Changes

::::Johnson actually thought the US was being attacked. And indeed the North Vietnamese were making plans for systematic attacks on US Marines in South Vietnam. But it made little difference in the election, which is the point here.  The draft Goldwater movement began in 1959 -- I remember talking to Clarence Manion about it at the time. the goal was to find a leader who could win the presidential nomination and Goldwater was by far the most available leader. [[User:RJJensen|RJJensen]] 12:34, 15 January 2009 (EST)

::::Johnson actually thought the US was being attacked. And indeed the North Vietnamese were making plans for systematic attacks on US Marines in South Vietnam. But it made little difference in the election, which is the point here.  The draft Goldwater movement began in 1959 -- I remember talking to Clarence Manion about it at the time. the goal was to find a leader who could win the presidential nomination and Goldwater was by far the most available leader. [[User:RJJensen|RJJensen]] 12:34, 15 January 2009 (EST)

::::: Maybe if you believe McNamara and Rusk's assertions.  What's clear is that Johnson had been ''provoking'' an attack for some time, hoping for just such a retaliation, real or imagined.  Whether the attack was real or not, he had been pushing for one which would all but ensure his reelection, and presenting the attack as unprovoked was a singular act of deceit. [[User:RodWeathers|- Rod Weathers]] 12:44, 15 January 2009 (EST)

::::: Maybe if you believe McNamara and Rusk's assertions.  What's clear is that Johnson had been ''provoking'' an attack for some time, hoping for just such a retaliation, real or imagined.  Whether the attack was real or not, he had been pushing for one which would all but ensure his reelection, and presenting the attack as unprovoked was a singular act of deceit. [[User:RodWeathers|- Rod Weathers]] 12:44, 15 January 2009 (EST)