Reagan........he won 49 states

[notbush]

We (DU'ers) should try to learn something from this former democrat.
He was the eternal optomist.....and it sold well.
We have become the eternal pessimists....how will that sell?

[KharmaTrain]

1. Specify "Pessimist"

Most Democrats I know are the most optomistic people, who believe in the good of people.

Guess you don't know the right Democrats yet.

[notbush]

2. polically...economy is going to hell in a hand basket

no jobs, they're all being out sourced, getting our asses kicked in Iraq...etc.
Isn't that pessimistic???

[KharmaTrain]

3. Isn't That Happening?

Guess you must not be on the same planet the rest of us are.

Things are crappy out there and the Democratic message from Kerry has been positive...it's been the Bush cabal that has already gone negative.

Again...whose the pessimist?

[noiretextatique]

6. a republican is president...

and presides over this abysmal economy. and reagan's rosy america only applied to certain people. of all the great posts here about his horrid legacy, i have yet to see anyone mention his overt appeals to racism. and that is what i remember most about him...how he made some his fellow americans feel comfortable with their sense of racial entitlement again.

[Delano]

7. Pessimistic means you think it will never improve.

We're optimistic that it will improve with a dem in office. The Repugs have proven their inability to govern, manage an economy, or balance a budget time and time again. Being optimistic that their track record will change NOW would be pure insanity.

[ikojo]

25. In America to point out the REALITY of the situation is

to be pessimistic and that is a no-no. We are to walk around and think all will be all right if only we *think good thoughts.* We are told it is our attitude that determines our economic well being.

Do not think about economic inequality and the fact that not all have the same opportunities from the get go. NO, that is to be a pessimist.

There is no shame in telling the truth. So what if the average American cannot accept it, facts exist and to deny them is to live in some fantasy world. I prefer to live in the real world, warts and all than in some world created by an ad agency (Morning in America) or some Hollywood scriptwriter.

[Toots]

40. The truth is not pessimism

What would be pessimism is we will never be able to beat the Republicans what will we ever do , wringing hands. that is pessimism not stating facts. Most here say Bush* is toast and Kerry should win most states. I don't consider that pessimism at all.

[keithyboy]

50. Name me a President more "positive" and "optomistic" than Clinton!

It wasn't about beign optomistic. It was about "making people comfortable with their own prejudices" as R. Carter said. Your own glee at having a person who represents your own twisted ways should not be passses off as optomism. Reagan was always touting the hate line, couched in terms of "welfare queen" "crime in the inner city" (never white collar crimes like S&L), "big governement" We are adults here, we all knew what that really meant and no one knew more than the RW and their dittohead followers. Optomism? Nah... just plain "license."

[blurp]

4. Absolutely

We (DU'ers) should try to learn something from this former democrat.
He was the eternal optomist.....and it sold well.
We have become the eternal pessimists....how will that sell?

To me, that's what being a good president is about: inspiring your country to move ahead.

And I think that translates into economic success, too. When I think of economics, I think of human behavior rather than numbers on a balance sheet.

How should we expect uninspired people to behave?

Reagan's optimism, I think, was the biggest thing that made the economy come back to life: not tax cuts, not supply-side economics, but simply getting people to start thinking positively about themselves and country.

The economic effects of that are real.

Oh, I helps get you elected, too.

[Name removed]

9. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[noiretextatique]

13. reagan's optimism

was an ACT...he was an actor. the economy came back to life...when?

[Dont Hurt Me]

18. Very well

said...I couldn't agree more.

[FlemingsGhost]

5. ... And he fucked all fifty.

Not something I want to learn.

[Rationality]

8. Have you seen political ads over the past several elections

Both sides use plenty of negativity. Fact is, we're a fairly negative society, and while optimism sells, we buy into fear.

[notbush]

11. You are right to some extent...but

RR really did espouse optomism....Love him or hate him.
Coming out of watergate....Ford....Carter...the whole country had "it's dober down"
He made people feel like they "had a chance" to make it.
Even if it was all Bullshit, the public bought it, the economy turned around.....and some good things happened.
He touched Many Democrats...I think there is a lesson to be learned.

[VolcanoJen]

22. Clinton did a bit more for Democrats than Reagan.

Let's follow his example instead, shall we? After all, Bill Clinton is the one who showed us how to beat these bastards.

[nightperson]

10. Nixon got 49 in 1972. They're tied for the record.

FDR got 46 out of the then possible 48 in 1936. Just thought people might be interested.

[Name removed]

15. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[elperromagico]

23. No, that's right.

Nixon won every state but Massachusetts in 1972.

Here's a map of how the nation voted (Blue is Republican, Red is Democratic):



Here's a list of how the states voted:

http://www.uselectionatlas.org/USPRESIDENT/data.php?&year=1972&datatype=national&def=1

[notbush]

34. Hey , when I'm wrong,

I'm wrong...I admit it.
Hard to believe we got are asses kicked that bad....

[elperromagico]

41. Yes, it was one of the worst electoral defeats in American history.

Worse even than Reagan's defeat of Mondale.

Reagan defeated Mondale 58.77% to 40.56%, a margin of 18.21%.

Nixon defeated McGovern 60.67% to 37.52%, a margin of 23.15%.

Reagan won 2,781 counties to Mondale's 334, roughly 89% of the total.

Nixon won 2,980 counties to McGovern's 131, roughly 96% of the total.

Reagan's highest percentage of the vote in any state was 74.5% (in Utah). He received over 70% of the vote in four states (Utah, Idaho, Nebraska, and Wyoming).

