Quotes of the Month: September 2011

Quote of the Month:

“My neighbor’s two dogs have created more shovel-ready projects than this current administration.”

-Former N.M. Governor Gary Johnson on the Stimulus

Stupid Quote of the Month:

“It’s a very difficult district for Democrats.”

-Debbie Wasserman Schultz on New York 9 (which is 75% Democratic)

Slam of the Month:

“So does anybody want a date with Mayberry? He’s Stanford educated…”

-Hunter Pence on his teammate, John Mayberry’s attempt to ask actress Antoinette Nikprelaj out.

Gaffes of the Month:

"We’re the country that built the Intercontinental Railroad."

-Barack Obama (he meant transcontinental)

“If asking a billionaire to pay the same tax rate as a Jew, uh, as a janitor makes me a warrior for the working class, I wear that with a badge of honor. I have no problem with that.”

-Barack Obama confusing Jews and Janitors

Scary Quote of the Month:

"I think we ought to suspend, perhaps, elections for Congress for two years and just tell them we won't hold it against them, whatever decisions they make, to just let them help this country recover."

-Governor Bev Perdue

And the rest…

OBAMA: "I can see the unemployment line from my house!"

-Ann Coulter

“Has anyone in the history of the world spent more money than Obama?”

-SE Cupp

"London is no longer an English city."

-John Cleese

'President Obama, This Is Your Army. We Are Ready to March. Let's Take These Son of Bitches Out'

-James Hoffa

"I get a code violation for this? I express who I am. We're in America last I checked."

-Serena Williams’ Meltdown at the U.S. Open

“Charlatan is an unfair word. He did an awful lot for effect.”

-JFK on FDR

"S---, you have to get rid of this ball just a split-second quicker."

-Ron Jaworski during a NFL broadcast

“People feel betrayed, disappointed, furious, disgusted, hopeless.”

-Anonymous Democratic Source after losing Weiner’s seat

“If you play against him, you hate him. If you play with him, you hate him a little less.”

-Ozzie Guillen on AJ Pierzynski

“Start drinking early.”

-Tom Brady to Pats fans

“If you love me, you got to help me pass this bill.”

-Barack Obama to supporters

"To our Fans and Friends: As R.E.M., and as lifelong friends and co-conspirators, we have decided to call it a day as a band …”

-R.E.M.

Presidential Legacies: Cold War Democrats (and Ike): 1945-1969

The next set of presidents faced a drastically changed world. Following World War II, Europe was in shambles, the Soviet Union was throwing its weight around, and America was the last man standing. As such, the post-war presidents filled the vacuum left by collapsed European powers. America became the world’s policeman. As such, the United States moved to thwart Soviet expansionism. The U.S. did this for three reasons. First, the Soviets moved into Eastern Europe and refused to leave. Second, the Soviets’ stated purpose was worldwide revolution. Third, Hitler already plunged the world into a global conflict that took millions of lives. Stalin was not that much different than the German dictator. So, checking Soviet expansionism became a way to stop World War III.

Harry Truman was the first president to face this threat. His response was decisive and set the policy that was essentially followed by his successors through 1991. When George Kennan wrote his long telegram arguing that the U.S.S.R. respected strength and would back down if confronted, Truman made it his own. American policy toward the Russians would be based on containment. Communism would not be allowed to spread beyond its current borders. In order to achieve these ends, Truman pumped money in the form of the Marshall Plan into Europe. The plan got Western Europe back on its feet by the early fifties. He backed the Democratic forces in Greece and Turkey when Communism threatened. They survived. When North Korea invaded South Korea, Truman sent in MacArthur. Despite Chinese intervention, South Korea remained free. Despite his foreign policy achievements, including ending World War II, Truman was unpopular. Due to his low approval ratings and advanced age, he stepped down from office. However, his Containment Policy survived the Truman Presidency by forty years.

Truman’s immediate successor was General Eisenhower. Ike continued his predecessor’s policies and balanced the budget. Ike also created the Interstate Highway System which created Modern America. The system was designed with defense in mind. It ended up creating the suburbs. Americans were no longer shackled. They did not have to either live in the country or the city. They could now more easily go on cross country vacations, work far from home, and so on.

