THE PROGRESSIVE CONSERVATIVE, USA
An Online Journal of Political Commentary & Analysis
Volume XIII, Issue # 151, 2011
Dr. Almon Leroy Way, Jr., Editor
Government Committed to & Acting in Accord with Conservative Principles
Ensures a Nation's Strength, Progress, & Prosperity
WHY 2012 MAY BE STARKLY DIFFERENT FROM 1996
By Christopher G. Adamo
GROWING OPPOSITION TO PRESIDENT BARACK HUSSEIN OBAMA, THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY, & THEIR LEFTWING LIBERAL
PUBLIC POLICY AGENDA: THE CONSERVATIVE GRASSROOTS REVOLT AGAINST THE STATIST MONSTER THAT
THREATENS THE AMERICAN PEOPLE & THEIR CONSTITUTIONAL LIBERTIES & ECONOMIC WELL-BEING -- SIGNIFICANCE OF
THE OUTCOME OF THE 2010 U.S. CONGRESSIONAL ELECTIONS -- PROBABLE OUTCOME OF THE 2012 PRESIDENTIAL &
CONGRESSIONAL ELECTIONS -- FLAWED ANALYSIS OF THE POLITICAL LEFT & ITS SOCALLED "MODERATE," OR "CENTRIST,"
FELLOW TRAVELERS -- SOUNDER & MORE REALISTIC ANALYSIS OF GENUINE CONSERVATIVES
FULL STORY:
Ever since the elections of 2010, the propagandists of the political Left have been proclaiming America’s shift back to
the “Middle,” meaning away from the fervent Conservatism that undergirded last Fall’s landslide. Sadly, even some on
the political Right have accepted such drivel, and, consequently, sought to soften the strident tone of the 2009-2010
grassroots revolt against the encroaching statist monster that threatens the American nation.
As recently as last month, it appeared that Indiana Governor Mitch Daniels, the epitome of an “establishment
Republican,” would be promoted from within as the Republican Party nominee in next year’s presidential race. In the
Congress, Republican Speaker John Boehner rolled over for the Democrats in a pathetic capitulation on the Federal
Budget. The New York District 26 special election went to Democrat Kathy Hochul, though a Republican had won it
with a solid majority only six months ago. And in the wake of the successful attack on Osama bin Laden, a sycophantic
press incessantly declared President Barack Obama politically invulnerable as he commenced his campaign for a
second presidential term.
Not surprisingly, comparisons are being made to the political comeback and “landslide” 1996 re-election of
Liberal/Democratic President Bill Clinton, given that his Presidency had similarly appeared to be on the ropes in the
wake of the Conservative/Republican mid-term tsunami that occurred in 1994. After all, if Bill Clinton and the
Democratic Party could make so dramatic of a comeback in only two years, why not Barack Obama and the Democratic
Party? It is therefore very useful to the interests of the Liberal Democrats to draw as much of a parallel as possible to
those years, since the end game would mean re-election for Obama.
However, such displays of Liberal Democratic jubilance are a bit premature, to put it mildly. Most present-day
“analyses” of what actually happened in the 1996 presidential election are flagrant examples of history revision,
bearing little or no connection to reality (admittedly a standard symptom of the Liberal condition). And the current ebb
and flow of political forces are so drastically unlike those of the mid 1990s that the actualities of that period can in no
way be invoked as harbingers of what may befall America in the next seventeen months.
For starters, in contrast to all of the media efforts to characterize the 1996 presidential contest as a “mandate” for Bill
Clinton, he never enjoyed a decisive re-election victory. Despite the fervent efforts of the Clinton campaign to boost
his popularity, he received less than half of one of the smallest voter turnouts in seven decades. Furthermore, the vote
against him was divided, deliberately so, by the involvement of Ross Perot, who garnered eight percent, thus ensuring
that Republican Bob Dole would lose. So, while Clinton did indeed achieve a second term, it was certainly not by a
“landslide.”
Far more pertinent to today’s circumstances, however, are the factors that are lining up against the hopes of Obama and
the Democrats. Whether their outlandish actions of 2009 and 2010 were motivated by a psychotic blindness to reality,
combined with a devotion to Leftist ideologies, or whether they were the intentional and malevolent deeds of a cabal of
anti-Americans intent on destroying the greatness of this country, may, in the longrun, prove to be irrelevant. The end
result is that the Obama/Liberal Democratic agenda has been disastrous for America, and the people on Mainstreet
clearly know it.
