Enthusiastic Support

Authored by Michael Pate on July 17th, 2004 at 8:27 AM

One opinion on why FDR was a great president.

FDR understood that he couldn’t enter World War II until the public was ready. He did all kinds of half-steps, cash-and-carry, lend-lease, and sold it to them and they bought it because he was so cheerful and reassuring. Finally, after Pearl Harbor, the public was engaged, and wanted to get even. “A date which will live in infamy.” He fed the frenzy, interning American citizens of Japanese descent, as a way to give the public a sense something was happening as he geared up for war. (History remembers this as a terrible thing, and it was, but the context is often omitted.) - Dave Winer

One opinion on why JFK II has the potential to be a great president.

Even if Kerry spent the next four years, comatose at his desk and didn’t do a damn thing, he would be a better President than George W. Bush in the White House for four more years without the constraints of worrying about a future re-election. - Shelley Powers

Does anyone anywhere have anything good to say about John Kerry? It is looking more and more doubtful.

In 2000, Nader could argue, implausibly even then but respectably, that he was running in the grand tradition of the progressive third-party candidates of the early 20th century — to put into serious play a neglected but necessary agenda, in the progressives’ case workman’s comp, the 40-hour week and so on. Then, Nader could be passed off as quixotic. This time, he just seems delusional. - Tom Teepen

Have you noticed anything?

He has led this country with moral clarity. He has not wavered in his determination to protect this country. You will not yield. Nor will he. - John McCain

George W. Bush is the only candidate who is actually liked by his supporters. I wonder what that will mean for the election? I have one idea.