by Carla G.
Member since:
September 19, 2006

David Eisenhower and Julie Nixon Eisenhower say their dads were moderates and wouldn't have been elected today

October 25, 2010 10:00 AM UTC
views: 0 | 8 people recommend this | comments: 63

I saw an interview with David Eisenhower and Julie Nixon Eisenhower on Sunday Morning. They were saying how neither of their dads would have been considered a conservative today nor would they even be chosen as a candidate by the Republican party. According to David and Julie, they were both too "moderate" and even "liberal" in comparison with today's Republican candidates.

How did the Republican party get to where it is today? What happened to the moderates? Why this right extremism?

Comments: 63

Larry M. Oct 25, 2010, 10:01am UTC
"Money" is the answer to all such political questions. The John Birch Society didn't like Eisenhower.
Carla G. Oct 25, 2010, 10:06am UTC
Ah yes, and of course the Koch family was very active in that.
Larry M. Oct 25, 2010, 10:10am UTC
The more money involved the more likely there are to be political ties and influence. There comes a point at which an increase in income and wealth is more closely tied to government influence and favorable legislation than to the market. Subsidies of various sorts, means of excluding competition, externalization of costs, all involve using the government. Using the government requires quite a lot of money. The number of votes doesn't matter nearly as much.
Peter Joseph Swanson Oct 25, 2010, 10:10am UTC
Totally. Nor would Nixon. Heck, even Reagan isn't at all as far to the right as the right now paints him. I wonder if Reagan is even electable today by the Tea Party types. The first Bush was more liberal than Reagan, certainly, so he's not electable either. It was the Gringrich "revolution" that really pushed us all hard to the Right, and bankrupted government.

I blame the fundamentalism. Equating politics with black or white simplistic extremist religion pushed it all into its current unsustainable place! The Republicans worked to become a Christian Taliban. The U.S. needs to be a liberal society if it will prosper and stay modern.
Larry M. Oct 25, 2010, 10:11am UTC
The concentration of wealth prevents that. We can't become more liberal. Big money won't let us. Watch Fox for a while and you will see what I mean.
Carla G. Oct 25, 2010, 10:15am UTC
I agree about Reagan, Peter.
Carla G. Oct 25, 2010, 10:16am UTC
Watch Fox, Larry? Been there and done that and my stomach can't handle it.
Robert A. Oct 25, 2010, 10:19am UTC
The irony is the Republicans are still thought (or rather described) of as "conservatives" when they are anything but; fiscally and in terms of foreign policy. They clearly are radical.
Carla G. Oct 25, 2010, 12:28pm UTC
I agree wholeheartedly, Robert.
Robert A. Oct 25, 2010, 10:25am UTC
This article is a good excuse for the Eisenhower quote:

"In the councils of government, we must guard against the acquisition of unwarranted influence, whether sought or unsought, by the military industrial complex. The potential for the disastrous rise of misplaced power exists and will persist."
Robert A. Oct 25, 2010, 10:27am UTC
"disastrous." So correct.
Carla G. Oct 25, 2010, 10:31am UTC
And he should know. "Disastrous" is right on.
Matthew M. Oct 25, 2010, 4:21pm UTC
That's a good quote.
Gail Mountain Oct 25, 2010, 10:59am UTC
Such a big question, Carla!

Of course there are many reasons -- as this post will show -- but I think it is a desire for money and power, Christian Nation-dom and a white majority in a political climate that, for whatever reason, has freed the extreme right to say what they have always thought and to stand up and fight for what they have always thought and to take action on what they have always thought by participating in the election process.

An interesting example of the -what they've always thought -- Stephen Broden, congressional candidate in Texas who just declared violent revolution an option, was given the nod from the RNC that would provide him with more funds.

It was about 10 days before he made the comments but does anyone think the RNC didn't already know what his views were?
Carla G. Oct 25, 2010, 12:31pm UTC
Amazing isn't it? I remember when people used to just disagree politically and now people will not have anything to do with you if you don't believe as they do. My brother is a Republican. He really hates my guts now, his own sister! All because of my political beliefs. And he is so filled with hate and racism. He claims to be a Christian, but doesn't show it in his behavior in any way.
Gail Mountain Oct 25, 2010, 2:27pm UTC
That is so very, very sad.
Carla G. Oct 25, 2010, 2:30pm UTC
Yes, it is sad. But I'm seeing it more and more in families and between friends.
Carla G. Oct 25, 2010, 5:54pm UTC
I think we have to speak out, Norman. Maybe people will listen and maybe not. But we owe it to our country and our own conscience to speak out.
David W. Oct 25, 2010, 11:05am UTC
I think it is time for the new "Silent majority," we moderates, not the conservatives, to rise up, fight the Tea Party and claim the country back. Both ends of the political spectrum are too extreme. This season's electioneering simply fortells the future of campaign rhetoric and the future is not pretty. I dread the diatribe that will accompany the next presidential election.
David W. Oct 25, 2010, 11:55am UTC
The Coffee party is as forgetable as Millard Fillmore. What is needed is charasmatic speakers and an action oriented agenda. Proactive and not reactive, as if the Coffie Party was even remotely reactive. Democrats pontificate while Republican rale. "It is the squeaky wheel that gets the oil."
Carla G. Oct 25, 2010, 12:32pm UTC
I agree, David. Moderates should speak out. I do and I know that many of you do. But the conservatives are so fueled up with hatred that they get from watching the windbags on Fox.
Kathryn Flynn Oct 25, 2010, 7:52pm UTC
David, rise and speak!
Elsie C. Oct 25, 2010, 11:13am UTC
In less than 2 years, Obama has done such a good job, the opposition is clamoring for revolution. It certainly points out how effective he's been. Otherwise, why would they see such a great need to "take him out."

