Our 1979

Pajamas Media ^ | June 3 | Victor Davis Hanson

[AJKauf]

So 1979 followed two years of Carteresque utopian proclamations. Do we remember them all still? There was Cy Vance, in perfect aristocratic style, and in perpetual atonement for his earlier support of the Vietnam War, with his creased brow and sermonizing tone, bringing in the kinder, gentler order—resigning over the failed hostage rescue, replaced by a stoic Ed Muskie, an Andrew Young at the UN trying to be a sort of proto-Barack Obama, reaching out to the radical Palestinians, and so on.

Remember the commandments? No more inordinate fear of communism; human rights governing U.S. foreign policy; no more nuclear weapons housed in South Korea which was to be free of U.S. troops; outreach to the terrorist/rebel/reformer Mugabe, and so on.

In other words, it took a flawed world about 24 months to size up the new idealistic administration, and to determine that it either could not or would not continue U.S. foreign policy of the previous three decades. Soon the more daring then decided to make “regional adjustments.” Finally a panicked Carter was attempting everything from boycotting the Olympics and arming Islamists in Afghanistan to threatening to use nuclear weapons in the Middle East and restoring draft registration to reclaim lost U.S. deterrence.

Here we go again…

Obama started out in similar fashion with his first al-Arabiya interview. Then....

[RetroSexual]

[Red Badger]

Hmmm, let’s see.....North Korea threatening “All out war!”, Israel under threat of attack, Iran ignoring all UN authority with respect to nukes, Russia and China totally supporting Iran, war in Afghanistan against “insurgents”, the economy is in a shambles, a huge oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico.......seems like 1979 deja vu...............all over again...........

[VeniVidiVici]

I had been in the Army for all of two months when the Soviets went into Afghanistan. My thoughts at the time were what a dumbass I was for joining when this complete idiot was president.

[Cyber Liberty]

It’s a pretty good summing up of he Regime today. The difference is, it’s happening a lot faster this time. Memories exist on both sides of this chasm.

[SkipW]

It seems clear to me. The left will destroy America if it can.

[massmike]

seems like 1979 deja vu...............all over again...........

It's like everything Reagan worked for has been undone overnight.

[Stepan12]

I didn't vote for Carter (that was the first year I could vote) and I didn't vote for this Commie in the office.

Prophet without honor is what I am :(

[Cowboy Bob]

I'm just glad that a whole new generation gets to experience what life was like during the Carter Administration. :0P

Maybe an Obama Administration will bring in a Chris Christie Presidency!

[reagan_fanatic]

It's like everything Reagan worked for has been undone overnight

Sad, but true. That breeze you feel is from Reagan spinning in his grave.

[Obadiah]

My exact status. I was in boot camp in 1976 and never did actually get to vote, but I had planned on voting for Jerry in the first election I was eligible to vote.

I recall many of my close friends at my young age looking down on me in 1980 when I told them I was voting for Reagan over Carter.

[cicero2k]

1979                         2010
Three Mile Island            BP Oil Spill
Iran Crisis                  Iran Crisis
High Misery Index            High Misery Index
Skylab Crashes to Earth      Manned Space Program Shutdown
Disco Music                  What music?
Conservative reaction        We hope?

[KYGrandma]

My husband was in Okinawa when Carter was elected. Their ballots never made it off the island. I think they said 140,000 military ballots were not counted that year.

[rockinqsranch]

I destroyed a 19” B&W television, because of Carter. I don’t watch television now as I don’t wish to alarm my wife by tossing the damned thing out the door as I did with Carter.

[AceMineral]

I can be 18 again!

[SlowBoat407]

It's like everything Reagan worked for has been undone overnight.

Nope, it started the day he left office.

[reformedliberal]

The entire world has sanctimoniously rebuked America for being the Global Cop. This is what happens when there is no “community policing”.

Let that same world experience, close up and personal, a world without America keeping the peace. After the gangs run riot for a bit, there will be loud calls of America being forced to live up to its responsibilities.

Of course, they will insult us loudly as they scream for help. They must, at all costs, keep up the radical pose. Once things are under control, they will begin to whine again about how inhumane it all was.

I am so tired of this dance.

[chris_bdba]

I was 18 too for most of 1979. Oh how I wish it worked that way!

[Red Badger]

I like Teddy Roosevelt’s, “Talk softly and carry a big stick.” approach.................