Political Conventional Wisdom is often wrong

[finnbow]

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.

[Writewing]

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

[merrylander]

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

[d-ray657]

Originally Posted by Writewing

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

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

Regards,

D-ray

[finnbow]

Originally Posted by Writewing

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

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.

[piece-itpete]

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

Pete

[finnbow]

Originally Posted by piece-itpete

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]

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

[piece-itpete]

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

[finnbow]

Originally Posted by piece-itpete

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.