Word: portlist
(lookup in dictionary)
(lookup stats)
Dates: all
Sort By: most recent first
(reverse)
...eager as he is to see the President reelected on November 3, Portlist is chagrined by "the contrast between Johnson's talents and policies on one hand, and his methods and personality on the other." He agrees with Goldwater on one point: The President should give the nation moral inspiration as well as political leadership. Portlist trusts Johnson to get legislation passed, administer the executive branch efficiently, keep the peace, and handle all the other functions attached to the White House. But he looks to Johnson's running mate, Hubert Humphrey, to symbolize "the intelligence, idealism, and integrity which...
...When Portlist talks about Senator Goldwater his upper lip curls a bit and he begins to chuckle occasionally. "I just can't take the Republicans seriously this year," he says. "From the standpoint of most mature voters, Johnson might as well be running unopposed...
While curious about the effect of Goldwater's candidacy on the two-party system, Portlist confesses that abstractions of this sort usually bore him. "The party with the superior nominee and the wiser platform should get as large a majority as possible. If the conservatives can't get a better man than Goldwater to represent them, I don't think their philosophy can be worth much.... Democracy works best when the best man gets a clear mandate for his program. Johnson deserves a big endorsement...
...have yet to meet a conservative who can debate his views coherently," complains Portlist. "Most Goldwater people are hero-worshippers. They care more about images and emotions than real issues. I remember one fellow told me he felt Barry could keep this country from running downhill, as if Goldwater's election would be something like the Second Coming. I told him I felt he was crazy.... You can't discuss things rationally with these people, because you can't argue about feelings...
...Does Portlist have any qualms at all about the Great Society? "I won't know that until Johnson describes it a little more fully." He rubbed the LBJ button on his lapel. "But I haven't found much to criticize in what I've heard during the campaign. You can't argue with the future...