The Lost candidates
To read journalists on American politics, you would think that Mitt Romney is the first serious candidate for President from the Mormon Church. When forced to furrow their brows, many of H.L.Mencken's devolved successors come up with Mitt's dad, George, and stop there. After all, everyone knows the mormons were right-wingers and nutters don't they, humourless western cultists?
I promise I bear them no candle, but HANG ON. What about Mo Udall? The nearly man of 1976? The funniest of the candidates on the Democratic side in that election, and before you think it, a liberal candidate. He nearly stopped Carter in Wisconsin, came second in all the other crucial early primaries, and but for the threat of the slightly silly Hubert Humphrey jumping into the race would have got the support of the Unions and maybe the nomination. Imagine that; a Reagan-Udall fight in 1976--rather than the Ford-Carter one that actually happened. What a counterfactual that makes!
Mo Udall is unfortunately forgotten. Henry 'Scoop' Jackson, who had only a little of his humour, isn't, and is these days put to all sorts of ends.
For instance, the neoconservatives who seek to uphold the cold war liberal tradition which they associate with the Kennedys and the Jackson-Vanik amendment have set up the very serious Henry Jackson society recently. This is part of an old American tradition of advancing whatever cause you like regardless of the original views of the heroes employed. So, for instance, plenty of New Dealers and twentieth century Keynesians attended 'Jefferson-Jackson Day dinners'. These commemorated Thomas Jefferson (the anti-tax, small government revolutionary who believed in overthrowing governments) and Andrew Jackson (militarist centraliser).
Well, loads of people can play that game. There is a British political figure who was a centred, funny, first-class mind; a barrister who believed in Keynesian mixed economies and who thought there were more important things than politics. He was beaten by the awful Ted heath as Tory leader, and then forced to resign because of a scandal involving a dodgy businessman as Home Secretary. He nevertheless was more human, more funny and more decent than many of today's clones, and many modern tories (of whom I am not one) hate him.
So--step forward and join...The Reginald Maudling Appreciation Society! Just click the link below. I'll paste any sensible comments or observations about Mr Maudling (gent) you have in. It's the Ernie Bevin and Palmerston clubs next!
http://www.reginaldmaudlingappreciationsociety.blogspot.com
To read journalists on American politics, you would think that Mitt Romney is the first serious candidate for President from the Mormon Church. When forced to furrow their brows, many of H.L.Mencken's devolved successors come up with Mitt's dad, George, and stop there. After all, everyone knows the mormons were right-wingers and nutters don't they, humourless western cultists?
I promise I bear them no candle, but HANG ON. What about Mo Udall? The nearly man of 1976? The funniest of the candidates on the Democratic side in that election, and before you think it, a liberal candidate. He nearly stopped Carter in Wisconsin, came second in all the other crucial early primaries, and but for the threat of the slightly silly Hubert Humphrey jumping into the race would have got the support of the Unions and maybe the nomination. Imagine that; a Reagan-Udall fight in 1976--rather than the Ford-Carter one that actually happened. What a counterfactual that makes!
Mo Udall is unfortunately forgotten. Henry 'Scoop' Jackson, who had only a little of his humour, isn't, and is these days put to all sorts of ends.
For instance, the neoconservatives who seek to uphold the cold war liberal tradition which they associate with the Kennedys and the Jackson-Vanik amendment have set up the very serious Henry Jackson society recently. This is part of an old American tradition of advancing whatever cause you like regardless of the original views of the heroes employed. So, for instance, plenty of New Dealers and twentieth century Keynesians attended 'Jefferson-Jackson Day dinners'. These commemorated Thomas Jefferson (the anti-tax, small government revolutionary who believed in overthrowing governments) and Andrew Jackson (militarist centraliser).
Well, loads of people can play that game. There is a British political figure who was a centred, funny, first-class mind; a barrister who believed in Keynesian mixed economies and who thought there were more important things than politics. He was beaten by the awful Ted heath as Tory leader, and then forced to resign because of a scandal involving a dodgy businessman as Home Secretary. He nevertheless was more human, more funny and more decent than many of today's clones, and many modern tories (of whom I am not one) hate him.
So--step forward and join...The Reginald Maudling Appreciation Society! Just click the link below. I'll paste any sensible comments or observations about Mr Maudling (gent) you have in. It's the Ernie Bevin and Palmerston clubs next!
http://www.reginaldmaudlingappreciationsociety.blogspot.com
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