The Democratic Party believed they had eliminated any serious Republican threat following Nixon’s resignation. By 1980, the New Deal and neoleft wings of the party went to war. By 1988, the neoleft emerged victorious. However, the Republican Party experienced resurgence behind Ronald Reagan threatening the Democratic majority. By Reagan’s second term, the left hoped to remove Reagan during the Iran Contra Affair. Failing, they turned their vitriol on Supreme Court nominee Robert Bork. The Bork affair coarsened American politics and the country never recovered. In 1988, Vice President Bush decimated Michael Dukakis at the polls and in the court of public opinion. By 1990, the two parties set the stage for the next act in the country’s polarization.
Political correctness emerges (1990):
Political correctness is a movement designed to limit expressions, language, thought, policies, and behaviors in society deemed offensive by some. Additionally, the assertion of political correctness into debate had the effect of silencing critics. The movement emerged amongst the left in the early seventies. However, it did not become an issue until 1990. That year, conservatives began speaking out against political correctness. In no time, the term political correctness entered into popular usage. Over the last two decades, political correctness has served as a potent weapon for leftists. At times, they have been able to shut down discourse by asserting racism, sexism, or something similar. Naturally, the attacks left hard feelings on those attacked by the so-called “PC police.”
Iraq Invades Kuwait (1990):
Saddam Hussein invaded Kuwait in 1990 in an attempt to rescue Iraq’s economy. In response, President George H.W. Bush led an international coalition into the Persian Gulf to defend other nations from Iraq and pressure Hussein’s withdrawal. Iraq’s dictator refused leading to a brief war resulting in his expulsion. In the aftermath, the United States reserved the right to renew hostilities should Iraq refuse to comply with the cease-fire. At war’s end, President Bush’s approval rating surged to around 90%.
USSR collapses (1991):
The Soviet Union dissolved in 1991. The inflexible state run economy collapsed under the weight of massive expenditures. The Soviets focused on wealth redistribution rather than wealth creation. As a result, strains emerged as the empire attempted to wage a major war in Afghanistan while competing with the United States in proxy wars and an arms race. The Soviet collapse helped discredit the neoleft both economically and in foreign policy. While the neoleft does not advocate a police state, wealth redistribution and accommodation with the Soviets were cornerstones of their belief system.
Clarence Thomas (1991):
Senator Ted Kennedy remembered his success in derailing Robert Bork’s Supreme Court nomination. Four years later, President Bush nominated conservative Clarence Thomas to the court. Once again, Kennedy feared a nominee that may seek to roll back the sixties. The senator brought forth one of Thomas’ former coworkers, Anita Hill, who claimed he made unwelcome sexual comments toward her. The resulting confirmation hearings deteriorated into an outright political brawl with a trash TV element. Hill became a lightning rod herself. The left transformed her into a martyr while the right questioned her integrity. Since Hill lacked evidence, the Senate confirmed Thomas 52-48. Since confirmation, Thomas has been one of the court’s most conservative members.
Ross Perot (1992):
The Cold War military buildup combined with exorbitant social spending led to $200 billion budget deficits. Ross Perot railed against government overspending and touched a nerve. The modern Tea Party can trace its roots back to Perot. He declared for the presidency and actually led both major party candidates at one point. Then, the Texas businessman began acting a bit strange. His candidacy cost George H.W. Bush reelection and resulted in the Clinton presidency. As a result of Perot’s interference, Republicans viewed Clinton as illegitimate. Clinton’s own peccadilloes further fanned the flames leading to open political combat for the remainder of the decade.
The Waco Siege (1993):
Self proclaimed prophet David Koresh played a dangerous cat-and-mouse game with federal authorities. He led a cult in Waco, Texas while engaging in child abuse and rape. The government built their case and bungled a raid leading to a drawn-out siege. In the end, Koresh killed his followers, committed suicide, and set his compound on fire. The incident served to fuel anti-government feelings that had been building since Vietnam. In particular, Waco, combined with another botched raid at Ruby Ridge, Idaho in 1992, led to widespread paranoia amongst the far right. Meanwhile, mainstream conservatives and moderates believed the incident a tragedy and evidence of an incompetent government unconcerned with civil liberties.
