It's pretty clear that we will never again have...

[chrisncate]

... a president in our lifetimes in which the country unifies behind as "one nation, under God".

Those days are over, and they ended with the Clinton presidency. We are no longer one nation, and we will forever be a divided nation which can not and will not unify for the common good of ourselves. Hardcore political ideology has rooted to the point of no return.

The only real question is how long the total destruction of what we once were (pre Clinton) will take. I believe about twenty years, maybe less.

What do you think?

[erps]

I think this hardcore political ideology goes back over 200 years. At least our leaders aren't dueling in the streets anymore.

I just read an article that the war will be won in 2012.

We’re only at the midpoint. Obama won a great victory in 2008 that he took as a mandate to transform America toward European-style social democracy. The subsequent counterrevolution delivered to that project a staggering rebuke in November 2010. Under our incremental system, however, a rebuke delivered is not a mandate conferred. That awaits definitive resolution, the rubber match of November 2012.

The great divide - The Washington Post

[chrisncate]

I totally reject the notion that in our lifetimes, we have witnessed the division of our nation to the extent we see now. We were always just plain old Americans until the last decade or so. There is no more singular definition of an American. Everyone has a sub category classification, and a "team".

Imo (imo), the last time we found ourselves at this point was right before the civil war.

I see no way out or way forward.

[erps]

About 20 years ago, right after 9/11, Bush's approval rating was around 90%.

Then the liberals divided our nation.

[chrisncate]

Originally Posted by erps

About 20 years ago, right after 9/11, Bush's approval rating was around 90%.

Then the liberals divided our nation.

Argh!....

Whomever did whatever, the fact is what it is - no way forward at this point. "One nation" as a concept, is over.

[erps]

FWIW, I agree that things seem like they have been getting worse and I also was first aware of it during the Clinton years. We're getting down to where there is a perception that individual rights are in grave jeopardry should we continue down our current path. The side that doesn't perceive this doesn't understand what the big deal is on the side that does perceive it. There is not a whole lot of room to compromise when we're talking about loss of rights.

[chrisncate]

I really don''t think it's the left that is stealing liberty, I believe it's the banking and corporate interest's. Nevertheless though, you must see the bleak prospect for a unified nation from here on out regardless of the blame, no?

How and when does the day come when one side capitulates it's beliefs enough to re unify this country? I see no possibility. Even if we had a leader we could all agree on (never gonna happen), how long does it take for the bad blood created over the last decade and a half subside? For gods sakes, in the south they're still pissed about the War of Northern Aggression, the civil war... blood feuds and grudges last many generations, history bears this out time and again.

[tdw]

Whether or not you are correct that the US will never again be absolutely united I question your assumption that pre Clinton it somehow was.

I'm old enough to remember the Vietnam/American war years. That was as ugly as it gets.

Further, as ERPS rightly says, post 9/11 things were pretty tight.

We often tend to look back and think how rosey it all was back when, but the Menzies era in Australia was not all Australia united behind Ming the Magnificent indeed in '62 (I think it was) he scrapped back in by one seat and that with a bloody gerrymander.

[erps]

Whether or not you are correct that the US will never again be absolutely united I question your assumption that pre Clinton it somehow was.

You're right Andrew. We're each limited in our perception of when the trouble began by our age and when we were politically aware.

[chrisncate]

Well, I'm almost 40 (omg).

My reality and coming up was the 80's, prolly the best time in recent history to be an American. All the good stuff, without the rancor of the political arena we see now.

We had real money (pre re design), New York was still New York, and everyone on earth wanted American Levis and leather jackets.

We used to rule, and we used to rock.