Barry Goldwater

[Jallport1990]

Goldwater, the Mondale of the Republican Party

[stevenson52]

US President Barry Goldwater (1965-1973)

Goldwater administration

[UnitarianLibertarian]

The only politician worthy of the name Mr. Conservative

[marcparella]

I agree. But Robert Taft so was bad either.

[Atheist2006]

@UnitarianLibertarian

I wouldn't be proud of such a name if I were called Mr. Conservative...

FYI: Nazis, communists and libertarians are all fascists.

[billyguns2]

It was a tragic mistake not to have elected this great man. Instead, Americans turned to a sleazeball, lying war criminal who nearly bankrupted the nation and plunged us into a bloodbath in VietNam. Lyndon Johnson is close to the bottom of U.S. Presidents who were failures; the current President is at the very bottom.

[marcparella]

We sure did make a mistake in 1964. Goldwater would never have committed 500,000 ground troops in Vietnam and wage an eight year long war. Communism was going to lose on its own terms, and he knew. His book Why Not Victory clearly spells out the war of attrition that eventual did the Soviets in.

[Lordpet8]

If he didn't make that rash comment on using Nukes he may have got more votes

[marcparella]

There is an interesting misconception about the comment he made on ABC's Issues and Answers in 1963. Goldwater got in trouble for simply revealing existing Pentagon strategy about using low-yield nuclear weapons to defoliate Vietnam  that was unfairly attributed to him.

[glory789]

Instead he would of have started a nuclear war.

[marcparella]

That is a totally irresponsible comment. There is nothing in Goldwater's rhetoric to suggest that he would anything of the kind. I suggest you read his "Why Not Victory". The book spells out exactly what was needed to defeat the Soviet Empire. A war of attrition. Reagan used the very same tactics -- and guess it worked!

[colonicvillus]

america made a mistake in '64. and republicans today have forgotten what it means to be a republican

[TheNewFrontier1960]

@colonicvillus The only mistake was a mistake of history, on November 22nd 1963

[rpforliberty2008]

Great is the guilt of an unnecessary war. John Adams History teaches that war begins when governments believe the price of aggression is cheap. Ronald Reagan Conquest is not in our principles. It is inconsistent with our government. Thomas Jefferson A people free to choose will always choose peace. Ronald Reagan Every generation needs a new revolution. Thomas Jefferson Vote Ron Paul 2008!