General Discussion

Drunken Irishman

(34,857 posts)

55. America has a history of political dynasties - this isn't new.

Tue Mar 10, 2015, 02:26 AM

Mar 2015

And it's not going to end, either.

The Adams Family - father and son who were both presidents, very similar to H.W. Bush and W. Bush - right down to both failing, really, at the presidential thing.

The Harrison Family - William Henry Harrison and his grandson, Benjamin Harrison, both served as president (though, Harrison only made it 32 days lol).

Taft Family - William Howard Taft served as president, Taft's son served as a senator. Robert Taft Jr. served in the House and Bob Taft, great-grandson of William Howard Taft, was governor of Ohio.

Roosevelt Family - I'm sure most DUers know of this family: Teddy Roosevelt and then distant cousin FDR.

Kennedy Family - A merger of political clout - Rose's father was mayor of Boston. Joseph Kennedy worked under FDR. JFK served as president, RFK and Teddy served as senators. Some went on to the House.

Bush Family - The Republican Kennedys - without the heartache.

Other non-presidential dynasties:

The Udalls
The Daleys
The Rockefellers
The Cuomos

We have an affinity for dynasties here. Is it inherently wrong? Maybe - but it's not new. I don't really plan on voting for Hillary in 2016 but it won't be because she's a Clinton.

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On Dynasties [View all] H2O Man Mar 2015 OP

Rec! Cooley Hurd Mar 2015 #1

Thank you. H2O Man Mar 2015 #16

Faced with two dynasties I will vote for the dynasty that I feel closest to. DemocratSinceBirth Mar 2015 #2

Very short sighted response GummyBearz Mar 2015 #7

See Post 9/NT DemocratSinceBirth Mar 2015 #10

Right. H2O Man Mar 2015 #18

HBO or Showtime? H2O Man Mar 2015 #17

Americans are always looking for an excuse not to think about politics BeyondGeography Mar 2015 #3

It's an issue H2O Man Mar 2015 #19

I believe our culture is addicted to celebrity. It's a lot easier than thinking critically. NYC_SKP Mar 2015 #4

Good points! H2O Man Mar 2015 #20

And to nostalgia. And to money. Orsino Mar 2015 #31

considering that bush was VP under reagan, and every election since has featured a bush ND-Dem Mar 2015 #5

Ugh. Agschmid Mar 2015 #22

Very interesting! H2O Man Mar 2015 #23

Bush family can be considered a dynasty, mrdmk Mar 2015 #6

Good points. H2O Man Mar 2015 #24

With all the worst features of the Borgias hifiguy Mar 2015 #46

Not really much of an issue for me. Tierra_y_Libertad Mar 2015 #8

Stop making sense! HERVEPA Mar 2015 #27

Most often, say with H2O Man Mar 2015 #62

The Bushes are dynasties/legacies DemocratSinceBirth Mar 2015 #9

It seems rather unlikely, H2O Man Mar 2015 #33

I agree...But the Clintons are starting a dynasty if you want to call it that. DemocratSinceBirth Mar 2015 #34

The Bush family has. H2O Man Mar 2015 #36

According to Oxford Reference: John Poet Mar 2015 #11

Wrong type of dynasty. F4lconF16 Mar 2015 #28

I never use H2O Man Mar 2015 #35

Of course it was tongue in cheek. John Poet Mar 2015 #53

Well, that Oxford H2O Man Mar 2015 #57

we did survive the Addams family bigtree Mar 2015 #12

That was a strange show, H2O Man Mar 2015 #37

'dynasties' bigtree Mar 2015 #41

The Kennedy family H2O Man Mar 2015 #43

This dynamic is not healthy for society. n/t Throd Mar 2015 #13

It's interesting to consider H2O Man Mar 2015 #45

Pretty simple...Only Dynasties can bring in enough money. Bush got theirs during the Nazi libdem4life Mar 2015 #14

Very interesting H2O Man Mar 2015 #47

It was daunting to revisit that concept some decades later...but looking at the descriptions libdem4life Mar 2015 #51

no, feudalism had limits ... MisterP Mar 2015 #15

good points. H2O Man Mar 2015 #48

There was a recent foaming at the mouth thread about this issue Capt. Obvious Mar 2015 #21

Rubin Carter often quoted H2O Man Mar 2015 #49

Dynasty wouldn't worry me so much if they got some economic issues and environmental issues right. mmonk Mar 2015 #25

Interesting. H2O Man Mar 2015 #60

Yep. True that. Track records mean alot in this regard. mmonk Mar 2015 #63

Any/ every candidate's positions H2O Man Mar 2015 #65

Yes indeed. democrank Mar 2015 #26

Fresh air H2O Man Mar 2015 #61

Clinton lost in 2008. Jeb Bush will probably lose to Scott Walker. geek tragedy Mar 2015 #29

As noted very clearly H2O Man Mar 2015 #38

I can't imagine myself voting for or against a candidate merely due to blood. LanternWaste Mar 2015 #30

Good for you. H2O Man Mar 2015 #39

When valid issues are brought up, I certainly will. LanternWaste Mar 2015 #40

Perhaps you might H2O Man Mar 2015 #42

Hillary's main advantages are 1.) Name Recognition and 2.) Money. Maedhros Mar 2015 #32

That's true. H2O Man Mar 2015 #64

After Libya, I don't see Hillary as any more or less likely that Jeb Bush Maedhros Mar 2015 #66

I certainly view Reagan & Bush as key turning points JonLP24 Mar 2015 #44

HHH was an outstanding US Senator. H2O Man Mar 2015 #67

Thanks JonLP24 Mar 2015 #71

Bill Clinton's father died before he was born . Hillary's father owned a small business. DemocratSinceBirth Mar 2015 #50

Chelsea says she is very open to running also. That is how dynasties begin. I have no problem sabrina 1 Mar 2015 #54

Respectfully disagree. H2O Man Mar 2015 #68

Poor sentence construction on my part DemocratSinceBirth Mar 2015 #70

Poor humor attempt on my part! H2O Man Mar 2015 #72

All In with Chris Hayes H2O Man Mar 2015 #52

America has a history of political dynasties - this isn't new. Drunken Irishman Mar 2015 #55

Very good! H2O Man Mar 2015 #56

People are trying to formulate excuses for hereditary power and privilege. Not so easy to do. Romulox Mar 2015 #58

It's curious. H2O Man Mar 2015 #69

It's not healthy. alarimer Mar 2015 #59

Very good. H2O Man Mar 2015 #73