Persons Who Added To Public Discourse (19 posts)
6. Thought of Another One
Sat, Jan 23, 1999 - 11:34 PM/EST
JimP
BARABARA JORDAN!!
The most erudite, thinking woman, some would argue person, ever to come out of Texas. We lost her immense intellect, wonderful spirit, and keen political skills all too soon.
7. ronald reagan
Sun, Jan 24, 1999 - 12:05 PM/EST
mmac
now if you want to nominate a person that changed the public discourse it would be reagan. before reagan became president we had a liberal thinking country. since then the tide has turned to conservative. before reagan the country thought it was beginning to decline. now we are a very optimistic country. reagan was a major shift in public discourse.
8. Agreed, with reservations
Sun, Jan 24, 1999 - 1:21 PM/EST
JimP
Yes, Reagan did add to the public discourse. I'm not sure I'd agree with you that before he became president we had a "liberal thinking country. since then the tide has turned to conservative." I kind of think tht he wasn't the leader of the conservative swing as as the communicator of it. He rode those communication skills to the Presidency. There is, in my mind, no doubt that he added to the public discourse.
I think that there was a shift in public discourse, but I can't agree that he was the shift. In fact, if the qualities of public discourse are measured, I feel that it has mostly declined. There is too many extremists, persons who since Reagan's era have polarized the discourse. Reagan, himself, was definitely not a polarizer. He had communication skills that allowed him to listen and to consider the other sides point of view. I think that after he left, those qualities have declined, almost to non-existence.
9. My Nomination
Sun, Jan 24, 1999 - 8:45 PM/EST
Gayle
Monica. She's said little, except on tape, but she definitely changed public discourse. She may not be a leader, but she's certainly led us a merry chase.
Perhaps we should add Paula, Linda, and Lucianne, too.
10. laughing out loud
Mon, Jan 25, 1999 - 4:20 AM/EST
mmac
too funny.
11. Reagan first? I don't think so.
Mon, Jan 25, 1999 - 11:52 AM/EST
McRostie
It has always seemed to me that the one who started the movement away from "New Deal" liberalism to the more "conservative" policies Reagan proclaimed was Barry Goldwater. By the time he came along, I didn't agree with him very often having decided Bob Taft was wrong, but I did feel him to be a man or principle.
It's odd that since he left the Senate, I came to agree with him much more often .... simply because he seemed to move to the left in my direction. My thought that he was a man or principle has been confirmed by his later-day thinking. Of course some charge him with senility in his final years. LORD, THAT'S A TERRIBLE THOUGHT. MAYBE BARRY AND I HAVE BOTH SUFFERRED THE SAME PROBLEM, OLD AGE.
Regards, McRostie
12. Goldwater
Mon, Jan 25, 1999 - 12:16 PM/EST
JimP
You're correct, as usual. Reagan communicated the shift, but he didn't initiate it. Goldwater was probably the first, at least at the national level.
I believe that both Goldwater and Reagan would probably be apalled at the rigidity in thought on the right these days. It seems to me that they were conservative because they had the open minded ability to question the policies of the left. Reagan, particularly, was a union organizer, and reasonably liberal in his early years. As he thought through those positions, he modified them.
Today's conservative often assumes positions that they believe to be correct, and will not breach any differences. I think that's their primary problem, or, since I consider myself conservative, our primary problem, and one we can justifiably be ashamed of.
Regards, Jim
13. The Forgotten
Mon, Jan 25, 1999 - 12:36 PM/EST
Gayle
My serious nomination goes to the speechwriters for most of the men mentioned. The main ideas may have belonged to the public figures, but it was the words of the speechwriters that reached and touched us.
So here's to all the invisible people whose names we've forgotten.
14. Speechwriters?
Mon, Jan 25, 1999 - 5:06 PM/EST
JimP
I very much like the idea of including the invisible people in the list of those who have furthered the public discourse. In a very real way, all the participants in Reality Check fall into that category.
The legislator's speechwriters are an interesting bunch. I know a person who was one at several times in his career, and for high level managers in commercial enterprises. He does a lot of the legwork and research for a speech, and has it "chopped" at many parts of the organization befor the speech is delivered.
For those of you who aren't familiar with military terminology, chopped is a term that means having an office read a document, make recommendations for specific wording mods, and initial, or sign, it. Many times the document goes through multiple rounds of chopping before it is final.
From my military experience, and listening to my friend, I conclude that speechwriters don't really contribute much to the public discourse. Seldom is a speech much of their creation, but an amalgamation of all the points of view of the organization.
But that's just my opinion. Who else is out there?
Regards,
Jim
15. barry goldwater
Mon, Jan 25, 1999 - 7:49 PM/EST
mmac
i agree with ya'll about barry goldwater. i personally love the man. a great american hero. i think everyone would agree that ronald reagan changed the public discourse a lot further then goldwater. only because of the fact that reagan was president and goldwater wasnt. for instance, unless the younger generation was from arizona, they havent heard of him. reagan is a more recognizable name among the populace as a whole.
16. jimp
Tue, Jan 26, 1999 - /EST
mmac
you need to study barry goldwater more before you say he wouldve been appalled by the republicans now. hes famous for saying "conservatives need to quit being quiet and stand up for what they believe". i just thought u mite want to retract that statement.
17. WHAT!?!
Tue, Jan 26, 1999 - /EST
Gayle
"LORD, THAT'S A TERRIBLE THOUGHT. MAYBE BARRY AND I HAVE BOTH SUFFERRED THE SAME PROBLEM, OLD AGE."
With your mind, McRostie, nobody would dare to call you old!!!
18. No, I don't
Tue, Jan 26, 1999 - 10:40 AM/EST
JimP
want to retract that statement.
Barry Goldwater was,from my experience watching him in the Seante and as a Presidential candidate, a gentleman, and gentle man. He would, again in my opinion, have been apalled at the visciousness of today's politics, the utter disregard for anyone's opinion but their own, and the build up the walls mentality.
I might add the same about Reagan. One of his best friends in the Congress was Tip O'Neill. They were politically worlds apart, but enjoyed each other's company, sharing stories. Their rhetoric did not cut the ideas of the other off, rather they exoplained their own points of view, and let the process decide. I don't see that in today's environment.
Jim
19. jimp
Tue, Jan 26, 1999 - 6:13 PM/EST
mmac
i agree with you about one side trying to cut the process and the argument off. one side is definitely trying to keep the facts out. thats the side that doesnt want witnesses in the impeachment hearings. the only side i see that from is from the democrat. whether u agree with that i dont know. but for the sake of your argument which i dont agree with but lets say its true. reagan and goldwater wouldve been upset with both sides. no one side has a monopoly on this that u are assuming.in my opinion reagan and goldwater would be proud of the republican mgrs today.like goldwater said stand up conservatives to what u think is right. by the good gracious of god and country the mgrs have been fighting the good fight against illegal acts committed by a president.
