General Discussion

DerekG

(2,935 posts) Mon Dec 8, 2014, 02:26 AM Dec 2014

119

A profound thanks to those who invoke FDR and the New Dealers [View all]

Full confession: Watching Ken Burns' recent Roosevelts documentary reduced me to tears. I'm 32 years old, and have never once felt that a sitting president had the welfare of the working class and poor in mind. Not once. The very notion that an administration could be visionary is as alien to me as a Lovecraft yarn.

I do not suffer from hero worship, nor do I yearn to live in a time when lynching was a regional sport, or Japanese internment a purported necessary evil. All that I want is a president and cabinet that cares more about the people around me than the gangsters sitting in board rooms. Not too much to ask for, is it?

Thanks to each and every DUer who continues to invoke the liberal reformers who came before us. It uplifts me, to see the names of Franklin and Eleanor, of Wallace and Perkins and Hopkins and Ickes and all the rest. It means the dream isn't quite dead. There's just a vacuum--one that could easily be filled with the encouragement of a hungry, courageous, angry (and yes, a wistful) citizenry. I'm primed for a fight, myself.

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A profound thanks to those who invoke FDR and the New Dealers [View all] DerekG Dec 2014 OP

FDR definitely had the welfare of the white working class in mind Recursion Dec 2014 #1

Key word. sheshe2 Dec 2014 #7

Katznelson's book, and Coates's journalism, have really made me rethink the postwar prosperity Recursion Dec 2014 #8

I'm sorry, but no. Just no, dude. AverageJoe90 Dec 2014 #67

Not really. The wage floor was set to support a family of four on one income Warpy Dec 2014 #9

Nice post, Warpy! Enthusiast Dec 2014 #12

Yes, the White Working Class, she.. this is a Whole Different Era.. FDR was great and I appreciate Cha Dec 2014 #16

This era is the result of people reversing FDR's policies. Octafish Dec 2014 #56

Exactly. n/t whathehell Dec 2014 #60

+10000000 woo me with science Dec 2014 #109

Why does he support TPP? pangaia Dec 2014 #66

That wasn't how it was *intended*, though.(yes, that's the key word!) AverageJoe90 Dec 2014 #69

Text from FDR State of the Union Address, 1944: bvar22 Dec 2014 #70

And I love you for not shutting up about it Bvar dflprincess Dec 2014 #79

fellow FDR Dem here, bvar22, Please never shut up!!! Nice post. Thanks~ RiverLover Dec 2014 #81

love your post. Stellar Dec 2014 #91

He either went along with southern senators, or there would have been no programs at all eridani Dec 2014 #13

I don't blame him for feeling that way, TBH...... AverageJoe90 Dec 2014 #68

Not really the case. NewDeal_Dem Dec 2014 #99

Good smear! You're in fine form! Scuba Dec 2014 #21

how is that a smear ? JI7 Dec 2014 #23

Constant practice. n/t QC Dec 2014 #30

. MannyGoldstein Dec 2014 #25

He definitely started the Civil Rights ball rolling. And at a time when it was pretty much unheard sabrina 1 Dec 2014 #38

But since you and I are purists, we hate FDR MannyGoldstein Dec 2014 #39

I didn't know that, that he didn't do everything instantly!!! sabrina 1 Dec 2014 #40

That wing keeps breaking up into smaller and smaller sub-committees. Gidney N Cloyd Dec 2014 #41

"I welcome their hatred" whathehell Dec 2014 #62

Actually, Teddy Roosevelt first asked an African-American to eat at his table in the White House. JDPriestly Dec 2014 #65

Eleanor also championed Marian Anderson when she was banned from singing by the Daughters of jwirr Dec 2014 #64

That was a beautiful episode. MannyGoldstein Dec 2014 #71

I agree. She was as much our leader as was her husband. They made a wonderful team. jwirr Dec 2014 #72

A shameless "Let's Rewrite History" Third Way strawman post. "In June 1941, Roosevelt issued Zorra Dec 2014 #43

Thank you Zorra. hifiguy Dec 2014 #47

Yep, hifiguy, I believe you did just that. Zorra Dec 2014 #50

Superb post. woo me with science Dec 2014 #58

Thank you, the rewriting of history is a problem when the facts are sabrina 1 Dec 2014 #104

What an impressive post. pacalo Dec 2014 #2

My paternal grandfather was a huge FDR man. WhiteAndNerdy Dec 2014 #3

both my Grandparents voted for FDR and were lifelong Democrats... VanillaRhapsody Dec 2014 #27

My Mum said the very same thing, almost word-for-word. n/t ReRe Dec 2014 #85

FDR's greatest speech, January 6, 1941. longship Dec 2014 #4

Yes, he was elected four times for a reason. PSPS Dec 2014 #5

Nice smear on a successful Democratic President.... VanillaRhapsody Dec 2014 #28

The poster wasn't smearing FDR, s/he was praising him. sabrina 1 Dec 2014 #37

No you got the wrong President... VanillaRhapsody Dec 2014 #44

+10000000000000 woo me with science Dec 2014 #42

Exactly!!! sabrina 1 Dec 2014 #49

With huge majorities, which mean that lots of Republicans voted for him Doctor_J Dec 2014 #57

K&R. Obama promised hope. FDR delivered hope. JDPriestly Dec 2014 #6

There's been a lot of realized HOPE from President Obama.. but, you actually have to know Cha Dec 2014 #15

Yes, that's why he signed off on the massive food stamp cuts. The hungry are so hopeful. RiverLover Dec 2014 #17

