Is this a replay of Goldwater/LBJ campaign?

[vinny9698]

LBJ had just passed very progressive legislation, food stamps, civil rights, medicare, all without any GOP support.
I see very much the parallels. Extreme right wing vs progressive ideals.
I thing it is going to be a rout for Obama.

[FightingIrish]

1. Two days ago I relived that election.

I attended a play at the Oregon Shakespeare Festival called "All the Way". It started with the Kennedy assassination and ended with the 1964 election. It brought back very vivid memories and gave me some new insights. I came away a little more empathetic for LBJ and horrified at how much racism was part of the public dialogue in congress. I think the parallel is valid since the current candidates are polar opposites and the incumbent has delivered so much.

[leveymg]

2. Just hope Obama doesn't escalate us into another VietSyriaIran

That's another parallel and another rout to be aware of.

[emulatorloo]

3. Who's more likely to do that, Romney or Obama?

Seems like Obama keeps tamping down the Republican Iran War Drums while Romney promotes them.

[leveymg]

7. We already have our toe in it. Choice is, how much of our leg do we want to lose over there?

There are neocons in both policy circles. Don't fool yourself.

[bornskeptic]

4. "without any GOP support" is totally wrong!

In both the House and Senate, the percentage of Republicans voting for the Civil Rights Act was higher than the percentage of Democrats voting for it. Breaking the filibuster was impossible without Republican support. Half of the Republicans in the House and thirteen Republican Senators voted for Medicare. Goldwater was not really representative of the 1964 GOP, and many Republicans refused to vote for him.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Civil_Rights_Act_of_1964#By_party
http://www.ssa.gov/history/tally65.html

[The Magistrate]

8. He Got the 'Dixiecrats', Though, Sir, and Founded the Modern Republican Party

[Anarcho-Socialist]

5. Probably not

Though how much I'd wish for a '64-style blow-out!

Back then northern liberal GOPers allied with progressive Democrats to pass civil rights legislation. I imagine a fair few liberal Republicans voted for LBJ compared to Goldwater who appeared 'extreme' to the electorate.

Southern conservative Democrats still stayed in line that year as some of the progressive legislation benefited poor Southern whites who for economic reasons didn't turn over to support the growing-conservative wing of the GOP headed by Goldwater.

The GOP of today is much more ideologically-homogeneous, as is the Democratic Party (compared to '64 anyway) though the Democrats still have a much bigger tent compared to the former.

Until recently I thought November would bring an Obama victory of around 3-4% nationally. I think now it will be more and the margin of victory will be around that he earned against McCain in 2008.

[WI_DEM]

6. No. LBJ also had a strong economy to run on. No way that Romney wins only 6 states.