This is a perceptive column. It also captures that truth that if culture changes, politics follows. Goldwater didn't change things all that much because, Reagan notwithstanding, both Bushes, Dole, McCain and Romney are all creatures of the moderate Republican establishment, and they have not been able to reform the country politically towards smaller government.
Early in Ronald Reagan's second term, Bill Rusher, the publisher of National Review, was interviewing the president in the Oval Office for a documentary on the conservative movement.
Rusher asked how he would describe Barry Goldwater's role.
Reagan thought a moment and replied: I guess you would have to call him the John the Baptist of our movement.
I resisted the impulse to lean in and ask, "Sir, if Barry Goldwater was John the Baptist, who would that make you?"
The death of George McGovern brought back thoughts of these two men who suffered two of the greatest defeats in presidential...
Not being able and not trying is not the same thing.