For Better and Worse!
Since 1960, almost every presidential election, in retrospect, was determined around a theme or idea that could be described in two or three words.
Usually that theme was established by the winning campaign, but sometimes – as with Mitt Romney’s 2012 remark that 47 percent of people are “dependent” on government and would never vote for him – candidates commit political suicide with a gaffe or slip-up that reveals an underlying truth that voters already suspected.
A quick review:
- 1960 – New Generation
- 1964 – The Kennedy Legacy
- 1968 – Law and Order
- 1972 – Watergate Break-in
- 1976 – I’ll Never Lie to You
- 1980 – Misery Index
- 1984 – Morning in America
- 1988 – Hat in a TANK
- 1992 – New Covenant
- 1996 – Bridge to the 21st Century
- 2000 – Compassionate Conservatism
- 2004 – War on Terror
- 2008 – Hope and Change
- 2012 – 47 Percent
- 2016 – Deplorables
It’s hard to know, given the bountiful options, what history will record as the keywords of 2020. Here is a short list of possibilities:
- Losers and Suckers
- Magically Disappear
- Very Stable Genius
If, on the other hand, the key phrase of 2020 becomes “law and order” we might be in for a long four, or eight, or 12 more years!
A note: I’m keeping a close eye on polling – both nationally and in key states. Those who are interested can see graphical summary, updated daily and including an Electoral College projection (based on current polling) at http://faw-election2020.s3-website.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/
FAW Ideas 