What Nixon Knew

[H2O Man]

"Richard Nixon noticed. An intellectually ambitious memo by a new kid, Kevin Phillips, a former aide to the right-wing Bronx congressman Paul Fino, 'Middle America and the Emerging Republican Majority,' was circulating among the Nixon strategists. The language was new, but the theory was as old as the crusade against Alger Hiss: elections were won by focusing people's resentments. The New Deal coalition rose by directing people's resentment of economic elites, Phillips argued. But the new hated elite, as the likes of Rafferty and Reagan grasped, was cultural -- the 'toryhood of change,' condescending and self-serving liberals 'who make their money out of plans, ideas, communication, social upheaval, happenings, excitement,' at the psychic expense of 'the great, ordinary, Lawrence Welkish mass of Americans from Maine to Hawaii.'"
--Rick Perlstein; Nixonland; page 277

I read that paragraph a few days ago. In the past 48 hours, reading through some of the internet sites I enjoy, and watching a bit of the "news" on tv, I keep thinking about it.

[blogslut]

1. "Elite" is a very powerful word this season

And pitting groups that have much in common, against each other, is a very old trick.

[glitch]

2. Very interesting, thank you for sharing. Good idea to look for the ways they

focus resentments. Very appropriate, almost textbook for recent days.

[hootinholler]

3. A sage observation Sir. n/t

[book_worm]

4. He also knew Bab's Bush was the one to deal with in that crime family

It's on one of the WH tapes he says something like, "don't worry about George, it's Barbara Bush we have to worry about" or something like that.