Quick Quote: Thomas Jefferson on nanny government

And now, a word from the founder of the Democratic Party:

Were we directed from Washington when to sow, and when to reap, we should soon want bread.

– Autobiography, 1821

Reference: Jefferson: Writings, Peterson ed., Library of America (74)

Yes, some.

Making the rounds…

He was wrongheaded (albeit well-intentioned) on many things, but at least he wasn’t into the total radical transformation of the global economic and political systems.

Bill Clinton… world savior?

This is what passes as objective journalism for intrepid AFP reporter Sebastian Smith.  If this had been a true straight-news story, the words world savior would have been in quotes.

Then again, that was Smith’s choice of words, so if this had been a true straight-news story, the words would have been quite different.

(Click to view full-sized screenshot)

Aw, c’mon, Bill. Why don’t you show everyone our secret handshake while you’re at it?

Yawn.  Bill Clinton…. vast right wing conspiracy… yada yada yada.

Bill Clinton was asked on NBC's "Meet the Press" whether the conspiracy is still there.

He replied: "You bet. Sure it is. It's not as strong as it was because America has changed demographically. But it's as virulent as it was."

Clinton said that this time around, the focus is on Obama and "their agenda seems to be wanting him to fail."

For the record, since you seem intent on exposing our nefarious plot: Our agenda is focusing on the failure of Obama’s agenda.  Since the Big O is indistinguishable from his agenda, I guess that means he has to fail as well.

(Credit: Toon found here)

Quick Quote: Thomas Jefferson on what makes good government

And now, a word from the founder of the Democratic Party:

[A] wise and frugal government...shall restrain men from injuring one another, shall leave them otherwise free to regulate their own pursuits of industry and improvement, and shall not take from the mouth of labor the bread it has earned. This is the sum of good government.

– First inaugural address, 1801

Reference: Jefferson: Writings, Peterson ed., Library of America (494)

W shows more class than O does

Politico's Mike Allen notes with approval a pledge made by former president George W. Bush at a speech in Calgary this week:

Getting two standing ovations at his first speech since leaving office, former President George W. Bush said that if President Obama wants help, “he can pick up the phone and call.” Otherwise, Bush said: “He deserves my silence.”

“There's plenty of critics in the arena,” Bush told a crowd in Calgary, Canada. “I think it's time for the ex-president to tap dance off the stage and let the current president have a go at solving the world's problems. If he wants my help and I agree with him, I'll give it.”

This stands in sharp contrast with former...

I stopped the quote midsentence to make a point. Here, since the article is about the behavior of an ex-president toward the sitting president, the logical choice is to contrast W's behavior with that of other recent ex-presidents.

W is following in the footsteps of his father, who famously refused to criticize his successor, despite their profound disagreements. So, no sharp contrast there.

Former presidents Bill Clinton and Jimmy Carter, however, wasted almost no opportunity to criticize W during his eight years in office. Carter was much worse than Clinton in this regard, but Clinton was by no means innocent. So, maybe this is the sharp contrast Mike Allen wants to highlight. Nope, guess again.

Perhaps he wants us to take note of the fact the President Obama is not reciprocating the love. Has there been a president in recent memory who has spent so much time criticizing his predecessor? That's certainly a sharp contrast.

But no, Mike Allen tells us what the real scandal is:

This stands in sharp contrast with former Vice President Dick Cheney, who has twice hammered Obama in media interviews.

That's right. Darth Cheney can still push their buttons. Sweet.

Perhaps the former vice president could fade quietly into the mist -- as so many on the left and in the media desperately wish he would do -- if the Obama administration would stop hammering the Bush administration.

President Obama's relentless blameshifting shows what little class he and his fellow travelers have. This stands in sharp contrast with former President George W. Bush who, despite his many flaws, is an honorable man.