Of course, it’s debatable whether those are the traditional values of conservatism.
Well, the Republicans nominated Sen. McCain and I don’t think he is considered far-right from any objective measure. The Democrats nominated President-elect Obama and I don’t think he’s anywhere near being a Communist.
Since Kennedy, I think the parties have moved more in a leftward direction. And before everybody starts piling on saying I’m some sort of fascist war-mongering baby-eater, let me clarify.
Kennedy was extremely anti-Communist and he believed in a smaller government and lower taxes. However, he also believed that government was a force for good and should be used to correct social injustices.
Johnson continued and expanded Kennedy’s policies (the Civil Rights Act, among many), but got tripped up by his escalation in Vietnam. Nixon tapped the “silent majority” (and Southerners scared of minorities) and handily defeated extremely liberal George McGovern.
So, Nixon gave us the EPA and opened the door to China. But, he was so paranoid, he did stupid things that even the Washington Post could figure out. Gerald Ford stepped in, but he also fell down stairs and wore WIN buttons.
So, Jimmy Carter was elected. Carter sat around and moaned about stuff until everyone was sick of him, including Iran. But he managed to create the Department of Education when no one was looking.
While all this was happening, the country did move leftward. Abortion was legalized, the Vietnam War was abandoned, gun rights were restricted, drug laws were relaxed, Times Square became a cesspit. It was free love and drugs and sex and rock and roll time (Everyone thinks this was the ‘60s, but that decade didn’t hold a candle to the ‘70s. Trust me. I know what I’m talking about). It was the good old days
Then, Ronald Reagan got elected as his generation’s (old people and capitalists) agent of change. He scared the crap out of most of American and all of the Soviet Union and left us with George Bush the First.
George promised not to raise taxes and then did. Invaded Iraq and quit before the job was done. If that’s not liberal, I don’t know what is.
And we got Clinton. He asked his wife to nationalize health care, but she couldn’t get it done, so he concentrated on interns and NAFTA. Hey, wait a minute: I’m not making my point at all.
Well, let me continue anyway. Bush the Second was elected and he cut taxes, but he made a shambles of the budget, what with the illegal wars and money to Africa to fight AIDS and the expansion of government funding, including Homeland Security, No Child Left Behind others too numerous to mention because he couldn’t find his veto pen.
So, to answer the OP’s question: No, the GOP has not moved further right, although its net-roots have. And, no, I don’t think the Democrats have moved further left, they just have to deal with Daily Kos on a daily basis now. American politics is about finding the center, whatever the hell that is this week.
But, ultimately, we now have President-elect Obama. If anybody can tell me this country hasn’t moved left with his election, I want some of what you’re having.
(My comments was done tongue-in-cheek, but please tell me if there’s not a ring of truth.)