I am nostalgic for ....Eisenhower??

[Gloria]

I was a kid while he was President…In 6th grade when he left office. Maybe I’m just wanting to be a kid again, as things go down the tubes in this country.
While I wouldn’t agree with everything he did now, I did a bit of research, and Ike was not adverse to progress. Aside from his comments about the military-industrial complex he made so many statements that seem very wise today. For one thing, he supported the early space program and also pushed for more investment in science and higher education….No wonder the GOP has largely ignored him for many, many years as they've become a party of toads.

He knew that only Americans could destroy America. He knew America need well-informed voters. He knew that if we didn't progress, we would regress.

I don’t write on my blog very often these days due to personal things, but to feel COMPELLED to write about Eisenhower must indicate how deeply unsettled I’m feeling now about the state of this country, to the point that I have to go back to Ike and my childhood! BUT, his many incredible observations still hold a lot of water today….

So, if you will permit me, I am putting up the link to my post on Eisenhower because the quotes I have up there will take you back to the days when the GOP was NOT NUTS…they are now...

[link:http://insightanalytical.wordpress.com/2014/11/01/i-like-ike-but-the-gop-doesnt-seem-to/|

[madfloridian]

1. Loved his views on unions. Much better than even Dems today.

I have no use for those — regardless of their political party — who hold some foolish dream of spinning the clock back to days when unorganized labor was a huddled, almost helpless mass.

Speech to the American Federation of Labor, New York City, 9/17/52

Today in America unions have a secure place in our industrial life. Only a handful of unreconstructed reactionaries harbor the ugly thought of breaking unions. Only a fool would try to deprive working men and women of the right to join the union of their choice.

Speech to the American Federation of Labor, New York City, 9/17/52

[Gloria]

3. madfloridian...

I remember you from the old days...I'm just back on DU after a long absence!!

[madfloridian]

4. Good to see you. I took a year off.

Been back a while, but the boards move so quickly I can't keep up.

Hope all is well. I remember you as well, and miss the old days and the old posters a lot.

[erlewyne]

8. He put "under God" in the pledge

[Atman]

15. And your point is what?

I consider that to be a bad thing. But he WAS a Republican.

[Hekate]

16. It was the Cold War, us against the "godless Commies". The Pledge wasn't all that old in any case...

The USSR was rigorously suppressing all religions, and after the ravages of the Holocaust, the US was proud of its religious freedoms. Get the picture?

General Eisenhower was a hero of WW II. He was a good president, too. It was under his aegis that the National Guard was used to integrate elementary schools.

I don't hold "under God" against him, even if it meant that my whole primary school class had to fumble and bumble until the new phrase was integrated into our just-memorized recitation of the Pledge of Allegiance.

Times change, and by all means work to make things different if you want. But when it comes to history, understanding context is important.

Welcome to DU.

[erlewyne]

23. When you pledge to GOD you are in doubt

The pledge of allegiance makes GOD human. You lose your faith.


I have been a member of DU for a long time.

[Hekate]

32. You've been a DUer for a long time? and have 2 posts? In that case, welcome back...

....whoever you were.

I don't see the gods the way most do, so I can only speak from observation about others. Speaking God's name doesn't seem to cause a problem for most Americans, thus the habit of signing loyalty oaths, swearing to tell the truth, and saying the Pledge of Allegiance. Those who believe as most do seem to go right on believing.

However, for those for whom it IS a problem, there are several remedies available. Jews use many euphemisms in speech and writing. Quakers, Jehovah's Witnesses, and other believers can say "I affirm" -- and so can atheists -- in order to avoid using a reference to "God".

So, I don't see things the way you do, but you are as entitled to,your opinion as I am.

[erlewyne]

35. I am agreeing with you

My point is under god in our oath is
hypocritical.

About 1 post. I have problems with hotmail and my
browser. I have had the same computer a long time ...
at least ten years. Windows 7 has been a problem.
After joining DU back in '06 Micro-Soft changed something
and I could not recover "Erlewyne" (which was previously
"Earywine", with posts.). Recently I lost "Coldbeer" with
hunrdreds of post ... it disappeared according to DU, but,
"Erlewyne" reappeared.

I am defined as an "atheist" with atheism not being my
intention.