Eisenhower faced international crises as well, but being Ike, he was able to confront them and calm the nation. John F. Kennedy being John F. Kennedy, and not General Eisenhower, gave the Soviets no pause. After a failed attempt to overthrow Cuba’s Fidel Castro, the Soviets decided to place offensive nuclear missiles on the island. What followed was a textbook example of crisis management. Kennedy ordered a blockade. Technically, this was an act of war. However, Robert Kennedy was negotiating behind the scenes and an agreement was reached. The Soviets backed down. The world did not incinerate. The Soviets would remove the missiles from Cuba. The U.S. would remove antiquated missiles from Turkey. The Soviets would not mention the deal. America would not remove Castro. The Cuban Missile Crisis ended and the world survived.

While Kennedy stepped to the edge, Lyndon Johnson went over it. Lyndon Johnson managed to anger everyone. His Great Society angered Conservatives, led to large deficits in subsequent decades, and is generally considered a failure. His Civil Rights policies angered the South and sent the entire region over to the G.O.P. Freeing African-Americans (with more Republican support than Democratic) should have been his crowning glory. However, the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Voting Rights Act of 1965, and Fair Housing Act of 1968 are overshadowed by Vietnam.

The Vietnam War destroyed Johnson. As it dragged on, more people became disillusioned. After three years, the administration told Americans that the war was almost over. Then, the enemy launched a daring attack on the Tet New Year. In 1968, they attacked every major city in South Vietnam and fought in the American Embassy in Saigon. The U.S. won a major victory, but it did not look like it on television. Walter Cronkite declared the war lost. Johnson later announced he would not seek another term as president. The Democratic Party after 1968 fell to the McGovernites and has yet to recover.

Media Bias: 1952-1963

The press loved FDR. He was one of them. Roosevelt was an East Coast elite with an impeccable pedigree. He was exactly the man the media wanted as president. Educated, intelligent, and aristocratic. FDR contrasted strongly with the dour little Engineer from Iowa, Herbert Hoover and the silly little man from Missouri, Harry Truman. Truman did not even go to college. He was out of his depth. Luckily, his two terms were up in 1952.


In 1952, the media were in a quandary. They supported Princeton educated Democratic governor Adlai Stevenson, but they could not attack the Republican candidate Dwight Eisenhower. Ike was a superhero in American minds. Eisenhower was the next George Washington. The press did not see it that way. Eisenhower was another outsider. He was from Kansas and was not seen as an intellectual heavyweight. They also feared Ike would dismantle their precious New Deal. The media had to find a way to attack the outsider and support their candidate, Adlai Stevenson. Stevenson went to Princeton and was an elitist. The throne was rightfully his. They needed an issue to attack Ike.


The media got their issue when Richard Nixon became the GOP Vice-Presidential nominee. To the media, Nixon was everything wrong with American politics. He was from a small town in California. He did not go to an Ivy League school. He was not an elite. On top of this, Nixon defeated leftist elite candidates in his House and Senate elections (Joe Kennedy contributed to Nixon’s campaign for Senate) and had the gall to bring down Alger Hiss. Hiss was a Soviet spy, but he was part of the good old boys network and had the perfect East Coast establishmentarian credentials.


Nixon unwittingly gave them their issue. The press discovered Nixon had a “secret” slush fund. Despite the portrayal, the fund was neither secret nor illegal. Many members of congress and even Democratic nominee Stevenson had one. The Democrats did not push the issue because they did not want to seem like hypocrites. That did not stop the press. Ike was ready to dump Nixon.


Richard Nixon fought back. He used the media to his advantage and gave the now famous “Checkers” speech. In the national address, he gave a complete account of his finances (Pat Nixon was not happy) and defended himself against the charges. The public bombarded Republican HQ with calls to keep that “nice Mr. Nixon” on the ticket. The outsider beat the elite media at their own game and they were not happy. They added that to their list of grievances against this upstart.


