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Progressives rebel, Conservatives dominate electorate for 24 years.

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Having one of the most progressive Administrations since FDR’s first two terms was not enough to save Lyndon B Johnson’s from the ire of anti-war progressives. The Vietnam War tore the party apart in 1968, and the 1968 Democratic Convention brought that to the attention of America.

Signing the Civil Rights Bill already broke away the old southern alliance Democrats had relied on for over 36 years. DixieCrats and George Wallace stepped in to take away any lingering feeling of loyalty the South had for their Democratic roots.

Save for the 1976 election when favorite southern son Jimmy Carter won, the Democratic Party would win only one term out of six the next 24 years. So 20 of 24 years there would be a conservative Republican running the executive branch. And that election victory was after Nixon was all but impeached, and against the only unelected President in US history who pardoned Nixon. And it wasn’t an easy victory at that, without the south once again, Carter would have lost in a landslide.

Which wound up happening in 1980, against former actor Ronald Reagan. Reagan changed the electoral map, solidifying the south and the plain states for Republicans.

Electoral Map: Same since 1984

We had a change in politics. Reagan had his swagger and won two terms, with his Vice President George HW Bush running and winning another term.

Then stepped in a little known Governor from Arkansas, Bill Clinton. Another favorite son of the south. Though this time, Clinton tried to alter perceptions of the Democratic Party. He started using a different vernacular to describe what he thought best to bring about the kind of changes he wanted to make, while winning elections and strengthening the Democratic brand. Clinton took over a failing economy and created millions upon millions of jobs. During his two terms we saw the income of the average American climb for the first time since 1972.

He accomplished that, and was the most successful Democratic President since LBJ. He also changed the map.

Electoral Map: Same since 1992

That is 242 electoral votes that have went to the Democratic candidate since 1992. With needing 270 for an outright win, Democrats have had to find just 28 more electoral votes to ensure a Democratic President since 1992, when Bill Clinton changed the electoral map.

Since 1992, Democrats have won four of the six elections. It would have probably have been six of six, had Bill Clinton not had some personal failures that not only dominated the latter part of his second term, but cost his Vice President the 2000 election. America, and many Democrats, allowed the Republicans to persuade them that Clinton’s personal failings were enough to abandon the results of his successful two terms as President.

If we allow the Republicans to dictate to us the terms of our next President, who once again took over the disastrous economic failures of another Republican Bush, and turned it into millions and millions of jobs and Obamacare, we will deserve what we get.

Progressives have a chance to win back the country, for the first time in over a generation. For the first time since the 1960’s, as many Americans identify as “liberal” as those who identify as “conservative”.

31% of Americans identify as “Liberal”

But only 19% of all Americans identify as “economic liberals”, while 39% identified as economically conservative. That is a steep hill to climb for the Bernie Sanders wing of the party. Most of which I agree strongly with. But we have to be more convincing, and I think the manner in which we present our ideas and solutions to the American people is important.

19% of Americans identify as economic Liberals

Just as important as the manner Bill clinton presented his ideas and solutions to the American people in 1992, and Barack Obama did in 2008. Like Democratic Presidents had plans like the “New Deal”, and the “Great Society”, we need a plan in 2016 to present to the American people.

Yelling and protesting can bring attention to problems, but we need to address the issues and have viable solutions that a majority of Americans can agree on. That cannot be accomplished in the manner many are using right now. But it can be accomplished if we direct our energies on getting more Democrats in Congress, and have a viable economic plan to run on in 2016.


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