Nixon's highest percentage of the vote in any state was 78.2% (in Mississippi). He received over 70% of the vote in seven states (Mississippi, Georgia, Oklahoma, Alabama, Florida, South Carolina, and Nebraska).

In the Electoral College, Reagan surpassed Nixon, winning 525 electoral votes to Mondale's 13. Nixon won 520 to 17 (with one vote going to John Hospers).

[nightperson]

24. Some

history.

[VolcanoJen]

27. Well, he's High on The Drug Of Truth, then.

Maybe you'd better brush up on your presidential electoral history before accusing DUers of being high, notbush.

McGovern won 1 state, Nixon won 49, in 1972. Big Clue: Blue = NIXON.



By the way... are you sure you're notbush?

[elperromagico]

29. Heh - we've just posted the same map.

:D

[VolcanoJen]

33. gmta!!

Great minds think alike, my friend.

Damn, I hate arguing with folks who can't even get their simple electoral history straight. :D

ON EDIT:So, notbush... which charity gets your cheddar?

[CJCRANE]

12. Agreed...

Reagan ran on a positive platform - "the best is yet to come",
just like Tony Blair (in UK) ran on "things can only get better", not to mention Clinton being the man from "Hope". Optimism works.

[theoceansnerves]

14. the current president

is nothing but a fear monger. he's no optimist. none of them (the current administration) are. bogus terror alerts, bogus war claims, all designed to make you think if you don't vote for him you're going to die. they want the entire country to be pessimists.

on the other hand, dean had an incredibly positive message. as did wesley clark. and dennis kucinich. and john edwards. i think kerry will bring a positive message too!

[notbush]

17. Have you listened to John Kerry the last few days?????

It's been all national security.
Dean,Edwards,Clark,D.K. positive?????
Positive????????
No , it's ,this is wrong, this is wrong, this is wrong, this is wrong.
We might agree on the message, but it sure isn't positive.

[theoceansnerves]

19. baffled

uhhh
i guess we must have been following two different primaries then.

[VolcanoJen]

21. I'm just going to come right out and say it.

You're a political fool.

Talking about national security is only "negative" when a Democrat does it? Using the "bully pulpit" to send Ashcroft out to the television cameras to scare America half to death is "a-ok" in your view? Oh, I could just go on and on...

I don't even know why I waste my delicate carpal muscles on responding to this kind of utter garbage.

[CJCRANE]

31. Clark

seems to have the "vision thing" and an a optimistic forward-looking agenda, just like Clinton did. Lets hope he gets picked for VP or at least has a big influence on Kerry's campaign.

[bowens43]

16. He was an actor.

He could read a script.

[saracat]

20. As an actor

I am insulted! I know actors, and Ronald Reagan was no actor ,sir! LOL.

[notbush]

26. Yes, but John Kerry can't even read a script.

So what does that make him?
A bad politician that can't read?

[saracat]

30. you are a Kerry basher

and what does that make you? Someone who wants another four years of Bush?

[JI7]

32. what a bunch of crap

there is nobody that says kerry has any problem reading anything other than you.

[VolcanoJen]

35. Who are you? Why are you here?

What, exactly, have you been smoking?

[JI7]

36. do a check on post history

and you will see a pattern.

[Speed8098]

39. You're either blind or

You're flame bait.

[JI7]

28. why are most of your posts criticisms of democrats and praise for gop

[notbush]

37. I am really sorry about the Reagan 49 , Nixon 49 thing.

God , I find it nearly impossible that Nixon won 49 states.As to the comments late in the thread.
I was a Deanie in the primaries....
The WHOLE FUCKING PARTY shit all over him.
I'm havin' trouble getting over it.
Howard Dean brought some energy to the party that I have not seen in some time.
Although I consider myself a conservative democrat and some tried to portray Dean as a liberal, I felt more comfortable with his stance on gun rights,legal unions(not marriage) of gays......etc....
"The Party Establishment" just shit all over Howard Dean and gave their blessing to John Kerry.
I don't Like, I don't trust, and I probably won't vote for John Kerry.
Ask me anything.

[JI7]

42. yeah, right

i don't know any dean supporter who would defend reagan on the riding up the deficits and blame the democrats instead.

[notbush]

45. a deal was made

Take your time, research it , who controlled congress? Who didn't hold up their end of the deal.
I'm a lifelong democrat. But I won't defend a crooked democrat.
After Danny R. sold $40,000 worth of stamps and put the money in is pocket he was a fucking crook.
Might have been my parties crook......but still a crook.

[JI7]

46. Republicans controlled Senate for much of the time

and if you want to talk about crooks. do a research on the iran contra scandal.

[Art_from_Ark]

48. Republicans controlled the Senate from 1981-1987

and there were lots of "boll weevil" Dems in the House who always sided with the Repugs and effectively hogtied the Democratic majority there.

[trumad]

44. Then change your DU Name

because it's obvious you don't mean it.

[izzie]

38. True if you were well off it was even better under Reagan.

I never could understand how he got 49 states but people were really unhappy with Carter. It was almost as if Carter cared to much for people to be President. I knew Dem that would not vote for Carter and hated what Reagan had done in Calif but still voted for him.In a way it was odd. I even heard people say his mind was not right and still voted for him. Who can figure that out?

[Cheswick2.0]

43. Isn't your name rather pessimistic?

Oh the irony

[notbush]

47. refer to post 45

I'm goin' to bed.

[keithyboy]

49. Yeah, but look where his phony "optomism" took the country.

I would rather be a realist and a "truthist." These people will be in power for the rest of our lives anyway..behind the scenes because they have all the money and control the banks and economic system. I simply refuse to bow my own principles to their wicked ways just to make life comfortable for them and to sell out my own soul.