He needs our support now, more than ever. To think that the country is in danger of being led by such a radical, extreme, poisonous power is beyond imagination.
Carla G. Oct 25, 2010, 12:33pm UTC
I agree, Elsie. And it's funny but Obama is less of a liberal than some other past presidents and yet he is referred to by the conservatives as being ultra-liberal.
Bert B. Oct 25, 2010, 1:39pm UTC
GIve us the benefit of your obvious knowledge on economic subjects, bbb.
What would you do if you were President to miraculously cause a recovery that most economists say will take at least ten years?
Do you have a magic wand?
Carla G. Oct 25, 2010, 1:46pm UTC
Yes, bbb. I'm waiting to hear too. Please bestow us with your wisdom and knowledge.
Carla G. Oct 25, 2010, 2:31pm UTC
That is assuming a lot, Norman. Some listen only to Fox and it is difficult, if not impossible, to get the truth there.
Peter Joseph Swanson Oct 25, 2010, 2:36pm UTC
byebye wants us to go back to "trickle down" as if it didn't get us in this mess in the first place.
Karl Leuba Oct 25, 2010, 5:24pm UTC
What? In September of 08 the economy lost 420 thousand jobs. In September of 10, 95 thousand. In December of 08 the losses were 780 thousand. In March of this year over 400 thousand jobs were added.

Today the Dow Jones closed over 11 thousand, again. As Bush's term ended the Dow Jones was at 7 thousand.
Government, allegedly growing by leaps and bounds under Obama Cut 159 thousand jobs, 64 thousand MORE than the job losses overall for the Month.

The NUMBER of unemployed and underemployed, REMAINED UNCHANGED.

Employment Data from the Bureau of labor statistics news release, Stock market quotes from Dow Jones, via Yahoo finances.



Carla G. Oct 25, 2010, 5:56pm UTC
Karl, thanks for trying to help bbb see the light, but he is living in the darkness and delusion of Fox News.
Kathryn Flynn Oct 25, 2010, 7:55pm UTC
MA unempoynment went way down, yet we still lost a lot of jobs. You can't base everything on statistics.

FDR knew that jobs would be the LAST thing to come back. And it was. And so it will be this time, too, when the Great Recession, the Third Depression finally leaves, in another several years.

Buy wool, grow your own fruits and veggies, walk and exercise, take vitamins and eat mostly fruits and vegetables.
Carla G. Oct 25, 2010, 10:54pm UTC
Yes, that is true about the jobs. The economists have said that, but the right doesn't listen.
Gerry Wass Oct 25, 2010, 3:58pm UTC
It was an interesting interview on Sunday Morning, Carla, one that gave a lot of perspective on today's situation. I felt them quietly crying out for the return of moderate thought and cooperation in government, and I had forgotten about them completely as a couple. I hope their book helps bring back some civility to our country.
Carla G. Oct 25, 2010, 5:59pm UTC
I sensed that too, Gerry. They jumped in very quickly when the word "conservatives" was thrown out. They were very quick to disassociate themselves from that element.
Matthew M. Oct 25, 2010, 4:19pm UTC
Eisenhower was not the worst President but no, I would not vote for him.

The extremists are the ones thinking this type of government is sustainable and should be sustained.
Karl Leuba Oct 25, 2010, 5:31pm UTC
This type of government was sustained for eight years under GW Bush. I suppose you think he was as moderate as his father.
Carla G. Oct 25, 2010, 6:00pm UTC
Yeah, Matthew, what is your answer to that one?
Matthew M. Oct 25, 2010, 8:17pm UTC
What is the question? Bush was no moderate in the context of my 4:19 pm comment.
Karl Leuba Oct 25, 2010, 5:32pm UTC
Gail, interesting question. Personally I think that David Koch and his brother, along with Rupert Murdoch and his News Corp SHOUTED THEM DOWN.
Carla G. Oct 25, 2010, 6:02pm UTC
Clarify what you are responding to, Karl. I missed something.
Karl Leuba Oct 25, 2010, 9:58pm UTC
You wrote it, How could you miss it? I was responding to "How did the Republican party get to where it is today? What happened to the moderates? Why this right extremism?" I only mentioned two big players in what I see as the destruction of the Republican Party. Years ago, with a clear conscience, this lifelong Democrat publicly endorsed, in paid advertising featuring ME, two Republicans, one running for Governor of Arizona, and the other running for reelection to the US Senate.
Karl Leuba Oct 25, 2010, 10:07pm UTC
I did learn a few lessons, the Senator hired a rival of mine to be his press secretary, and the Governor sent the Arizona National Guard to Mexico to put down a labor riot. The Senator, was implicated in the Watergate Scandal, and my rival spent several years in a Federal Penitentiary as a result.
Carla G. Oct 25, 2010, 10:58pm UTC
Karl, but you said "Gail" so I thought you were responding to something Gail said.

Boy, more interesting history. Between you, Kathryn and Norman, there is probably a good book that could be written.
Karl Leuba Oct 26, 2010, 2:18am UTC
OOPS, I love you both, good thing we were not in the same back seat.
Carla G. Oct 26, 2010, 10:18am UTC
Oh you wild man, you! ;-)

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