Throughout Ike’s two terms, the media convinced themselves he was an idiot. They attacked him for his intelligence (the man who planned D-Day) and his golf game. Nixon fared no better. They were relieved the Republicans accepted the New Deal, but longed for one of their own to be in the White House. The darling of the left elite, Stevenson, returned to lose in 1956 (Robert Kennedy could not stand him and voted for Ike in 1956). In 1960, they’d get the perfect East Coast candidate.


After Nixon’s two terms as VP came to a close, he lost a close election to Kennedy. JFK was another east coast elite and the press loved him. They covered up his personal foibles to the extreme (Ben Bradlee of the Washington Post said JFK’s womanizing would have come to light in the second term had Kennedy not settled down. The press was tiring of it). The Kennedy Years would become known as “Camelot” which hearkened to a mythological time in England. It was a time of magic where anything was possible. In the media’s collective consciousness, Camelot stood in stark contrast to the dour repressive Eisenhower Years. Then, it came to an end. Kennedy’s death brought the Texan LBJ to the White House. The White House fell to another outsider. The press geared for war.

The Greatest Inaugural Addresses

I have read every Presidential Inaugural Address from Washington to W. I have seen every Inaugural Address from Kennedy to W (Thank you C-Span). So, here is my list of the five greatest addresses and four honorable mentions...They are arranged chronologically.

1. Thomas Jefferson (1801): Jefferson tried to heal wounds caused by a decade of intense partisanship. People think today's politics are hyper-partisan. However, the 1790s were worse. As Obama has been doing, Jefferson attempted to reach across the aisle and proclaimed one American nation with the refrain, "We are all Republicans, we are all Federalists."

2. Abraham Lincoln (1865): The partisanship of Jefferson's time was intense, but not as intense as the 1850s. By 1860, compromise was not possible and war broke out after Lincoln's inaugural in 1861. Speeches do not have to be long to be good. Lincoln's second address was short and to the point. He wanted to heal the nation, "With malice toward none, with charity for all, with firmness in the right as God gives us to see the right, let us strive on to finish the work we are in, to bind up the nation's wounds, to care for him who shall have borne the battle and for his widow and his orphan, to do all which may achieve and cherish a just and lasting peace among ourselves and with all nations."

3. Franklin Roosevelt (1933): FDR reassured a nation deep in despair by promising "that the only thing we have to fear is fear itself." Compared to the dour Herbert Hoover, this was a breath of fresh air. Additionally, with improvements in technology, we can see and hear FDR's speech today.

4. John F. Kennedy (1961): JFK's inaugural was a call to arms for a new generation. It was a message of hope. Mankind can eliminate poverty and other social problems. Liberty will spread. America's good words would be transformed into good deeds. Kennedy also challenged Americans to "ask not what your country can do for you—ask what you can do for your country."

5. Ronald Reagan (1981): Reagan always performed for his audience. After four years of the Carter Malaise, and almost 20 years of bad luck, divisions, and disasters, Reagan had come on his white horse to set things right. Reagan promised a new beginning. As a result of leftist policies, the economy was shattered and America's prestige abroad at an all time low. Like today, solutions to problems does not come from government. Instead, America's problem was government.

Honorable Mentions:

1. Andrew Jackson (1829): Jackson's election marked the beginning of a new age. (It also led to the greatest party in American History as the White House got trashed). Jackson's address was similar to Reagan's. Liberty is more important than government expansion.

2. Abraham Lincoln (1861): The South left the Union. How would Lincoln respond? He attempted to alleviate Southern worries, but he also let it be known that states can not leave the Union. He asks Southerners to be patriots and appeals to their "better angels."

3. Benjamin Harrison (1889): Harrison was known to be "icy." He was not very likable, but he managed to get elected. Despite his inability to be warm and fuzzy, he gave a pretty good address. It was a celebratory unity speech.

4. Richard Nixon (1969): Nixon came back from the abyss to win the presidency in 1968. During his exile, he became an expert in foreign affairs. Like Kennedy, he appealed to something bigger than himself. It was a "Summons to Greatness." Nixon pushed for a peaceful world. He asked Americans to seize the opportunity for greatness. It was time to end war, "The greatest honor history can bestow is the title of peacemaker."

