"... he'd be on Ricochet."
I see the ad every day now: "If he were around today, he'd be on Ricochet" overlayed on a picture of a laughing Teddy Roosevelt. It bothers me.
It bothers me because what little I've read about Theodore Roosevelt suggests that he was a progressive, much like the later Roosevelt who did more to damage American government than even Obama.
FDR was a curse upon America, yet has been lionized by the Left... so successfully that even most conservatives never question, as they were taught throughout their public schooling, that he was one of America's greatest Presidents. I'm inclined to think Teddy Roosevelt is the beneficiary of the same propoganda. So...
Teach me about Teddy Roosevelt. Why should conservatives respect him? Why do liberals love him?
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Jun '10
Re: "... he'd be on Ricochet."
TR was assertive in foreign policy but almost Wilsonian in domestic matters.
Aug '10
Re: "... he'd be on Ricochet."
You know, the ad's been bothering me, too.
Jun '10
Re: "... he'd be on Ricochet."
The only thing many conservatives may know is "Speak softly, and carry a big stick" which, come to think of it, is enough to tingle my toes.
May '10
Re: "... he'd be on Ricochet."
My public school education focused on dramatic images of Teddy leading the Rough Riders in a heroic charge and exploring the Brazilian wilderness. It was less about a President than an Icon.
Aug '10
Re: "... he'd be on Ricochet."
Well, uh, couldn't you call Wilson assertive in foreign policy matters, too? I mean, WWI and all...
Then TR would be Wilsonian in both foreign and domestic matters.
Aug '10
Re: "... he'd be on Ricochet."
In my experience, one reason why public-school history teachers idolize Roosevelt is because he's their example of what a Republican should be:
Edited on Jan 17, 2011 at 10:38ama Progressive.
May '10
Re: "... he'd be on Ricochet."
I don't find myself calling people "racists" and "imperialists" since those tend to be leftist smears, but they both accurately describe TR's character.
Jun '10
Re: "... he'd be on Ricochet."
Midget Faded Rattlesnake
Well, uh, couldn't you call Wilson assertive in foreign policy matters, too? I mean, WWI and all...
Then TR would be Wilsonian in both foreign and domestic matters. · Jan 17 at 10:34am
You're right, Midge. Wilson conducted the war competently after we entered very late into WW1. But he spent his first term straddling the fence and was equally critical of both sides, trying to maintain American neutrality and winning reelection on a "He kept us out of the war" platform. Wilson didn't ask for a declaration until after four American ships had been torpedoed by German U-boats. You could also argue that he was assertive in foreign policy with the League of Nations but I don't give much credit for the prototypical world government impulses.
Aug '10
Re: "... he'd be on Ricochet."
Pilgrim
You could also argue that he [Wilson] was assertive in foreign policy with the League of Nations but I don't give much credit for the prototypical world government impulses.
I'd say the League of Nations shows assertiveness -- stupid assertiveness. But stupid assertiveness is still a kind of assertiveness.
Jun '10
Re: "... he'd be on Ricochet."
Midget Faded Rattlesnake
Pilgrim
You could also argue that he [Wilson] was assertive in foreign policy with the League of Nations but I don't give much credit for the prototypical world government impulses.
I'd say the League of Nations shows assertiveness -- stupid assertiveness. But stupid assertiveness is still a kind of assertiveness. · Jan 17 at 2:33pm
We agree. I think we are jacking Aaron's tread re: TR. Be a good Member Feed topic -- FDR probably did more long term damage but WW might be the most evil-minded president of the 20th century
Re: "... he'd be on Ricochet."
For the record, I share your distaste of Teddy Roosevelt's politics. Not sure I'd consider him right-of-center. He was one of the earliest proponents of the idea of a "living Constitution" and is widely considered to be a founding father of American Progressivism.
For a great history of American Progressivism, check out Peter's Uncommon Knowledge interview with Claremont fellow and professor of government Charles Kesler.
Nov '10
Re: "... he'd be on Ricochet."
Ricochet bills itself as "center-right" I believe. In my experience, when anyone describes themselves as center-right, it means he's about to "go wobbly." It's like when someone says he's "fiscally conservative, but socially liberal." Scratch the surface and you'll invariably find that he's an ordinary liberal.
Am I being too cynical here, or does it seem like the admen are trying to distance ricochet from the right by using Teddy Roosevelt? Why not Coolidge!?
Jun '10
Re: "... he'd be on Ricochet."
TR is an icon for many on the right because he was a legendary outdoorsman. He loved hunting and was reputed to be a crack shot even at incredible distances. I suppose the left loves him because he established our system for national parks.
TR was also an unapologetic imperialist. When Colombia refused to grant us permission to build a canal through the Panama isthmus, TR sent in the gunboats and manufactured a revolution that gave birth to the nation of Panama. The event was nothing less than annexation of sovereign territory from a friendly power.
Edited on Jan 17, 2011 at 5:04pmNov '10
Re: "... he'd be on Ricochet."
My understanding of TR suggests that he was authoritative, and believed that his way was the best way, and everyone better get on board. A progressive before there were progressives. A fascist before there were fascists. That's my thinking.
May '10
Re: "... he'd be on Ricochet."
A better choice would be U.S. Grant, but nobody would recognize his pic.
Oct '10
Re: "... he'd be on Ricochet."
Dammerman:
Am I being too cynical here, or does it seem like the admen are trying to distance ricochet from the right by using Teddy Roosevelt? Why not Coolidge!? · Jan 17 at 5:02pm
Well...the company behind Ricochet is called Silent Cal Productions...
May '10
Re: "... he'd be on Ricochet."
TR would dissolve Ricochet into separate enterprises with the powers granted by the Sherman Anti-trust Act before he would become a member.
Sep '10
Re: "... he'd be on Ricochet."
Roosevelt would have obliterated the Full Kenneth with the Full Teddy
Jul '10
Re: "... he'd be on Ricochet."
I would not pick TR myself, and I do not agree with him on every point, but given the historical context I am not a harsh critic either.
In the Spanish-American War, the US followed its then traditional pattern of throwing together a mix of volunteer and regular forces, poorly equipped compared to the opposition, and pulled out a win.
TR believed that America was endowed with a can-do frontier spirit and vitality arising from the virtues of a republic. This enthusiasm spilled over into a kind of natural progressivism/positivism in an undisciplined way. TR used the levers and ambiguities the Founders granted the President (patterned after the Roman Consuls) in the flexibility required to meet crises and steer the legislative ship of state, to trust bust and solve the critical navigation issues with sea travel between the American East and West Coasts, i.e., the Panama Canal.
He tried to negotiate three different sites before taking the course of action he did. Annexation of the necessary land was not palatable to the "imperialistic" polity of the United States, so he fomented a revolution and arranged the 99 year lease. Now, of course, it is effectively Chinese.
Aug '10
Re: "... he'd be on Ricochet."
Though if you put Kenneth in a full teddy, that would eliminate the problem of the Full Kenneth.
Can't see Kenneth in lace, though (or if I can, I'm trying not to).