1964-2016

FLASH BACK/FLASH FORWARD/FLUSH This old campaign ad from the 1964 election hits a little too close to home. Made by LBJ’s campaign, a remorseful Republican wishes he would’ve attended and fought at the national convention. [...] As I wrote in today’s edition of Morning Insurrection, I’m bored of the false choices and increasingly annoyed with the insistence that I must support _____ candidate or the republic will surely perish. I am not compelled to vote for any remaining candidate simply because they’ve managed to survive the island thus far. Votes are not entitlements, they must be earned. I respect the opinions of many of my fellow bloggers who make well thought out cases for rallying behind candidate X, but I must dissent. I cannot stand Trump, and will under no circumstance vote for him now or ever — I’ve never been shy in admitting as much. Nor do I feel pressed into false choices that say I must support Cruz or we’re stuck with Hillary. These are not yet provable realities; they’re campaign gimmicks. This whole cycle is far from over. There is no clear winner, not even Trump (who doesn’t win majorities). Like Professor Jacobson, I’m looking forward to the convention this year. It might be our last, best chance, or it might be 1964 all over again. [Full] Me? I supported Barry Goldwater, but was in the Army when there was zero mention of casting ballots. Four years later I channel switched back and forth to watch simultaneous showcases, on different networks, by Hubert Humphrey and Richard Nixon.  Newly married, I took this very seriously. In the end, my vote was decided by one sequence.  Humphrey was asked about his stance on something, and answered that he was for it.  A bit later I was over to Nixon, where former University of Oklahoma football coach Bud Wilkinson was hosting.  Of a sudden, Bud broke in, saying that Hubert had just announced on his show that he was against it.  A blatant lie. It was thus that I voted for a Democrat presidential nominee for the first and last time.  So I understand how that anonymous confessor could have been such an idiot.