Teddy [Roosevelt] and Time

[Lubbock]

"Teddy" and Time
By Thomas Sowell
Wednesday, July 5, 2006

A special issue of Time magazine celebrates the historic career of Theodore Roosevelt and the implications of his presidency for the development of American society. In the phony familiarity of our times, where you call people by their first names when you have never even met them, the cover story in this issue is titled "Teddy."

Theodore Roosevelt was indeed a landmark figure in the development of American politics and government, but in a very different sense from the way he is portrayed in Time magazine. In fact, the way that Theodore Roosevelt has been celebrated by many in the media and among the intelligentsia tells us more about them than about the first President Roosevelt.

http://www.townhall.com/columnists/ThomasSowell/2006/07/05/teddy_and_time

[Beowulf]

I read some of that article but didn't have time to read the whole thing. As some know, Teddy Roosevelt was my favorite president. He was a fighter and never let adversity stop him. He overcame severe asthma as a child, continued a speech for an hour AFTER being shot, led the charge up San Juan Hill without horses (they were mistakenly left behind) and was credited with the construction of the Panama canal, even though it wasn't finished until after his term ended. ( I bet Liberals choose to remember the 1,000 or so who died of malaria during it's construction. It would figure)

He was also the first president to propose the idea of Universal health care although he did admit that the government didn't have the means at the time to carry that out.
On immigration, he basically stated that anyone who immigrates here in good faith shall be treated as an equal. He also stated that there was room for but one flag in America, one language, the English language and one loyalty, that of the American people.

[Lubbock]

He's my favorite, as well.

[Beowulf]

Oh yeah, he was also the first president (A Republican) to begin desegregating America by inviting blacks to be a part of government, even inviting them to the White House for dinners. Who re-segregated America? Woodrow Wilson, a Democrat. (And blacks still vote Democrat, go figure!)

[Taylor]

Teddy Roosevelt would be considered a RINO today. He was anything but conservative but he was one of the best Presidents we had. Wilson was one of the worst Presidents we had.

[dPrasse]

I dunno , Taylor ... Pres Roosevelt was a realist and spoke the truth ...
RINO's are nothing more than lying Democrats in our party for election sake ...

[Beowulf]

Prasse is right, Wilson. Teddy knew how to balance business, progress and the people better than most. He spoke, people listened and he himself listened to the people. Had he run for election and not endorsed Taft, I bet he would have been a 4 term president.

[TechnoPrincess]

I have always had a deep respect and admiration for Teddy Roosevelt.

[MrSanity]

Teddy was for the most part a Burkean conservative. He made headway on wildlife and anti-trust legislation. I would say he fits in pretty good with (Pat) Buchanan-brand conservatives.

[Lubbock]

It's always been a puzzle to me why people want to take an historical figure and place him in today's world.

It seems like such a silly and foolish exercise.

No purpose to it whatsoever.

Teddy Roosevelt in his time and context.

[MrSanity]

Teddy would probably come off as either a Pat Buchanan or a populist by today's standards.

Yes, he had his time and context, but it should matter because he has influenced both liberalism and conservatism.

[Hoosier1984]

Theodore Roosevelt was a true visionary, and really quite a remarkable man.

:vike: