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Tennessee Gal

(6,160 posts)

44. It was a culmination of things:

Sun Feb 19, 2012, 01:01 PM

Feb 2012

It involved Iran/Contra, Robert Bork, Newt Gingrich, Rush Limbaugh, Roger Ailes, Lee Atwater, Paul Weyrich of The Heritage Foundation, William Bennett, Jerry Falwell, etc.

I wrote an essay on this for Buzzflash a few years ago.

It is here: http://www.buzzflash.com/contributors/2002/05/09_Democrat.html

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When did the Republican Party lose its mind? [View all] kentuck Feb 2012 OP

I agree, Gingrich was the driving force making insanity acceptable CanonRay Feb 2012 #1

And I think the whole Tea bagger "movement" justiceischeap Feb 2012 #2

That seems about when it became obvious. Jackpine Radical Feb 2012 #3

In 1976 when Reagan challenged Ford in the republican primaries. no_hypocrisy Feb 2012 #4

Bingo! tledford Feb 2012 #8

Yep, that's my answer. nt MrScorpio Feb 2012 #20

This is one of my earliest memories of American politics LeftishBrit Feb 2012 #22

This message was self-deleted by its author Tesha Feb 2012 #23

It really went south when Reagan embraced the endorsement from the Moral Majority four years later Brother Buzz Feb 2012 #38

I agree with everyone Harmony Blue Feb 2012 #5

They Did Not Lose Their Mind The Believe They Have FIXED The Election TheMastersNemesis Feb 2012 #6

When Teddy Roosevelt trust busted Johonny Feb 2012 #7

Is "W. Coolidge" == Calvin Coolidge? eom tledford Feb 2012 #10

W = Bush Johonny Feb 2012 #14

When the 24x7 "news" channels started giving a megaphone to bigots & the stupid, all for ratings. CrispyQ Feb 2012 #9

I think slightly earlier Proud Liberal Dem Feb 2012 #11

1992 was the point where they Dittoheaded themselves JHB Feb 2012 #33

I think you are very close here Shankapotomus Feb 2012 #37

Grant and others did prime that pump... JHB Feb 2012 #40

"... I'm talking to people on autopilot." Mariana Feb 2012 #48

That's spot on! Shankapotomus Feb 2012 #50

If you noticed Proud Liberal Dem Feb 2012 #41

Yes, I did. ALL SORTS of exact same things happened... JHB Feb 2012 #42

Nice pscot Feb 2012 #12

When a black man was elected President MiniMe Feb 2012 #13

Actually I think it started with the Reagan charade jimlup Feb 2012 #15

I became politically aware in high school when raygun was President. Snarkoleptic Feb 2012 #17

LOLOLOLOL... good Gawd man! fascisthunter Feb 2012 #26

The first thing out of bob doles mouth when it was announced that Clinton won in '92 madokie Feb 2012 #16

It went crazy when they realized how much momentum they could pick up The Backlash Cometh Feb 2012 #18

1866 lastlib Feb 2012 #19

I'm not sure you can argue that Johonny Feb 2012 #31

I've maintained that for a long time. It had been building, but Gingrich was the start of it Stinky The Clown Feb 2012 #21

Agree, Gingrich was the start of what we're calling the "crazy". A culmination also of many mentors. northoftheborder Feb 2012 #24

when it was taken over by Fascists, Neo-Nuts and the Religious Reich Wing fascisthunter Feb 2012 #25

I was there when it happened. Texas state Republican convention, Dallas 1964. Ron Green Feb 2012 #27

IMHO When Nixon laid his southern strategy groundwork gopiscrap Feb 2012 #28

That's my thought. Hatchling Feb 2012 #29

I agree CatholicEdHead Feb 2012 #46

My thoughts exactly. Nixon's southern strategy is what go us to this point. madinmaryland Feb 2012 #47

Realignment gradually concentrated all the crazies many a good man Feb 2012 #49

Reagan was the first Republican candidate who filled me with horror Lydia Leftcoast Feb 2012 #30

Reagan turned me into a liberal instantly. Arugula Latte Feb 2012 #32

that also inspired a--creative--response by J.G. Ballard MisterP Feb 2012 #35

I can pinpoint exactly when mick063 Feb 2012 #34

After Nixon resigned 0rganism Feb 2012 #36

1964 BumRushDaShow Feb 2012 #39

Got to agree with you there. GoCubsGo Feb 2012 #45

1989, with the takeover by Ralph Reed JustABozoOnThisBus Feb 2012 #43

It was a culmination of things: Tennessee Gal Feb 2012 #44