Two things:
No Vietnam. No rise of Conservatism from the long string of precautions because of it.
Ford wins the 76' election. Not too hard a POD considering how close he came in real life. By the time 1980 comes around, rampant inflation coupled with twelve years of GOP control of the White House leads to a Democratic victory. The Democrats are certain to maintain control of the Senate in 80' as the republicans will be taking the blame for the poor economy of the 70's.
Assuming Paul Volker or someone else gets appointed to the Fed who can get inflation under control in time for the 84' election, the Democrats are guaranteed to retain the White House. Coupled with majorities in Congress, the 80's are politically a liberal decade.
Not just Vietnam. The rise of Reagan ultimately has more to do with George Wallace than Barry Goldwater. Basically, avoid Carter. Have a liberal Democrat win in '76 and '80 or just in '80.
What's wrong with Mo Udall? Hugh Carey? Adlai Stevenson III?This -- with the caveat that the Democratic President is actually likely to be a proto-DLC guy (like Brown or Hart), but since Tip O'Neil's still Speaker, the Congressional leadership's going to push the administration (being of the same party) in a liberal direction...
What's wrong with Mo Udall? Hugh Carey? Adlai Stevenson III?
Civil rights backlash did it more than Vietnam IMO. Civil rights backlash made it easy for the (often) Republicans to expand. Vietnam just broke up the Democratic Party, making it easier for the Republicans.Explain that. I might know what you mean, but I wanna be sure.
On this subject, perhaps the... divise nature of Trudeau and 'Trudeauism' may have brought in itself the return of conservators one day to the helm of Canada. Earlier or later...
Civil rights backlash did it more than Vietnam IMO. Civil rights backlash made it easy for the (often) Republicans to expand. Vietnam just broke up the Democratic Party, making it easier for the Republicans.