History repeats itself--Check this out from FDR's re-election 1936

[mistertrickster]

We have not come this far without a struggle and I assure you we cannot go further without a struggle.

For twelve years (1920-1932) this Nation was afflicted with hear-nothing, see-nothing, do-nothing Government. The Nation looked to Government but the Government looked away. Nine mocking years with the golden calf and three long years of the scourge! Nine crazy years at the ticker and three long years in the breadlines! Nine mad years of mirage and three long years of despair! Powerful influences strive today to restore that kind of government with its doctrine that that Government is best which is most indifferent.

For nearly four years you have had an Administration which instead of twirling its thumbs has rolled up its sleeves. We will keep our sleeves rolled up.

We had to struggle with the old enemies of peace–business and financial monopoly, speculation, reckless banking, class antagonism, sectionalism, war profiteering.

They had begun to consider the Government of the United States as a mere appendage to their own affairs. We know now that Government by organized money is just as dangerous as Government by organized mob.

Never before in all our history have these forces been so united against one candidate as they stand today. They are unanimous in their hate for me, and I welcome their hatred.

*****

It may be time for Obama to welcome their hatred.

[villager]

1. "Mr Waring, millions of people hate my guts"

As I posted in another thread yesterday, FDR said that to a visiting (Republican) band leader to the White House, one time. Said band leader always had a certain respect for FDR after that.

We need lots more Democrats like that.

[PVnRT]

2. Saying that would be OH NO TEH SOSHALISM!!!11!

Even Democrats (most of them, anyway) do everything they can to deny they have anything to do with the big, bad red menace that doesn't exist.

[bluestateguy]

3. Axelrod and Plofue should study that campaign closely

And take that speech, and substitute the word Hoover with the word Bush.

I would also remind people here who are lamenting Obama being too centrist that FDR governed on a fairly centrist track in 1933-34, but moved left in 1935-36.

[Captain Hilts]

4. As do I. And the year after - with a liberal mandate - FDR and Congress turned RIGHT and

pursued a tight money policy and induced the recession of 1937.

[Gman]

5. Big K&R for the 2010 and 2012 campaigns

[Peace Patriot]

6. My motto! My hero!

"They had begun to consider the Government of the United States as a mere appendage to their own affairs. We know now that Government by organized money is just as dangerous as Government by organized mob.

"Never before in all our history have these forces been so united against one candidate as they stand today. They are unanimous in their hate for me, and I welcome their hatred". --Franklin Delano Roosevelt

:applause: :bounce: :patriot: :bounce: :applause:

[mistertrickster]

7. Here's another relevant FDR quote for today . . .

“The liberty of a democracy is not safe if the people tolerate the growth of private power to a point where it becomes stronger than their democratic state itself. That, in its essence, is fascism - ownership of government by an individual, by a group.”

[Libertas1776]

8. "My motto! My hero!"

Ditto!

[Selatius]

9. If someone like FDR won office in 2008, he'd be assassinated, I fear.

The monopolistic enterprises and the industrialists who run them are even more consolidated and powerful and sophisticated than they were back in the 1920s and 1930s.

He would just become another victim of the machine like JFK. Nevermind the two other prominent assassinations that took place in the 1960s.

[Overseas]

10. This is what I was hoping for before the joint session of Congress healthcare speech.

I was truly hoping President Obama would push back at the right wing bullying and declare his commitment to a public option FOR ALL WHO CHOOSE IT.

His speech was more forceful than some previous ones and was more effective at calling out the Republicans for replacing serious debate with fear mongering rumors, but was still to full of pretending that bipartisanship was still possible.

That bipartisanship of yore is a lovely idea but when the right wing is playing hardball, hiring professional bullying by right wing PR firms to gin up fear and hatred in vulnerable populations, getting them to storm town halls-- enough is enough.

[kentuck]

11. I welcome their hatred!

A "hear-nothing, see-nothing, do-nothing Government."

[optimal-tomato]

12. If he makes good, then I agree.

Unfortunately, he's been unable or unwilling to fight those forces. Banking regulation can wait until after we've saved their asses. The public option is just the best way, not the only way to drive down insurance company profits (which is in his own words "sucking up the money" and taking it away from service).

The forces already hate him, and have rallied against him, but I get the feeling that he's reluctant to bring the sledgehammer. Maybe he wants to make sure the Republican Party doesn't get a monopoly on corporate money. Whatever he is, he's not FDR.

I still hope he can be.