about his failing health and was concerned that he might not make it through another four-year term. Therefore, at the end of a March 31 speech, he shocked the nation when he announced he would not run for re-election by concluding with the line: "I shall not seek, and I will not accept, the nomination of my party for another term as your President."<87> He did rally the party bosses and unions to give Humphrey the nomination at the 1968 Democratic National Convention. Johnson had grown to dislike Humphrey by this time; personal correspondences between the President and some in the Republican Party suggested Johnson tacitly supported Nelson Rockefeller's campaign. He reportedly said that if Rockefeller became the Republican nominee, he would not campaign against him (and would not campaign for Humphrey).<88> In what was termed the October surprise, Johnson announced to the nation on October 31, 1968, that he had ordered a complete cessation of "all air, naval and artillery bombardment of North Vietnam", effective November 1, should the Hanoi Government be willing to negotiate and citing progress with the Paris peace talks. In the end, the divided Democratic Party crumbled enabling Republican Richard Nixon to win the election.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lyndon_B._Johnson#1968_presidential_election

[MrTriumph]

1. Actually, HHH almost won it.

x

[CakeGrrl]

2. If you're asking if Obama will drop out, no. Why should he?

You want him out, go get a viable primary challenger.

You had better make damn sure they have the juice to win the GE or else you lose big.

[William769]

3. I not asking anything, just making an observation.

I don't think Obama will drop out, but that doesn't mean I don't think someone will challenge him. Given the factions I see in the Democratic party, anything is possible & 1968 proves that.

The main reason Johnson dropped out it is speculated because of his health.

[CakeGrrl]

5. Fair enough. The President's health and fortitude won't be an issue.

An x-factor we have now versus 1968 is a biased corporate media who loves nothing more than discord amongst Democrats.

And DU has proved to be a susceptible as any place to reacting to the first sketchy information to come from a media outlet.

If challengers DO materialize, the MSM will play up the discord for all it's worth.

[Tx4obama]

8. There IS a formally declared Obama challenger

---> http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_presidential_election,_2012#Democratic_Party

Good luck with that LOL :)

[William769]

10. I'm not sure I follow you with that post.

:shrug:

[Tx4obama]

12. Randall Terry

has formally declared that he is running against Obama for the democratic nomination.

[William769]

13. Never heard of him.

Just looked him up, he a pro lifer. Not my cup of tea.

[Tx4obama]

15. I think NO ONE has heard of him. LOL

I think Obama is not losing sleep over the fact that he has a challenger :)

I wonder if that fella will try to force Obama to debate him?

I can't imagine any of the networks funding a debate to cover someone that no one has ever heard of.

[nemo137]

20. No, people who care about reproductive rights have heard of him.

He's a fucking terrorist. He's doing the David Duke "I'm going to run as a D for the media attention" thing.

[Forkboy]

21. Terry is one of the most offensive fuckwads I have ever seen in my life.

I remember dealing with Operation Rescue at an abortion clinic years and years ago. :puke:

[Andy823]

4. You got that right!

Way to many people are pushing the "primary" the president scenario, but like you said, if they can't win the GE, we are in deep trouble! Sadly way to many can't understand that.

[Vicar In A Tutu]

6. Frail Bernie Sanders with his unpalatable views or...

...Star Trek Kucinich would be just the ticket!

(for a GE defeat of epic proportions, proving further to the Democratic Party that Right is right and pushing it much further in that direction.)

[Dad Infinitum]

9. Unpalatable to whom?

His views are traditional Democratic. Why do you call him frail?

[Vicar In A Tutu]

14. Unpalatable to the American majority.

Republicans haven't been the dominant force in American politics the last few decades by chance. People vote for them because they think they represent them. Rolling back their web of deceit is NOT something that can be done quickly. It will take two, maybe three consecutive Democratic Presidents to subtly shift the balance.

Sanders looks far too frail to be a modern Presidential candidate. Even in a fantasy world where his political positions wouldn't give the GOP their ultimate field day, one that would set the left back another three decades, he looks about 20 years older than Bob Dole did when he got his opportunity.

[Dad Infinitum]

18. Republicans have been a dominant force because they CHEAT in elections

You are saying that we should support Republican policies now? Democratic policies are 'unpalatable?' seriously? You are saying we should abandon our core values because you perceive them as 'unpopular?' Um, my values don't change because Sarah Palin has big boobs or because Bush cheated in two elections, sorry.

Gray hair does not make a person frail. Nice try.

Bernie our hero:

Voted YES on $192B additional anti-recession stimulus spending. (Jul 2009)
Voted YES on modifying bankruptcy rules to avoid mortgage foreclosures. (May 2009)
Voted YES on additional $825 billion for economic recovery package. (Feb 2009)
Voted YES on $60B stimulus package for jobs, infrastructure, & energy. (Sep 2008)
Voted NO on paying down federal debt by rating programs' effectiveness. (Mar 2007)
Voted NO on restricting bankruptcy rules. (Jan 2004)
More enforcement of mortgage fraud and TARP fraud. (May 2009)
Ban abusive credit practices & enhance consumer disclosure. (Feb 2009)

Which of these votes do your find 'unpalatable?'

