McCain Compares Himself To Progressive Icon Teddy Roosevelt
McCain Compares Himself To Progressive Icon Teddy Roosevelt
[Our guest blogger is Robert Gordon, a Senior Fellow at the Center for American Progress.]
In a trippy new web video, John McCain includes a long excerpt from a fiery speech by Theodore Roosevelt. Watch it:
According to the Library of Congress, that speech was given at the Progressive Party convention in August 1912. John McCain is clearly no Teddy Roosevelt progressive.
The Progressive Party was formed after Roosevelt bolted a Republican Party that had rejected him and nominated the far more conservative William Howard Taft. After McCain’s own rejection by Republicans in 2000, he too considered leaving the Republican party. But McCain instead chose to remain a Republican, to endorse his former opponent George W. Bush, and to abandon his previous progressive positions on issues like tax cuts.
Roosevelt’s platform in 1912 was far more progressive than the Republican Party’s agenda 96 years later. Here are a few excerpts from the 1912 document:
We pledge ourselves to work unceasingly in State and Nation for:…
Minimum wage standards for working women, to provide a “living wage” in all industrial occupations;
The protection of home life against the hazards of sickness, irregular employment and old age through the adoption of a system of social insurance adapted to American use;
We favor the organization of the workers, men and women, as a means of protecting their interests and of promoting their progress…
We believe in a graduated inheritance tax as a National means of equalizing the obligations of holders of property to Government…
The movement that John McCain now leads, of course, opposes a meaningful minimum wage (much less a living wage), works to dismantle social insurance programs like Social Security, fights against workers’ right to organize, and seeks to repeal the estate tax.
But other than that, John McCain and Teddy Roosevelt are a perfect fit.
UPDATE: TP commenter Attaturk writes, “Funny, you’d think they would have worked Ronald Reagan in there.”
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McLame is a proud member of the GOP — that is, the Gawd-awful Opportunists Party.
March 10th, 2008 at 10:06 amFunny, you’d think they would have worked Ronald Reagan in there.
Oh well.
Here’s the Press Corp’s power ballad of John McCain:
http://www.youtube.com/ watch?v=gLuoeKCDP4E&eurl=http:/ / rising-hegemon.blogspot.com/
March 10th, 2008 at 10:10 amA legend in his own mind.
March 10th, 2008 at 10:11 amMcCain’s legacy:
March 10th, 2008 at 10:14 amOperation
Iraqi
Longwar
Like he knows nothing about economics, he also knows nothing about Theodore Roosevelt. Probably couldn’t spell hios anme either.
March 10th, 2008 at 10:15 amWhere do the rightwing idiots get off comparing themselves to people the know in name only?
1ST it’s various GOP losers trying to equate Chimpy , the worst president in US history , to one of our best , Abraham Lincoln ; now we’ve got a lying , pandering , senile stupid old fool attempting to draw comparisons between himself and another legendary US president.
Is someone going to inform the GOP that fairy tales are only believed by children ?
And , if so , when ?
March 10th, 2008 at 10:15 amMcCain is reported to have said to rivals Barack Hussen Obama and Hillary Clinton, “Senators, I knew Teddy Roosevelt. I worked with Teddy Roosevelt. I, sir and madam, am somewhat reminiscent of Teddy Roosevelt.”
March 10th, 2008 at 10:15 amRoosevelt actually fought against corruption in both parties. He was adamant enough to break off from the Republican party in 1912 and attempt forming the Progressive Party to push for reform in government, womens rights, child labor laws, etc. You know a “liberal” agenda
McCain is no Teddy Roosevelt.
March 10th, 2008 at 10:15 amNext thing you know, GWB will compare himself to Lincoln, never mind…
March 10th, 2008 at 10:15 amMcCain is reported to have said to rivals Barack Hussen Obama and Hillary Clinton, “Senators, I knew Teddy Roosevelt. I worked with Teddy Roosevelt. I, sir and madam, am somewhat reminiscent of Teddy Roosevelt.â€
Comment by toasterhead — March 10, 2008 @ 10:15 am
Rumor has it that he baby-sat Teddy Roosevelt ………….
March 10th, 2008 at 10:20 amRumor has it that he baby-sat Teddy Roosevelt ………….
Comment by MCMetal — March 10, 2008 @ 10:20 am
Thank you for validating my horribly stretched attempt at a humorous allusion :)
March 10th, 2008 at 10:23 amTR was an unabashed environmentalist, too. I wonder if McCain is willing to step up to that plate? He talks about needing to do something about global warming, but his voting record doesn’t show that he walks that walk.
March 10th, 2008 at 10:25 amMcCain recently said that there jobs that wont be coming back while telling people to expect more wars, staying in Iraq for a hundred years.
Less Jobs, more war, vote McSame ‘08
March 10th, 2008 at 10:25 amRumor has it that he baby-sat Teddy Roosevelt ………….
