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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsThis Isn't Just Like 1968
Ive heard and seen several people compare today to 1968 and to suggest that Trump, like Nixon, will benefit from the social unrest to win the election. But this is very different.
Among other things, Trump is not comparable to Nixon. 1968 Nixon was outside of government and capitalized on that, promising to step back in to restore the law and order he claimed the current government had failed to provide. He was running against the sitting vice president and, by proxy, the incumbent president, whom he painted as responsible for and unable to contain or correct the mess they created.
Conversely, 2020 Trump is the sitting president who is seen by pretty much everyone as deeply involved in and largely responsible for the chaos. Unlike Nixon, hes not running against the current regime. He IS the current regime. He cant promise to give us law and order or to step in and fix the mess because hes already in position to solve the problem but has failed and refused to do so.
Not only that, but unlike in 1968, it is impossible for him to successfully employ Nixons tactic of painting this as anti-American hippies and violent blacks threatening a peaceful, patriotic silent majority. That wont work because the right is widely and correctly seen as a hostile group, prone to violence and disruption just as much and, in fact more than, those on the left.
In 1968, Nixon was able to convince frightened white people that he could protect them. But any white person who believes Trump can protect them is already wearing a MAGA cap. But I am pretty sure that very few white people who feel frightened about whats going on but havent decided to vote for Trump are likely to vote for the man who has proven himself incapable of protecting them from all of this because he himself has caused all of this.
On the other hand, Joe Biden is much more in the position Nixon held in 1968: a former vice president who has stepped back into the arena. He is offering an alternative to the madness were engulfed in.
But Bidens no Nixon he doesnt have to fear monger or divide or demagogue about law and order because Trump has already done that and has led us to the brink of disaster. He needs only show us how he plans to return us to decency and competence and honesty and voters on the fence will flock to him.
This is not just like 1968.
blitzen
(4,572 posts)NanceGreggs
(27,820 posts)Hekate
(90,865 posts)Good analysis
EarlG
(21,974 posts)Docreed2003
(16,883 posts)Cha
(297,807 posts)now and 1968.
smirkymonkey
(63,221 posts)lunatica
(53,410 posts)Didnt Nixon, as President, send in police dressed in riot gear to attack the people who kept marching to protest the Vietnam Nam war? Young men were drafted into the army then, unlike today where they volunteer.
It was such a tumultuous time that its hard to remember the details and the timing.
Dan
(3,583 posts)There are no bullets crossing paths...
writes3000
(4,734 posts)AllyCat
(16,236 posts)OP is saying this is NOT like 1968 in significant ways. There is no prediction for the final outcome that I see
crickets
(25,987 posts)Response to crickets (Reply #11)
AllyCat This message was self-deleted by its author.
crickets
(25,987 posts)AllyCat
(16,236 posts)crickets
(25,987 posts)brush
(53,924 posts)with over 100k deaths, one in four workers unemployed because of a cratered economy, and little chance the economy and the lost jobs will be restored by the Nov. election.
And fool trump hasn't even tried to address and calm the nation after four days of protests. What useless, inept failure of leadership.
Journeyman
(15,042 posts)BigmanPigman
(51,640 posts)him from protesters, this was when you could get a lot closer to it than you can now.
herding cats
(19,568 posts)They're not familiar with millennial, and/or have bought into the stereotypes about them? Also, GenX, the modern forgotten generation. They're not blazing 60's style racist either. Add the two voting blocks together and they're a force.
GenZ, which many confuse with the Millennials, is even less prone to such lunacy, but also much less likely to turnout.
It's an entirely different era and some people are trying to play the same games as if it isn't.
Folks, this isn't the 1960's all over again. The vast majority of the voting block have no memories of that era anymore. They're navigating their lives on a whole different trajectory from back then.
Captain Zero
(6,841 posts)No ghettoes are burning and central cities are burning.
No poor black residential areas burning.
That is a big difference.
Police are allowing people ways out of problem areas which is good,
but then once that movement begins people still stick around and
property violence seems to be happening as people leave an area.
Fireworks were not legal in most places in 67-68.
Demonstrators are showing that some of the legal fireworks we have allowed are weapons grade stuff, although rather random in their targetting
Sure are no shortages of tear gas. I doubt police and military are running out of bullets.
Anyone know where I can get an antibodies test?
Crunchy Frog
(26,683 posts)don't come whining to me on election night, because I promise that I will not be receptive to it.
StarfishSaver
(18,486 posts)Because who are you and why would I?
JustFiveMoreMinutes
(2,133 posts)Mass Communication at this level is beyond anything 1968's philosophers could imagine.
Now with bots and trolls and paid pundants and infiltration of foreign governments are all new and unparalleled.
Pong vs Call of Duty if you will.
JCMach1
(27,579 posts)Gothmog
(145,666 posts)This is not like 1968. trump is the establishment
malaise
(269,219 posts)Rec
oasis
(49,429 posts)brer cat
(24,625 posts)Initech
(100,108 posts)1992 was an election year that saw cops being absolutely out of control and led to severe riots all around the country. And it swayed the election toward Clinton due to Bush's inaction.