Would Eisenhower be considered a Liberal in today's world?

[Toots]

I just finished watching the Presidents series on the History channel and Ike immediately cut funding for defense and put money into rebuilding America's infrastructure. He established his popular Hi way Project (interstates) and put America to work without the Industrial War Machine. He immediately ended the Korean Conflict and America enjoyed eight years of Peace and Prosperity/ When right-wingers talk of how it was in the "Good ol' Days" it is during this time frame they are talking about. He introduced and passed the first Anti-Segregation Bill. In fact I can think of no policy he advocated for that would not be considered Liberal in todays world. He warned America against the Defense Industry gaining to large a hold on America and he has been proved quite correct. I remember all the buttons "I Like Ike" and there were not many people who did not like Ike. Was Ike the last decent Republican?

[noonwitch]

1. In today's republican party, yes

In society at large, no.

[newportdadde]

2. Wasn't Ike not really a hardcore Republican or Democrat

he just happened to go Republican to run for office because the Democrats had a candidate already?

[Clark2008]

3. He also was an ardent supporter of the UN and NATO

I don't know if he'd be considered a liberal, but he certainly wouldn't have been one of the Christo-fascists who think the UN is the anti-Christ's pet organization.

[bryant69]

4. Eisenhower was pushed by the times a bit

He was certainly mostly content to let Southern Blacks stay in their former condition.

Bryant
Check it out --> http://politicalcomment.blogspot.com

[bunkerbuster1]

8. Showed some courage, though, enforcing Brown v. Board

with federal troops.

I've always thought of Ike as a good guy, even though my parents voted for Stevenson both times. "Liberal?" yeah, today, Ike'd certainly be a bed-wetting, America-hatin' "liberal".

[On Par]

5. Eisenhower Knew We've Just Been Through The Trauma...

...of a World War, and felt we needed a rest. We saw him golfing, and being leisurly. Personally, I'll always give him immense credit for what I feel was one of the greatest advances for our nation. The national Interstate Highway System.

Bob Dole may have been the last decent Republican, but Ike, tempered by war, was the most decent of them all.

[calico1]

6. I wouldn't say Liberal, but I would

say Moderate. Ike was not a hardcore Repbublican. He was courted by both parties to run and just went with the GOP. He was not a Washington insider.

[PsN2Wind]

12. In todays Republican party

Goldwater would be a moderate, Ike a liberal.

[returnable]

7. Liberal? Probably not. But most likely he'd be a Democrat...

They aren't necessarily one in the same these days :hi:

[tinanator]

9. one of our greatest

bob dole the last decent republican???????????????????
oh i get it, an ADM stockholder.

[Clark Bayh 2008]

10. Well said... he was indeed... was elected from NY

That's how the republicans ended years of Democrat domination.

The repubs had lost 5 straight prez elections. They had to put up someone who would be a moderate & an instant commander in chief. Too bad the rest of the early 2004 democratic primary voters didn't figure this out until it was too late by ignoring Clark.

The only Dem who can carry red state voters & be the commander in chief during wartime from day 1 is Wes Clark. Graham & Nunn are too old. There is no one else in the party who is viewed credibly on military issues.

We need to set up the DNC convention & all the early primaries in reddish/purplish states NOW. Ohio, Florida, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Colorado should have their primaries the week after Iowa & NH. At least we'd have a fighting chance against Frist or Guiliani. Or does that make too much sense for us to do?

BTW, check out what Ike said about the military-industrial complex.

[Clark2008]

13. I find it both funny and insulting when certain members of DU

complain about the military industrial complex and Clark's alleged participation in it, but, then for some reason, don't give both Clark and his supporters credit for actually KNOWNING about the MIC and how to resolve it.
We know: that is why we choose to support Clark, who also knows.

[DemBeans]

11. Not all that liberal

Ike kept silent through the whole McCarthy period, which is still a stain on our history.

I do give him credit, though, for having the strength of character and intelligence not to become a tool of the military/industrial complex.

[Anarcho-Socialist]

14. He'd probably be a Conservative Democrat n/t

[Geo55]

15. He was of my father's generation.......

He saw more crap than you will ever know...
Confronted with a "REAL" threat to our way of life....he made immense decisions...a genuine real person....military was good for him....when "politics" consumed his life...he had no clue.....BUT ! ,
he saw the coming "Military/Industrial complex".....a somewhat simple man....he warned us as he left the public stage....in my mind ,
a "true" patriot"

[Toots]

17. No one and I mean No One becomes a five star general without Politics

Don't believe for a single moment that Ike was non-political. Just because he did not at first declare a political donomination doesn't mean he was ignorant of or ill prepared for politics. He was a master of politics. His golfing and relaxation was for a purpose and he knew well that purpose. He was well aware of and on top of every single decision made at executive level. He did not use his office of power to right the wrongs of discrimination but he did not make it worse....

[calico1]

19. Yes, of course and that is the exact comment

someone made on the series. But being political is not the same as being in deep with either Party. I don't think he was.

[Geo55]

20. Politics smolitics......

at the time he was a "genuine" real "american"....yah...the powers that be were always there....but he "saw" THIS" an' when he saw his time was up.....HE WARNED US !......don't EVER say you had no clue.

[AP]

16. I read somewhere that Dulles at the CIA couldn't convince Truman to...

...sabotage progressive governments (such as the one in Iran). But when Eisenhower became president, he had a president who was more than willing to make sure that anti-democratic, pro-American, conservative governments came to power everywhere.

[Stinky The Clown]

18. Eisenhower? Hell, Nixon is a liberal by today's standards. n/t