Comment by MCMetal — March 10, 2008 @ 10:20 am
Thank you for validating my horribly stretched attempt at a humorous allusion :)
Comment by toasterhead — March 10, 2008 @ 10:23 am
Well , what the hell ; your stab at it couldn’t come close to equalling the inherent idiocy in McSenile attempting a comparison of himself to Teddy R…………
March 10th, 2008 at 10:26 amTR was an unabashed environmentalist, too. I wonder if McCain is willing to step up to that plate? He talks about needing to do something about global warming, but his voting record doesn’t show that he walks that walk.
Comment by missmolly — March 10, 2008 @ 10:25 am
KInda’ like his supposed stance against waterboarding/torture ……….
March 10th, 2008 at 10:27 amMore war and less jobs!!
Wow, where do I sign up for that???
/snark
March 10th, 2008 at 10:27 amThey are kind of the same, except Teddy had one wife and didn’t get captured in the war he fought in. Otherwise they are the same, well not really.
March 10th, 2008 at 10:27 amMcCain rode in a bomber, Teddy on a horse.
Exactly the same I tell you.
March 10th, 2008 at 10:29 amMcFlip McFlop.
March 10th, 2008 at 10:31 amTeddy uttered : “Walk tall and carry a big stick”
McLame spat out : “My friends” ………..and not a whole helluva’ lot else……
March 10th, 2008 at 10:31 amI think it’s time to reincarnate the Progressive Party Teddy supported.
We could us him as the central figure, while drawing in many disillusioned Republicans.
Teddy’s message still rings true.
America sorely needs a viable 3rd Party. I mean, we have McClinton praising McCain over the weekend, while continuing to lie about Obama.
A strong 3rd Party would be the quickest way to get both existing party’s off their collective asses & begin meaningful changes.
March 10th, 2008 at 10:36 ammore war, less and less jobs,corruption in the white house,economy in the toilet Teddy had all those too, not. I think Johnny Mclame is having an identity crisis , poor old man can seem to make up his mind if he is to the left of the Reich or if he is to the Reich of the Reich. there`s no middle on the Reich so he doesn`t got a clue. Keep spinning in Johnny and see what`s gonna happen in Nov.
March 10th, 2008 at 10:39 amI knew Teddy Roosevelt, sir, and you’re no Teddy Roosevelt! ;-{
March 10th, 2008 at 10:40 amTheodore Roosevelt stated that McCain was full of “bullysh*t”
March 10th, 2008 at 10:44 amMaybe McCain should get a copy of Bush’s painting, “A Charge to Lead”, you know the one Bush thinks is about Methodist founder John Wesleyan,, but is actually a horse thief? McCain can substitute his face for the rider’s and tell people it is Teddy Roosevelt charging San Juan Hill.
March 10th, 2008 at 10:44 amMcJowls, like T.R., thinks we have “a spendid little war. bully”
March 10th, 2008 at 10:45 amMcCain would progressively start more wars and would become progressively insane if elected/selected to office.
If you seek to lower the corporate tax rate to 25%, when the current rate is apparently not hurting in light of obscene profits, then you are no progressive, let alone worthy of comparison to Teddy Roosevelt.
McWars (P-VA)
March 10th, 2008 at 10:48 amO/T
In a Clinton or Obama administration, I’d recommend a full-fledged “Revolt of the Senators,” or
John Edwards as Attorney General
March 10th, 2008 at 10:51 amJoe Biden as Secretary of State
Dennis Kucinich as Secretary of Labor
I find it very strange that Republicans continue to claim Teddy Roosevelt and Abraham Lincoln as one of their own. They may have been “Republicans” in name, but not in actions. Lets get one thing clear; Roosevelt and Lincoln were flaming liberals. Roosevelt was involved in trust busting, conservation and conflict resolution before and during his presidency. Teddy Roosevelt was the first American to win a Noble Prize (the Peace Prize in 1906). I don’t think Johnny boy is going to win much with the attitude of “bomb bomb bomb, bomb bomb Iran”.
March 10th, 2008 at 10:57 amTeddy also called for universal health care and national health insurance. Also in 1906 He claimed the courts were bias against labor unions.
I think it’s time the Progressives start calling Teddy one of their own (he left the Republican Party in 1912 because the Party became too conservative).
John McCain, the Republican candidate for U.S. president, plans to travel to Europe and the Middle East for 10 days in mid-March
tell him not to come he will get Booed big Time
Your Not welcome Mr Torturer
March 10th, 2008 at 11:01 amHeard this speech at a RatDog concert 2 years ago. I have to thank McCain for bringing into the public’s eye. It is a great rallying cry for the true progressives.
worthy of a listen.
As for any Teddy / Johnny similarities? They both were in the military. That’s it, I can’t think of anything else.