Stated Bush’s tracking citizens’ phone call patterns is illegal. (Jun 2006)
Voted NO on Constitutionally defining marriage as one-man-one-woman. (Jul 2006)
Voted NO on making the PATRIOT Act permanent. (Dec 2005)
Voted NO on Constitutional Amendment banning same-sex marriage. (Sep 2004)
Voted NO on protecting the Pledge of Allegiance. (Sep 2004)
Voted NO on constitutional amendment prohibiting flag desecration. (Jun 2003)
Voted NO on banning gay adoptions in DC. (Jul 1999)
Voted NO on ending preferential treatment by race in college admissions. (May 1998)
Constitutional Amendment for equal rights by gender. (Mar 2001)
Rated 93% by the ACLU, indicating a pro-civil rights voting record. (Dec 2002)
Rated 100% by the HRC, indicating a pro-gay-rights stance. (Dec 2006)
Rated 97% by the NAACP, indicating a pro-affirmative-action stance. (Dec 2006)
Recognize Juneteenth as historical end of slavery. (Jun 2008)
ENDA: prohibit employment discrimination for gays. (Jun 2009)
Re-introduce the Equal Rights Amendment. (Mar 2007)

Nothing palatable there? Try these then:

Voted YES on additional $10.2B for federal education & HHS projects. (Oct 2007)
Voted YES on allowing Courts to decide on "God" in Pledge of Allegiance. (Jul 2006)
Voted YES on $84 million in grants for Black and Hispanic colleges. (Mar 2006)
Voted NO on allowing school prayer during the War on Terror. (Nov 2001)
Voted YES on requiring states to test students. (May 2001)
Voted NO on allowing vouchers in DC schools. (Aug 1998)
Voted NO on vouchers for private & parochial schools. (Nov 1997)
Voted NO on giving federal aid only to schools allowing voluntary prayer. (Mar 1994)
Reduce class size to 18 children in grades 1 to 3. (Mar 2001)
Rated 83% by the NEA, indicating pro-public education votes. (Dec 2003)
Make employee educational assistance tax-deductible. (Jan 1993)
Don't count combat pay against free school lunch. (Mar 2009)

Not palatable enough? OK, one more time...

Voted NO on the Ryan Budget: Medicare choice, tax & spending cuts. (May 2011)
Voted YES on regulating tobacco as a drug. (Jun 2009)
Voted YES on expanding the Children's Health Insurance Program. (Jan 2009)
Voted YES on overriding veto on expansion of Medicare. (Jul 2008)
Voted NO on means-testing to determine Medicare Part D premium. (Mar 2008)
Voted NO on allowing tribal Indians to opt out of federal healthcare. (Feb 2008)
Voted YES on adding 2 to 4 million children to SCHIP eligibility. (Nov 2007)
Voted YES on requiring negotiated Rx prices for Medicare part D. (Apr 2007)
Voted NO on denying non-emergency treatment for lack of Medicare co-pay. (Feb 2006)
Voted NO on limiting medical malpractice lawsuits to $250,000 damages. (May 2004)
Voted NO on limited prescription drug benefit for Medicare recipients. (Nov 2003)
Voted YES on allowing reimportation of prescription drugs. (Jul 2003)
Voted NO on small business associations for buying health insurance. (Jun 2003)
Voted NO on capping damages & setting time limits in medical lawsuits. (Mar 2003)
Voted NO on allowing suing HMOs, but under federal rules & limited award. (Aug 2001)
Voted NO on subsidizing private insurance for Medicare Rx drug coverage. (Jun 2000)
Voted NO on banning physician-assisted suicide. (Oct 1999)
Voted NO on establishing tax-exempt Medical Savings Accounts. (Oct 1999)
MEDS Plan: Cover senior Rx under Medicare. (Jan 2001)
Rated 100% by APHA, indicating a pro-public health record. (Dec 2003)
Improve services for people with autism & their families. (Apr 2007)
Establish a national childhood cancer database. (Mar 2007)
Preserve access to Medicaid & SCHIP during economic downturn. (Apr 2008)
Provide for treatment of autism under TRICARE. (Jun 2009)
Sponsored bill expanding the National Health Service Corps. (Mar 2009)
Collect data on birth defects and present to the public. (Apr 1998)
Make health care a right, not a privilege. (Nov 1999)

Want more? http://www.ontheissues.org/senate/bernie_sanders.htm

[Tx4obama]

17. Bernie is an Independent, not a Democrat. n/t

[Dad Infinitum]

19. So Obama is targeting Independents with these policies, right?

Isn't that the political calculus, that advancing right wing policies will bring in independents?

[FrenchieCat]

7. And a primary challenger won't win the GE,

because many Black folks and others will sit on their hands,
and watch the country really get what it has earned.

[AtomicKitten]

16. A primary challenger apparently would not win the primary either.

---> http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=433x733013

Pres O beats Sanders by 19 pts and Dean by 37 pts.

[craigmatic]

11. Nope because there's not as many factions at odds with each other like there was then.

In '68 nobody had seen a rightwing president yet but we've had several lately.

[scheming daemons]

22. This will be like 1984 in reverse.

That's how big Obama will win.