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The New Adventures of Wonderboy
The American Spectator ^ | 11.11.08 | Jeffrey Lord

Posted on 11/11/2008 5:09:17 AM PST by vietvet67

"That man has offered me unsolicited advice for six years, all of it bad."

So said President Calvin Coolidge of Herbert Hoover, his Republican successor. Coolidge derided Hoover as "Wonderboy," according to biographer Robert Sobel, "because he always seemed to want to change things." Silent Cal, who presided over a legendary golden age of economic growth that featured unemployment levels dropped to the two's and one percent range, had a dim view of what he saw as Hoover's propensity for intervention in all manner of things, including the economy. Coolidge died two months before the 1933 inauguration of Franklin Roosevelt, depriving history of his thoughts on the super-interventionist policies of the New Deal, many of which began with Hoover.

The Obama era dawns well elected on the Hooveresque mantra of changing things. Of a back to the future re-creation of Hooverism and, of course, the New Deal. At the news of Barack Obama's victory the stock market, an institution with a long memory, spent the next two days dropping 9.7%. According to Investors Business Daily it was the largest two-day drop since the market crash of October 1987.

"Wonderboy" is back, with Barack Obama reprising the role of Herbert Hoover.

Understandably, much attention is being paid to the fact that Obama is America's first black president. This is, without doubt, a proud and good moment for the country. It surely deserves a "well done" for getting past race. So too does the winner deserve a congratulations, Mr. President.

Yet in the end, the idea that Obama is the first black chief executive will soon fade in importance with the understanding he is very much America's 44th president.

(Excerpt) Read more at spectator.org ...


TOPICS: News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: bho2008; herberthoover; wonderboy

1 posted on 11/11/2008 5:09:17 AM PST by vietvet67
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To: vietvet67

Why did Roosevelt win in 1936?


2 posted on 11/11/2008 5:18:45 AM PST by cmj328 (Filibuster FOCA or lose reelection)
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To: vietvet67
Bush will be known as the new Herbert Hoover, not because he refused to intervene in the economy, but because he could not keep his paws off the financial markets.

Obama will be FDR, a "great" President (according to the media and university history profs) who drags the country through eight years of a great depression as capital flees the "socialist miracle".

:-(


3 posted on 11/11/2008 5:19:56 AM PST by cgbg ("The Second Great Depression, popularly known as 'The Obamanation'....")
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To: vietvet67

And when everything fails he will blame Bush.


4 posted on 11/11/2008 5:19:58 AM PST by freelancer (If we do not win the war against terrorism, everything else is irrelevant.)
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To: cmj328

////Why did Roosevelt win in 1936?////

He gave good speeches.

Watch out for 2012.


5 posted on 11/11/2008 5:23:10 AM PST by Ceebass
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To: vietvet67

Is it Coolidge who has all those wonderful Rand-like quotes on economic issues and ltd. gov.?


6 posted on 11/11/2008 5:42:29 AM PST by Monsieur Poirot
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To: Monsieur Poirot

Civilization and profit go hand in hand.
Calvin Coolidge

Collecting more taxes than is absolutely necessary is legalized robbery.
Calvin Coolidge

Don’t expect to build up the weak by pulling down the strong.
Calvin Coolidge

Duty is not collective; it is personal.
Calvin Coolidge

Economy is the method by which we prepare today to afford the improvements of tomorrow.
Calvin Coolidge

I have found it advisable not to give too much heed to what people say when I am trying to accomplish something of consequence. Invariably they proclaim it can’t be done. I deem that the very best time to make the effort.
Calvin Coolidge

If you see ten troubles coming down the road, you can be sure that nine will run into the ditch before they reach you.
Calvin Coolidge

Industry, thrift and self-control are not sought because they create wealth, but because they create character.
Calvin Coolidge

It is only when men begin to worship that they begin to grow.
Calvin Coolidge

Knowledge comes, but wisdom lingers. It may not be difficult to store up in the mind a vast quantity of face within a comparatively short time, but the ability to form judgments requires the severe discipline of hard work and the tempering heat of experience and maturity.
Calvin Coolidge

Little progress can be made by merely attempting to repress what is evil. Our great hope lies in developing what is good.
Calvin Coolidge

