Political Conventional Wisdom is often wrong
 

I thought it might be interesting to start a running list of conventional wisdom in politics proven wrong (or at least strongly challenged) by concrete examples of action/inaction by the Parties.

Here a few examples:

Republicans were the ardent anti-communists:
Nixon's 1972 trip to China to normalize relations.

Republicans are anti-regulation:
Nixon signs legislation creating OSHA and EPA.

Democrats support "Welfare Queens."
Clinton signs welfare reform.

Republicans are the party of fiscal responsibilty:
Clinton balances the budget, Dubya trashes it.

Republicans are the party of "family values":
Gingrich, Craig, Ensign, Sanford, ...

Republicans will reduce entitlement programs:
Bush signs Medicare Drug program.

Republicans are against expanded role for Federal Gov't in education:
Bush signs No Child Left Behind

Republicans are better on national defense:
Bush/Rumsfeld/Cheney debacle in Iraq

Republicans are tougher on terrorists:
9/11 occurs on Bush's watch (after specific warnings),
U.S. Forces bail at Tora Bora

Republicans are the party of law & order:
Gonzales Justice Dep't abuses

GOP is the party of personal responsibility:
The infamous quote made famous by Nixon, Reagan, "Mistakes were made."

You get the idea. Keep them coming.

And yet the country prefers then to the far Left.............hmmmmm?

Uh Grasshopper where were you Nov '08, smoking funny cigarettes?

Look at the poll numbers for Republicans in general. I challenge you to post the result and the source.

Regards,

D-ray

I challenge you (and others) to stick with the OP. Namely, pick a conventional wisdom (either side) that has been mugged by a specific reality. I guess the point of my post is that I believe people shouldn't buy in to the conventional wisdoms as many are nothing more than myth or legend (and this applies to both sides of the aisle).

To you and others, please add your own concrete examples of shattered conventional wisdoms.

Treat this like an AK Music Forum question along the lines of "Your Favorite Guitar Solo" and don't respond by saying guitars are evil instruments.

The welfare reform was forced by the GOP Congress. Most of the left was furious at Clinton at the time for signing it.

Pete

Partially true. However, as with Bush signing Medicare Drug Reform or No Child Left Behind, nobody held a gun to either of their heads when they signed the bills. They both treated these counterintuitive actions as accomplishments. Back to the OP.

"westgate
This message has been deleted by westgate. Reason: too ot."
===============================================
reason for deletion should read 'off topic'. thanks.

That was on topic, I thought.

How about: Opening relations with China was to contain the real commie threat.

ACORN helping the welfare queens?

Pete

Although my examples leaned mostly in favor of Democrats, I contend that there are plenty of invalid conventional wisdoms on both sides. Also, I didn't mean to imply that Nixon going to China was a bad thing (or his creation of OSHA or EPA), just that they run counter to what might expect from a Republican/former Red-Baiter.

I see and I agree. I suppose if I had to come up with a list I'd probably lean right :)

Pete

This statement might fit, but it will be differently interpreted from the right than from the left:

Jimmy Carter was a failure as a president.
Jimmy Carter has used the respect afforded his position as a former president to do more in the areas of alleviating poverty and advancing foreign relations than many presidents do while they are in office.

Regards,

D-Ray

Remind me again when the words political and wisdom, can be used in the same sentence...

Conventional Wisdom: majority rules
Reality: Filibuster.

Regards,

D-ray

Filibuster ?

Aint that the new size slurpy at 7/11 ??

It's the new special at Long John Silvers. - Speaking of jokes that aren't much of a joke if you have to explain them.

Regards,

D-Ray

Yeah but us pubs need things splained to us or were lost :)

The comment was a reference to my horrible addiction to puns, an unfortunate affliction that I have passed on to my son.

Regards,

D-ray

Have you ever read Callahans Crosstime Salon?

Pete