General Discussion
Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsThere was a presidential candidate who talked about "law and order" and "a silent majority"
and he won. Nixon in 1968.
I am afraid that this will repeat.
With all the support that the protests are gaining - it is in the cities which are Democratic in nature.
There is still the electoral college in the vast "out states" and rural areas.
I am really worried that we will lose the White House.
But... it appears that we have a better chance in flipping the Senate and I think that this is more important. He will not be able to send right wing judges, he will not be able to veto laws that pass both houses. His powers will be restrained.
And no longer being beholden to his base, he may even revert to his previous opinions of pro-choice and a health care "like Canada."
One can always hope.
EarlG
(21,949 posts)Selling himself as the solution to the problems caused by the incumbent. He was the change candidate.
Is Trump going to be able to sell himself as the solutions to the problems that he himself caused? What this country needs is change, so re-elect me.
I suppose anythings possible, but Im skeptical.
question everything
(47,483 posts)And, with the many killing of blacks in the past years, he can claim that he did not create them.
Trayvon Martin was murdered in 2012, Philando Castile - July 2016.
StarfishSaver
(18,486 posts)Johnson was the incumbent in charge of the government and Nixon painted him and Humphrey as ineffective, feckless leaders who both caused and couldn't manage the situation he was running against.
Trump is in the shoes of Johnson and Humphrey. He is the leader who caused and is failing to manage the situation that people are freaked out about. It will be difficult for him to convince people to reelect him to fix a situation he hasn't managed to fix already. And claiming black men died before he came into office is a nonstarter. The people he needs to appeal to don't give a hoot about black men being killed - and the people who care about black men being killed aren't going to vote for Trump. The people he's appealing to are upset about the mess the country is in - pandemic, people dying by the thousands, protests and unrest, division, etc. And all of that has happened on his watch.
Totally different situation. This is NOT 1968 ...
Among other things, Trump is not comparable to Nixon. 1968 Nixon was outside of government and capitalized on that, promising to step back in to restore the law and order he claimed the current government had failed to provide. He was running against the sitting vice president and, by proxy, the incumbent president, whom he painted as responsible for and unable to contain or correct the mess they created.
Conversely, 2020 Trump is the sitting president who is seen by pretty much everyone as deeply involved in and largely responsible for the chaos. Unlike Nixon, hes not running against the current regime. He IS the current regime. He cant promise to give us law and order or to step in and fix the mess because hes already in position to solve the problem but has failed and refused to do so.
Not only that, but unlike in 1968, it is impossible for him to successfully employ Nixons tactic of painting this as anti-American hippies and violent blacks threatening a peaceful, patriotic silent majority. That wont work because the right is widely and correctly seen as a hostile group, prone to violence and disruption just as much and, in fact more than, those on the left.
In 1968, Nixon was able to convince frightened white people that he could protect them. But any white person who believes Trump can protect them is already wearing a MAGA cap. But I am pretty sure that very few white people who feel frightened about whats going on but havent decided to vote for Trump are likely to vote for the man who has proven himself incapable of protecting them from all of this because he himself has caused all of this.
On the other hand, Joe Biden is much more in the position Nixon held in 1968: a former vice president who has stepped back into the arena. He is offering an alternative to the madness were engulfed in.
But Bidens no Nixon he doesnt have to fear monger or divide or demagogue about law and order because Trump has already done that and has led us to the brink of disaster. He needs only show us how he plans to return us to decency and competence and honesty and voters on the fence will flock to him.
This is not just like 1968.
https://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=edit&forum=1002&thread=13512044
question everything
(47,483 posts)For them the shelter in place, the need for masks, the loss of jobs is the result of the elites. This is why he does not wear a mask, this is why he ordered states to open.
He can and will turn everything around and his base will swallow it. After all it is not as if his base has bee dismayed by all his lies and bullying. And as it was in 2016, the Evangelicals, at least, will hold their noses and dream on overturning Roe.
I am glad that Biden is concentrating on Florida. I think that it will be Florida, not Wisconsin that will determine the outcome.
