Remember simpler times when Barry Goldwater's convention speech told us that "Extremism in defense of.....

[PermatexNo.2]

......liberty is no vice. Moderation in pursuit of justice is no virtue"? I know what Trump's misguided take on this is, exponentially worse than Goldwater's libertarian bloviatings. But given our prospects here in America today, Los Angeles comes to mind, I'll admit that this has left me scratching my head.

[videohead5]

1. I liked Goldwater when he got older

He moderated as he got older. A reporter asks him one time about Jerry Falwell saying that "all good Christians should get together and kick Sandra Day O'Connor off of the supreme court". Goldwater replied, "that he thought all good Christians should get together and kick Jerry Falwell in the ass".

[ITAL]

2. Not sure he moderated exactly

From what I understand he always disliked/distrusted super religious folks who sought to control things as they were an anathema to his libertarian leanings.

[marybourg]

5. He did become more moderate when he

re-married, after his 1st wife’s desth.

[PermatexNo.2]

6. Yep. He also said that the governent had no business in your bedroom, doctor's office or church.

[DavidDvorkin]

3. Goldwater planted the seed in 1964

That grew into an evil plant -- Nixon, Reagan, and now Trump, the worst of all. Pre-Goldwater, the GOP was led by human beings. From him on, they've been slime.

[andym]

4. Senator Joe McCarthy planted the seed.

Goldwater's strong libertarian views fade in significance to McCarthy who was a dangerous fear-monger. Nixon and Reagan both approved of McCarthy early on, before distancing themselves. Perhaps McCarthy's greatest influence is on Trump through Roy Cohn who worked with McCarthy and mentored Trump several decades later.