Ammunition against the charge that it's unpatriotic to criticize Bush*.

[I Have A Dream]

"The President is merely the most important among a large number of public servants. He should be supported or opposed exactly to the degree which is warranted by his good conduct or bad conduct, his efficiency or inefficiency in rendering loyal, able, and disinterested service to the Nation as a whole. Therefore it is absolutely necessary that there should be full liberty to tell the truth about his acts, and this means that it is exactly necessary to blame him when he does wrong as to praise him when he does right. Any other attitude in an American citizen is both base and servile.

To announce that there must be no criticism of the President, or that we are to stand by the President, right or wrong, is not only unpatriotic and servile, but is morally treasonable to the American public. Nothing but the truth should be spoken about him or any one else. But it is even more important to tell the truth, pleasant or unpleasant, about him than about any one else."

"Theodore Roosevelt in the Kansas City Star", 149
May 7, 1918


This might convince some Republicans that they have permission to think! :)

Not that we need permission to think! We know that it's one of our inalienable rights.

[jobycom]

1. Thanks, but who needs an excuse? I prefer to kick them in the nuts. nt

[Carla in Ca]

2. And the survey says.....

Pew Research Center for the People & the Press/Project for Excellence in Journalism survey conducted by Princeton Survey Research Associates International. June 8-12, 2005. Nationwide.

"Some people think that by criticizing leaders, news organizations keep political leaders from doing their job. Others think that such criticism is worth it because it keeps political leaders from doing things that should not be done. Which position is closer to your opinion?"

Keep From Doing Job: 29%
Keep From Doing Wrong: 60%
Unsure: 12%

[Gothmog]

3. Great quote

Thanks for the quote.

[Totally Committed]

4. September 22, 2003 at The Citadel:

"Patriotism doesn't consist of following orders--not when you're not in the chain of command. For the American people, for citizens in a democracy, patriotism's highest calling isn't simply following what the administration says. It's not blind obedience. It's not unquestioned adherence. The highest form of patriotism is asking questions. Because democracies run on dialogue. Democracies run on discussion. No administration has the right to tell Americans that to dissent is disloyal, and to disagree is unpatriotic . . . . We need a new spirit, a new kind of, a new American patriotism in this country . . . . this new spirit of patriotism should be dedicated to the protection of our rights and liberties . . . . In times of war or peace, democracy requires dialogue, disagreement, and the courage to speak out. And those who do it should not be condemned but be praised." ~ General Wesley K. Clark

[I Have A Dream]

5. This is a wonderful quote!

The Teddy Roosevelt quote really impressed me because it was a Republican president that said it. For some reason, anything that a Democrat ever said is totally worthless as an argument to some Republicans.

Thanks for this quote, TC.