Comparing Obama to Carter, Talking Endlessly About Reagan
I went over to politico this morning, since I heard everyone talking about how they are up-in-arms about how horrible Obama's speech was (huh?). I decided to read the comments to the story and a significant number of people commenting had their party affiliation listed as "Republican" or "Tea-Party". And all of the comments from those people brought up two things:
1. Obama is identical to Jimmy Carter
2. Ra Ra Reagan!
I don't really want to get into the validity of the arguments about whether Obama is Carter or Reagan was great. What I want to know is, why are they talking about 1970's? Carter was president nearly 40 years ago. If you were born when Carter was elected, you are 36 years old. If you are actually old enough to even vaguely remember Carter being president, you are probably in your mid-50's. If you were a full grown adult, able to fully remember how Carter's presidency affected you, either positively or negatively, you have likely been a grandparent for a number of years. Same with Reagan. If you were one of those "Reagan Democrats" you are probably pushing 70 years old now.
My point is, who are these arguments about 1970's America trying to appeal to? Are you really going to get a bunch of 40 year olds saying "yeah, Obama is like Carter! I remember the rough shape we were in when I was 3 years old. Lets vote Romney!" And just as importantly, how old is the typical republican that they can actually, supposedly, remember Carter's 1980 convention speech, something they all keep bringing up?
= new reply since forum marked as read
I remember the Carter-Reagan election very well--I was 23--you do the math 
(not retired & not in my 70s!)
Like much of history, the Myth of St. Ronnie has grown and gotten fuzzier with time, just like he did in his second term. When he was still cognizant, he was a cold, calculated manipulator who would say and do anything to get elected. He was indeed the Teflon President--many scandals happened during his regime, and none if them stuck. Unemployment was over 10% and interest rates were 18% during the wondrous early 80s. He is responsible for the unholy alliance of the GOP and the Religious Right, quite a feat for a man who rarely set foot in a church. I could go on.
" you are probably in your mid-50's."
Umm no... Carter became President when I was in high school and he was in his last year of office when I was a freshman in college. And I'm not "mid-50's" (am around the same age as the President). But I remember the era well... Because it was the disco era, so it was not all doom and gloom! K.C. and the Sunshine Band were rockin' the house. 
I remember that the Pell Grants (just starting to be called that then) hit their peak before Raygun came in and torpedoed the hell out of them. It was also the waning days of the white flight out of the cities and there were alot of ugly "busing" issues in an attempt to desegregate the schools in certain urban areas (most notably in the Boston area - it was like Little Rock redux). The nation was reeling from oil embargoes that had started under the Nixon Administration - most notably the gas-line 1973/1974 one. But then millionaires were taxed at 70% too so if they want to compare, let's change the tax code back so that there's a better fit. 
The "Obama = Carter" nonsense is to try to push the "one-term President" wet dream that they have manufactured for themselves out of desperation. Their "side" is looking horrible (obviously to them), so they have to somehow try to make lemonade out of the bitter lemon that they have and will stop at nothing to not only put lipstick on that pig, but make sure he wins a date with the next Toddler with a Tiara! 
If anything, they need to look at Poppy, who was a one-term President and then get a clue.
