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Thursday, January 25, 2007

Rough Rider for Truth

h/t Glenn Greenwald

Teddy Roosevelt’s thoughts on criticism of the President. ‘Nuff said.

The President is merely the most important among a large number of public servants. He should be supported or opposed exactly to the degree which is warranted by his good conduct or bad conduct, his efficiency or inefficiency in rendering loyal, able, and disinterested service to the Nation as a whole.

Therefore it is absolutely necessary that there should be full liberty to tell the truth about his acts, and this means that it is exactly necessary to blame him when he does wrong as to praise him when he does right. Any other attitude in an American citizen is both base and servile.

To announce that there must be no criticism of the President, or that we are to stand by the President, right or wrong, is not only unpatriotic and servile, but is morally treasonable to the American public. Nothing but the truth should be spoken about him or any one else. But it is even more important to tell the truth, pleasant or unpleasant, about him than about any one else.

4 Swings of the bat:

Dad29 said...

That's the long way of saying what I have posted at the top of my blog--the quote from Mark Twain.

Other Side said...

Well, come on ... Twain was a writer. Roosevelt was a politician.

Good for you, though. See, we're really not all that different ... lol.

Dad29 said...

I'll reserve judgment on our degree of difference until after your father and I have met for cocktails--which YOU will buy.

Other Side said...

Well, give him a call. He lives in Monona, last name is Rock. I'd suggest using a name other than dad29. He'll hang up.