Theodore Roosevelt on criticizing the President of the United States.

[roamer65]

"The President is merely the most important among a large number of public servants. He should be supported or opposed exactly to the degree which is warranted by his good conduct or bad conduct, his efficiency or inefficiency in rendering loyal, able, and disinterested service to the Nation as a whole. Therefore it is absolutely necessary that there should be full liberty to tell the truth about his acts, and this means that it is exactly necessary to blame him when he does wrong as to praise him when he does right. Any other attitude in an American citizen is both base and servile. To announce that there must be no criticism of the President, or that we are to stand by the President, right or wrong, is not only unpatriotic and servile, but is morally treasonable to the American public. Nothing but the truth should be spoken about him or any one else. But it is even more important to tell the truth, pleasant or unpleasant, about him than about any one else."

"Roosevelt in the Kansas City Star", 149
May 7, 1918

I think TR got this one right.

[Avalux]

1. Yes he did. Nothing wrong with healthy criticism.

It's the bashing and hate speech that is destructive and serves to do nothing but pit people against each other.

[roamer65]

3. You are absolutely correct.

There is no room for hate speech. Healthy criticism is essential for democracy to flourish.

[BobRossi]

2. Right on Teddy!

I can't believe how some on DU have turned into the same people that they hated when shrub was POTUS.
It is exceedingly dangerous to blindly follow any human.

[liberalmuse]

4. Nothing wrong with criticism.

It's the total eviscerating of a President who was handed a plate full of shit and has only been in office for 79 days. Some of the shit posted here lately belongs at the Free Republic toxic waste dump.

[stillcool]

5. I love to hear knowledgeable opinions...

It's funny how those with knowledge of the subject matter they are dealing with, do not have to express themselves with caustic language, exaggerations, or personal attacks. In those cases I actually learn something, and am better for reading it. I understand why some people use over the top language to get their point across, and can appreciate that too..if there is any thing valid about what they are saying. To criticize, to criticize might be a feel good, but other than that it's just noise.

[panader0]

7. Are you talking about civility? On DU?

[stillcool]

9. I remember when...

I've learned a lot here..still have bookmarks that go back years. Long, fact-filled posts, about things that actually happened. Or..even posts about things that were scheduled to happen, that got lots of replies and lots of DU'ers involved. Those days seem all but gone.

[MannyGoldstein]

6. Teddy Was A PUMA, Obviously

Up until Jan 20, he loved the terrorists and hated our troops.

Teddy was a very, very bad man.

[defendandprotect]

8. Great and accurate observations by Teddy . . . !!!