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The Man in the Arena
Teddy Roosevelt Described President Trump Precisely and Accurately.
My views on President Trump are well known, as I am not in the least timid about exercising my First Amendment right to proclaim as loudly as I can my admiration for him as one of the most effective Presidents in American History and as one who may well reprise that role starting in 2025.
However, no mere words of mine could better describe President Trump at this particular time in history, when vermin like Soros and his bought-and-paid-for lackey in Manhattan are about to commit an act of lunacy so immense it defies description, than the words of another former President, Teddy Roosevelt, and the accompanying video from conservativetreehouse.com, here.
Would that the “cold and timid souls” Teddy Roosevelt knew all too well would realize that what they are doing next week is, as Elon Musk said, guaranteeing that President Trump will “win in a landslide” in 2024! But their hatred is too intense and their contempt for us “deplorables” is too deep for them to see what they are doing. They quite likely, to borrow the words of one of their more oily and repulsive “leaders,” as our dear departed Rush used to call him, F-Chuck Schumer, will “reap the whirlwind” in ways they could never fathom. Pray it is so.
“It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, who comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming; but who does actually strive to do the deeds; who knows great enthusiasms, the great devotions; who spends himself in a worthy cause; who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who neither know victory nor defeat.”
On a personal note, I must say that I think or say every single day: I hope those “cold and timid souls” who were so dainty and delicate that they allowed their hatred of President Trump’s “mean tweets” to drive them to the true lunacy of electing the worst President in the history of our Beloved Nation are facing at least some minimal level of regret at the damage they have done to their own nation. I cannot imagine what kind of mindset would drive an otherwise sentient mind to commit an error that egregious.
As a Christian, I am taught to feel remorse for them and forgive them for this possibly existential error in the danger with which it has presented our Nation. I acknowledge that teaching, as I must. I also confess how very difficult it is at this particular time in our history to act positively on that teaching as the wounds are simply too deep and too painful.
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I kept that quote posted on the wall above my desk for years until I retired . . .
You know that is not the case. People don’t work that way.
They will blame Trump for forcing them to vote for Biden.
FWIW:
Not as good as the Teddy Roosevelt quote.
I’m beginning to wonder whether Trump’s pre-emptive announcement of his impending arrest, was actually a tactic with two objectives: one, to forestall such action by the Communist DA of NY by making it clear the blow-back; and two, to goose his electoral prospects.
Is that a real and complete quote by Soros? It sure conforms with my opinion of the ogre, but it seems a little too on the nose. I’ve begun to question everything that matches my predilections too perfectly. I don’t want to be played like the electorate is played by the Left.
Ron DeSantis is not a true conservative like Trump.
DeSantis never slept with a porn star and then paid her hush money to keep the relationship quiet. Also, DeSantis didn’t allow Dr. Fauci to run the state of Florida during Covid-19. Also, Ron DeSantis has never donated money to congressman Anthony Weiner and US Senator Harry Reid.
DeSantis never signed into law jailbreak legislation like Trump did.
DeSantis is simply not a true conservative.
This is a graphic from 2016. As far as I can tell, there’s absolutely no evidence–or any documentation–that Soros (whom I loathe) ever said such a thing. (It would be rather stupid for him to have done so, and–while I think he might be verging on evil–I don’t think he’s that stupid.)
I really wish that the Right could stop snapping–Piranha like–on sound bites which address its confirmation bias, no matter where they come from. It makes us look like idiots.
Speak for yourselves, but I am nothing but.
Your comment is well taken and caused me to do the research I now realize I should have done before posting that meme. The closest I could come to a reliable fact check (as I will not knowingly rely on Politifact or Snopes) was an article from Reuters, here, which had this to say:
Thus, I stand appropriately corrected.
However, I do take exception, albeit mildly, to one of your statements. You said Soros might be “verging on evil.” I think he is the living, breathing personification of everything evil and I consider him an absolute, diabolical monster. To say that I loath him is to make the understatement of the century.
Thanks again for your comment.
I cannot remember when I did not have that quote on my desk; I would venture a guess that it has been there for a good 30-40 years or more, but that is just a guess. Just this morning I discovered another similar quote from an article at American Greatness, here, quoting from a poem a friend wrote about Richard Henry Dana, author of Two Years Before the Mast. Here it is, in part:
Certainly not the pithy quality of Teddy Roosevelt but I thought it might be of interest.
This is cult-like. What makes Trump “one of the most effective Presidents in American History”? Why is it that anyone who disagrees with that sentiment is damned in your opinion and needing of forgiveness and remorse?
We’re talking about an elected official, not the pope, and certainly not Christ Himself. One’s opinion of Trump is not a theological question. We each have a different calculation for whom we are willing to support and vote for. The choice of who we want to lead as president does not determine our salvation.
The fact is that Trump repelled more people than he attracted. We have a lot of options better than Trump for 2024–all of whom are also “in the arena.” Let’s put Trump behind us and actually try to move forward.
I am thinking you want a list. I will not provide you one, although it certainly exists.
I’ll just mention one thing, that by itself ought to have resulted in public approbation culminating in a Nobel Peace Prize.
Certainly more deserving of one than President Obama or President Carter. For reference, according to BARD
Bard is quite wrong about BO’s prize, as he had done no thing to deserve it when he was selected for it, but anyway.
Ready for the answer?
