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In A Mood To Win

Glenn Greenwald writes about this NYTimes article detailing the whining from Wall Street. It is preemptive whining to be sure - the Obama Administration has not laid a glove on them. But it puts in mind the 1936 FDR Dem Convention Speech:

In 1932 the issue was the restoration of American democracy; and the American people were in a mood to win. They did win. In 1936 the issue is the preservation of their victory. Again they are in a mood to win. Again they will win.

More than four years ago in accepting the Democratic nomination in Chicago, I said: "Give me your help not to win votes alone, but to win in this crusade to restore America to its own people."

[More . . .]

The banners of that crusade still fly in the van of a Nation that is on the march.

[. . .] What was our hope in 1932? Above all other things the American people wanted peace. They wanted peace of mind instead of gnawing fear.

First, they sought escape from the personal terror which had stalked them for three years. They wanted the peace that comes from security in their homes: safety for their savings, permanence in their jobs, a fair profit from their enterprise.

Next, they wanted peace in the community, the peace that springs from the ability to meet the needs of community life: schools, playgrounds, parks, sanitation, highways those things which are expected of solvent local government. They sought escape from disintegration and bankruptcy in local and state affairs.

They also sought peace within the Nation: protection of their currency, fairer wages, the ending of long hours of toil, the abolition of child labor, the elimination of wild-cat speculation, the safety of their children from kidnappers.

Tonight I call the roll,the roll of honor of those who stood with us in 1932 and still stand with us today.

Written on it are the names of millions who never had a chance, men at starvation wages, women in sweatshops, children at looms.

Written on it are the names of those who despaired, young men and young women for whom opportunity had become a will-o'-the-wisp.

Written on it are the names of farmers whose acres yielded only bitterness, business men whose books were portents of disaster, home owners who were faced with eviction, frugal citizens whose savings were insecure.

Written there in large letters are the names of countless other Americans of all parties and all faiths, Americans who had eyes to see and hearts to understand, whose consciences were burdened because too many of their fellows were burdened, who looked on these things four years ago and said, "This can be changed. We will change it."

We still lead that army in 1936. They stood with us then because in 1932 they believed. They stand with us today because in 1936 they know. And with them stand millions of new recruits who have come to know.

Their hopes have become our record.

We have not come this far without a struggle and I assure you we cannot go further without a struggle.

For twelve years this Nation was afflicted with hear-nothing, see-nothing, do-nothing Government. The Nation looked to Government but the Government looked away. Nine mocking years with the golden calf and three long years of the scourge! Nine crazy years at the ticker and three long years in the breadlines! Nine mad years of mirage and three long years of despair! Powerful influences strive today to restore that kind of government with its doctrine that that Government is best which is most indifferent.

For nearly four years you have had an Administration which instead of twirling its thumbs has rolled up its sleeves. We will keep our sleeves rolled up.

We had to struggle with the old enemies of peace -- business and financial monopoly, speculation, reckless banking, class antagonism, sectionalism, war profiteering.

They had begun to consider the Government of the United States as a mere appendage to their own affairs. We know now that Government by organized money is just as dangerous as Government by organized mob.

Never before in all our history have these forces been so united against one candidate as they stand today. They are unanimous in their hate for me, and I welcome their hatred.

A masterful speech from the greatest politician and statesman of the 20th Century. It is too much to ask that his performance be matched. But it is not too much to ask that lessons be learned from him.

Speaking for me only

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  • Display: Sort:
    Thanks for posting that speech (5.00 / 3) (#1)
    by ruffian on Mon Feb 08, 2010 at 09:22:28 AM EST
    Although it makes me sad to be reminded that no one speaks for the people as clearly today.


    +1000 (5.00 / 3) (#2)
    by lambert on Mon Feb 08, 2010 at 10:04:01 AM EST
    But... But.. What about bipartisanship?

    lol (5.00 / 3) (#3)
    by ruffian on Mon Feb 08, 2010 at 10:33:36 AM EST
     
    Nine mocking years with the golden calf and three long years of the scourge!

    That's what I like to hear!

    Parent

    How to create patriotism (5.00 / 2) (#7)
    by ricosuave on Mon Feb 08, 2010 at 11:07:37 AM EST
    Next time you hear someone waxing poetically about the "greatest generatiom" and all that they were willing to sacrifice for this country, read them this speech.  This is how FDR helped build up an entire generation's willingness to fight for their country...by showing that their country would fight for them.

    Indeed (none / 0) (#9)
    by cal1942 on Mon Feb 08, 2010 at 01:02:50 PM EST
    by showing them that it's THEIR country.

    Parent
    Oh god, yes. Can you imagine (none / 0) (#12)
    by observed on Mon Feb 08, 2010 at 02:03:53 PM EST
    droves of middle class men signing up for a war now??
    No,  it's let the poor people fight---they're lucky to have that opportunity.

    Parent
    Bipartisanship? (5.00 / 2) (#8)
    by Ramona on Mon Feb 08, 2010 at 11:09:06 AM EST
    Roosevelt gave up worrying about bipartisanship long before he gave this wise and wonderful speech.  He could give it with confidence because he gave up worrying about the obstructionists on the other side.  These are not the words of an appeaser:

    For twelve years this Nation was afflicted with hear-nothing, see-nothing, do-nothing Government. The Nation looked to Government but the Government looked away. Nine mocking years with the golden calf and three long years of the scourge! Nine crazy years at the ticker and three long years in the breadlines! Nine mad years of mirage and three long years of despair! Powerful influences strive today to restore that kind of government with its doctrine that that Government is best which is most indifferent.

