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| The Election |
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| Republicans Poised to Fold |
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This is Dark Cloud on Wednesday, November 05, 1986. To our mutual disappointment, the elections are over. Easily the most disgusting on record, I believe - on balance - that the United States pulled itself out of a tail spin with this one. It was the first election that I think turned the tide against the religious zealots of the Protestant right. In North Carolina, Jesse Helm's chosen candidate lost to Terry Sanford, a good sign if anything is. In fact, the United States seems to have tired of its dabbling with upscale hooliganism and neo-fascism and moved away from the worst elements of our right wing. I do not think that is speaking too melodramatically, for the unthinking boomerism of Ronald Reagan sucked in some odd, bizarre, and dangerous elements. It should be pointed out that if Reagan, as his worshippers insist, did indeed tighten up some races in losing efforts, the Republican party is in severe trouble nationally. They evidently cannot field candidates that can win on their own or even come close without the coattails of Reagan. This does not bode well for their presidential hopes in 88. It is clear now- there was never much doubt - that the cult of Reagan was a very personal one that does not bleed over. The Republicans put all their eggs into the pseudo mysticism of Reagan's America. They bought a hard right line of anti-abortion, pro-military, pro-intervention, pro-Protestantism. They got hammered. It may be that the old adage that the people have more brains collectively than the some of their tender abilities would suggest. The Republicans, who thought they could hide behind such frothy issues as 'returns to traditional American values' now have to publicly deal with the election results that pose the thought that the public doesn't think the Republicans best exemplify those virtues, or that what the Republicans consider virtues are not everyone's goal. Good. In truth, the Republicans are not, of late, the nuts and bolts party dealing with business and jobs. They had become a hodgepodge of mystics and zanies, Ayatollahs and simple boneheads, who believed that simple incantations could return us to a perceived position from the past that never existed. However diverse the Democrats, they are showing more staying power than the Republicans, who have carefully positioned themselves for disaster in 88. |
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