Talk Elections

Some of what I consider most entertaining, in order

2008 -not a guy, black guy, old guy, Biden -classic
1992 -realignments r always fun to watch - most entertaining debates ever and just the whole defiance of early polls come from behind victory defo funniest election
1976 -the Playboy gaffe v the no domination over eastern Europe gaffe gaffe-off

Dullest

1996 -92 all over again sans the exciting backdrop of LA riots, Gulf War and end of Cold War
2004 -00 again without closeness
1956 -egh...

Discuss.

2004 is quite interesting from a historical perspective.

In many ways it can be considered the last "old school" election.  Traditional media basically controlled the stream of information to the voter during this election cycle; there was no Facebook, no Twitter, no YouTube and very little in terms of online citizen journalism.  In only four short year, 2008 would transform how voters expect to gain their information forever.  In that respect, I think that 2004 will be interesting to study from a historical perspective--as it could be said to the culmination of social and political trends that had been set in the days just after WWII.

And what do you mean that 2004 was “2000 without the closeness”?  Comparing 2004 to its predecessor (while convenient because of their historical proximity) neglects the fact that, of-and-to-itself, 2004 was an extremely close election where the expected outcome was not already known when the polls opened that Tuesday morning--considering that that is the norm in most elections.

Also note that 2004 produced  a starkly polarized electoral map, and the implications of the “blue state/red state” divide that were discussed following this election helped to frame “culture war” of the late 20th/early 21st century in a new, partisan political context.

1948 and 1968 as the best elections by far.

dullest election ever is 2012.

Probably the most entertaining was 4 years ago or 1968.

Or any election where an independent seemed for a little bit to have a chance.

Least: 1996
Most: 2008

Excellent picks.

To 1948 and 1968, I would add the closest elections of the 20th century:  1916, 1960, and 2000.

Most Entertaining Election: 1968

I mean seriously, 1968 is Oscarbait in Electoral form.  1968 would be such an epic film that I would forgive it getting an Oscar over Goodfellas.

Honorable Mention: 1948

The trolling done by Truman alone would be worth it to see this classic election.

Least Entertaining Election: 1820

Really......what was even the point?

Dishonorable Mention: 1792

Would be tied with 1820, except that George Washington is much cooler than James Monroe.

1968 would've have been an epic movie. You've got Nixon making a comeback to politics as the safe frontrunner. You've got Humphrey trying to close the gap and you've got crazy Wallace and LeMay for comic relief. Perfect formula. Also, you've got the dramatic moments such as LBJ not wanting to run... Kennedy running and then being shot at his highest moment. You've got Vietnam going on. Mechaman's right. It would've been a hell of a film.

Runner up for me would be 2008. What a cast of characters and I was really in it from the word go. It was exciting and historical. Of course it may have also been exciting for me because at the same time I was partying weekly and having a hell of a fun life.

1992 is barely a blip in my memory banks, but it's there at all because Ross Perot was so colorful.

I'm not sure if you can call it an "election" in first place. 


Well, you were 4-years old :P

If this can be of any guidance, here is what the voters of my survivor thought. https://uselectionatlas.org/FORUM/index.php?topic=112840.0

My own favorite was 1948 (1968 as second).

Looks like they were all good choices: 1896, 1960, 1912, and 1968. And of course the winner, 1860.

I'm a fan of 1896 myself, mostly due to the various demographics that switched places, if only just for a short while, and the dynamic of the pro-industry McKinley v. the Agrarian Bryan. However, as mentioned, 1968 takes the cake. Its combinations of blasts from the past and foreshadowing, combined of course with all the other crazy elements including two deaths, upsets, two entertaining races for nominations, a third party, etc.. make it the best, as everyone said.

I agree with the others that the most entertaining was 1968. It had a sitting president refusing to run, war, counter-culture, riots, assassinations, and a rowdy 3rd party candidate.

The least entertaining is 1996, but 2012 could prove to be a strong challenger.

Comments about some others...

2000 - overrated. It's only memorable because of the recount, but otherwise a peace time election between two bad candidates.

1992 - very overrated. Without Ross Perot, this race would have been a snooze-fest.

I don't find (the results of) 1976 to be that entertaining, since there was not much of an ideological pattern.

Maybe not the most entertaining, but 1948 was certainly the most surprising election of the past 100 years or more.

 Unfortunately, I'd bet that most of us on here weren't around to witness it, but from what I've studied it looks like practically EVERYONE figured that Dewey would win easily, it wasn't even given that much thought. My guess is that Dewey and his supporters got complacent while Truman got fired up, and look what happened


                                                  YOU MAD BRO?
()

Still, it was kind of interesting because Ford really quickly closed a huge gap in the polls. In the summer Carter was leading by something like 20 points, and on election day he only won by 2. Hypothetically, if the election were held 2 weeks later Ford might have won.