    We're in a battle to bring this country back from the brink of disaster.  We didn't cause it, but if we focus, we might be able to fix it.

    Let them stew in their own juices.  I can't imagine what the Republicans could bring to the table that would make up for what they've done to us already.

    Better tell Obama that (none / 0) (#10)
    by cal1942 on Mon Feb 08, 2010 at 01:07:30 PM EST
    He hasn't caught on yet.

    Parent
    Great quote from Krugman today (5.00 / 2) (#11)
    by Dadler on Mon Feb 08, 2010 at 01:40:50 PM EST
    What Me Worry? (5.00 / 0) (#16)
    by kidneystones on Mon Feb 08, 2010 at 07:37:08 PM EST
    TPM has an absolutely stunning image of President O flanked by Mitch and Harry. Harry looks like he swallowed a toad. Mitch is staring straight into the camera looking like a kid on Christmas eve and in the middle there's a doofus grinning from ear to ear.

    The topic: HCR once more.

    Unbelievable.

    "what 's that lassie?" (none / 0) (#4)
    by Salo on Mon Feb 08, 2010 at 10:37:26 AM EST
    A speech?

    Amazing that people knew (5.00 / 1) (#5)
    by observed on Mon Feb 08, 2010 at 10:45:58 AM EST
    how to give speeches before Obama showed how it's done.

    Parent
    In a Mood to Win (none / 0) (#6)
    by Suzan2 on Mon Feb 08, 2010 at 10:47:53 AM EST
    It's not too much to ask that he try to match his (FDR's) performance.

    Especially of this pretender.

    What a great blog!

    May I blogroll you?

    Suzan

    FDR didn't just say it (none / 0) (#13)
    by debcoop on Mon Feb 08, 2010 at 03:30:23 PM EST
    He did it.

    True dat (none / 0) (#14)
    by Big Tent Democrat on Mon Feb 08, 2010 at 03:33:23 PM EST
    Hey debcoop.

    Nice to see you stop by.

    Hope all is well with you.

    Parent

    Nice to see you (none / 0) (#22)
    by debcoop on Tue Feb 23, 2010 at 05:22:47 PM EST
    I was having trouble with my commenting.

    Still a technophobe.

    I read talkleft everyday.
    You have grown amazingly succinct.  I though am still prolix most of the time.

    Parent

    Reading this (none / 0) (#15)
    by coigue on Mon Feb 08, 2010 at 04:59:17 PM EST
    and thinking about what FDR was up against, and how he succeeded makes me think that current politicians are really out of balance in how much they revere process over product. FDR had to ram stuff through, he even threatened SCOTUS to get what he wanted. Why? Because he knew it was worth it. I wonder how bad it has to become for current pols to see that it's worth it to bypass protocol and process to help the country?

    It's not "preemptive whining" fr Wall St (none / 0) (#17)
    by FoxholeAtheist on Mon Feb 08, 2010 at 08:18:48 PM EST
    It's duplicitous whining - a reiteration of the Big Lie that Obama always was, and still is, a left-leaning liberal. The lie got Obama elected but, in the past year, much of the electorate has come to see him as a wolf in sheep's clothing.

    So now, Obama actually needs the GOP and the press and the banks to sustain the lie. He needs ongoing cover so that he can continue the work of giving to the rich while robbing the poor. I just don't know who they think they're fooling at this stage.  

    obviously he is fooling a lot of them (none / 0) (#19)
    by Bornagaindem on Tue Feb 09, 2010 at 06:19:20 PM EST
    since his approval ratings remain at or above 50%

    Parent
    Ok, so it appears Obama is (none / 0) (#21)
    by FoxholeAtheist on Tue Feb 09, 2010 at 09:44:49 PM EST
    still fooling people. That doesn't bode well for anybody remotely to the left of center.

    Parent
    back in the clinton V. big zee-r-0 fights (none / 0) (#18)
    by seabos84 on Mon Feb 08, 2010 at 10:05:09 PM EST
    I was really torn - clinton had such a track record of selling us out, vs. the big zee-r-0's shorter sell out track record. BUT

    There was and there is such an opportunity to radically change the rules - and I don't care about this whiny equity justice whatever stuff - I mean change the rules of opportunity, cuz when there is opportunity in the land, NOT just stacked decks for the pigs at the top,

    when there is opportunity in the land, justice and equity are a lot more likely to happen.

    the big zee-r-0 AND hillary are both smart enough,  and tough enough, to fundamentally change the rules for the benefit of almost everyone -

    NOT for the benefit of the pigs at the top who want to stay on top by rigging the game, but for people willing to support good investment in the community - so there is a base to build wealth upon ... how much could we as a species accomplish in such a system?

    instead, we have these craven, cowardly, pathetic "leaders" who learned in the ivy halls how to get in charge and how to stay in charge and how to lie about it!

    ugh.

    rmm.


    You read a speech like this (none / 0) (#20)
    by Bornagaindem on Tue Feb 09, 2010 at 06:25:02 PM EST
    and then you have to hear  the media tell us  about another of Obama's "best speech evah" crap. I still have to ask does anyone remember what his majesty  said 5 minutes later? I can't even listen to him any more -his constant scolding is as annoying as W's snide little chuckles.

    Ahhh, wish that we had a real president again.