March 10th, 2008 at 11:02 amMcCain also comparing himself to Winston Churchill. He is including himself among history greats , even before entering history books as a leader.
March 10th, 2008 at 11:07 amI think it’s time the Progressives start calling Teddy one of their own (he left the Republican Party in 1912 because the Party became too conservative).
Comment by Eric The Blue — March 10, 2008 @ 10:57 am
Ummm….not so much. I love T. Rex, he is one of my favorite Presidents, but he left because he was a flaming egomaniac for whom 8 years as President were not enough and he was convinced he was the only man for the job. Bad blood between he and Taft had as much to do with his 1912 run as ideology. He ran because the Republicans were too conservative the same way Nader is running because the Dems are too conservative.
Taft actually gets a bum rap; he was as aggressive a Trust-buster as Teddy, but few people know that. He was also FAR less bellicose than Teddy - TR would have in all likelihood supported Iraq and may well have supported an attack on Iran.
March 10th, 2008 at 11:07 amTR would have in all likelihood supported Iraq and may well have supported an attack on Iran.
Comment by Keltoi — March 10, 2008 @ 11:07 am
Oh, hogwash. Yer personal opinion is worth about as much as… yer personal opinion.
March 10th, 2008 at 11:09 ammcsame compare himself to bush
that’s a headline i’d believe.
~ joe hussein cantwell
March 10th, 2008 at 11:12 amA strong 3rd Party would be the quickest way to get both existing party’s off their collective asses & begin meaningful changes.
Comment by Zimzone — March 10, 2008 @ 10:36 am
I totally agree, but the last time it happened was 1860, and things were just a little intense around then.
Our winner take all electoral college system makes a 3rd Party possible only when there is a tectonic shift in our society such as Jackson founding the modern Democratic Party in 1828 or the Republicans winning in 1860, a year that saw FOUR viable parties running for President.
The only scenario for a Third Party this cycle goes like this: Obama wins the popular vote for the Dem nomination but the Clintons steal it through Super-delegate coercion. Obama declares himself an independent candidate and gets someone like Bloomberg to bank roll it as VP. But for all that to happen is a million to one shot.
March 10th, 2008 at 11:13 amTR would have in all likelihood supported Iraq and may well have supported an attack on Iran.
Comment by Keltoi — March 10, 2008 @ 11:07 am
Based upon what ?
Your idiotic assertion ?
Yeah , that clinches it …………….
Don’t you just love how GOP tools like this moron believe they have this decidedly intrinsic grasp on what everyone would do or believe in after voting for morons like Ronnie Retard , Shrub the 1st and Chimpy ?
March 10th, 2008 at 11:17 amtom @ 10:06
Greedy
Opportunist
Party
fixed it for you :-)
March 10th, 2008 at 11:17 amOh, hogwash. Yer personal opinion is worth about as much as… yer personal opinion.
Comment by The Republic of Stupidity — March 10, 2008 @ 11:09 am
Back atcha. And I thought we agreed we weren’t doing this anymore?
March 10th, 2008 at 11:18 amSomething else Teddy Roosevelt said…
March 10th, 2008 at 11:19 amWe need to see the Democratic response to this video. Matthews is right about one thing: the Democrats do not understand the politics of ridicule. We should not be using ridicule as a demeaning personal attack just to score a few points. (The Kerry windsurfing example) But we should roll it out when the Republicans start this kind of revisionist history. Do the counter video with the information from the rest of the 1912 speech. Make McCain look like a fool for making the comparison.
March 10th, 2008 at 11:23 amMcCain is to Teddy Roosevelt as
Bozo the Clown is to Groucho Marx.
March 10th, 2008 at 11:24 am>>Based upon what ? Your idiotic assertion ? Yeah , that clinches it …………….
How about Teddy’s own words? “All the great races have been fighting races”…? Do you really know that little about him?
Don’t you just love how GOP tools like this moron believe they have this decidedly intrinsic grasp on what everyone would do or believe in after voting for morons like Ronnie Retard , Shrub the 1st and Chimpy ?
Comment by MCMetal — March 10, 2008 @ 11:17 am
No, but I do love it when Progressives project their own ignorance of history.
You guys are funny. You want to claim TR because he led the “Progressive Party” yet you seem to know nothing about him. I am surprised you Progressives aren’t more up on your Howard Zinn, the foremost liberal historian of the 20th century. He was as left wing as academia gets and was no fan what-so-ever of Teddy.
March 10th, 2008 at 11:25 amTeddy and McCain do have the common denominator of being willing to distort and exaggerate in the pursuit of public office.
March 10th, 2008 at 11:29 amMcCain is to Teddy Roosevelt as
Bozo the Clown is to Groucho Marx.
Comment by RUCerious — March 10, 2008 @ 11:24 am
Now THAT I like!
