Here's what we need to hear, FDR, 1936: "I welcome their hatred"

[Faygo Kid]

(I posted this last year. I think it's time to pick up some brass knuckles, and get tough. This is what I'm talking about):

If you have not read or listened to this, go to the link at the end. This is why I am a Dem.

". . . For twelve years 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.

I should like to have it said of my first Administration that in it the forces of selfishness and of lust for power met their match. I should like to have it said of my second Administration that in it these forces met their master. . ."

http://history.sandiego.edu/gen/text/us/fdr1936.html

[jkshaw]

1. I have many of FDR's speeches on CDs

I love to hear his voice, that upper New York state accent, and complete confidence in what he was doing.

[Octafish]

2. Wish more were like FDR today...

...and more were there supporters and followers.

[anonymous171]

7. We need a Huey Long charcter to challenge Obama and force him leftward. nt

[druidity33]

3. FDR... a national treasure. K&R. nt.

[anonymous171]

4. Such divisive rhetoric!

That would never work in today's post-partisan environment. We need to work with our slave masters instead of against them.

[bluestateguy]

5. That is all fine and good

However, what is often forgotten with these FDR analogies is that FDR didn't start using that type of rhetoric until 1935-36. In 1933-34, he was still relatively conciliatory with business.

[anonymous171]

6. The challenges from the left forced him to fight the elites.

Back then they did not "give him time" to sort everything out.

[girl gone mad]

8. I can't get enough.

Franklin always cheers me up.

[Cirque du So-What]

9. To lurking repugs, freepers & malcontents

consider that FDR won reelection a few days later by the widest margin in US history. He garnered 523 electoral votes - 46 (of 48) states. Alf Landon (forgotten politician) got a grand total of 8 electoral votes, carrying only Maine & Vermont. Popular vote: 60.8% to 36.5%.

Do you really think the American public would choose to return to the days of neocon bellicosity & corporate greed run amok - the same conditions that got us to the state in which we now find ourselves? Think again!

[patrice]

10. All of us should be working at all levels toward that time when President Obama could say

something like this because he has so many of us behind him that he can actually speak for us. That DOES NOT mean that we have to surrender our differences, but, rather, that we have to become better defined in our differences and similarities, so that the connections we choose to create are stronger for being based in the real world.

We didn't deliver a strong enough of a Senate in 2008, we should change that as much as possible as soon as possible.

Personally, I think the current step is for us to call our Senators, Dem & Rep, and tell them they can take their "Health Care" reform and shove it.

[anonymous171]

11. We need to force him to say it by refusing to vote for him unless he does.

[patrice]

12. I beieve we are talking about a question of timing here.

Demanding that a dog fly only frustrates you and pisses the dog off. It does little good to demand compliance when REAL mitigating factors make it impossible; you end up cutting your nose off to spite their face and hurting more of those whom you set out to seek justice for in the first place.

There should be no such thing as blind support, nor blind opposition. All action options should be reciprocally relative to consequences, so the tasks are to stay FULLY informed and continuously active, criteria that even the best amongst us fall way short on.

[readmoreoften]

13. And....what did he say that led you to believe he's offering "blind opposition"?

No progressive should reward corporate Dems with votes. For what? It's hardly cutting off my nose to spite my face. Voting for an expansion of war, health insurer profits, and bailing out the banks is against my interests as a working class person. If the Democrats want my vote, they can represent me. If they can't represent the working class, then what we have is a larger problem: a government ENTIRELY enthrall to privately owned propaganda systems and corporate profit. If that's the case, then extra-electoral action, such as organization for mass strikes, is the only path left.

Some of us won't put our stamp on this. And if it makes you feel any better, any progressive bones thrown to us will come as a result of those challenging the president, not those telling him his right-wing policies are okay.

[SpiralHawk]

14. Take that, you Republicon Homelander cranks & cronies, you

About time you heard a real American call you out on bing the Latter Day Pharisees you are

[StarfarerBill]

15. Progressive power comes from below, not from above.

Until a majority of Americans are willing to give up their center-right delusions and become knowledgeable about and demanding of actual leftist ideas and policies, the corporate power elite will continue to own the debate...with Republicans and most Democrats giving the capitalists everything they want.

[senseandsensibility]

16. kick

That takes courage. Our country is starving for it right now.

[K8-EEE]

17. Nobody hated him more than that old fascist Prescott Bush n/t