Hmmm....I sincerly hope this doesn't lead to a flame war.
But I do think that liberal tactics must be changed in order to get a bigger share of the electorate. As it was said earlier, the Democrats can't act as though they have black votes in their pockets. A few more years, and it is quite possible the GOP will get more black votes due to Democratic incompetence at the top. (Terry McAuliffe, I'm looking at you. ) I really hope my generation can change this chain of thinking in the Democratic Party.
As for Straha's POD, let's look at 1988. If Dukakis answers a particular question about the death penalty, then maybe things are different. Basically, the question revolved around using the death penalty to punish a criminal who had done something to his wife. This hypothetical question's answer from Dukakis, some political scientists believe, was lackluster, without passion, and cost him the election.
Also, I think if a few more liberals thought about saying some things differently during the Cold War, especially about defense spending, taxes, and Vietnam, it is quite possible the US would have a few more liberal presidents.
One more POD I thought about today: What if Teddy Roosevelt wins in 1912? That probably leads to a permanent split in the Republican Party, gives America a progressive, viable third party and gives future liberals a future home. I think more moderates will shift to the Democratic Party, and the Conservatives will make a shift to the Republican Party. With President Roosevelt as a member of the Bull Moose Party, that gives them some real credibility for future American politics.
About crime: I'm pro-death penalty, but I agree that the government must look into how to really reform the system overall. Also, as one poster said earlier, schools should get some of the resources that prisons get, such as good computers and nice libraries.
But I do think that liberal tactics must be changed in order to get a bigger share of the electorate. As it was said earlier, the Democrats can't act as though they have black votes in their pockets. A few more years, and it is quite possible the GOP will get more black votes due to Democratic incompetence at the top. (Terry McAuliffe, I'm looking at you. ) I really hope my generation can change this chain of thinking in the Democratic Party.
As for Straha's POD, let's look at 1988. If Dukakis answers a particular question about the death penalty, then maybe things are different. Basically, the question revolved around using the death penalty to punish a criminal who had done something to his wife. This hypothetical question's answer from Dukakis, some political scientists believe, was lackluster, without passion, and cost him the election.
Also, I think if a few more liberals thought about saying some things differently during the Cold War, especially about defense spending, taxes, and Vietnam, it is quite possible the US would have a few more liberal presidents.
One more POD I thought about today: What if Teddy Roosevelt wins in 1912? That probably leads to a permanent split in the Republican Party, gives America a progressive, viable third party and gives future liberals a future home. I think more moderates will shift to the Democratic Party, and the Conservatives will make a shift to the Republican Party. With President Roosevelt as a member of the Bull Moose Party, that gives them some real credibility for future American politics.
About crime: I'm pro-death penalty, but I agree that the government must look into how to really reform the system overall. Also, as one poster said earlier, schools should get some of the resources that prisons get, such as good computers and nice libraries.