The Abraham Accords.
Who hoo! Calling people cultists again. Oh, not exactly. I can hear it now “I didn’t call you a cultist, I said that your comments were cult-like. See, totally different!”
What is “cult like”?
Where did he say that “anyone who disagrees with that sentiment is damned?”
Please be specific and use examples.
Asking for a friend.
I originally intended to just ignore this comment in view of its unnecessarily strident tone and was just going to cite the First Amendment and let it go at that. However, certain phrases demand a response and I will not let them pass in the manner of so many of the Elite Class of so-called “Republicans.”
My statement is referred to as “cult-like.” In addition to the fact that I have no earthly idea what that means, I must note that as I reach toward my 89th birthday in a few months I have never, in all that time, including most of a lifetime as a trial lawyer in which I was called every name in the book, been referred to as a member of a “cult”. Ever.
As for the third sentence in that paragraph, I offer the comment of @instugator in #14 and the question he posed to you. In doing so, I note I have gone back and re-read the apparently offensive paragraph as closely as possible and I do not see anything like calling those I disagree with “damned.” Perhaps you would be so kind as to enlighten us on where you found such language.
The first two sentences of the next paragraph are, not to put too fine a point on it, simply too silly to merit a response so none will be given.
Finally, it is with the utmost of respect that I submit the following:
No, not totally different. Not exactly the same, either.
Totally insulting, just skirts the CoC.
I don’t get the point of posting the First Amendment. I simply commented on your post. I did not say you shouldn’t be allowed to do so or punished in any way. Nor would I.
The 3rd paragraph of your post and the paragraphs following me the TR block quote are absolutely cultish. Your premise is that anyone who disagrees with your perception of Trump is blinded by hatred or an unthinking moron. What else could you have meant by “I cannot imagine what kind of mindset would drive an otherwise sentient mind to commit an error that egregious.” Is it so hard to think there are legitimate reasons to not like or vote for Trump?
As for your last paragraph, what reason do you possibly have to feel “feel remorse for them and forgive them for this possibly existential error”? Is it a sin to have voted against Trump? Is that why they need your forgiveness? The arrogance in that paragraph is impressive. You have determined that anyone who made a different decision than you committed existential error and therefore has been condemned. If not, there would be no need for your forgiveness. That is cult-like because those who turn away from Trump need your forgiveness and you hope that they see the error they committed.
You’re one of my favorite members here. Thanks for doing the follow-up. Take care of yourself.
I am coming around to your view although I regard President Trump as a great President. He has created a movement and succeeded in so many ways domestically and internationally, even in the face of constant antagonism from the media, the Democrats, and even his own Party. In his first week in office, he had several phone calls with foreign heads of State that were transcribed and leaked in their entirety to the public. He got stabbed in the back so many times it’s a wonder he is still breathing. And yet, his personality has worn on me. Instead of recognizing DeSantis as a man who is walking on the same path, Trump sees him as a competitor and began, early on, demeaning him with silly nicknames. I am beginning to wonder what is more important to Trump, the country, or Trump, himself.
Good afternoon from the lovely, sunshine dappled, gorgeous, delightful Florida Panhandle, where the temperature is a very nice 75 degrees and I hope you are having as nice a day as I am! As to the above statement, I simply do not know how to answer such a statement and will not attempt to do so.
There is a phrase in the law: Res Ipsa Loquitur, the thing speaks for itself. Therefore, I will set out my statement here with the observation that there is no way to respond to your characterization of my statement as it bears no observable relationship to the words I wrote:
” I cannot imagine what kind of mindset would drive an otherwise sentient mind to commit an error that egregious.”
I meant” “I cannot imagine what kind of mindset would drive an otherwise sentient mind to commit an error that egregious.”
No.
No.
My Lady would certainly get a smile out of that statement as she uses that word — among others!– about me almost every day. However, I note with some pride (arrogance?) that said attitude has now been termed “impressive”! Can’t wait to tell My Lady!
This is so totally unmoored from reality that I will not even attempt to respond to it.
As President Reagan said to President Carter in their debate: “There you go again!”
I hope you continue to have a lovely day; I certainly intend to do so.
With the utmost of respect, Jim George
@JimGeorge, you wrote in your initial post:
You are literally accusing people who voted for someone other than Trump of allowing their “hatred” to “drive them to lunacy.” What about my comment above mischaracterizes your position? No sentient mind could vote for Biden, or against Trump? Then only a moron would have disagreed with you, right?
You also wrote:
Nothing in my comments are unmoored from your own words. You frame the need for forgiveness in terms of your own Christian faith. You also say that faith teaches you to forgive others for an “existential error” in electing Biden. For what must they be forgiven? A difference of opinion on politics? Forgiveness is needed for sins, so what sin have those cold and timid souls committed?
I say that this is cult-like because the only “sin” I see here is that people voted against Trump. They may be wrong and some may have been motivated by rage rather than reason. But why the need for forgiveness? What transgression did they commit other than choosing differently than you?
I hope you enjoy your sunny day in Florida.
I won’t argue against that, even though I find the word “totally” to be triggering.
Thank you very, very much. Much appreciated.
I spent the better part of a lifetime in the war zones of being a trial lawyer and to say that compliments were as rare as hens’ teeth would be an understatement. Thus, I really mean it when I say: much appreciated!
Sincerely, Jim