Wednesday, October 18, 2006
The last actual compassionate conservative
Quite to my surprise, I visited Herbert Hoover's birthplace and presidential library and museum today, in West Branch, Iowa, a few miles east of Iowa City.
A surprise because if you'd asked me, I couldn't've told you where Hoover was from, or where his library-museum was. Not my century.
But it was very cool.
Hoover still gets grief for not using the powers of the presidency to respond to the Great Depression. He did not act, despite having a heart as big as Dallas -- because circumstances had outstripped the power of the presidency.
It took FDR and a shell-shocked Congress to deal with it -- and, yes, the WW II war machine helped -- and the federal government was forever changed.
Hoover was a true compassionate conservative. He was elected to a presidency that, as an institution, was powerless to respond.
The current president has no such excuse. Of course, George W. Bush is neither compassionate *nor* conservative, so it doesn't really matter. And *his* war machine is not helping at all.
--ER
A surprise because if you'd asked me, I couldn't've told you where Hoover was from, or where his library-museum was. Not my century.
But it was very cool.
Hoover still gets grief for not using the powers of the presidency to respond to the Great Depression. He did not act, despite having a heart as big as Dallas -- because circumstances had outstripped the power of the presidency.
It took FDR and a shell-shocked Congress to deal with it -- and, yes, the WW II war machine helped -- and the federal government was forever changed.
Hoover was a true compassionate conservative. He was elected to a presidency that, as an institution, was powerless to respond.
The current president has no such excuse. Of course, George W. Bush is neither compassionate *nor* conservative, so it doesn't really matter. And *his* war machine is not helping at all.
--ER
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Favorite Hank Hill quote:
"I'm talking about Jesus peace, not hippie peace!"
Interesting - and telling - that K had to resort to a fictional character to find a current compassionate conservative...
I can suggest that Mark Hatfield was a more recent CC, thus meaning that Hoover wasn't the LAST CC.
"I'm talking about Jesus peace, not hippie peace!"
Interesting - and telling - that K had to resort to a fictional character to find a current compassionate conservative...
I can suggest that Mark Hatfield was a more recent CC, thus meaning that Hoover wasn't the LAST CC.
Even Hank is questionable. He's more likely to kick your ass than to invite you to church. However, count on him to invite you to a barbecue bonanza a Strickland Propane!
I meant Hoover was the last compassionate conservative *president.*
Hank Hill's a hoot.
I can say "For God's sake, Louann, put some clothes on!" dangerously close to the way he says it, and used to utter it on occasion: "For God's sake, Bird, put some clothes on!"
Hank Hill's a hoot.
I can say "For God's sake, Louann, put some clothes on!" dangerously close to the way he says it, and used to utter it on occasion: "For God's sake, Bird, put some clothes on!"
You ever see the Christmas episode where Hank and Cotton (Hank's dad) are feuding and Cotton's locked himself up in a Habitat for Humanity house, armed with a nailgun?
Jimmy Carter shows up to negotiate a peace between the two (it's a difficult negotiation process) and, as he's leaving, son Bobby says that Jesus saved Christmas.
Everyone gasps and asks Bobby what he means and Bobby indicates Carter saying, "His initials are JC, he's a carpenter, he brought peace..."
Of course, Hank and Cotton could both soundly agree together that Carter was NOT Jesus...
Funny episode.
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Jimmy Carter shows up to negotiate a peace between the two (it's a difficult negotiation process) and, as he's leaving, son Bobby says that Jesus saved Christmas.
Everyone gasps and asks Bobby what he means and Bobby indicates Carter saying, "His initials are JC, he's a carpenter, he brought peace..."
Of course, Hank and Cotton could both soundly agree together that Carter was NOT Jesus...
Funny episode.
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