RALLYING CRIES DISTINGUISH POLITICAL CANDIDATES

Now that 2016 is finally here we can at last look forward to getting on top of the political election calendar. Too much may have been made of the campaign already. However, the Iowa caucuses are less than a month away. The New Hampshire primary follows on February 9, just ahead of a series of electoral events leading to "Super Tuesday" when 12 states attempt to clarify their preference among our presidential aspirants. All of these events ultimately lead to national party conventions in Cleveland and Philadelphia in July when our choices are reduced to two. By the time we ultimately arrive at the election on Tuesday, November 8, we will all be exhausted, but we will finally know who is going to lead us during the next four years. In the mean time we attemptr to sort through more than a dozen candidates searching for reasons to select one over the other.

All contestants are busily trying to set themselves apart from each other, a chore not easily accomplished. During the Middle Ages competing entities used flags for the purpose of identification. By looking at a flag, observers were able to identify the status, association, or religion of the flag bearer. In war banners were used to help soldiers identify friends or enemies. Today political competitors have replaced banners with slogans used on posters and bumper stickers. In "How to win any election" Joe Garecht tells us that every campaign needs a message, issues that support the message, and an effective campaign slogan . "Slogans need to be easy to remember, short enough to be said in one breath, and snappy enough to say over and over again." Where combatants used to identify with the flag of their compatriots, today's voters identify with their chosen candidate  through her or his campaign slogan. In a way these taglines become a rallying call-to-action, and they can be used in support of or in opposition to specific candidates. Our electoral history is awash in memorable campaign slogans. Many of these reflect the values of society at the time. The Memorabilia Website of Duke University's Collections Library lists an impressive collection of presidential campaign slogans and catchprhrases. Some of these are quite memorable, pointed, and some are even risque. I selected the following to help us ease into what is sure to confront us this year.

One of the earliest rallying cries came from Patrick Henry, founding father, attorney, planter and politician who became the first post-colonial governor of Virginia, who is best remembered for his "Give  Me Liberty of Give Me Death" speech.

In 1789 George Washington, a reluctant candidate at best, used a poster with the slogan: "Let's Try it. See What Happens."

William Henry Harrison and running mate John Tyler made "Tippecanoe and Tyler Too" part of history.

In 1852 Franklin Pierce, running against incumbent  President James Polk, came up with: "We Polked You in  '44. We Shall Pierce You in '52."

John Fremont, running in 1856, used the slogan: "Free Soil, Free Labor, Free Speech, Free Men and Fremont."

Abraham Lincoln's slogan in 1860 was: "Vote Yourself a Farm." During his re-election campaign in 1864 this changed to: "Don't Swap Horses when Crossing Streams."

In 1884 James Blaine, running against Grover Cleveland who had been accused of fathering an illegitimate child in 1874, ran the slogan: "Ma, Ma, Where's My Pa?"

In 1884 Republicans attacked the opposition for views against prohibition with: "Rum, Romanism and Rebellion."

Herbert Hoover ran using the catchphrase: "A Chicken in Every Pot and a Car in Every Garage."

Hoover ran against Al Smith in 1928. One of the issues debated was prohibition. Proponents were called "drys," opponents were referred to as "wets." A popular tagline during that election became: "Vote for Al Smith and Make Your Wet Dreams Come True."

FDR used various battle cries and became the recipient of slogans opposing his election as well. In 1932 FDR used: "Happy Days Are Here Again." Alfred Landon retorted in 1936 with: 'Life, Liberty and Landon." Wendell Wilkie, running in opposition in 1940 ran posters stating: "Roosevelt for Ex-President." Some of the latter's supporters also circulated literature proclaiming: "No Man is Good Three Times."

Everyone remembers Harry Truman's "Give Em Hell, Harry," and Eisenhower's "I lIke Ike."

In 1960 even prostitutes got into the act proclaiming: "Nixon or Kennedy, We don't Care Who Gets In!"

Goldwater's run for office generated pro and con slogans like: "Goldwater - In Your Heart You Know He's Right."  "In Your Guts You Know He's Nuts."

The 1972 election campaign opposing Democrats saw: "Acid, Amnesty and Abortion for All."

Jimmy Carter flaunted his background in 1976 with bumper stickers that said: "Not Just Peanuts."

Ronald Reagan was the first one to come up with: "Make America Great Again." (Donald Trump adopted the slogan for his own campaign and is actually trying to trademark it.)

Many of us still remember Bill Clinton's slogan: "It's the Economy Stupid," and Barack Obama's: "Yes, We Can!"

This year we should look forward to some new slogans. The better ones, other than the one Donald Trump "borrowed" are:

Ben Carson - "Heal, Inspire, Revive."

Carly Fiorina - "New Possibilities. Real Leadership."

Ted Cruz - "Reigniting the Promise of America."

Bernie Sanders - "A Political Revolution is Coming.

Marco Rubio - "A New American Century."

Rand Paul - "Defeat the Washington Machine. Unleash the American Dream."

Mike Huckabee - "From Hope to Higher Ground."

Jeb Bush - "Jeb!"

Candidates missing from this list have not quite come up with a succinct battle cry most of us can remember.

If history provides a guideline, our message to the candidates should be: "keep it simple," or come November we will have forgotten how you tried to help us focus.

were called "drys,"