Word: babbittism
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...ideas and visions that candidates might see fit to offer. Though the nation knows in its gut that it is time to move beyond the feel-good pap that Reagan offered, it is not ready to bestow popularity on those who call for realistic prescriptions. Last week Bruce Babbitt discovered that sad truth. So did Robert Dole, whose sin was taking the sensible position that he would not rule out all tax increases...
Perhaps the only worthy New Idea that Gary Hart contributed this time around was the quaint notion, Let the people decide. In his case they did, decisively. The people of New Hampshire and Iowa also rendered verdicts on Babbitt, whose graceful exit showed him to be a class act to the very end; Pete du Pont, who was never all that convincing as a right-winger; and Alexander Haig, who was never all that convincing as someone who should be in charge...
...Philippines. At a Democratic dinner the day after the caucuses, Senator Ted Kennedy joked, "Only eight years ago I finished second in Iowa, and my presidential campaign was finished. This year Mike Dukakis finishes third, and he's on his way to the White House." For Bruce Babbitt and Gary Hart, the Iowa returns meant seats in the balcony at the Democratic Convention. Garnering just 6%, Babbitt left Iowa with a sad smile and a stack of glowing press clippings. Hart registered nary a beat; there were giggles in one north Des Moines precinct when no one stood...
...Although I am withdrawing from this race, I am not withdrawing from the cause that brought me to it," Babbitt said. "I don't know why we fared no better; I'll leave that for others to ponder. But I am very proud of what we did achieve and I am honored beyond measure by the opportunity I was granted to take part in this campaign...
...Babbitt, who formally announced his candidacy on March 10, 1987, failed to set the electorate afire with his call for a national sales tax to combat the federal deficit, but received good press reviews for his candor and wry humor...