StarfishSaver
(18,486 posts)leftieNanner
(15,112 posts)Not an incumbent. And that makes a big difference.
We need to work our asses off to win this election (White House AND Senate) and not take anything for granted.
But I think the Idiot-in-Chief will overplay his hand and go down in flames. Especially the way Joe Biden is handling all of this. Law and Order coming from Ass Face doesn't make any sense when he is the one causing a lot of the problems.
question everything
(47,483 posts)They cheer him when he robs the treasury for his properties, when his children benefit for tax payers money.
When he promotes disinfectants..
The Magistrate
(95,247 posts)The electorate is a very different beast than it was in 1968. Considerably less white, much better educated, and containing a good many more women uninfluenced by husbands.
question everything
(47,483 posts)We have to be careful in our campaign. Again, emphasize healthcare and job losses and tie them to this administration.
For example, who has been paying for the Covid-19 hospitalizations? Especially for seniors? Medicare? How much a whole is there now in Medicare?
I think that seniors are the best chance. I think that many of them did not trust a woman to be president in 2016.
The Magistrate
(95,247 posts)You are correct that older people are turning far less solid for Republicans. In 1968, older people tended more to be Democrats, having personal recollection still Mr. Roosevelt and the New Deal, as well as his wartime leadership.
Alacritous Crier
(3,816 posts)like we're going to lose and GOTV.
HOWEVER, at this point...
TRUMP IS TOAST! Count on it.
msongs
(67,409 posts)allowing disorder. they are in opposite roles.
question everything
(47,483 posts)They consider the request to wear masks as coming form the "elite." They consider the "stay at home" directives as being "elitist." They see Pelosi as still the "swamp" that needs to be drained.
budkin
(6,703 posts)This is all happening on Trump's watch.
Stuart G
(38,428 posts)He had a lot of experience in government, and he looked like he might know what he was going to do. (anyway, he looked that way)..He was a VP, senator, well known politician..He hadn't proved yet what Trump has proved lately..
...Trump has proved he is a liar and con artist. (Nixon proved that in 72 -74)..And Trump has proved in the last few months or so his total incompetence at dealing with major issues. .... It is out there for everyone to see and hear...... Wait did he hide in his bunker?
..A major crises has happened, and Trump has done?...(Hide in his bunker?)..Over 100,000 killed in the crises?
We will not lose the White House...... Wait, did Trump, wife and child hide in his bunker?..
..So you think Trump can get away with total incompetence in dealing with a crises that killed over 100,000?.Do you think we have forgotten these famous words, "Five or Six will get the virus and then it will be gone."
..Trump has less of a chance than a snowball in hell.. Less of a chance than the Titanic had after the iceberg, and less of a chance than Nixon had to escape Watergate..
...That is, Trump has no chance.
PTWB
(4,131 posts)Do you anticipate us obtaining a veto-proof majority? I think obtaining any majority at all is going to be difficult (but possible!). Obtaining a veto proof majority, from where Im sitting, seems like an impossibility unfortunately.
tinrobot
(10,903 posts)Trump can't run against the chaos created under Trump.
Stuart G
(38,428 posts)tinrobot
(10,903 posts)Oh wait, Nixon's not the one with three baby mommies.
Stuart G
(38,428 posts)Maybe Joe will ride around in a tank like Mc Govern was pictured.. Maybe Joe will have no help from anyone?...
Wait a minute... ..
...Joe might have some help from the last President, (before Trump) who is still highly respected..Another one, Jimmy Carter could help..Maybe that other one, Hillary's husband could help...Maybe Hillary could help?..
This respected New Yorker..Chris Cuomo , could help....Who else could help Biden..???Lots and lots will help..
question everything
(47,483 posts)I am now counting on Florida and am glad that Biden does, too,
Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin
(108,009 posts)I'm old enough to remember him
rockfordfile
(8,704 posts)ChoppinBroccoli
(3,784 posts)The fact that the Democrats had to scramble to find a last-minute replacement after Bobby was killed (and probably chose the wrong person) didn't help either.