Archive for February, 2010
“If I’ve lost Cronkite, I’ve lost Middle America.” – Lyndon Johnson, February 27, 1968
No offense to Katie Couric, Brian Williams, and whoever is anchoring the news at ABC right now (Diane Sawyer? Really?), but it’s hard to imagine any of them saying anything that would help lead a president of the United States to consider leaving office. But that’s what happened 42 years ago tonight, when CBS Nightly […]
“…a clean sheet of paper” – Congressional Republicans, February 25, 2010
Compared to the unusually compelling and impromptu engagement of President Obama’s televised meeting with Republican House members in Baltimore a few weeks ago, yesterday’s seven hour health care summit was about as interesting as proofreading that 2000-plus page proposed health care reform legislation prop that GOP leaders displayed. Much of the best analysis I have […]
“…tremendously tremendous.” – Ed Olczyk, February 21, 2010
The photo on the left shows U.S. Olympic Hockey Team players celebrating a goal in last night’s surprising 5-3 American victory over the heavily-favored Canadian squad. The U.S. victory in Vancouver was described by MSNBC commentator and 20-year NHL veteran Ed Olzcyk–perhaps unintentionally, maybe humorously, but undoubtedly accurately–as “tremendously tremendous.” At right is the iconic […]
“…I’m in control here…” – Alexander Haig, March 30, 1981
Alexander Haig, a four-star general, supreme commander of NATO, and a former chief of staff and secretary of defense, died this morning in Baltimore of complications from an infection at the age of 85. The Washington Post’s compelling obituary of Haig tells the story of a fascinating American life. Fatherless at the age of ten, […]
“We are all Republicans, we are all Federalists.” – Thomas Jefferson, March 4, 1801
Two hundred nine years ago today, Thomas Jefferson finally emerged victorious in the presidential election of 1800. That contest, and the 1796 election that also pitted Federalist John Adams against Democratic-Republican Jefferson, were closely and bitterly fought. They were also steeped in partisan rancor, a theme of political life that is especially prominent today. Jefferson […]
“History is to the nation as memory is to the individual.” – Arthur Schlesinger, 2007
While researching great quotes about history, I found an essay written by American historian Arthur Schlesinger published in the January 1, 2007 edition of the New York Times. Entitled “Folly’s Antidote”, the op-ed is a powerful critique of the failure to apply historical understanding to national policy and an expression of support for constantly investigating […]
“We shall nobly save or meanly lose the last best hope of earth.” – Abraham Lincoln, December 2, 1862
Happy 201st birthday to Abraham Lincoln, the greatest president in the history of the United States of America. In addition to his extraordinary leadership, Lincoln is also remarkable for his distinctive eloquence. I will be writing in the future about several of his most memorable and familiar words, but today I am highlighting one of […]
“Fucking retarded.” – Rahm Emanuel, August 2009
The Wall Street Journal report from two weeks ago noting that White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel described a proposed strategy as “Fucking retarded” has ignited a typically inane and hypocritical national conversation about politically correct language and perhaps added a profane catch phrase to the American lexicon. What’s inane is that those attacking […]
“Who Dat?!” – New Orleans Saints fans
The New Orleans Saints began play in the National Football League in 1967, a hapless expansion franchise, whose first winning season did not come until their 21st campaign. They have been a laughingstock–the Aints–mocked by the depressingly few fans who showed up to their home games only to ridicule them by wearing paper bags over […]
“There was never a good war or a bad peace.” – Benjamin Franklin, 1783
Today is the 232nd anniversary of the signing of the Treaty of Amity and Commerce and of Alliance Between France and the United States. To commemorate the critical importance of this treaty in America’s victory over the British in the Revolutionary War, and to recognize the key role Benjamin Franklin had in its creation, I […]