Important To Remember: No Wartime President Has Been Defeated For Reelection!

An interesting point to remember with 80 days left to the Presidential election, and just two days to August 20, precisely five months to the inauguration!

NEVER has a President in wartime been defeated, including two times when war clouds hovered, but we were not technically at war!

Witness the following:

James Madison, the War of 1812, reelected in 1812
Abraham Lincoln, the Civil War, reelected in 1864
Woodrow Wilson, World War I, not at war but nearing it, reelected in 1916
Franklin D. Roosevelt, World War II, not at war but nearing it, reelected in 1940, and then at war, reelected in 1944.
Lyndon B. Johnson, using the Vietnam War issue through the Gulf of Tonkin, elected in 1964
Richard Nixon, Vietnam War, reelected in 1972
George W. Bush, Iraq and Afghanistan Wars, reelected in 2004

This list does not include James K. Polk, who chose not to run for reelection AFTER the end of the Mexican War in 1848; William McKinley, reelected AFTER the Spanish American War’s end, in 1900; Harry Truman, who chose not to run in 1952 during the Korean War; Lyndon B. Johnson, who chose not to run during the Vietnam War in 1968; and George H. W. Bush, who was triumphant during the Persian Gulf War, but then lost 18 months later for reelection in 1992, due to the bad economy and the candidacy of Ross Perot helping Bill Clinton to win in a three way race.

So the odds of Barack Obama winning reelection with the Afghanistan War raging are excellent!

25 comments on “Important To Remember: No Wartime President Has Been Defeated For Reelection!

  1. Gustavo August 18, 2012 4:29 pm

    I thought we were not a war…I thought there was no war on terrorism…my how times change.

  2. Ronald August 18, 2012 5:43 pm

    As long as Americans are in harm’s way, we are at war! Wow, are YOU sarcastic! Can you ever avoid criticizing Obama and give him credit for ANYTHING? Typical conservative, who can overlook all of the faults of Bush II, Romney and Ryan! LOL

  3. Gustavo August 18, 2012 6:22 pm

    Who ever said I overlooked Bush’s faults? As a matter of fact I did not agree with many of his policies. As a typical establishment
    moderate Republican he compromised with the Democrat left and so here we are, exactly where compromise has taken us. He accepted Medicare expansion together with McCain and Kennedy, he backed amnesty for illegal immigrants, allowed spending to rise,allowed the housing market to be distorted by the government with its ridiculous Community Reinvestment Act, and I will never forget the “establishment” stupid “compassionate conservatism” narrative. Like always moderates giving in to the left’s narrative that somehow conservativism alone is not compassionate, that you had to add the word “compassionate”. So as you can see I saw many faults on Bush. Therefore you can imagine what I think of Obama, who is Bush times ten regarding spending and all the rest of the issues I never agreed with Bush on policy. Funny how the left believes or wishes to believe that the Bush family and the Republican establishment is somehow conservative. Remember they were againts Reagan and the conservatives, and they continue to be againts conservatism to this day. All you have to do is listen to Jeb Bush, Karl Rove, McCain or Lindsay Graham. Good grief!! Having said that, I will take any of them over Obama and the progressives anytime.

  4. Ronald August 18, 2012 6:31 pm

    WOW, you are really FAR to the RIGHT. But I think Reagan’s record was far from conservative as well, as he raised taxes eleven times, negotiated an immigration deal, worked with TIp O’Neill on Social Security, negotiated with Gorbachev, and was NOT as mean spirited as Tea Party radical whackos are today!

  5. Gustavo August 18, 2012 6:56 pm

    LOL! There you go again using special words like “mean spirited”. If I remembered correctly Reagan walked out of a meeting with Gorbachev, did not give in into his demands, and told Casey I believe to go back there and tell them that he (Reagan) was an SOB. He negotiated a few times and got betrayed, like with the immigration deal and the last time he agreed to raise a taxes. Remember for every dollar in tax increase there would be 3 in spending cuts. The cuts never occurred, thank you Democrats.

