40 years ago today in history - July 14, 1972 - Democratic National Convention in Miami

[Douglas Carpenter]

[MarianJack]

1. I worked for George McGovern in 3 Primary states when I was 16 & 17.

First it was PA (then my home state), next was NJ and finally NY. I met him during the PA campaign and again in NY. I was blown away by the fact that in encounters nearly 2 months and 100+ miles apart HE REMEMBERED ME! The way I knew this was by him saying "hello, Jack" when he saw me!

The sad part about his wonderful speech is that it was at about 2:30AM. This convention was a disorganized mess and resulted in the convention bounce going to freakin' rochard nixon! While I believe to this day that George McGovern is a great man and would have made a great president, we, his followers were so damn obnoxious to the party regulars and so strident in our demands for absolute ideological purity, we were practically begging for our candidate to take the beating that he did.

I think that the ron paul supporters will do the same thing at the rethug convention. I continue to believe (as I've said every time I've spoken about this election) that President Obama will win and improve upon both his popular and electoral vote margins.

The extremists in the republican party are begging for it!

That's my 2 cents, and quite possibly overpriced at that!

PEACE!

[Douglas Carpenter]

3. in those days the New Dealers were practically considered the right-wingers

At least those who were associated with having supported the Vietnam War. But these days - not only is McGovern way too left-wing to win the Democratic Party nomination - Richard Nixon would be way too left-wing to win the Democratic Party nomination.

[limpyhobbler]

2. That was neat.

Never really heard a McGovern speech before. A little before my time.

I pulled this quote out of it that struck me: "It is our firm commitment that whatever employment the private sector does not provide, the federal government will either stimulate or provide itself." Sounds like a good policy.

Too bad he didn't win. I guess thousands of American lives would have been saved and 10 times as many Vietnamese. Bummer.

[Douglas Carpenter]

4. I actually turned 18 on election day, November 7, 1972 - the very first election where 18-year-olds

could vote and I cast the first vote of my life for George McGovern that day - my 18th birthday. I have to say that though I certainly don't hesitate to vote the Democratic ticket - especially considering who will win if the Democratic candidate loses - but that vote on my 18th day was the first and last time that without any reservation I truly could vote my conscience.

From secrecy and deception in high places; come home, America

From military spending so wasteful that it weakens our nation; come home, America.

From the entrenchment of special privileges in tax favoritism; from the waste of idle lands to the joy of useful labor; from the prejudice based on race and sex; from the loneliness of the aging poor and the despair of the neglected sick -- come home, America.

Come home to the affirmation that we have a dream. Come home to the conviction that we can move our country forward.

Come home to the belief that we can seek a newer world, and let us be joyful in that homecoming, for this “is your land, this land is my land -- from California to New York island, from the redwood forest to the gulf stream waters -- this land was made for you and me.”

So let us close on this note: May God grant each one of us the wisdom to cherish this good land and to meet the great challenge that beckons us home.

And now is the time to meet that challenge.


Good night, and Godspeed to you all.

http://www.4president.org/speeches/mcgovern1972acceptance.htm

[limpyhobbler]

5. Really awesome thanks.

I cast my first vote for Bill Clinton. He was really good at speeches too. Had people in tears sometimes. But the values of the party had shifted away from solidarity and more toward so-called "personal responsibility". I hope in my life I'm gonna have a chance to vote for a guy like McGovern and actually see him win.