Eisenhower re Hoffer: from Republican Gomorrah . . .

[patrice]

President Eisenhower re Eric Hoffer's book: "...In it, he points out that dictatorial systems make one contribution to their people which leads them to tend to support such systems - freedom from the necessity of innforming themselves and making up their own minds concerning these tremendous complex and difficult questions."

Obedience is blissful ir-responsibility, thought- less, willingly blind.

[opihimoimoi]

1. They Party went from CREDIBLE EISENHOWER to FAILIN PALIN in 50 years. WTF HAPPENED?

[elleng]

3. Ike knew what was happening,

wrote more about it.

[patrice]

5. "A rising mass movement attracts and holds a following not by its doctrine and promises,"

(Hoffer wrote)

"...but by the refuge it offers from the anxieties, barrenness and meaninglessness of an individual existence." The true believer was at his core an ineffectual man with no capacity for self-fulfillment. Only the drama provided by a mass movement gave him purpose. "Faith in a holy cause," Hoffer wrote, "is to considerable extent a substitute for the lost faith in ourselves."

- from Republican Gomorrah by Max Blumenthal

http://www.republicangomorrah.com/

[Arkana]

11. A man who had perhaps one of the most distinguished military careers

in the history of the country used his last Presidential address to warn the nation against the danger of the military-industrial complex.

Yeah, I might have voted for him.

[elleng]

2. link?

[patrice]

4. Link

http://www.republicangomorrah.com/

[elleng]

6. Ike predicts future for GOP.

"Should any political party attempt to abolish social security, unemployment insurance, and eliminate labor laws and farm programs, you would not hear of that party again in our political history. There is a tiny splinter group, of course, that believes you can do these things. Among them are few other Texas oil millionaires, and an occasional politician or business man from other areas. Their number is negligible and they are stupid."
- President Dwight D. Eisenhower, 11/8/54

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x1782194

[lapfog_1]

7. The great dumbing down of America

which Ike didn't count on.

"Their number is negligible and they are stupid"... is now more like

"Their number is small but significant and they are still stupid. Unfortunately, their pied pipers own the media."

[elleng]

8. He saw it happening.

Looking for another quote.

[patrice]

9. Eisenhower was Awesome!! I remember liking him when I was small.

He made you feel safe and he looked like Grandpa.

His grandaughter helped open the '08 Democratic convention.

Such a really great and wise man.

[elleng]

10. He was great!

Sorry my family didn't recognize it! Ike vs. Adlai is the first election I remember anything about. I was small, and just remember family's disappointment. Dad now, at 95, probably won't remember the family ins and outs, but I wish he would!

Would like to check out his grandaughter's statement etc.