We have all heard the old saying, “Those who do not learn from history are doomed to repeat it.” This year we are being force fed by most media that we are witnessing history in the making and that if there is any repeating of history at work here, it is to be the 1980 Reagan Revolution that we are watching in modern times and geared towards Progressive thought. An awakening of sorts to the supposed failures of the fore mentioned 1980’s scenario.

Of course that can only be seen in hindsight and we are nowhere near the point of judging the current presidency let alone the last one. Some of you may be gasping at that statement but look back at the last really hated Republican to leave office, Richard Nixon. For decades Nixon was held over the heads of GOP runners as the poster child of what not be, whom not to sound like and whom not to resemble in any way shape or form. Yet today through the lenses of history Nixon’s presidency is seen for what it was a great success internationally and even here at home. I mean you have to remember this is the man who ended Vietnam. The most hated war America has ever engaged in, at least until recent events.

But history can offer us a way to focus on things that are likely to come in the future, although there can be no guarantees. Take Jimmy Carter for example. Two terms in the House and a full term as Governor of an average size state. Most indications were that he would be an average to better than average president, plus, he didn’t have any of the Nixon stink on him like Ford did.

Ronald Reagan, former two term Governor of a state that if broken away from the US would yield between the 7th and 10th largest economy in the world and about the 4th largest military on earth (during the 80’s when more bases were still open). But he was an actor so many thought we would get little in the way of real change but instead be fed a lot of lip service. They were certainly off on that one.

Bill Clinton, on his fourth term as Governor of a poor state went on to actually do very little damage to this country save for making us look weak around the world, allowing for major deregulation of the banking industry and the occasional Oval Office perversion, other than that he did a great job.

Today we are faced with the very real possibility (and that’s all it is, a possibility) that Obama a 2 month Senator (cuz that’s when he started running for prez) with a long background as a community organizer (funny) who has not written a single piece of legislation providing for any hope or change, but who did find time however to write two books about himself, is seriously being considered by some voters as “The One” to move this country forward?  (Long sentence I know, thanks for hanging in there with me)

Let’s look at this situation through history and see if we can try to put a bead on which former presidency Mr. Obama’s orgasmically dreamed of election would hold for his supporters.

His supporters want you to think Reagan-like Revolution, leading to 30 plus years of Democratic control of capital hill with and Democrats taking the White House in 3 of four elections to follow. A planetary change in how America is perceived around the world and a reawakening of America as the leader of the free world and a financial giant who can not be ignored. These were indeed the outcomes of Reagan’s Presidency but Obama is no Ronald Reagan. When Reagan spoke he told us a new dawn, a shinning city on a hill and of the good and strength of the American people. Obama tells us of how bad we have it now and the only government can solve our problems, problems by the way that most of us are not experiencing at the moment.

Another look at the cycle leads one to see Obama not as the next Reagan or a Democrat version of him, instead it points to him winning by default due to people’s dislike for the current party in office. Let’s look at another time this happened and how it all panned out.

Reagan ran for election during this very same cycle, but unfortunately for him, his day was not yet at hand. The year was not 1980, but 1976. A republican was in office that had done an ok job but was stained by the one act only he could perform; the pardoning of Richard Milhouse Nixon, perhaps the most hated politician in American history to date. Gerald Ford was tainted having been Nixon’s VP and was essentially thrown out with the bath water. What replaced him was a seasoned politician with a long background of service to this nation as representative, a governor and Navy submariner. He was even a small business owner growing peanuts. A fine enough resume for any President past or present.

Once in office he too had a dream of government taking the lead in providing for the people. He gave us a Secretary of Education to ensure that education remains a top priority in this country and a Secretary of Energy. (Side Bar- has anyone mentioned lately how great the education system in this country is or how low priced energy is and how thankful we are that we have abundant supplies here at home. Good thing these two seats were added to the table, they proved to be complete wastes of time and money judging from the results. Education has slid into the toilet and all the Department of Energy has managed to do is make it hard for energy to be developed at home) Anyway, he also had little back bone and our enemies knew it. Iran took hostages 444 days prior to the end of his term as president and Carter’s reaction was to throw broken helicopters at them, having gutted the military. And less we forget the dangers of acid rain, the environmental movement in this country got a major foot hold under this fine upstanding man. He thought is a good idea to make the arrangements to turn over control of the Panama Canal, a vital lifeline for commerce for the United States over to the Panama, who in turn hired the Chinese to run things for them essentially putting China in a position of power over a portion of our commerce world wide. And then there was the massive growth in personal wealth America enjoyed under his leadership. Oh wait, that’s not right, is it? Sorry, had to fact check this one real quick. 22% interest rates, 8% unemployment, incredible inflationary pressures, high gas prices because of an oil embargo and…..it goes on and on and on. Pick it and you will see the Carter administration’s finger prints on it.

And don’t forget this guy had a solid resume. I mean it! Obama does not have such a resume.

Now forward to 2008. We have a hated President in office, we are in two regional wars, (don’t forget, the left turned on Nixon even after he ended the war in Vietnam, they wasted no time throwing him under the bus even when he gave them what they wanted) there is a generalized belief by many that change is what is needed, as in 1976, and so long as it looks different, acts different and sounds different, it must be good. Well Carter was an agent of change and he changed us a bunch.

Those who do not learn from history are doomed to repeats it. We are repeating it folks, and the good news is that IF Obama pulls a win out over McCain, which I still don’t think is a lock especially considering Obama’s internals that tell him 10% of his numbers are bulls***, but IF Obama wins this thing, we most likely have only one term to live through before the return of sanity. The real question for those of us in Conservative Movement is more direct and pressing… Who’s the next Reagan? Romney had a failed run this year as Reagan did in ’76? So did Huckabee. Do we have a plan if we get another Carter? Think about it folks. It matters.

But what would I know; I’m jut an Average American.