Last night in a bout of insomnia, I happened to click over to CSPAN and caught a repla of Lyndon Johnson's acceptance speech at the '64 convention. Now no one would ever accuse Lyndon of being an awe inspiring, much less a gifted orator, however in his homespun Texas "aw shucks" delivery there was a message for Democratic loyalists at the convention and citizens across the country. 1964 was not 1932, There was no depression, the economy was healthy and growing, the middle class was strong and vibrant and despite the unfortunate happenings of the previous year, most Americans were generally satisfied with themselves and their country. Vietnam had not yet become what it would, social change was underway, and the country could look at itslef with a bit of self-satisfaction.
All of that sort of sets the stage for Lyndon's message and it is one that has unfortunately had to be repeated by democrats every 4 years since. 48 years ago, Lyndon was fighting for health care,(which he got, Medicare for the elderly) education,( increased student loan availability) prosperity, ( we know the answer to that one) and social justice (progress has been made) . Do these themes sound familiar. The Democratic Party is still fighting today for these same things. Maybe the contexts and venues are different but the issues are the same.
It was kind of funny though when Lyndon referred to ""corporate republicans", secure in their wealth and complacent about the need for a strong middle class. Sound familiar ? I would hope that President Obama would have the opportunity, before Charlotte, to view this video, because the themes Lyndon Johnson was setting forth in 1964 are just are relevant, just as critical to America today as they were then. The overwhelming rejection of Republican values and issues in 1964, Goldwater only carried 2 states, is exactly what is so deperately needed today in 2012. Maybe some of the themes that Lyndon presented back then can be resurrected in Charlotte and the American people can once again rise tothe occasion and once and for all repudiate and expell from the political scene those who would willingly sell out this country to special interests, driven soley by greed and a desire to reduce this country and its people to the status of a 3rd World nation, fueled by opressed labor and driven by a sense of autocratic entitlement based soley upon wealth.
History does have lessons to teach us, provided we are willing to learn them.
Tai Pan
All of that sort of sets the stage for Lyndon's message and it is one that has unfortunately had to be repeated by democrats every 4 years since. 48 years ago, Lyndon was fighting for health care,(which he got, Medicare for the elderly) education,( increased student loan availability) prosperity, ( we know the answer to that one) and social justice (progress has been made) . Do these themes sound familiar. The Democratic Party is still fighting today for these same things. Maybe the contexts and venues are different but the issues are the same.
It was kind of funny though when Lyndon referred to ""corporate republicans", secure in their wealth and complacent about the need for a strong middle class. Sound familiar ? I would hope that President Obama would have the opportunity, before Charlotte, to view this video, because the themes Lyndon Johnson was setting forth in 1964 are just are relevant, just as critical to America today as they were then. The overwhelming rejection of Republican values and issues in 1964, Goldwater only carried 2 states, is exactly what is so deperately needed today in 2012. Maybe some of the themes that Lyndon presented back then can be resurrected in Charlotte and the American people can once again rise tothe occasion and once and for all repudiate and expell from the political scene those who would willingly sell out this country to special interests, driven soley by greed and a desire to reduce this country and its people to the status of a 3rd World nation, fueled by opressed labor and driven by a sense of autocratic entitlement based soley upon wealth.
History does have lessons to teach us, provided we are willing to learn them.
Tai Pan