Caroline Kennedy

A lot of people are questioning Caroline Kennedy's qualifications to be a US Senator. However, if Barack Obama can be president, the Caroline Kennedy can be senator.

The Goods (part 2)

Here is the second part of the list of good presidents:
They are listed chronologically.
1. Chester Arthur (1881-1885): He took over when Garfield was assassinated. While in office, he racked up a considerable (for the time) list of reforms. Arthur proved uncontrollable, so the party bosses had to get rid of him. He lost the nomination in 1884 to James Blaine. Blaine lost the election.
2. Grover Cleveland (1885-1889, 1893-1897): Grover Cleveland is the only president to serve two non-consecutive terms. He is the only Democrat to be elected to office between 1860-1912. The most important piece of legislation passed under him was the Interstate Commerce Act which became the basis for all government regulation. He also pushed for a sound economy and anti-inflationary measures.
3. William McKinley (1897-1901): William McKinley was the GOP's James K Polk. He oversaw the Spanish-American War and the acquisition of overseas colonies. McKinley opposed going to war with Spain until The USS Maine blew up in Havana Harbor. Everyone blamed Spain and the war was on. The US acquired Guam, The Philippines, Gitmo, and Puerto Rico.
4. John F. Kennedy (1961-1963): Domestically, Kennedy did not get much done legislatively. He did help the Civil Rights Movement and aided James Meredith integrate Ole Miss. Kennedy also stopped the USSR from depositing missiles in Cuba. Had he failed, you would not be reading this and he'd be a failure. Kennedy had two major failures in foreign policy. One was the Bay of Pigs mistake and the other was his first summit with Khrushchev. Overall, his record was solid.
5. George H. W. Bush (1989-1993): A decade ago, he'd have been a rung down on this ladder, but his stock has improved amongst historians and even his enemies. He stopped Iraqi Aggression in Kuwait and did not get the country bogged down in Iraq. When Panama declared war, he finished it. Bush also passed the last real piece of civil rights legislation with the ADA. On the other hand, the country underwent a slight recession and he lost the 1992 election because of Ross Perot.
Tags: The Presidency, Politics, Chester Arthur, Presidents, Grover Cleveland, William McKinley, Spanish American War, John F. Kennedy, Cuban Missile Crisis, George HW Bush, Bush 41, Iraq

The Massachusetts Miracle Worker!

Thursday, August 7, 2008Subject: The Massachusetts Miracle WorkerTime: 4:54:00 PM EDTAuthor: cicero390 Edit Entry Delete Entry
The Democrats got thumped in 1984. Americans no longer wanted The New Deal or Great Society. So, the Democrats looked for a new kind of Democrat to run. They turned to Mario Cuomo. He said no thanks. They turned to Gary Hart. He got caught with his pants down with Donna Rice. The primaries came down to Al Gore, Dick Gephardt, Jesse Jackson, and Michael Dukakis. Dukakis won six primaries on Super Tuesday to Gore's five and became the front runner. Dukakis gained momentum and became the nominee.
On the Republican side, Vice President Bush began as the front runner, but stumbled early allowing Senator Bob Dole an opening. A negative ad run by the Bush campaign portrayed Dole as a tax raiser. Dole lost his temper and went on TV to tell Bush to "stop lying about my record." Bush won the nomination after that gaffe.
Dukakis led Bush at the outset of the general election. Bush appeared wimpy and wishy washy compared to Reagan. Bush went on TV to attack Dan Rather to gain street cred with the right. Then, his campaign attacked Dukakis as a dangerously out of touch liberal. When Dukakis admitted to being a "card carrying member of the ACLU," the campaign used it.
The Bush campaign's biggest setback was their choice of Vice President. Dan Quayle did not make a good first impression and looked like he belonged at the little kids table when he debated Lloyd Bentsen. When Quayle compared his experience in Congress to John Kennedy's (Quayle-12 years/Kennedy-14 years), Democratic Vice Presidential nominee Bentsen responded, "Senator, I served with Jack Kennedy. I knew Jack Kennedy. Jack Kennedy was a friend of mine. Senator, you're no Jack Kennedy." (Editor's note: Dan Quayle was more qualified for president than Barack Obama).
The contrast between Bentsen and Quayle was striking. So was the contrast between Dukakis and Bentsen. Some thought the two should reverse their spots on the ticket as Dukakis made more errors. The Massachusetts Governor made a campaign stop and got filmed in a tank. He looked like Snoopy and it became a TV ad.
TV finished Dukakis. While governor, he supported weekend paroles for prisoners. One convicted murderer, Willie Horton, got out and committed armed robbery and rape. Senator Al Gore brought it to America's attention and it became a deadly campaign ad.
Bush-Quayle won in a landslide. George Bush became the first vice-president since Martin Van Buren to win the presidency. He would go on and lead America through it's most successful war in history.

