Slide from my government class where Bernie Sanders is more left wing than China, Pinochet is extreme right wing authoritarian and Milton Friedman is a sweet right wing libertarian despite advising and defending Pinochet. Obama is more authoritarian and right wing than Washington as well.

  • Rom [he/him]
    ·
    7 months ago

    Also four (five? which fucking "Johnson" are they referring to, there's two of them in the list of presidents alone) US presidents just as or further to the right of Hitler. Not defending US presidents by any means but I don't think Obama is quite as right-wing as Adolf himself.

    And Stalin equally as "authoritarian" as Hitler, whatever the fuck that means, because they gotta stick that Horseshoe theory in there somehow.

    edit: Also "Marxism." Not Marx himself but the entire ideology I guess.

    • GarbageShoot [he/him]
      ·
      7 months ago

      LBJ was obviously a reactionary, but the sheer right-ness of the placement on the chart suggests to me that they mean Andrew Johnson, who I'd argue represented one of the most distinct rightward (attempted) policy shifts in US history, since he immediately undertook trying to kill Reconstruction.

      looking into it

      Pulling some examples from an arbitrary list:

      Johnson vetoes a bill calling for the extension of the Freedmen's Bureau. The bill, a response to the repressive Black Codes of the South, would expand the power of the Bureau, the organization formed for the freedmen's protection.

      Johnson vetoes the Civil Rights Act, a second attempt by Congress to provide freedmen with federal citizenship after the failed Freedmen's Bureau bill. The act sanctions the employment of federal troops for enforcement. The Senate overrides Johnson's veto on April 6. Three days later, the House of Representatives also overrides the veto.

      With the mandate of the 1866 election, Congress (despite Johnson's veto) passes the First Reconstruction Act, setting up five military districts in the South, each under the direction of a presidentially-appointed military commander. The legislative body also passed the Army Appropriations Act, which lessens Johnson's control of the Army. Finally, Congress passes -- again over Johnson's veto -- the Tenure of Office Act, prohibiting Johnson from removing cabinet officers without the Senate's consent. In this final piece of legislation, Congress hopes to protect Secretary of War Edwin Stanton, the sole Radical Republican in Johnson's cabinet.

      Johnson vetoes the Second Reconstruction Act, which orders military commanders to call elections in the South. Congress overrides Johnson's veto that very day.

      Johnson vetoes the Third Reconstruction Act, which spells out election procedures in the South and reasserts congressional control over Reconstruction. Congress again overrides Johnson's veto on the same day the President delivers it.

      A couple years later:

      President Johnson delivers his final annual message to Congress, again requesting the repeal of the Reconstruction Acts.

      He also campaigned against the "Radical Republicans" who wanted to, you know, oppose the reinstitution of slavery in the South and the reinstating of Confederates in seats of power, and fought with the more progressive cabinet members he inherited from Lincoln.

      People talk about Lincoln being such a good President, but I really think all of Johnson's shit should be held fully against him, since Lincoln knew there was going to be a Civil War if he was elected (and likely if he wasn't) and the head of state being assassinated in [or after, as it was] a Civil War is just about the most unsurprising turn of events possible. He essentially appointed Johnson to the Presidency.

      • Rom [he/him]
        ·
        7 months ago

        Actually there's a few other 2016 era candidates, so I think it might be Gary Johnson. This was probably made during the 2016 election cycle.