Opinions of recent ones:

2008: Great primary, average election.
2004: Interesting, but not great.
2000: Poor campaign, great election night (kinda like the Yankee version of 2010)
1996: Boring as sh**t.
1992: Interesting
1988: Interesting
1984: Not worth it.
1980: Interesting, start of the "Sixth" Party System
1976: Interesting from a historical perspective
1972: Not worth it.
1968: One of the best ones - very interesting circumstances, very tight election, great primaries, etc.
1964: Not worth it, though Johnson ran a strong campaign.
1960: Interesting due to the tightness and for similar reasons to 2008 ("minority" breaking pre-concieved notions about candidates of that background)
1956: Not worth it.
1952: Boring.
1948: Great one. Biggest upset of all time?
1936-44: All of these are fairly boring.
1932: Interesting due to the start of the Fifth Party System.

Lots of people forget Landon was thought to be winning fairly comfortably in 1936 before his epic-loss (because of sampling problems with polling that far back).

1960, 1976, 1992, 2008 Most entertaining
1988, 1996, 2004 Least entertaining

1992 because Perot factor
2008 it was nice to see the Dems expand their majority to 255 seats by winning in trad'l GOP areas like IN and NC.

Ah, yes, the Literary Digest fiasco. That alone is enough to make 1936 kind of interesting; plus Maine was perceived as a bellwether for a long time and at the time voted before the other states for some reason. 1936, obviously, ended that...

In chronological order

Most Entertaining: 1912, 1968, 1992
Least Entertaining: 1984, 1988, 1996

I also predict that this upcoming election will be one of the most boring elections of all time.

Don't tell me that 1796 and 1800 can't be included.

So do we still think 2012 is destined to be one of the most boring elections of all time?

Yes.

To rank the post-war elections:

1. 1948
2. 1968
3. 1992
4. 2008
5. 1960
6. 1972
7. 1980
8. 1964
9. 1976
10. 2004
11. 2000 (would be lower if not for Florida)
12. 1988
13. 2012
14. 1952
15. 1996
16. 1984
17. 1956 (no real doubt as to the winner)

2008 has to have been more exciting than 1992. It seemed like everybody was into it on both sides.

I would say 1984 is a little higher. The election gave us "hymietown", "where's the beef?", the first female VP candidate, "There is despair, Mr. President, in the faces that you don't see, in the places that you don't visit in your shining city", "We'll both raise your taxes. The difference is, he won't tell you. I just did", "there's a bear in the woods", "morning in America", "I am not going to exploit for political purposes my opponent's youth and inexperience", and the former editor of Ramparts voting for Ronald Reagan, was an entertaining election, even if the outcome was never seriously in doubt.

Don't forget "Are you better off than you were four years ago?".

Most:

1968
1992
1980

Least:

1956
1972
1996

1968 no doubt about, just look at the storylines.

1. The embattled President steps down.
2. Bobby carries the torch but is shot down at his peak
3. Nixon makes a comeback.
4. The war in Vietnam
5. Riots at the DNC.

Surprised HBO hasn't made a series about this yet.......

Most:
1948
1960
1964
1992
1996
2008

an election which "my" candidate looses isn't entertaining
at all for me ...

oops ...

1948
1960
1976
1964
1992
1996
2008

Most:

1968
2008
1980
1992
1956
2004
1976
1984
2000
1996
1972

Least:

Most Entertaining: 
1948
1960
1968
2008 

Least Entertaining:
1952 
1956
1984
1996

Beginning with 1984, in order from most to least.

1. 1992
2. 2008
3. 2012
4. 2000
5. 1984
6. 2004
7. 1996
8. 1988

1992 because after 3 GOP wins in a row we were ready for change, Perot's antics, Clinton's charm.
2008 because of the Hillary/Obama primary battle and historicity.
2012 Mitt Romney became first person to run against an incumbent President of color.
2000 I thought Bush would win
1984 first election I voted in. I attended school in Cambridge, Mass. and was surrounded by the vibe that nuclear war was inevitable if Reagan was re-elected; little did I know that in my hometown (Macomb Co, MI) sentiment was quite different.
2004, 1996 no real surprises
1988 worst and most embarrassing election. "Don't worry, be happy", "Bush reminds every woman of her first husband", Willie Horton ad, Dukakis' tank ride, "Read my lips", spin control, low voter turnout, no surprises. The only redeeming feature was my meeting Ron Paul in person.