Kennedy vs. Nixon: 1960

Richard Nixon should have won in 1960. He was clearly the most qualified candidate while his opponent had a thin congressional resume. However, circumstances and modernity worked against Richard Nixon. With a couple of breaks, some pure luck, and some pure skill, JFK eeked out a narrow victory.
Ike had to step down after two terms. Had he been able to run in 1960, he would have beaten anyone the Dems could throw at him. Ike's Vice President, Richard Nixon, promised to continue Ike's policies and touted his experience as the G.O.P. overwhelmingly nominated him for president.
The Democrats had about a dozen candidates. The one that finally emerged was John F. Kennedy. Many Democrats including Harry Truman thought Kennedy was too inexperience to be president. However, his father's connections combined with Kennedy's charisma and media savvy won the day. It turned out JFK's biggest problem was not experience, but his religion. The last Catholic candidate was Al Smith in 1928 and he was crushed.
Nixon did not want to touch Kennedy's Catholicism. He felt it was bigoted to do so. Instead, he hammered home the experience issue. Experience never seems to help a candidate when they raise it as an issue. Nixon held a slight lead through much of the campaign.
Then, Nixon got sick. He lost some time on the campaign trail allowing Kennedy to do some catchup work.. Additionally, Nixon promised to visit all 50 states which took time from his schedule when he could have been hitting battleground states. Then, President Eisenhower got sick. Despite this, he offered to campaign for Nixon. The V.P. refused fearing it might kill the general.
What killed Nixon's campaign was the first TV debate with Kennedy. Nixon was recovering from his illness and looked gaunt. On top of this, he refused to wear makeup and did not shave. This accentuated his Richard III-esque features. On the other hand, Kennedy was tanned, clean shaven, and had visited a hooker before the debate...thus relaxing him. Those watching on TV believed Kennedy won the debate while those listening on the radio believed Nixon won. Ironically, Nixon was the first politician to effectively use television during his "Checkers" speech in 1952.
When election day rolled around, Kennedy squeaked out a victory. After some research, some historians have concluded that Nixon actually won the election. There was vote fraud in Illinois and Texas. In response to dead voters voting Democratic, LBJ quipped, "That's how they would have voted!" In Illinois, Chicago is notorious for vote fraud and that specter showed it's ugly head again during the 2008 Democratic Primaries. The history of Democratic vote fraud also explains Republican howls during the 2000 election.
Lastly, the 1960 election is the time African-Americans turned overwhelmingly Democrat. From 1865-1932, they were overwhelmingly Republican. The Depression turned them into a swing vote. Despite the fact Democrats sponsored segregation and Republicans desegregated Little Rock, passed two Civil Rights bills under Ike, and a Republican Supreme Court Justice authored Brown v. Board, JFK mesmerized them. The key moment came during the sit-ins. Martin Luther King was arrested and his wife feared for his life. While Nixon went to Justice behind the scenes to try and get him released, Bobby Kennedy used public pressure to secure King's release. King endorsed Kennedy and the black vote has been Democratic ever since.
JFK became president, did an effective job, and was then assassinated and turned into a martyr.