In the wake of the 1994 elections, with Republicans in control of both houses of Congress, the Liberal onslaught from
the Clintons was in seemingly check and the looming threat of Hillarycare rapidly dissipating, America believed it could
heave a sigh of relief and forget its troubles. This situation allowed the opportunistic Clinton political machine to
pontificate on the utopia that might have been, while repositioning the President as a “Centrist” by such disingenuous
deeds as his signing of welfare reform in the waning days of the 1996 campaign. And, with the national economy
responding positively to the fiscal prudence of the Republican Congress and Senate, Americans were once again
beginning to feel good about their country and their prospects for the future.
This, along with the clearly half-hearted embrace of Conservatism by Republican challenger Bob Dole, afforded Clinton
an ability to appeal to the mainstream of America. In the end, while never garnering an electoral majority, he still managed
to claim more votes than Dole, and, on such meager terms, he achieved re-election.
But, if Barack Obama and his band of Chicago political operatives believe they can replay those days, they are in for a
rude awakening. America in 2011 is drastically different from what it was in 1995. The heavy-handed methods employed
by Obama, along with Senate Majority leader Harry Reid (Democrat - Nevada) and former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi
(Democrat - California) in their drive to impose socialized medicine on the nation were ultimately successful in achieving
their goal. But such tactics will not be soon forgotten. And, unlike Hillary’s attempt to nationalize medicine, Obamacare
did not merely threaten America, it was implemented through sordid and blatantly unconstitutional means and is now
codified as law.
Similarly, the abhorrent “economic” policies of the Obama administration have laid waste to America’s former prosperity.
On every front where the Obama regime has successfully infiltrated the marketplace with its Marxist policies, economic
devastation is the product. And the country has, thus far, been unable to rid itself of the looming danger and dread that
this situation instills in mindful citizens.
In an abominable, but revealing, admission, Dan Akerson, the current CEO of General Motors, who was inarguably
installed in his position by Obama, advocates a severe hike in gasoline tax rates in order to boost sales of his company’s
line of “green” cars. While professing a desire to be unleashed from federal control, Akerson proves himself an acolyte
of statism and an advocate of the worst aspects of a command and control national economy imposed and directed by the
U.S. government. And this is the Obama/Liberal/Democratic roadmap to America’s recovery?
Election Day 2012 is still a year and a half away. But the damage to this nation has been so severe and inescapable that no
amount of media spin can erase it from the awareness of the people. Americans are in no mood for any continuation of the
abominable present course. And the Republican challenger who can credibly make the case for a sweeping departure from
that course will surely find widespread and heartfelt support from across the nation.
LINKS TO RELATED TOPICS:
American Politics, Political Competition, & the Control of
Public Policy: Elections, Political Parties, Political Factions,
Ideologies, & Special Interest Groups
American Government & the U.S. Presidency:
Presidential Politics & National Leadership
The American Political System:
Politics & Government in the U.S.A.
The American Political & Cultural Left:
Liberals, Statists, Socialists, Marxists, & Other Leftists:
The Democratic Party, Academia, & the Mainstream Media
Political Economy -- Philosophies, Systems, & Public Policies:
Government, the Economy, & Economic Prosperity
Liberalism Versus Conservatism in American Politics
-------------------------
POLITICAL PHILOSOPHY & POLITICAL IDEOLOGIES:
COMPETING SYSTEMS OF POLITICAL THOUGHT
Conservatism
Traditional Conservatism: Questions & Answers
Conservatism: Attitudes, Types, & Present Status
Constitutional Conservatism: American & British
Liberalism
Classical Liberalism: Intellectual Foundations
Classical Liberalism: Conservative Liberalism
Manchester Liberalism & Social Darwinism
Modern Social "Liberalism": Statist "Liberalism"
Radical & Totalitarian Ideologies
Radicalism, Utopianism, & Totalitarianism
Christopher G. Adamo is a resident of southeastern Wyoming. He has been involved in politics at the local and state level
for many years. His contact information and article archives can be found at www.chrisadamo.com
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THE PROGRESSIVE CONSERVATIVE, USA
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Dr. Almon Leroy Way, Jr., Editor
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Conservative Government Ensures a Nation's Strength, Progress, & Prosperity