  6. Ronald August 18, 2012 7:07 pm

    Amazing! What made you so bitter and upset that you hate any government reform and consideration for those struggling? There but for the grace of God go I! This is true whether religious or not!

  7. Gustavo August 18, 2012 7:21 pm

    Why do you say I “hate” government reform or that I am bitter? Must the left always use insulting adjectives when confronted with facts? I only pointed out the fact that the democrats did not hold up to their end of the deal with Reagan. Where do you get the idea I have no consideration for those struggling? You don’t know me, you don’t know what I have lived through. Furthermore I would be amazed if you personally ever saw the kind of poverty I saw. And what does religion have anything to do with this?

  8. Ronald August 18, 2012 7:28 pm

    I have had difficult times in my life, but have always felt that caring about others, and seeing government help others, is part of democracy. We must think of WE, not just ME, which many wealthy people and conservatives emphasize.

    Since you experienced poverty, I would think you would have an attitude of understanding what it is like, and support progressivism.

    But, to conclude this discussion that is going nowhere, and without the desire to upset you or seem to be insulting you, which has never been my intention, we will have to agree to disagree, and now it is time to go out and enjoy the evening and NOT discuss politics for awhile! LOL :

  9. Gustavo August 18, 2012 7:32 pm

    Have a good one! LOL

  10. Engineer of Knowledge August 19, 2012 9:14 am

    Hello Professor,
    I have wanted to make this comment on several recent retorts to your postings.

    I have notice that many, if not most, comments coming from the Far Right mind set could use a basic Freshman English 101 course. (Critical Thinking / Writing and Logical Argumentation)

    From your recent posts, and other sites I have visited, I have noted the pitfalls in writings from the Far Right of the Political Spectrum such as “Straw Man Arguments,” “Generalization Statements,” “Divertive Arguments”; all which simply show the lack of education, (or application there of) and as many of us know demonstrates the “Freudian Slip” exposure that the Far Right’s mind sets’ are loosing the arguments trying to perpetuate their skewed and nihilistic views.

    I have even seen the misuse of the term, “Drank the Kool-Aid” where the origin stemmed from Jonestown Mass Suicide of the Religious Fanatics in Guyana. So it would be obvious and even somewhat humorous to see the misuse application to those Critical Thinking Progressive minds. The true reference would be to the “Ultra Religious Conservatives” within my Republican Party today perpetuating their own economic and social destruction by the use of Religion by others. Once again demonstrating the “Freudian Exposure” of their own ignorance. In summation the true application would be the exact opposite in which I have seen it being used.

    Those such as demonstrated by Gustavo here, is nothing more than the “Last Gasp” efforts trying to convince the world is the way HE wants it to be…..unfortunately the reality is not the case. So the only tactic to convey this “Trompe-l’Å“il” and “Faux World” in which he and his type live in, is to resort to these pitfall arguments. This of course as any Freshman English student knows, negates their argument right from the start. I reiterate the statement, demonstrating their true lack of education or knowledge and this exposure is at their own hand. Sad Little Men who are being misled by others and their own ignorance, and will eventually find themselves and their genetic offspring at the bottom of the economic stratification of the global world society.

    The sad part is that those spouting these illogical argument epiphanies are not even being original….they are just simple mindlessly parroting what they her on Blow Hard Conservative Talk Radio and Ultra Conservative Blog sites. Classic Pavlov Conditioning learning to NOT think for themselves instead of drooling…..Then again maybe they drool too while repeating what they have been brainwashed to repeat. 🙂

    So to conclude this post, any English 101 Professor would quickly note these shortcomings and would deduct debating points from Gustavo making the clear winner….well anyone else this type of argument is passed onto as it cannot stand up to scrutiny and or even the simple light of day. I am sure Gustavo is meaning well, just mislead. Bottom line, these arguments have no validity.

  11. Ronald August 19, 2012 9:44 am

    Thanks, Engineer, for your analysis!

