Fact is, Truman probably would have spotted a phony like Bush a mile away. Truman was everything Bush never was: self-made, hard-working, well-read, tough as nails. Bush isn't worthy to tie Truman's shoes.

Also, I'm surprised at how many conservative Republicans love to quote Truman (and FDR, Kennedy et. al.)

Whatever.

Hey, look! I've found a few favorite Truman quotes too:

A corner-cutter like Bush would be stung by this cautionary bit of advice --

"A president either is constantly on top of events or, if he hesitates, events will soon be on top of him. I never felt that I could let up for a moment."

Oh well, no more bike rides in the Maryland woods during business hours, eh Rose?

Once upon a time, Presidents (including Truman) inspired us with the power of dreams of a better future. Now, President Bush moves us with the power of nightmares. Truman knew better:

"America was not built on fear. America was built on courage, on imagination and an unbeatable determination to do the job at hand."

George W. Bush was born on third base and thought he'd hit a triple. Truman would have liked that idea, although he did come pretty close to describing what it must have been like for Bush as he drifted through life:

"He wasn't used to being criticized, and he never did get it through his head that's what politics is all about. He was used to getting his ass kissed."

After all, Bush was the son of a President. Truman, on the other hand, had a different perspective.

"My father was not a failure. After all, he was the father of a president of the United States."

In the Bush Administration, up is down, black is white and war is peace. Truman knew what guys like Bush were all about:

"He's one of the few in the history of this country to run for high office talking out of both sides of his mouth at the same time and lying out of both sides."

Bush likes to say that Jesus is his favorite philosopher. Maybe he ought to give that idea more than just lip service:

"I do not believe there is a problem in this country or the world today which could not be settled if approached through the teaching of the Sermon on the Mount."

Truman was a battle tested veteran (unlike the 43rd President). It gave him a certain perspective:

"I was the only calm one in the house. You see I've been shot at by experts."

...and having been shot at, he knew that beating the drums of war was easy to do -- especially when someone else's kids are dying:

"I would rather have peace in the world than be President."

Karl Rove (and President Bush) like to say that all Democrats wanted after 9/11 was to understand why the other fellow hated us so. Truman would have knocked Rove on his fat ass and then told him this as he stood over him:

"It is understanding that gives us an ability to have peace. When we understand the other fellow's viewpoint, and he understands ours, then we can sit down and work out our differences."

Bush is hard-pressed to think of any mistakes he's made as President. Truman would have thought that was, well, foolish.

"The only things worth learning are the things you learn after you know it all. "

The Federal Marriage Amendment? Ha!

"Those who want the Government to regulate matters of the mind and spirit are like men who are so afraid of being murdered that they commit suicide to avoid assassination."

Unlike most of us, Bush will change the facts before he'll change his opinion. He ought to listen to Truman:

"We must have strong minds, ready to accept facts as they are."

Bush brags that he doesn't read the news. Truman was smarter than that:

"You can never get all the facts from just one newspaper, and unless you have all the facts, you cannot make proper judgements about what is going on."

Don't like my attitude about Bush? Tough shit:

"I never did give anybody hell. I just told the truth and they thought it was hell."

M'kay?

Also, I'm surprised at how many conservative Republicans love to quote Truman (and FDR, Kennedy et. al.)

Probably because we respect them. Is it so hard to believe that I could respect someone from an opposing party? I thought that I came across better than that.

"I thought that I came across better than that"- You do Rosemary.

:) Nice Mark!

In the Bush family, unlike the Kennedy family, the children are supposed to go out and accomplish things on their own. You've got your political dynasties messed up, Ara.

Yours,
Wince

Ara,

What did Jack, Bobby or Teddy ever do? Politics, politics, politics, and they were never allowed to fail at anything. Real entrepreneurs fail alot. They take risks. They try multiple things. Lincoln, Grant, Truman and Bush all failed pretty dramatically before they succeeded. What did Jack, Bobby or Teddy fail at? The latest generation of Kennedys is much more varied and much more interesting.

Yours,
Wince

Didn't old Joe buy Jack's presidency? And what did Bobby do for a living from the time he graduated law school? He ran his brothers campaigns and was appointed AG because his Dad made Jack do it.
And Rosemary..he didn't have a valid licence at the time he missed that turn. :)

jane m- great point. The problem is that the younger people don't see that.

Truman would find a lot more in common with GWB than he would with Clinton, Gore and Kerry.

Um, no.

Truman was a product of the Democratic machine in Kansas City -- Boss Pendergast, for those of you who learned your history.

Lord knows there were plenty people back then (as there are now) who were dumb, shortsighted, morally-loose, etc. Truman knew that from close, personal experience.

Despite that, Truman never even came close to jumping ship. He was a completely loyal and committed Democrat.

To say that he would not be one now is simply wishful thinking.

Sorry.

Wince

Exactly. I have read several Truman biographies, visited his home in Independence and the Truman Library. I know the man. He had honesty, honor and the strength of his convictions imbedded in every cell of his body. The man waited for 12 years to marry his sweetheart because he had to work off his dead father's debts behind a mule, farming. He never owned his own home. To the day he died he lived in his mother-in-law's house.

I know all about the Prendergast machine. Truman was picked by the boss to be the county "Judge" but he made it quite clear that he would not be bribed and he spent the county's money wisely on public works and no graft. Prendergast never tried to compromise Truman and respected his convictions.

Truman didn't want to jump ship because in those days the Democratic Party stood for values that he believed in. Do you think he would be after protecting the right to have an abortion in the 8th month? Neither would my grandfather, my father or my mother who were all died in the wool staunch Democrats of the Progressive type. My mother's oldest brother was named William Jennings Bryan, for pete's sake. My grandfather stood on tree stumps campaigning for Dems. He would have never backed the likes of Clinton or Kerry. He was strong on national security and also understood Generals. He didn't let the military call the shots.

jane m,

Right. And just to make myself clear, I believe that Truman would have kept alive the hawkish wing of the Democrats, which has foundered. He would not let the hawks be silenced, marginalized and driven out. This would have kept the debate less partisan and more honest. This is one reason to thank God for Pat Buchanan. His isolationist anti-war stand, while sometimes embarrassing, is making the Republican party more honest. Although he has been marginalized, he hasn't been silenced or driven out. By the way, Buchanan represents a strong populist thread in American politics himself, and should not be mocked. His positions echo those of Bryan, who was a great American.

I, for one, wish that the neutralist argument had been given proper due in the national debate. Had Wilson continued to keep us out of World War I we might have had a negotiated settlement in 1917. That could have prevented both World War II and the Russian Revolution. Both Germany and the Tsar were liberalizing. Many deaths could have been avoided. In addition, our pattern of alliances and the strong military required by them has pulled us away from the Republic and toward the future Empire. Luckily success in war is not so automatic a political springboard here as it was in Rome. Jerry Pournelle has the only good argument against the Iraqi war: that somewhere down the road it will lead to Empire.

Luckily, our Constitution, having taken Rome's as a warning, is stronger against tyranny, though the Civil War and WWII really tested it.

Yours,
Wince

Wince, you are most wise. Truman's legacy has indeed been squandered by the current Dem hierachy.

I shudder at the thought of an American empire. I hope I don't live to see such a thing. I wonder if we had avoided participating in WWI, if the insanity of the 20th century would have been avoided. No Nazis, no atomic bomb, no Pearl Harbor but what else instead?


Steven, when I retire soon, I'm going to begin a project of reading G.K. Chesteron on your recommendation. Your admiration of his writings inspire me to know more of this man. Thank you.