1976 United States presidential election

[General White]

3 days

[General White]

I would vote for Ford.

[badgate]

From peanuts to President, I pick Carter.

[afleitch]

At the time? Ford. In restrospect? Still Ford.

Ford of course couldn't run again in 1980 which is a shame, but a moderately successful presidency could have stalled Reaganism in it's tracks. Reagan was the perceived response to the 'failure' of Carter. With Ford in office, the GOP would have wished for continuity. Rockefellers death in 1979 would have required an appointed Vice President, probably George Bush who had been considered for the spot in 1974. He would probably have ran in 1980 for the nomination and won. Regardless of the result in 1980, 1984 would be too late for Reagan. So no Reaganism, no religious right and no batsh-t Republican Party.

[Oldiesfreak1854]

Ford in a heartbeat!!!!

[MrMittens]

Carter with and without hindsight.

[Franzl]

At the time? Ford. In restrospect? Still Ford.

Ford of course couldn't run again in 1980 which is a shame, but a moderately successful presidency could have stalled Reaganism in it's tracks. Reagan was the perceived response to the 'failure' of Carter. With Ford in office, the GOP would have wished for continuity. Rockefellers death in 1979 would have required an appointed Vice President, probably George Bush who had been considered for the spot in 1974. He would probably have ran in 1980 for the nomination and won. Regardless of the result in 1980, 1984 would be too late for Reagan. So no Reaganism, no religious right and no batsh-t Republican Party.

Yes. I think Ford would be my last Republican vote for President. (With hindsight.) Without hindsight...possibly Bush sr. in 1988...

[MrMittens]

At the time? Ford. In restrospect? Still Ford.

Ford of course couldn't run again in 1980 which is a shame, but a moderately successful presidency could have stalled Reaganism in it's tracks. Reagan was the perceived response to the 'failure' of Carter. With Ford in office, the GOP would have wished for continuity. Rockefellers death in 1979 would have required an appointed Vice President, probably George Bush who had been considered for the spot in 1974. He would probably have ran in 1980 for the nomination and won. Regardless of the result in 1980, 1984 would be too late for Reagan. So no Reaganism, no religious right and no batsh-t Republican Party.

What's so wrong with Reagan (for a Conservative)

[Franzl]

At the time? Ford. In restrospect? Still Ford.

Ford of course couldn't run again in 1980 which is a shame, but a moderately successful presidency could have stalled Reaganism in it's tracks. Reagan was the perceived response to the 'failure' of Carter. With Ford in office, the GOP would have wished for continuity. Rockefellers death in 1979 would have required an appointed Vice President, probably George Bush who had been considered for the spot in 1974. He would probably have ran in 1980 for the nomination and won. Regardless of the result in 1980, 1984 would be too late for Reagan. So no Reaganism, no religious right and no batsh-t Republican Party.

What's so wrong with Reagan (for a Conservative)

For a real conservative? A lot. Unless real conservatives approve of massive deficit spending?

[Maxwell]

This is tough because both are moderate bozos, but I think ill go with Gerry Ford.

[Cobbler]

At the time? Ford. In restrospect? Still Ford.

Ford of course couldn't run again in 1980 which is a shame, but a moderately successful presidency could have stalled Reaganism in it's tracks. Reagan was the perceived response to the 'failure' of Carter. With Ford in office, the GOP would have wished for continuity. Rockefellers death in 1979 would have required an appointed Vice President, probably George Bush who had been considered for the spot in 1974. He would probably have ran in 1980 for the nomination and won. Regardless of the result in 1980, 1984 would be too late for Reagan. So no Reaganism, no religious right and no batsh-t Republican Party.

What's so wrong with Reagan (for a Conservative)

His record doesn't match the myth. Increased spending and debt, amnesty, tax increases etc. Conservatives seem to gloss over those and still present him as a conservative model of governance.

[Goldwater]

Ford, easily.

[TNF]

Carter, for a number of reasons.

1. Ford pardoned Nixon.

2. Nixon/Ford economic policy allowed for the first U.S. trade deficits in over a century.

3. Nixon/Ford foreign policy allowed the Soviets to gobble up South Vietnam and expand elsewhere, especially in Africa.


Of course, I'd have definite buyer's remorse, but Carter was still a better President than Gerald Ford.

[RogueBeaver]

Ford, but in hindsight hope that Carter would win because without him, no Reagan.

[Peter the Lefty]

If I had to choose, Carter.  But of all the candidates, my choice would be Frank Zeidler (Socialist).

[Phony Moderate]

At the time? Ford. In restrospect? Still Ford.

Ford of course couldn't run again in 1980 which is a shame, but a moderately successful presidency could have stalled Reaganism in it's tracks. Reagan was the perceived response to the 'failure' of Carter. With Ford in office, the GOP would have wished for continuity. Rockefellers death in 1979 would have required an appointed Vice President, probably George Bush who had been considered for the spot in 1974. He would probably have ran in 1980 for the nomination and won. Regardless of the result in 1980, 1984 would be too late for Reagan. So no Reaganism, no religious right and no batsh-t Republican Party.

What's so wrong with Reagan (for a Conservative)

His record doesn't match the myth. Increased spending and debt, amnesty, tax increases etc. Conservatives seem to gloss over those and still present him as a conservative model of governance.

Reagan is similar to JFK in the sense that his personal charm glosses over his record as President.

Anyway, most likely Carter both with hindsight and without.

[Oldiesfreak1854]

Ford in a heartbeat!!!!

Also with and without hindsight.  I might be more hesitant with hindsight, but I would probably still have voted for Ford.

[Supersonic]

Ford, and with enthusiasm!

[Indy Texas]

What's so wrong with Reagan (for a Conservative)

“Bush has been married to the same woman for forty-two years; Reagan has been divorced. Bush says the proudest accomplishment of his life is that his kids still come home; only one of Reagan’s children bothered to show up at his seventy-fifth birthday party. Bush spends weekends in Kennebunkport urging his grandchildren to row across the pond and giving them the confidence to do it; Reagan never sees his grandchild and takes no one with him for weekends at Camp David except Nancy and the dog. George Bush was a genuine hero in World War II; Ronald Reagan was in Culver City making movies about it. The irony is that Bush really lives the eternal values so dear to conservatives’ hearts, while Reagan mouths them and winks.”
-Gail Sheehy, Character: America's Search for Leadership

Reagan is a shamelessly overrated president. I think the GOP's present problems stem in part from their lionization of him in the same way the Democrats wandered in the wilderness in the '70s and '80s while putting JFK up on a pedestal to some halcyon liberal myth that never existed. Reagan was an empty vessel. A handsome, charismatic empty vessel who surrounded himself with people who thankfully knew what they were doing (Bush, James Baker, Ed Meese).

[Grumpier Than Uncle Joe]

Ford, easily.

[RogueBeaver]

Ford, easily.

[Antonio the Sixth]

Carter. While it's very likely that Ford's victory would have helped Democrats in the long run, I refuse to vote based on this kind of calculations. I vote for the candidate that best matches my views and which I think would do a better job, and in 1976 it was Carter.

Note: the ideal scenario in 1976 would probably be Reagan winning the primary and then losing to Carter in a landslide. That way, he would have no credibility to run in 1980 (especially considering his age) and the GOP would nominate a moderate like Anderson or Bush.

[○∙◄☻¥tπ[╪AV┼cVê└]

At the time? Carter
In hindsight, who would have been a better President? Carter
With calculated hindsight to help the future course of American politics? Ford

[Warren 4 Secretary of Everything]

At the time? Carter
In hindsight, who would have been a better President? Carter
With calculated hindsight to help the future course of American politics? Ford