OT American Taliban in Congress and the White House

Willi wrote:

Do you think that today, a man like him could even get to the position
where he could be a candidate for President in one of the major
parties?

Certainly. Teddy Roosevelt was a New York City aristocrat, but he had
the common touch. He was worshiped by his Rough Riders and by the
working men he met and employed on his Dakota ranch. He conquered
childhood illness and a class-based tendency toward snobbery. He stood
up to the railroad and coal trusts, who were the natural constituency of
his Republican Party. He was an honest and fearless man.

The fundamental aspect of his popularity was that he was a "no bull****"
guy. His personal courage and honesty were beyond question. It also
didn't hurt his cause that he understood how to manipulate the press.

--
Cut "to the chase" for my email address.

rw wrote:

Willi wrote:


Do you think that today, a man like him could even get to the position
where he could be a candidate for President in one of the major
parties?


Certainly. ...

I don't think so. There is no way that Teddy could have been a candidate
for the presidency in his own era, much less ours. He was a loose cannon
and an outspoken burr in the saddle of his own party. Boss Tom Platt made
him vice-president just to get him out of the New York governor's mansion
and stick him somewhere where he couldn't do much damage. If not for the
assassination of William McKinley, Teddy would never have been president.

--
Ken Fortenberry

lid says...
snipped
If not for the
assassination of William McKinley, Teddy would never have been president.

Really? Who was elected in 1904? Oh yeah, Teddy Roosevelt..... Given
his career, constant ascent to higher offices and popularity, he was
destined for the White House one way or another IMO.
--
Warren
(use troutbum_mt (at) yahoo to reply via email)
For Conclave Info:
http://www.geocities.com/troutbum_mt...nConclave.html

rw wrote:

Willi wrote:


Do you think that today, a man like him could even get to the position
where he could be a candidate for President in one of the major
parties?


Certainly. Teddy Roosevelt was a New York City aristocrat, but he had
the common touch. He was worshiped by his Rough Riders and by the
working men he met and employed on his Dakota ranch. He conquered
childhood illness and a class-based tendency toward snobbery. He stood
up to the railroad and coal trusts, who were the natural constituency of
his Republican Party. He was an honest and fearless man.

The fundamental aspect of his popularity was that he was a "no bull****"
guy. His personal courage and honesty were beyond question. It also
didn't hurt his cause that he understood how to manipulate the press.


Maybe I'm more disillusioned than you, but I don't think that the man
you describe above would be able to get far enough in politics to be
elected to any major office.

Willi

"Willi" wrote in message
...


rw wrote:

Willi wrote:


Do you think that today, a man like him could even get to the position
where he could be a candidate for President in one of the major
parties?


Certainly. Teddy Roosevelt was a New York City aristocrat, but he had
the common touch. He was worshiped by his Rough Riders and by the
working men he met and employed on his Dakota ranch. He conquered
childhood illness and a class-based tendency toward snobbery. He stood
up to the railroad and coal trusts, who were the natural constituency of
his Republican Party. He was an honest and fearless man.

The fundamental aspect of his popularity was that he was a "no bull****"
guy. His personal courage and honesty were beyond question. It also
didn't hurt his cause that he understood how to manipulate the press.


Maybe I'm more disillusioned than you, but I don't think that the man
you describe above would be able to get far enough in politics to be
elected to any major office.

Well, Steve left out a couple of things. Theodore Roosevelt was pugnacious
to a degree seldom encountered, ferociously tenacious........and brilliant.
I think that in whatever age he found himself, about the only thing that
could have stood between him and success at whatever he set his mind to
would be assassination and, as noted, THAT was already tried with scant
success.

Wolfgang
who, if he were in the market for a hero, would at least pause to consider.

Wolfgang wrote:


Well, Steve left out a couple of things. Theodore Roosevelt was pugnacious
to a degree seldom encountered, ferociously tenacious........and brilliant.
I think that in whatever age he found himself, about the only thing that
could have stood between him and success at whatever he set his mind to
would be assassination and, as noted, THAT was already tried with scant
success.

Wolfgang
who, if he were in the market for a hero, would at least pause to consider.

I think that a politician today could start out as that kind of man, but
if he survived to be either the Republican or Democratic candidate for
president, he would, as Wayne would say, be changed.

Willi

"Willi" wrote in message
...

I think that a politician today could start out as that kind of man, but
if he survived to be either the Republican or Democratic candidate for
president, he would, as Wayne would say, be changed.

Teddy's world, one suspects, was not all ars poetica and old lace.

Wolfgang
who sometimes wonders what color the world was before sepia.

Wolfgang wrote:

"Willi" wrote in message
...

I think that a politician today could start out as that kind of man, but
if he survived to be either the Republican or Democratic candidate for
president, he would, as Wayne would say, be changed.


Teddy's world, one suspects, was not all ars poetica and old lace.

Wolfgang
who sometimes wonders what color the world was before sepia.


I guess you have more respect for the present state of our two political
parties than I do. I can't imagine a man like that today even making it
to the House or the Senate without "changing." But if he did, do you
think that either the Democrats or the Republicans would support such a
man as their candidate for President?

The way I see our present system, is that candidates are chosen for the
lowest common denominator and we get mediocrity. (Which can have a few
pluses as well as minuses)

Willi

"Willi" wrote in message
...

I guess you have more respect for the present state of our two political
parties than I do.

Hm......don't take this wrong, but do you have ANY idea of who you're
talking to?

I can't imagine a man like that today even making it
to the House or the Senate without "changing."

Well, I would never do so myself, but I'm going to guess that some of our
less charitable brethren might consider a lack of imagination a SERIOUS
impediment to idle speculation.

But if he did, do you
think that either the Democrats or the Republicans would support such a
man as their candidate for President?

Both Democrats and Republicans sometimes (rarely, to be sure, but it does
happen) find themselves in the uncomfortable position of being confronted by
human beings. They dither, they temporize, they dig around in their pants
and, in the end, they do what they always do.

The way I see our present system, is that candidates are chosen for the
lowest common denominator and we get mediocrity. (Which can have a few
pluses as well as minuses)

Candidates are chosen for the same reasons they have always been. And, as
always, half of the morons are wrong and they lose. The other half are
wrong and lucky.

Wolfgang

Wolfgang wrote:

Well, Steve left out a couple of things. Theodore Roosevelt was pugnacious
to a degree seldom encountered, ferociously tenacious........and brilliant.
I think that in whatever age he found himself, about the only thing that
could have stood between him and success at whatever he set his mind to
would be assassination and, as noted, THAT was already tried with scant
success.

Against all my basic instincts, I agree with Wolfgang. :-)

Theodore Roosevelt was a brilliant man with nearly supernatural energy,
personal magnetism, and acute political instincts. In his second term he
was overwhelmingly popular, and could easily have won a third term.

ObROFF, he was also the most important conservationist politician this
country ever had.

--
Cut "to the chase" for my email address.