BTW, I think the McCain- T. Rex comparison is deeply flawed too, but all these comparisons are, they have everything to do with contemporary politics and nothing to do with history. Most Americans couldn’t tell you the difference between Teddy and FDR. Bill Clinton claimed the banner of Truman in 1992 for crying out loud.
TR was a GREAT President, once of our best, but a mixed bag like all Presidents and if you think he would be on board with modern Progressivism you are kidding yourself. He was the author of “rugged individualism” - there is no reason to believe he would support most of his cousin Franklin’s New Deal social legislation, much less Johnson’t Great Society.
March 10th, 2008 at 11:35 amNothing 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, Kansas City Star, 149 May 7, 1918
Comment by EvilPoet — March 10, 2008 @ 11:19 am
As a historical note, this speech was given regarding Woodrow Wilson, a man T. Rex detested. It was also after TR had lost all of his sons in World War I. His attitude toward Executive power shifted late in his life when he no longer wielded it.
March 10th, 2008 at 11:40 amJohn McCain is closer to PEE WEE Herman than he is TR. Twisted old creep should just shuffle off to the VETS Home.
March 10th, 2008 at 11:57 amAs a historical note, this speech was given regarding Woodrow Wilson, a man T. Rex detested. It was also after TR had lost all of his sons in World War I. His attitude toward Executive power shifted late in his life when he no longer wielded it.
Comment by Keltoi — March 10, 2008 @ 11:40 am
According to the source of the quote, that quote was part of an editorial he wrote for the Kansas City Star during WWI not a speech. Are you saying that the editorial is based on a speech?
March 10th, 2008 at 12:00 pm>>Based upon what ? Your idiotic assertion ? Yeah , that clinches it …………….
How about Teddy’s own words? “All the great races have been fighting racesâ€â€¦? Do you really know that little about him?
Don’t you just love how GOP tools like this moron believe they have this decidedly intrinsic grasp on what everyone would do or believe in after voting for morons like Ronnie Retard , Shrub the 1st and Chimpy ?
Comment by MCMetal — March 10, 2008 @ 11:17 am
No, but I do love it when Progressives project their own ignorance of history.
You guys are funny. You want to claim TR because he led the “Progressive Party†yet you seem to know nothing about him. I am surprised you Progressives aren’t more up on your Howard Zinn, the foremost liberal historian of the 20th century. He was as left wing as academia gets and was no fan what-so-ever of Teddy.
Comment by Keltoi — March 10, 2008 @ 11:25 am
Believing your narrow minded ignorant stupid ass is capable of determining what a Teddy Roosevelt would do , think or feel a century after his heyday , is impossibly stupid and not even worth discussing.
You believe a Teddy Roosevelt wouldn’t be cognizant of the difference in weaponry and its destructional capabilities in this day and age ; and how the world itself is manifestly different than in the very early 1900’s ?
BTW
You try to claim my “historical ignorance” is a bigger impedence than your own voting track record in being able to determine who is correct on this topic ?
You are such a delusionally arrogant and silly schmuck.
You know absolutely nothing about me ; whereas your own voting record speaks for itself (and it isn’t saying anything very pretty or admirable).
As for Howard Zinn , 1 man doesn’t speak for everyone who considers themself a “progressive” or part of the “left-wing” ; nor do all their thoughts/ideas mirror everyone’s.
That’s the domain of the imbecilic 19%’ers.
March 10th, 2008 at 12:01 pmIsn’t TR dead? Why, on second look, McWirestouching does have some similarities to a decomposing corpse.
Concede this one to Keltoi. TR is a hero to the right wingers, although he was a mixed bag, we don’t want to associate ourselves with “Bully!”.
March 10th, 2008 at 12:03 pmAccording to the source of the quote, that quote was part of an editorial he wrote for the Kansas City Star during WWI not a speech. Are you saying that the editorial is based on a speech?
Comment by EvilPoet — March 10, 2008 @ 12:00 pm
I stand corrected. My point was, T. Rex in 1918 was a very different man than who he was when he was President.
March 10th, 2008 at 12:04 pm“We will fight them on the beaches… ”
How totally absurd to quote Churchill, fortifying the British resolve during a looming invasion of Britain.
Better he should quote Hiltler and his resolve to stay in France for a hundred years fighting the Maquis terrorists.
March 10th, 2008 at 12:04 pmConcede this one to Keltoi. TR is a hero to the right wingers, although he was a mixed bag, we don’t want to associate ourselves with “Bully!â€.
Comment by nanlichi — March 10, 2008 @ 12:03 pm
Conceded! And most right wingers who claim him don’t know much about his liberal environmental position. See my comment at 45 regarding the efficacy of comparing yourself to Presidents a century ago, yet candidates can’t help themselves and do it all the time, relying on the public to maybe recognize the name and know little else.
March 10th, 2008 at 12:12 pmYou know absolutely nothing about me ; whereas your own voting record speaks for itself (and it isn’t saying anything very pretty or admirable).