Republican Revolution (1994):
The Republican congressional takeover took 40 years to occur. The Silent Majority, Reagan Democrats, and the south finally switched political sides at the ballot box. The public perceived Bill Clinton as an incompetent, out-of-touch tax and spend liberal. They overwhelmingly opposed health care reform and continued to worry about deficits. As a result, the G.O.P. gained 54 seats in the House of Representatives and 8 Senate seats. Adding insult to injury, Democratic office holders began switching parties. The G.O.P. congress eventually forced welfare reform and a balanced budget upon the president. In fairness, President Clinton could never have balanced a budget with the neoleft controlling the House of Representatives.
Oklahoma City (1995):
Far right anger over Waco and Ruby Ridge culminated with Timothy McVeigh’s attack on Oklahoma City’s Murrah Federal Building. The resulting bomb blast killed 168 people, including 19 children. The government executed McVeigh for his crime. Meanwhile, the Democrats used the incident to attack conservatives. They blamed talk radio and conservative rhetoric for McVeigh’s actions. The political attack put the Republicans back on their heels.
Legislative wars (1995-96):
Before Oklahoma City, people considered Bill Clinton a one-term failure. Reporters even questioned his relevance. Clinton worked an amazing comeback using the Republicans as a foil. He portrayed the G.O.P. as extremists and positioned himself against the Republicans. He vetoed welfare reform declaring it extreme and then later signed it into law much to the chagrin of his base. Clinton shut down the government and then blamed the Republicans. Clinton took positions to the left of the Republicans, but comfortably right of his own party. As a result, he appeared the adult. By early 1996, he placed himself in a good position to win re-election.
Clinton re-elected (1996):
In early 1995, President Clinton appeared politically dead. He triangulated himself between the Gingrich and Pelosi extremes to reemerge as a political force. At the same time, he raised an amazing amount of money for his re-election bid. The money immunized himself from a primary challenge. Meanwhile, the eventual Republican nominee lacked adequate funding until after the conventions. The costly primaries bankrupted the Dole campaign. At the same time, the Clinton camp used their funds to attack Bob Dole from the beginning of 1996. In the end, Clinton won re-election, but only a tentative endorsement from the public. He failed to break 50% in the final popular vote demonstrating that many voters still questioned his ability.
Bin Laden declares war (1998):
American operations during the Gulf War offended Osama bin Laden. He despised the so-called “infidels” appearance on sacred Islamic soil. His terror network began targeting Americans and he openly declared war on America in 1998. However, most people were not paying attention.
Iraq Liberation Act (1998):
Saddam Hussein precipitated a crisis in 1998 through noncompliance of U.N. Resolutions and the Gulf War Cease Fire. President Clinton warned of Hussein’s weapons of mass destruction and threatened war over the dictator’s transgressions. In September 1998, congress passed the Iraq Liberation Act making regime change in Iraq official American policy. The House of Representatives voted 360-38 in favor while the Senate passed it unanimously. In the end, Clinton ordered a four-day bombing campaign, but congress established the legal justification and requirements for war in 2003 through bipartisan support. That support evaporated when the neoleft decided to oppose the Iraq War forcing their representatives to follow suit.
Clinton impeached (1998):
Republicans smarted from the political beating they took at Clinton’s hands. While they resented losing the P.R. battle, many on the right especially despised Clinton’s lack of ethics. The Clinton Administration seemingly set a record for scandal. One of those scandals led to an independent prosecutor. During the eighties, the Clintons engaged in a land deal in Arkansas. The so-called Whitewater investment appeared shady leading to an investigation. Attorney General Janet Reno allowed prosecutor Ken Starr to expand the probe eventually leading to Monica Lewinsky. Under oath, Clinton denied a relationship with the intern.
Eventually, Starr reported to congress recommending possible impeachment charges. The House impeached Clinton for perjury and obstruction of justice. At first, the Democrats appeared ready to abandon Clinton, but their resolve returned. The spin helped determine Clinton’s future. While impeachment centered on obstruction of justice and perjury, the president’s supporters defined it as a private matter. Once the public perceived the battle as one over sexual misconduct as opposed to a legal matter, Clinton survived. The impeachment battle further alienated right and left. Ironically, had Clinton been removed from office, George W. Bush probably does not become president.
Battle in Seattle (1999):
The World Trade Organization held meetings in Seattle, Washington to discuss global trade issues. They encountered a mass protest of neoleftists. The protestors opposed globalization for a myriad of reasons ranging from anti-capitalism, anti-corporate, and anti-trade. While the Perot candidacy of 1992 marked the beginning of the Tea Party, the so-called “Battle in Seattle” marked the beginnings of the Occupy Movement.
Comments