I am sure I can use another computer (an arms length away)
and sign on as coldbeer - but ... what the hell.

[JEB]

2. Both parties have moved so far to the Right

that even many Democrats are now to the Right of Ike.

[TreasonousBastard]

6. There's a few to the right of Nixon...

you know-- the guy who tried to get universal health care (but not single payer) passed. And gave us the Equal Rights Amendment and school integration.

And opened China while slowing the arms race with the Soviets.

And that other stuff, but I'm mentioning his small, but good side.

[rurallib]

13. Title IX was signed by Nixon, The EPA was set up

He even floated a concept of a Guaranteed annual income.
Nixon was one incredibly creepy, scary right winger, but on some social policies he was - well - liberal.

[TreasonousBastard]

14. Creepy indeed. But, oddly enough, the nation is a better place...

for him.

And you can't say that about any Republican since.

[hifiguy]

20. Nixon was a pragmatist.

Anything that made him look good, he did. The Ol' Trickster proposed something very much like the ACA back in the early 1970s. He wasn't really an ideological warrior in any cause other than advancing the fortunes and reputation of one Richard M. Nixon.

Nixon's demons were his own alone and strictly personal. He was a lying SOB, a crook, and a war criminal but I doubt that he ever, for a second, considered trying to repeal the New Deal and the Square Deal.

If Teddy Roosevelt were around today he would load his buffalo gun with rock salt and start blasting away at the rear ends of every Repuke he could find. Ike would go on TV and call them out as the idiots they are.

[Art_from_Ark]

24. We never got the Equal Rights Amendment

It was introduced on a regular basis starting in the 1920s, and was eventually passed by the Democratic Senate and House in 1972, but started to fizzle out because not enough states were ratifying it. Rosalynn Carter worked to get it passed during her husband's term, but it died in 1982 during the Reagan Devolution.

[TreasonousBastard]

5. Back in 1962 I was a sophomore in a conservative Lutheran high school...

but it wasn't so conservative that it would give back the money for fully equipped chem, bio, and physics labs that the government, under a plan started under Ike and continued under JFK that was pushing science education.

Sputnik, in 1957, shook us up big time-- those filthy Russians beat us at something? Well, not much point building up the Navy but there was a big point in getting kids involved in science at an early age, so science education at all levels was invested in around the country.

(I always knew "Watch Mr. Wizard" had gummint money behind it-- PBS was heavily funded back then.)

Yeah, preparations for nuclear war were an extraordinary waste, but the one good thing we can say is that we never had that war.

[world wide wally]

7. His granddaughter ( I believe ) endorsed Obama

I know it was at least one of his descendants.

[Gloria]

11. Yes, it was his grandaugher, Susan..

Her announcement, and her reasons why, appeared in the WAPO

For some reason can't get the link to work...

[link:www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/02/01/AR2008020102621.html|


excerpt:

The last time the United States had an open election was 1952. My grandfather was pursued by both political parties and eventually became the Republican nominee. Despite being a charismatic war hero, he did not have an easy ride to the nomination. He went on to win the presidency -- with the indispensable help of a "Democrats for Eisenhower" movement. These crossover voters were attracted by his pledge to bring change to Washington and by the prospect that he would unify the nation.

It is in this great tradition of crossover voters that I support Barack Obama's candidacy for president. If the Democratic Party chooses Obama as its candidate, this lifelong Republican will work to get him elected and encourage him to seek strategic solutions to meet America's greatest challenges. To be successful, our president will need bipartisan help.

Yeah, Obama sure got that bipartisan help, didn't he??

[Stellar]

12. Susan endorsed him in 2008 and 2012.

She and her father (in 2004 he indorsed John Kerry) both became Independents.

[hifiguy]

21. David and Julie (Nixon) Eisenhower also endorsed Obama

at least in 2008.

[joshdawg]

9. "I Like Ike"

Remember those pins?
Eisenhower was the last decent republican President.
Wouldn't give you two cents for the lot of the rest of the bunch, especially raygun and the idiot son.

[Gloria]

10. As I wrote in my blog post,

IKE has been purged from the Republican Party lore...right along with Teddy Roosevelt!

Of course, on the Dem side, you don't hear anything about FDR, either...though Republicans are trying to get rid of
things like Soc. Sec....they really don't let anything ever drop..