Comment by MCMetal — March 10, 2008 @ 12:01 pm
Oh my God, the irony of you telling me I know nothing about you but apparently you were standing over my shoulder in the voting booth the last 16 years when I voted for Perot twice, then Nader, then the Libertarian in my state - I vote strict Third Party.
It is okay, McMetal, you can’t be expected to know that TR boasted “I stole the Canal fair and square” in regards to Panama after assisting a coup d’etat against Columbia and was one of our most gleeful imperialist Presidents. I would be really impressed if Juan C. or Evil Spaniard would have the integrity to back me up here on how beloved TR is in Latin American history. He resigned as undersecretary of the Navy to go fight in the Spanish-American War - a war of naked imperial aggression.
But hey! McCain compared himself to TR, McCain is Satan, so TR must have been a pacifist after all! He was a “Progressive”, he MUST have been against using force to advance US interests. That whole thing about the Big Stick Policy was misinterpreted, I guess.
March 10th, 2008 at 12:21 pmMcLame spat out : “My friends†………..and not a whole helluva’ lot else……
Comment by MCMetal
Ah, come on. He has said “My very dear friends…” too.
March 10th, 2008 at 12:33 pmMy point was, T. Rex in 1918 was a very different man than who he was when he was President.
Comment by Keltoi — March 10, 2008 @ 12:04 pm
T. Rex was a politician. If a politician found he had cannibals among his constituents, he would promise them missionaries for dinner. -H.L. Mencken As I’ve said before - the politics of change should start with learning from our mistakes.
March 10th, 2008 at 12:34 pmConceded! And most right wingers who claim him don’t know much about his liberal environmental position. See my comment at 45 regarding the efficacy of comparing yourself to Presidents a century ago, yet candidates can’t help themselves and do it all the time, relying on the public to maybe recognize the name and know little else.
Comment by Keltoi — March 10, 2008 @ 12:12 pm
He was liberal in more than the environment. He opposed child labor, he supported labor unions, he supported women’s right to vote, and he opposed the rampant corruption of the day with companies such as Standard Oil having the leaders of both the Republican and Democratic Parties in their pockets.
Opposing child labor and wanting to give women the right to vote made him the flaming liberal of his day.
March 10th, 2008 at 12:37 pmTR would have in all likelihood supported Iraq and may well have supported an attack on Iran.
Comment by Keltoi
You, troll, are full of $hit. I have read pretty much everything that was ever published on TR I can tell you that TR would never have supported invading an unarmed country based on lies. TR left the Republican party for the same reason that many Republicans today are becoming democrats. He felt that the Republican party had lost it’s way and he was right.
March 10th, 2008 at 12:38 pmOpposing child labor and wanting to give women the right to vote made him the flaming liberal of his day.
Comment by Wayne — March 10, 2008 @ 12:37 pm
Agreed. He was just undeniably an Imperial Hawk from Hell and would make Paul Wolfowitz look like a shrinking violet in the foreign policy arena. His bellicosity is a matter of historical record, to say he would be a dove in todays politics has no basis in reality.
March 10th, 2008 at 12:41 pmOT: Bilbo Hussein, I know you have damned me to your Existential hell and cannot acknowledge me, but this article
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/ tol/ comment/ columnists/ andrew_sullivan/ article3510778.ece
is definitely something you would enjoy. Trust me.
March 10th, 2008 at 12:43 pmAccording to the source of the quote, that quote was part of an editorial he wrote for the Kansas City Star during WWI not a speech. Are you saying that the editorial is based on a speech?
Comment by EvilPoet
Don’t you know that the troll Keltoi is an expert on all issues and the only one who knows the truth? If it says that TR would have supported invading an unarmed country based on lies, well then…..
March 10th, 2008 at 12:44 pmExcepts from the Progressive Party Platform 1912″:
“To destroy this invisible government, to dissolve the unholy alliance between corrupt business and corrupt politics is the first task of the statesmanship of the day.
The deliberate betrayal of its trust by the Republican Party, and the fatal incapacity of the Democratic Party to deal with the new issues of the new time, have compelled the people to forge a new instrument of government through which to give effect to their will in laws and institutions.”