    It has been a battle, no question about it!

  12. Gustavo August 19, 2012 3:51 pm

    ‘They bark, Sancho, a sign that we’re advancing’ – Miguel de Cervantes Saavedra, Don Quijote de La Mancha.

  13. Engineer of Knowledge August 19, 2012 4:23 pm

    Ah yes….another non-tangable quote implying nothing of any substance. Good Job!! 🙂

  14. Ronald August 19, 2012 4:27 pm

    HAHA!

  15. Gustavo August 19, 2012 5:09 pm

    “Stupidity is not the lack of intelligence but the difference between one’s true intelligence and the intelligence one believes he has.” – I hope this is TANGIBLE enough….

  16. Ronald August 19, 2012 5:56 pm

    I will leave it to ENGINEER to answer this! LOL

  17. Engineer of Knowledge August 19, 2012 7:52 pm

    Gustavo,
    I know very well what you were trying to imply but once again you fell short. Any person monitoring a debating team would deduct points for “Quoting” as it is one of the pitfalls and not applied in Logical Argumentation Debating Tactics.

    Maybe I should pass on some background on myself:
    I have a degree in Applied Science / Electrical Enginnering and also work in the Mechanical Engineering aspect. I also have several credits in Business / Marketing.

    I have worked on and been involved with many projects for the former Republican Congressman Wayne Gilchrest from the 1st district of Maryland over the years. I also have many family members involved in the Federal Government in Washington D.C. Such as interning last summer working on the budget in Congressman John Boehner’s office when he got so fed up with the Tea Party members in the House Chamber stagnating the proposed budget he wanted passed, when he demanded on the floor to the Tea Party members, “To Fall In Line and vote for this bill.” (I am being kind and paraphrasing because what he said was much more vulgar)

    You see, when the Establishment Republicans want the aspects passed they are to push through, they contact the public relations staff members to disseminate the Parties’ line and to use their own words, “Whip Up The Nut Jobs” for the public support. (This fact also came out in the Jack Abramoff and Congressman Tom DeLay’s corruption trials.)

    You see, the public only knows what they want you to know and no more than what they think you need to know.

    In summation when I see you typing exactly what I know to be released by the public relations of Congressional staff members weeks before, well I would want you to consider that their true feelings towards citizens claiming Republican Conservative Values….are just “Whipping Up The Nut Jobs” to them.

    When I then see how much the “lemmings factor” is real and I hear the exact verbiage that was passed on to the media to be propagated I just think to myself, “If they only knew.”

    I also just had sent to me the latest Murder Mystery Book written from an old family friend (He is now in his mid-80’s) who received his Political Science Degree and Law Degree from Johns Hopkins back in the mid-50’s. He along with the Political Science Department Head and a few chosen classmates wrote many of President Dwight Eisenhower’s speeches at that time. He is still very involved with Local and National Republican Politics and very well respected.

    He was also the lawyer for the CIA agent that Ollie North reported to during the Iran Contra trials. This CIA agent I am speaking of today is dealing with Agent Orange cancer now and won’t last much longer. He was the ONLY one who was not indicted during those Congressional Trials….a fact my family friend took great pride in. I have the personal letter from the CIA agent sent to the family lawyer friend thanking him for all that he did to keep HIM from being found guilty too. I also know much more than I can pass on about this aspect in our history.

    My son-in-law’s mother was just out of college and was working in the White House when Elvis Presley stopped by to see someone else and Nixon took advantage for a photo shoot making him an “Honorary Deputy DEA Officer”…..remember the public relation’s photo and that story…..the story was pure Bull Shit. (If you really stop and think about it, it does not even sound right does it?) At first the White House security was not going to let Elvis in but my son-in-law’s mother went down to escort him in so he could see his friend……and that was not Nixon.

    To continue, my son-in-law’s father had a law practice in D.C. representing the Pharmaceutical Industry to the Food and Drug Administration. I’ll let you play this one out in your mind with regards with W. Bush’s prescription Medicare plan that was passed during his terms and who really wrote that law. Yes my son-in-law comes from that kind of money.