[Donald Ian Rankin]

18. George H W Bush?

I wouldn't use "good" to describe his presidency, but I'm not sure it's fair to deny him "decent" (although I don't know as much about him as some presidents).

Other than him, "Republican presidents since Eisenhower" entails three catastrophes and a nonentity.

[AndreaCG]

31. George HW Bush

Was probably the one who secretly went to Iran to keep the hostages from being released until after the election. They were released shortly after Reagan's inauguration. So that's one demerit.

[Hekate]

17. I Like Ike. You bet I'm nostalgic for that good man, someone we could trust....

....to look out for the interests of the nation, and not stuck in some rigid and narrow ideology.

[hifiguy]

22. Ike was the only Republican I ever heard my dad

speak well of. He was an old union guy who despised Nixon. But he did like Ike.

[True Blue Door]

19. Ike was a very good President, and a superb American.

He had some problematic opinions on some issues, but he never let those views get in the way of duty and honorable service. He supported segregation, and yet diligently enforced Supreme Court orders to end it; he was a Christian fundamentalist, but never tried to inject those beliefs anywhere inappropriate.

Since Republicans no longer care for him, I unilaterally claim him as ours. Lincoln too, obviously. Teddy Roosevelt is still a question though, since he was such a cavalier warmonger and imperialist.

[Gloria]

38. Not so sure about Lincoln anymore!

Saw an exhibit of his Presidency and his views weren't as benevolent to African Americans at the start...

AND, I think he made a mistake trying to "save the union" judging from what the southern states have turned into...
or, rather, have NEVER changed into....they are cesspools and unfortunately, their crap is leaking all over the rest of the country!

Frankly, I wouldn't miss them if they all drifted off and seceeded...

[True Blue Door]

40. Those states are a problem whether they're in our country or not.

But as a separate country they would undoubtedly constantly be plotting to invade us, or wage terrorist attacks against Americans.

[DerekG]

25. Eisenhower presided over A LOT of horrible policies

-Refused Soviet overtures following Stalin's death
-His brinkmanship doctrine led untold millions to wonder whether they'd live to see the next morning
-The irresponsible advocacy for nuclear energy
-The destruction of Guatemalan democracy (We got your back, United Fruit!)
-The destruction of Iranian democracy (Hello, Mr. Shah!)
-The forestalling of Vietnamese unification (i.e., 58,000 American names on the Wall)
-The shunning of and subsequent plots against Fidel Castro


No one should be nostalgic for the Cold Warriors, whether they were liberal (Truman, LBJ) or moderate (Eisenhower).

[elleng]

26. Yup and I recall, as a kid,

my family being upset about Stevenson's loss.

[Thirties Child]

27. My first vote, in 1956, was for Eisenhower

It seems to me that the Democrats are where the Republicans were then, and the Republicans are in the land of the John Birchers.

[RKP5637]

28. I would take Ike anytime than these creatures called republicans today! n/t

[hunter]

29. A somewhat better man...

... than Nixon

And far better than any empty bobble head puppet Reagan or Bush.

[UTUSN]

30. Are you Gloria from the old MediaWhoresOnline and ExposingPeggyNoonan days?!1 OMG!1 n/t

[Gloria]

33. YES! And the Buzzflash days...

Did the Media Watch and the World Media Watch for what seemed eons and random essays...

[UTUSN]

36. OMZ!1 It's so good to see you again!1 I'm "Yellow Dog" from MWO posting days.

What have you been up to all this time? At least NOONAN has been pegged as being a mind-altered and disoriented slurry bag.

[Gloria]

37. Aging mother, no time, mentally exhausted....!

Hi, I remember you, too!!!!!

Got back in touch a few months ago with Mark Karlin (Buzzflash) to say hi..
Was so sorry to see MWO go....and, more recently, to have Bartcop pass, that was too much to bear!!

NEED to be here, more time, can post more and enjoy the community and the moral support!!!!

Thanks for the welcome back! Hope to be a useful contributor more often in the future!!!!!

[Omaha Steve]

34. Remember this?

[Gloria]

39. That should be mailed to every piece of GOP crap

ASAP!

Omaha Steve, so good to still see your smiling face!!

Could I steal this and post it over at my blog? The irony is JUST TOO MUCH!!!!