When do you think political divisiveness became really bad?

With all the vitriol that has spewed forth in the past few days, I started to wonder when the political divide became so huge. It seems each election cycle brings forth new comments like "It's so ugly this election" or "I can't remember when the two sides were so angry at each other." So I thought I'd ask those on this board to reach back into their memories and recount when they first noticed it was really bad.

For me, I remember the Bush - Dukakis campaigns in 1988. Before that, it seemed like the campaigns were filled more with facts and debate, rather than slinging poo at each other. I remember Bush 1 going into Boston Harbor and filming a commercial blaming Dukakis for the environmental problems that were present, even though they had been building up for generations prior to Dukakis ever being Governor. I also remember the Willy Horton revolving door ad, which had more blatent lies, but people believed them. Dukakis never fought back, wanting to take the high road. Lee Atwater was the Bush 1 campaign chair and he recanted his slimy ways on his death bed, if I remember correctly.

Prior to that, was Reagan - Carter - Mondale and they seemed to run pretty clean campaigns. I don't remember them sliding into the gutter, nor did it seem they would allow their campaign staff to go there. At least that's what I remember.


Then I thought about the circumstances surrounding the campaigns. Could it be that the 24 hour news cycle has fueled the rage? Cable TV news really didn't come into vogue until the first Iraq war in 1990, with the CNN coverage. That has certainly not helped all the angst.

Then another thought - Could it be the fall of the USSR? With the absence of an enemy outside the U.S., did we turn on each other? We had been programmed for so long to loath and fear the Soviets, that when they left the scene, perhaps we were without anyone to hate. The USSR started to crumble in, what 1988? The Berlin wall fell during Bush 1, but the Soviets were pretty much toast at that point. I wonder if as humans, we are built to blame everyone else.

Thoughts?

When the Marxian Socialist liberals took over the Democrat Party.

About a minute-and-37-seconds after Obama took the oath of office.

It seemed to escalate really bad during the Bush 2 - Gore debacle. And of course, the Clinton impeachment and the Newt Gingrich government shutdown. These were bad times, but what is the cause behind them?

When the Marxian Socialist liberals took over the Democrat Party.

Seems to me to be when Clinton came into office.

Well you asked the question, but I know you won't listen to the answer.

Nmysys wrote:

When the Marxian Socialist liberals took over the Democrat Party.

Seems to me to be when Clinton came into office.

Well you asked the question, but I know you won't listen to the answer.

Clinton is a ultra liberal with socialist leanings. Obama is an Marxian Socialist liberal.

When Reagan came into office. Before then, Republicans were pretty wimpy and kowtowed to the Democrats so they had no reason to turn up the heat.

If you check the records, Eisenhower and Nixon had very high tax policies and Nixon tried to whip inflation with state mandated price controls. Kennedy cut the high income taxes Eisenhower was OK with.

Oh!!! I thought he asked when it started to get bad. You are right RT when we found out that no matter what Obama does, these Libtards will defend it, even to the point of total destruction of our economy and country.

Nmysys wrote:

When the Marxian Socialist liberals took over the Democrat Party.

Seems to me to be when Clinton came into office.

Well you asked the question, but I know you won't listen to the answer.

I'm listening. What do you think was the reason for the politically divisive change at that time?

Nmysys wrote: Oh!!! I thought he asked when it started to get bad. You are right RT when we found out that no matter what Obama does, these Libtards will defend it, even to the point of total destruction of our economy and country.

I did ask when it started, but I'd also like to know why you think that was the time it started and what the reason was.