    I myself worked with a man who designed encrypted communication devices at the “HIGHEST LEVELS.” He had been on Nixon’s staff the first four years and was in charge of all radio and TV communications. (1968 – 1972) Through my work with him I heard first hand many real communications and then later what was being propagated on Blow Hard Radio and the mass media in general leading into the W. Bush Iraq War was not even close to being the truth.

    Yes I have a family history of 150 years of belonging to the Republican Party and am very disappointed in those who have gained the influence today. They are not honorable men.

    Bottom line, YES I do work with much more information than most could ever imagine because I have not even told you the things that I cannot speak of.

    So I will close by not being as cruel as you were with “Stupidity is not the lack of intelligence but the difference between one’s true intelligence and the intelligence one believes he has”….but I will say with confidence that you really do fall within the latter.

    I do truly hope this clears up with whom your are really speaking with as I will openly and gladly discuss any topic so long as you use “Logical Argumentation” aspects and not “Rhetoric.” I will be glad to afford you the time as you would like for the first, but not the latter. I am much too busy for that.

    Just wondering, have you ever taken a college English 101 course?

  18. Gustavo August 19, 2012 9:05 pm

    Dear dear, you needed to write so much about yourself just to answer a couple of words I wrote and quoted. By the is a sin to quote? And who ever said I was in some kind of debate competition? Little old me got you so upset that you needed to present not only your entire resume but also of those you are acquainted with. Just to inform me how intelligent, smart,superb and wonderfully connected you are. I stand in awe before such brilliance! I humbling submit to your mastery of the english language. How could I have ever dared to awaken the wrath of such an intellectual sleeping giant as yourself. By the way, we know what kind of dirtbag the Republican establishment is like. We know they hate us conservatives as much as the left wing Democrats do. Nothing knew here. Finally, I was just wondering how many languages do you master “Oh Great One”!?

  19. Gustavo August 19, 2012 9:06 pm

    P.S. Please master of the sciences, excuse my typos, I humbly request….

  20. Engineer of Knowledge August 19, 2012 11:04 pm

    Yea just as I though….you have never taken a college English 101 course. Enough said.

  21. Engineer of Knowledge August 20, 2012 12:32 am

    Oh Gustavo,
    Don’t worry about the typos. I am typing on an older laptop and sometimes these keys do not react as fast as I type too. But I do try to proof read what I have written and at least run through Spell Checker before I paste it into the comment box.

    What I am trying to impress onto you and I would point out that you instantly employed the “Divertive Argument” pitfall tactic which I have been speaking about in your retort which only negated what you were trying to convey.

    I, just like the Professor, am a Mentor too. See how this works?

    Now would you like to try this again? I encourage it.

  22. Ronald August 20, 2012 7:12 am

    I would like to see myself as a peacemaker, as all good progressives tend to be! LOL

    So how about a truce between Gustavo and Engineer of Knowledge?

  23. Dave D June 15, 2019 10:57 am

    I think Obama would have won reelection with or without a war.
    However your observations are even more revealing and timely (6/15/2019) now that Trump wants to go to war with Iran of a poor quality, unidentifiable and unsubstantiated video of some speedboat passengers pulling a mine off a tanker. Me thinks there’s something rotten in Denmark. If Iran wanted to start a war, it wouldn’t be with magnetically attached personnel mines! What a fool Trump takes us for.

  24. Chris Tate January 3, 2020 4:20 pm

    When LBJ was elected in 1964, most Americans were more or less unaware of what Vietnam was all about. When his reelection was on the horizon in 1968, Americans knew about the horrors of Vietnam and LBJ quit the race after almost being defeated in the New Hampshire primary and Robert Kennedy entering the race. Bad example to use with him.

  25. Michael E Blody January 8, 2020 6:53 am

    United States needs to quit trying to push Christianity and capitalism on other countries then calling them terrorist when they reject our ideologies

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