What Did Lincoln Really Think of Jefferson?

New York Times ^ | 07/05/2015 | By ALLEN C. GUELZO

[conservatism_IS_compassion]

Jefferson was a libertarian. He opposed the Big Government "conservatives" of his day, and he and his minions fought them tooth and nail.

Well you might put “conservatives” in scare quotes. Conservatives conserve the defining values of their country. The theme of American conservatism is freedom.

[FredZarguna]

No, that would be your post. You haven't cited one single bit of historical documentation in pursuit of your claim. The evidence that The Democratic-Republicans were opposed to limitless government is overwhelming. Learn some history.

[kiryandil]

Don’t feed the troll. He really has nothing to add to this, or any other, discussion.

You have the right of it, lad. :)

[JohnBrowdie]

was it you that denied being afflicted by hero worship, or someone else that merely sounds like you?

[FredZarguna]

Ah, the opinion with nothing to back it up continues, just as it started.

[bigdaddy45]

C’mon... ONE fact oh wise one. Please, bless us with your voluminous knowledge.

Everyone knows Jefferson was a rogue and of questionable moral character. Blah blah blah. Thats not what we’re arguing however. Please... tell us what in Jeffersons background indicates he would be a big-government Democrat. Just one fact. We’re waiting.

[FredZarguna]

Ask mommy to read the thread to you — slowly — if you can’t figure out who posted what.

[JohnBrowdie]

thank you for doing precisely what I said you would do, precisely when I said you would do it.

[Paisan]

was for limited government.

“That government is best, which governs least”
Thomas Jefferson

[kiryandil]

He [Jefferson] was a liberal in the classical tradition: a libertarian.

I guess us 97ers & 98ers are just very familiar with the "liberal in the classical tradition" discussion.

Some of the newer members must have missed the memo on that. Maybe if they did some reading of the older threads, they wouldn't get so bent out of shape at the reference...

[JohnBrowdie]

well, then, “we” will have to find a way to fill the rest of your lives. I would suggest doing some actual scholarship on Thomas Jefferson.

[bigdaddy45]

I”ve done plenty. Too bad you aren’t interested in a factual discussion. Might have been interesting. Otherwise you’re just another guy shooting off his mouth on the internet.

[Politicalkiddo]

Your contempt doesn’t either.

[JohnBrowdie]

indeed. this argument breaks out every time TJ lurches into the conversation. libertarians latch onto TJ because they literally have no one else that isn’t an absolute embarrassment — ron paul, for example.

I’m still not sure why FR has become such a safe haven for so many self righteous, millenial snowflake libertarians.

[kiryandil]

was for limited government.

“That government is best, which governs least” Thomas Jefferson

Yes, indeed.

We actually have a renowned FReeper who took a screen name relating to that particular quote [I believe], and has been doing yeoman service in the cause for many, many years. :)

[kiryandil]

Please... tell us what in Jeffersons background indicates he would be a big-government Democrat. Just one fact. We’re waiting.

Still waiting... LOL! ;-)

[Theodore R.]

Lincoln was a Henry Clay man, not a Jefferson man.

[Theodore R.]

One thing on which Jefferson erred was his faith in the people to educate themselves.

[ROCKLOBSTER]

by any modern measurement, he would have been anything but a Democrat.

But he IS a democRAT. He's one of the party icons...along with Andrew Jackass.

[ansel12]

Libertarianism is the path to larger and more intrusive government.

Broken individuals, and broken societies, who have the vote, do not vote for the conservative goals of smaller/limited government.

Sodom and Gomorrah, doesn’t vote responsibly, they vote out of personal greed and want, to give themselves more, not less, and that society of wolves and sheep, leads to a larger, more powerful government.