Is 2012 the most important election in modern American history?

[boxman15]

I've always hated when pundits dub every single presidential election "the most important in the history of the universe EVER!!!!" in an attempt to boost their ratings, but I really think this next election is of absolutely gigantic importance and will have a lasting impact on the future of the United States.

Of course, with Congress the choices are obvious. If Obama is reelected, the only way anything will get done is if the Democratic Party regains giant majorities in both houses. It's unlikely, but a drubbing not only would make things easier to get done, but it might (might being the key word) cause the GOP to move back closer to the center.

The presidential race is hugely important, as well. Not only are all of the GOP's candidates' visions of America so radical that it's important to re-elect Obama, but if they win, they'll be able to take credit for all the successes of the Obama presidency that aren't being felt yet and will take full credit for a recovering economy. This is huge. If Obama is re-elected, I'm convinced that the Democratic Party will dominate American politics for about twenty or so years. Likewise, if he loses, the GOP will probably have a stranglehold on it for decades. Basically, Obama's reelection or defeat will have a big impact on which direction this country goes in over the next 20-30 years.

But, what's most important for me is the Supreme Court. The next president will likely have 2 or 3 new justices to appoint. If Obama is the one appointing Supreme Court justices, we can ensure that an extremely corporate friendly Citizens United court will be no more. They will keep the GOP's future abuses of power at bay. If not, then this country will continue to see abuses of power and the influence of gigantic corporations grow stronger.

2012 is critically important.

[getdown]

1. no

2004 was

[TheWraith]

9. How?

I really can't see how 2004 could possibly be considered more important than 2000 or 2008.

[getdown]

10. ...

[IDemo]

2. Pretty tough to beat 2000. The repercussions may persist for decades

Of course, 1980 really sucked as well..

[Puregonzo1188]

3. Most likely not.

[nevergiveup]

4. Yes, hands down.

[scarletwoman]

5. I've been voting in presidential elections since 1972, when I voted for McGovern.

I've pretty much felt that each election was the "most important ever!" - but since the state of the country keeps going downhill regardless, I suspect that what ails us is far beyond the reach of electoral politics.

[cbdo2007]

6. every election is the biggest election in history....

because you never know when the next Hitler will come along and trick a bunch of idiots into voting for him. Luckily we've been spared a new Hitler so far but we've been close, and we could have one run next year.

[dimbear]

11. The most important breath you ever take is the next one. Same principle. n/t

[grasswire]

7. 2000 was the most critical

And we failed to stop the juggernaut then.

[tabatha]

8. Yes.

[Ter]

12. 1860 blows them all away

In my opinion at least.

[grillo7]

13. 2000

Without Bush, we would have:
1. No Iraq war
2. No Bush tax cuts
3. No consequent massive debt
4. No, or a milder recession
5. Possibly not even 9/11, if you believe that the previous administration was more on top of it, as some claim

And that's just the low-hanging fruit.

[getdown]

14. so why did people bend over and ask for more in 2004 (second stolen election)

if anyone cared, that was the time to act

[grillo7]

15. We could debate about why he managed to win the second time...

but stopping him from ever gaining office would have been much more effective. There wouldn't have been anything--like Iraq, like the tax cuts--to undo in the first place.

[getdown]

16. 2000 was important

letting them get away with it the second time was suicidal

[Wise Child]

19. Many people were being held as emotional hostages.

I remember, back in 2004, my manager whose husband was in the Reserves (they divorced two years later), called her up on her cell phone to tell her of this apparently very serious gaff he heard on the radio that Teresa Heinz-Kerry made on the campaign trail.

She thought it was so important that she tell me and a co-worker about it, and my co-worker made that "O O O O O u u u" sound that people make when they hear someone dis somebody. Then the same co-worker followed up with a comment on how that would not sound well to working mothers. I then spoke up on that I don't see how Mrs. Kerry's slip-up was all so important, and Bush is controversial, therefore please understand that people have varying opinions regarding politics. She asked what I didn't like about Bush, I answered that the war was in the front of my mind. She, said in effect, in a calm matter that I should think about the troops, and my opinion might give off the impression that they shouldn't be there - implying that inspite of the reason given for war not coming to fruition, there still needs to be a reason for war, since the troops are engaged in Iraq. In the meantime, let's mock this inconvenient necessity of our dear leader having an election opponent.

In the same day, my assistant manager told me that after her son served a tour of duty in Iraq, he came back, not really in love with Bush. She said that he had an attitude adjustment after he heard Kerry say that he would get the troops out in six months. He said that was "logistically impossible", and that got him motivated to campaign for Bush. Because he had to do it for "my troops". As if a hypothetical President Kerry wouldn't listen to top brass in the Pentagon. I wanted to express my opinion on the war, seeing that she didn't seem to view it in rigid black and white terms, and the moment that she saw that I opposed the war, and I was going to state why, she cut me off with a "Na - ah -ah !" like I was about to tell an inappropriate off-color joke.

Both people mentioned would have an existential crisis if they came to terms that the Iraq War was based on lies, therefore they sought out other reasons than WMDs in order to justify it. In the simplest terms, it was all about the troops engaged in a foreign land, and they had personal attachments that made it so important.

[justiceischeap]

17. It's not just the USSC that's important anymore

The repubs want nothing more than to appoint republican federal judges in states where they can push their social agenda. That's why they're stalling Obama's judicial appointments. That way they don't only have USSC judges in their pocket, they'd have the federal too.

I also think if any of these current candidates running win the Presidency, we'll see more dismantling of the Constitution and more implementation of biblical law. Call me crazy, but there is, IMO, some credence to the whole 2012 thing. Not that the world is going to end but I think things could end as we know it in 2012 if the Repubs win.

[Generic Brad]

18. Every election is the most important in American history

Every time we get to vote, we collectively define what sort of country this will be for the foreseeable future. We set the stage for what comes next.

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

20. Meh. They're always sold as "the most important election in American history".

Kinda' like "THE Biggest Sale EVER!" Or, "Last Chance to Buy A Chrome Plated Tomato Crusher!"