Actually, YOU make an eloquent Lost Causer yourself. I can't think of how many times I have had to point out to people that the people in that era were the products of their time when they are being bashed as white supremacists.GannonFan wrote:Jefferson wrote as an idealist, but in practice he was again, a quintessential politician. He was as practical as they come in terms of maneuvering behind the scenes and using anything he could to gain political advantage. For all his diatribes against Hamilton and the things he did as Treasurer, Jefferson was perfectly happy using those things to his advantage once he got into the White House. Heck, his greatest achievement as President, the taking advantage of a distracted Napolean and the Louisiana Purchase, was one of the broadest examples of assumed power by the Federal government not only up to that point, but for years to follow. Rand Paul is a kook and a one man show - Jefferson practically created and molded the political party that would come to dominate the first half century of our country - they couldn't be further apart.CID1990 wrote:
Jefferson was the quintessential idealist. However, his libertarian slant could play well today like Rand Paul, but watch Paul not get nominated.
Lincoln was a white supremacist in word if not deed, so he would be toast even for the local school board elections.
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As for Lincoln, you're talking as a disgruntled Southerner and a subscriber to the Lost Cause. Sure he was racist and if you magically transport him into today's world he wouldn't be elected. But that ignores the fact that he lived 150 years ago and was very much a product of his time - his views were very much in line with the prevailing thought of that era. Just because he eventually came to the realization and championed that slavery had to end didn't mean that he wasn't racist, especially relative to our time. But by your capricious evaluation practically no President prior to the 1950's would stand a chance to be President today because of their outdated, althouth not while they lived, views on race. If you ignore the fact that any of them, if they lived in our times, would likely have views more mainstream to our age, then you can draw whatever faulty conclusion you want to, although the usefullness of those conclusions is obviously limited.
I don't disagree with much of what you said, but Rand Paul is VERY similar to that obscure modern day Jefferson. His filibuster was the biggest admixture of political tactic and principle I have seen in a long time. Jefferson would have been proud.
BTW next time just call me out for hyperbole and you won't have to write as much.
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