General Discussion
In reply to the discussion: Has Anyone Else On DU Noticed This Lately? [View all]TreasonousBastard
(43,049 posts)at some of the comments.
I grew up in a Republican family with Ike and Mamie plates hung on the walls while Tammany Hall ran New York. Tammany was slowly being busted up by the Feds and Reform Democrats and Ed Koch was a breath of fresh air to some who knew what was going on. While all this was going on, Long Island was a pit of shame while Republicans were trying to build their own crooked dynasties. Still are.
Democrats in Joisey were, and still largely are, controlled by several county machines and the thought of actual democracy scares the crap out of them. I thought I was pretty jaded until I found out first hand how things worked.
Democrats down South were the yellow dogs who existed purely because of Lincoln and when Johnson dared to talk civil rights and back it up with action, they dumped the Lincoln hatred and jumped right into Republican arms.
So, just what are are those great Democratic traditions that were lost over the years and our present pols find it so hard to live up to?
Should you ask why I'm a Democrat after all that. Well, it started with a woman (doesn't it always) back in college and even if they don't live up to them, I still prefer stated Democratic "values."