—————————————————-
Effective legislation looking to the prevention of industrial accidents, occupational diseases, overwork, involuntary unemployment, and other injurious effects incident to modern industry;
The fixing of minimum safety and health standards for the various occupations, and the exercise of the public authority of State and Nation, including the Federal control over inter-State commerce and the taxing power, to maintain such standards;
The prohibition of child labor;
Minimum wage standards for working women, to provide a living scale in all industrial occupations;
The prohibition of night work for women and the establishment of an eight hour day for women and young persons;
One day’s rest in seven for all wage-workers;
The abolition of the convict contract labor system; substituting a system of prison production for governmental consumption only; and the application of prisoners’ earnings to the support of their dependent families;
Publicity as to wages, hours and conditions and labor; full reports upon industrial accidents and diseases, and the opening to public inspection of all tallies, weights, measures and check systems on labor products;
Standards of compensation for death by industrial accident and injury and trade diseases which will transfer the burden of lost earnings from the families of working people to the industry, and thus to the community;
The protection of home life against the hazards of sickness, irregular employment and old age through the adoption of a system of social insurance adapted to American use;
The development of the creative labor power of America by lifting the last load of illiteracy from American youth and establishing continuation schools for industrial education under public control and encouraging agricultural education and demonstration in rural schools;
The establishment of industrial research laboratories to put the methods and discoveries of science at the service of American producers.
———————————–
How conservative was Teddy?
March 10th, 2008 at 12:46 pmOT: Bilbo Hussein, I know you have damned me to your Existential hell and cannot acknowledge me, but this article
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/ tol/ comment/ columnists/ andrew_sullivan/ article3510778.ece
is definitely something you would enjoy. Trust me.
Comment by Keltoi
Sorry troll Keltoi, I am not interested in reading anything you recommend much less $hit on the Clintons. Why don’t you go back under your bridge and think up some more brilliant takes on TR.
March 10th, 2008 at 1:08 pmHis bellicosity is a matter of historical record, to say he would be a dove in todays politics has no basis in reality.
Comment by Keltoi
To say that TR would invade an unarmed country with no provocation only has a basis in the reality of a right wing troll’s mind.
March 10th, 2008 at 1:09 pmDon’t you know that the troll Keltoi is an expert on all issues and the only one who knows the truth?
Comment by Bilbo Hussein Baggins — March 10, 2008 @ 12:44 pm
Project much?
March 10th, 2008 at 1:14 pmAnother contrast with TR the trustbuster — the GOP has also presided over the dismantling of our antitrust enforcement agencies, particularly in the mergers area.
March 10th, 2008 at 1:17 pmBig deal.
March 10th, 2008 at 1:18 pmWhen I was young, I used to compare myself to Charles Oakley.
Nobody else did though, which is why my hoop dreams ended early.
He can compare himself to the King of Siam for all I care.
Saying the words doesn’t make it so.
Project much?
Comment by Keltoi — March 10, 2008 @ 1:14 pm
stop flossing your heinie for conservative canards and try to contribute something constructive to the dialogue please.
March 10th, 2008 at 1:21 pmDon’t you know that the troll Keltoi is an expert on all issues and the only one who knows the truth?
Comment by Bilbo Hussein Baggins — March 10, 2008 @ 12:44 pm
Project much?
Comment by Keltoi — March 10, 2008 @ 1:14 pm
————————————————————————
Comment by MCMetal — March 10, 2008 @ 11:17 am
No, but I do love it when Progressives project their own ignorance of history.
You guys are funny. You want to claim TR because he led the “Progressive Party†yet you seem to know nothing about him. I am surprised you Progressives aren’t more up on your Howard Zinn, the foremost liberal historian of the 20th century. He was as left wing as academia gets and was no fan what-so-ever of Teddy.
Comment by Keltoi — March 10, 2008 @ 11:25 am
======================================
Hypocritical much ?
You really are a sorry pissant…………
March 10th, 2008 at 1:24 pmWhile it is true that Theodore Roosevelt was one of the most progressive presidents this country has ever had, what neither Think Progress nor any of the commenters have pointed out is why McCain is similar to T. Roosevelt. The similarity is the same reason why Bush is closely linked to TR and that is how militaristic and imperialistic Roosevelt’s views were in regard to other counties, in particular to the Philippines, where Roosevelt hoped that the U.S. military would exterminate every man, woman, and child on those islands that the U.S. had illegally invaded. Roosevelt’s secretary of war, Elisha Root, felt the same way as Roosevelt. Now progressives today believe it is a good thing for McCain to be compared to another war hawk such as Theodore Roosevelt.
March 10th, 2008 at 1:41 pmProject much?
Comment by Keltoi
Nope, if I make a statement that is controversial, I back it up with links to the proof of what I am saying.
Poor little troll Keltoi is getting its feelings hurt here. I’m starting to feel bad.
March 10th, 2008 at 1:57 pmNow progressives today believe it is a good thing for McCain to be compared to another war hawk such as Theodore Roosevelt.
Comment by Erroll — March 10, 2008 @ 1:41 pm
No, no, no, Erroll, didn’t you read in the thread intro that “John McCain is clearly no Teddy Roosevelt progressive.”? Because Progressive = Good = Never using force. So if Roosevelt was a Progressive, he COULDN’T BE IN FAVOR OF IRAQ, AN IMPERIALISTIC USE OF FORCE BASED ON LIES, KINDA LIKE THE PHILLIPINE INSURGENCY. Or don’t you “Remember the Maine”?
