Bernie Sanders made a nice run. He has secured his place in American history for the way he has pushed the Democratic Party to the left. I fully expect many of his policy ideas will one day become a reality,...
Barry Goldwater
How Bernie Sanders Has Transformed the Democratic Party
William Jennings Bryan, George McGovern, Jesse Jackson, and Barry Goldwater all failed in their bids for the presidency. But their ideas lived on and profoundly shaped the future of their parties. According to historian Michael Kazin, Bernie Sanders is doing...
What Happened to the Never-Trump Republicans?
A few still exist, but most of them have lined-up with their Trump-controlled party. I can’t tell you how many times I hear from people who did not support Trump in 2016, but today defend him and his policies with...
Polarization and Partisanship in Contemporary America (#AHA19)
Matt Lakemacher of Woodland Middle School in Gurnee, IL is back with another post from the annual meeting of the American Historical Association going on this weekend in Chicago. You can read all his posts here. –JF Could there be...
Kevin Kruse Breaks Twitter Again
Princeton historian Kevin Kruse is sick and tired of Trump supporters claiming that the Democrats are the party of racism and white supremacy today because they were the party of racism and white supremacy 100+ years ago. This twitter thread...
Quote of the Day
“There are only so many lies you can take, and now there has been one too many. Nixon should get his ass out of the White House — today!”–Arizona Senator Barry Goldwater, August 6, 1974....
"Our historical narcissism indicts us"
Rick Perlstein, the author of several excellent (and big) books on American conservatism since the 1950s, is skeptical about the way his readers have turned to his work for historical analogies in this election cycle. Here is a taste of...
Georgia on Her Mind
Does Hillary Clinton have a chance to win Georgia in November? Her husband, Bill Clinton, was the last Democrat to win it. He did that in 1992. At the moment Clinton and Donald Trump are running even in the state....
"Law and Order": Some Historical Perspective
Earlier today I posted a video of Richard Nixon’s acceptance speech at the 1968 GOP convention. I also tweeted this last night during Donald Trump’s acceptance speech at the 2016 GOP convention: “Law and Order” has been a traditional conservative...
The Trump-Goldwater Comparison May Be More Appropriate Than Ever
Yesterday Donald Trump said he would consider using nuclear weapons to attack ISIS. [youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dDTBnsqxZ3k&w=420&h=315] You may recall an earlier post we did on this subject....
"Confessions of a Republican"
An 1964 LBJ political ad: [youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LiG0AE8zdTU?list=PLd5Oh1aIJw-lq0oGjYuc8vbO2_itf2IbZ&w=560&h=315] Sound familiar?...
Barry Goldwater: Prophet
This quote comes from conservative icon, late Arizona Senator, and 1964 presidential candidate (and GOP nominee) Barry Goldwater. The quote has been floating around the internet lately, but I don’t think I have posted it yet:Mark my word, if and...