I didn't say shite was perfect.. I said there's been a lot of good but you have to actually Cha Dec 2014 #19

Most states have rethug governors so it isn't hopeful. Sad it had to pass on the federal level. RiverLover Dec 2014 #20

Thank you.. I don't think Obama is bad at all.. It's sad that there's such monsters in Congress.. Cha Dec 2014 #22

Total agreement there! Not fun to think about though. {{shudder}} nt RiverLover Dec 2014 #26

Really? I know one of those food stamp recipients. He was a disabled young father of two sabrina 1 Dec 2014 #51

Sorry but I have to focus on the negatives when I see them every day. rhett o rick Dec 2014 #77

Yes, Paul Ryan was soundly defeated in 2012, yet we got his punitive budget anyway Doctor_J Dec 2014 #55

Propaganda is a low, disreputable occupation. woo me with science Dec 2014 #32

Oh, it's just you with your personal attacks that say everything about poor you and Cha Dec 2014 #33

Are you and Pro Sense good friends? Phlem Dec 2014 #53

Yes shame on us that want CHANGE. While Pres Obama may win your heart with his rhett o rick Dec 2014 #74

Come on... they're not falling for just a smile. cui bono Dec 2014 #87

+100000000* VanillaRhapsody Dec 2014 #45

Obama has done a lot of good things. JDPriestly Dec 2014 #46

The only HOPE we have with Pres Obama is that we HOPE he doesn't appoint more Conservatives. rhett o rick Dec 2014 #73

And which your post is completely devoid of... cui bono Dec 2014 #95

you have fallen for the fucking rightwing meme that he hasn't been a successful President... VanillaRhapsody Dec 2014 #29

Pres Obama and the Right-Wing agree on the TPP. Hello. I am guessing you are on board. rhett o rick Dec 2014 #76

serious??? VanillaRhapsody Dec 2014 #78

What in that batch of rhetoric has he actually done? It's one thing to say you favor something rhett o rick Dec 2014 #82

Don't even try. I've been around the merry-go-round with this one over this very subject cui bono Dec 2014 #88

No you didn't read the above....as it screws up your "narrative" VanillaRhapsody Dec 2014 #111

We were discussing the President and his obsession with the middle class killing TPP. rhett o rick Dec 2014 #114

LOL Oilwellian Dec 2014 #110

Of course...because it screws up your HRC meme! VanillaRhapsody Dec 2014 #112

No. 85% of republicans oppose 'fast track' authority on TPP for Pres. Obama. pampango Dec 2014 #92

You know I hope that the fast track authority vote is separate from the vote on the TPP?? rhett o rick Dec 2014 #96

Of course. The conservative base does not support the TPP either, though their politicians do. pampango Dec 2014 #97

Do you have an explanation why the Conservatives don't like Free Trade Agreements? nm rhett o rick Dec 2014 #98

Not really. Suspicion of foreigners - immigration, trade, foreign aid, "us vs them" - might pampango Dec 2014 #103

Using FDR to bash Obama treestar Dec 2014 #89

Beautiful sentiments, DerekG. I'm with you. Enthusiast Dec 2014 #10

A hearty welcome and K&R Populist_Prole Dec 2014 #11

Beautifully said, thanks. n/t MBS Dec 2014 #14

Thank you DerekG, I'm primed for a fight too! Its one worth fighting for. RiverLover Dec 2014 #18

For Many "Boomer's" fredamae Dec 2014 #24

FDR welcomed the hatred of the Wall $treeters hifiguy Dec 2014 #48

One is left to wonder what FDR would... 99Forever Dec 2014 #31

Great post. Many will give Obama a lot of credit for his accomplishments, including Krugman, but pampango Dec 2014 #34

I'm glad FDR accomplished so much.. and had the help to do it. I'm grateful for what Pres Obama Cha Dec 2014 #75

Apples and oranges treestar Dec 2014 #90

Huge K&R The corporate machine works hard to narrow our perspective and awareness, woo me with science Dec 2014 #35

This is so true. Yo_Mama Dec 2014 #54

He definitely did have the welfare of the people in mind. Listening to his fireside chats sabrina 1 Dec 2014 #36

Yeah, that's what's missing today. Yo_Mama Dec 2014 #52

There are a few points to remember though sadoldgirl Dec 2014 #59

All very true. And sobering... nt RiverLover Dec 2014 #63

He was great.. whathehell Dec 2014 #61

Now you see why Republicans want to ... JEFF9K Dec 2014 #80

Sounds like I missed a documentary with a 19th-century "great man" approach to history BainsBane Dec 2014 #83

The program was much richer and more nuanced than you imply. MBS Dec 2014 #94

Your appreciation of Frankin and Eleanor warms my heart. Continue studying him and that era. appalachiablue Dec 2014 #84

Thank you for this wonderful,wonderful post MBS Dec 2014 #93

Personal aside - what I noticed during the Reagan era was not only truedelphi Dec 2014 #101

yeah, I know what you mean. MBS Dec 2014 #105

There's a segment of the population out there still fighting "commies". Spitfire of ATJ Dec 2014 #86

Whenever I Jamaal510 Dec 2014 #106

Feel free to share this pic I made a while back.... Spitfire of ATJ Dec 2014 #107

kick woo me with science Dec 2014 #100

You handled kick 100; I will add 101. n/t truedelphi Dec 2014 #102

kick woo me with science Dec 2014 #108

Love your post...my grandparents were FDR Dems Oilwellian Dec 2014 #113

kick woo me with science Dec 2014 #115

kick woo me with science Dec 2014 #116