See? TR was a peaceful pussycat and a Progressive. McCain is Satan and a war mongering conservative. Bilbo and McMetal have it all sussed out.
March 10th, 2008 at 2:02 pmhttp://www.timesonline.co.uk/ tol/ comment/ columnists/ andrew_sullivan/ article3510778.ece
is definitely something you would enjoy. Trust me.
if I make a statement that is controversial, I back it up with links to the proof of what I am saying.
Comment by Keltoi
hmm….Sullivan is not an American keltoy……your proof needs to be proven…
March 10th, 2008 at 2:10 pmNope, if I make a statement that is controversial, I back it up with links to the proof of what I am saying.
Comment by Bilbo Hussein Baggins — March 10, 2008 @ 1:57 pm
I refer you to Errolls excellent point in 70.
TR oversaw a brutal, vicious suppression of a native insurgency which was the reaction to an American occupation of a country that had nothing to do with attacking America, assuming the attack was not an inside job and the resultant war whipped up by a compliant press.
Isn’t that exactly how you describe Iraq over and over? Yet when I suggest TR would support Iraq, you dimiss that, largely as a knee jerk reaction to disagreeing with anything I say.
So, hit me with your links or at least try to explain your reasoning, Bilbo. When he WAS President, T. Rex DID commit US forces to a foreign occupation half a world away that went on for years, cost thousands of American lives and was based on a war launched over false pretenses. But if he WERE President today, he would NEVER do the exact same thing according to you.
I can’t wait.
March 10th, 2008 at 2:18 pmhmm….Sullivan is not an American keltoy……your proof needs to be proven…
Comment by Fred — March 10, 2008 @ 2:10 pm
Ermmm…what? It was an OT opinion piece which says many of the same things about the Clintons Bilbo has said here, I am not trying to prove anything. I just thought it was funny and well written. But alas, Bilbo rejected it since it came from me. Now my feelings ARE hurt.
March 10th, 2008 at 2:20 pmComment by Keltoy
March 10th, 2008 at 2:31 pmNo one will take you seriously until you stop acting like a child….You have contributed nothing relevant and you have proven none of the crap you have posted……you deserve and have earned Bilbo and everyone else here’s scorn……
No one will take you seriously until you stop acting like a child….You have contributed nothing relevant and you have proven none of the crap you have posted……you deserve and have earned Bilbo and everyone else here’s scorn……
Comment by Fred — March 10, 2008 @ 2:31 pm
Well said, Captain Ad Hominem! Care to “contribute something relevant” or would you like to keep “acting like a child” and resort to lame personal insults?
Do you really need me to prove the Phillipine Insurgency was during TR’s Presidency? Or that it was an occupation? Bilbo is off hiding, go ahead and explain his reasoning for him.
Why can’t you guys ever admit it when you are wrong? TR was a great President, a social Progressive with a very Hawkish foreign policy. So what?
March 10th, 2008 at 2:58 pmWhy can’t you guys ever admit it when you are wrong?
Comment by Keltoi
Everyone is wrong except you, right keltoy? add hmminim
March 10th, 2008 at 3:36 pmEveryone is wrong except you, right keltoy? add hmminim
Comment by Fred — March 10, 2008 @ 3:36 pm
I never said that. Is putting words in my mouth the best you got?
March 10th, 2008 at 3:40 pmNope, if I make a statement that is controversial, I back it up with links to the proof of what I am saying.
Poor little troll Keltoi is getting its feelings hurt here. I’m starting to feel bad.
Comment by Bilbo Hussein Baggins — March 10, 2008 @ 1:57 pm
Feeling so bad you can’t respond to 74?
March 10th, 2008 at 4:08 pmIt has been almost 2 hours…I am sure your proof is right around the corner.
March 10th, 2008 at 4:10 pmBilbo..?
March 10th, 2008 at 4:10 pmJust some food for thought…
How Teddy Roosevelt Fathered the “Bush Doctrineâ€
March 10th, 2008 at 4:35 pmThat is an excellent link, EP, and spot on. Hopefully the Hobbit Bilbo provides his links for what a peace loving Progressive TR was soon to refute you, I have to leave soon and wouldn’t want to miss it!
March 10th, 2008 at 5:17 pmBTW McMetal, you are invited to explain why TR fought the Phillipine War but would no way have sanctioned Iraq, it is beginning to look like Bilbo has a sudden case of the shys.
March 10th, 2008 at 5:18 pmNo? Oh well.
Hobbit Bilbo, the Troll Keltoi vastly enjoyed eating your lunch today, but the sun is about to rise and I must avoid the turning to stone thing.
See you around.
March 10th, 2008 at 5:26 pmkeltoy has started doing the same thing that tracy2 was doing……coming back and responding to posts after everyone has moved on…….
keltoy=tracy2????
March 10th, 2008 at 5:37 pmBTW McMetal, you are invited to explain why TR fought the Phillipine War but would no way have sanctioned Iraq, it is beginning to look like Bilbo has a sudden case of the shys.
Comment by Keltoi — March 10, 2008 @ 5:18 pm
March 10th, 2008 at 7:08 pmAnd you are invited to explain why you lyingly claim it was Teddy Roosevelt who ‘fought’ the Phillipine War , when it was actually William McKinley ………………
See? TR was a peaceful pussycat and a Progressive. McCain is Satan and a war mongering conservative. Bilbo and McMetal have it all sussed out.
Comment by Keltoi — March 10, 2008 @ 2:02 pm
Oh , no , no
I couldn’t possibly be correct in claiming anything about Teddy Roosevelt ; the gift of accuracy and prudent thinking is the sole property of Kilt Boy here , who still hasn’t answered how , like Mrs Clinton’s refusal to acknowledge the horrendous decision her vote in favor of the Iraq War was , how a voting record that includes the likes of pieces of crap named Ronnie Retard , Shrub the 1st and Chimpy the Wonder Monkey isn’t as or more incriminating as evidence of his non-descript mind………………..
March 10th, 2008 at 7:14 pmVideo no longer available. I guess McBush’s supporters realized how foolish it was to compare their candidate to Roosevelt.
March 10th, 2008 at 11:36 pmMcCain a Roosevelt?! HA!
This “war hero” is a total fool, whose advisers lobbied for Airbus to get the recent tanker deal. And he recently voted against a ban on water boarding.
So what other war hero turned against his own country? Hmmm, I think his last name was Arnold….
March 11th, 2008 at 8:05 amRush Limbaugh’s cocktail prescription for John McCain
Rush Limpbaugh has been known to order up a pill or two for that feel good life of the ultra conservative.
The word is that he has recently prescribed to John McCain a cocktail of Bourbon and Viagra to be taken when John has one of his periodic fits of integrity.
“The booze’ll numb your pangs of conscience towards your fellow citizens,” says Rush, ” and the Viagra will stiffen your conservative resolve while also reminding you of the party in whose bosom you now reside.”
March 11th, 2008 at 10:52 amIf John McCain wants to compare himself to one of the truly great presidents of all time then he had better start railing against Robber Barons who are stealing this country from us. He needs to start pushing to expand our National Parks, protect our working class and their jobs, preaching decency and honesty, and for God’s sakes, Speak up and quit mumbling!
March 11th, 2008 at 12:52 pmIt is ironic that TR and Churchill did not like each other (they considered each other pompous blowhards) but you have to admit that this ad does what it is supposed to do: set the argument that Sen McCain is strong on security without actually saying why or what he would do.
By linking himself to two very strong Republicans (well, Churchill’s mother might have been one, if she could have voted) and two beloved figures, he grabs the attention the average voter. The trivia about TR (not all of his sons died in WWI, just one, TR, Jr. died in WWII as the most highly decorated officer in the war - of a heart attack) notwithstanding, McCain is viewed as a strong leader, just like Churchill and TR in this ad.
If you want trivia, the Brits dropped Churchill abruptly after the war and he assumed his former post as a nutcase for the rest of his carreer as far as they were concerned. TR, on the other hand, proved that like the present president a leader can make seminal changes in the direction of the country by use of the bully pulpit and (probably) uncostitutional use of the office. The difference, of course is that a change was needed at the turn of the 20th century and TR accomplished that while G. Bush just gave us change. I suspect that JP Morgan would have considered Bush “bought” and not be as worried as he was about TR.
The Democrats will eventually have to answer that ad. While the economy may be the great issue of the campaign, security and Commander-in-Chiefness seems to be the definer right now between the two parties. Quoting TR may not be a bad tactic for the Democrats too.
March 11th, 2008 at 6:31 pmHey I heard John McCain is bolting from the GOP like ol’ Teddy and starting his own Bull-Moose party!
Oh wait I got that wrong it’s called the Bull-Shit party…
March 12th, 2008 at 12:36 amI find it very strange that Republicans continue to claim Teddy Roosevelt and Abraham Lincoln as one of their own. They may have been “Republicans” in name, but not in actions. Lets get one thing clear; Roosevelt and Lincoln were flaming liberals. Roosevelt was involved in trust busting, conservation and conflict resolution before and during his presidency. Teddy Roosevelt was the first American to win a Noble Prize (the Peace Prize in 1906). I don’t think Johnny boy is going to win much with the attitude of “bomb bomb bomb, bomb bomb Iran”.
October 15th, 2008 at 4:59 amTeddy also called for universal health care and national health insurance. Also in 1906 He claimed dell inspiron 1520 battery,dell inspiron 1720 battery the courts were bias against labor unions.
I think it’s time the Progressives start calling Teddy one of their own (he left the Republican Party in 1912 because the Party became too conservative).