No enterprise can exist for itself alone. It ministers to some great need, it performs some great service, not for itself, but for others; or failing therein, it ceases to be profitable and ceases to exist.
Calvin Coolidge

No man ever listened himself out of a job.
Calvin Coolidge

Perhaps one of the most important accomplishments of my administration has been minding my own business.
Calvin Coolidge

Prosperity is only an instrument to be used, not a deity to be worshipped.
Calvin Coolidge

The business of America is business.
Calvin Coolidge

The government of the United States is a device for maintaining in perpetuity the rights of the people, with the ultimate extinction of all privileged classes.
Calvin Coolidge

The man who builds a factory builds a temple, that the man who works there worships there, and to each is due, not scorn and blame, but reverence and praise.
Calvin Coolidge

The nation which forgets its defenders will be itself forgotten.
Calvin Coolidge

The right thing to do never requires any subterfuge, it is always simple and direct.
Calvin Coolidge

There is no dignity quite so impressive, and no independence quite so important, as living within your means.
Calvin Coolidge

They criticize me for harping on the obvious; if all the folks in the United States would do the few simple things they know they ought to do, most of our big problems would take care of themselves.
Calvin Coolidge

Those who trust to chance must abide by the results of chance.
Calvin Coolidge

To live under the American Constitution is the greatest political privilege that was ever accorded to the human race.
Calvin Coolidge

Ultimately property rights and personal rights are the same thing.
Calvin Coolidge


7 posted on 11/11/2008 5:52:45 AM PST by frithguild (Can I drill your head now?)
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To: frithguild

Ahhh, thank you.


8 posted on 11/11/2008 6:01:26 AM PST by Monsieur Poirot
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To: Monsieur Poirot

It is probable that a press which maintains an intimate touch with the business currents of the nation is likely to be more reliable than it would be if it were a stranger to these influences. After all, the chief business of the American people is business. They are profoundly concerned with buying, selling, investing and prospering in the world.
Calvin Coolidge


9 posted on 11/11/2008 6:02:10 AM PST by frithguild (Can I drill your head now?)
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To: frithguild

As opposed to a press which maintains an intimate touch with “Lesbian Wiccans for Environmental and Economic Justice For All Transgendered Peoples and Other Species Especially Those of Color.”


10 posted on 11/11/2008 6:08:05 AM PST by Monsieur Poirot
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To: frithguild

Most excellent!


11 posted on 11/11/2008 6:09:51 AM PST by Constitution Day (1.20.13 - The End Of An Error)
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To: Monsieur Poirot

As president, Calvin Coolidge didn’t do much of anything but at the time, that’s what we needed to have done.

Will Rodgers


12 posted on 11/11/2008 6:35:13 AM PST by Ceebass
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To: frithguild

—a great president—


13 posted on 11/11/2008 6:54:09 AM PST by rellimpank (--don't believe anything the MSM tells you about firearms or explosives--NRA Benefactor)
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Coolidge died two months before the 1933 inauguration of Franklin Roosevelt, depriving history of his thoughts on the super-interventionist policies of the New Deal, many of which began with Hoover. The Obama era dawns well elected on the Hooveresque mantra of changing things. Of a back to the future re-creation of Hooverism and, of course, the New Deal... "Wonderboy" is back, with Barack Obama reprising the role of Herbert Hoover. Understandably, much attention is being paid to the fact that Obama is America's first black president. This is, without doubt, a proud and good moment for the country. It surely deserves a "well done" for getting past race.
Huh? The only reason people voted for him, literally the only reason, was because he was black -- so, no, we haven't gotten past race.
14 posted on 11/13/2008 3:48:00 PM PST by SunkenCiv (https://secure.freerepublic.com/donate/_______Profile finally updated Saturday, October 11, 2008 !!!)
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To: AdmSmith; Berosus; Convert from ECUSA; dervish; Ernest_at_the_Beach; Fred Nerks; george76; ...

David Harsanyi commentary: Robust dissent, not unity, needed in Washington
The Columbus Dispatch | November 6, 2008 | David Harsanyi
Posted on 11/06/2008 12:06:39 PM PST by buccaneer81
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2127232/posts

Unity? No, Thank You
Real Clear Politics | November 06, 2008 | David Harsanyi
Posted on 11/06/2008 12:28:19 PM PST by 2ndDivisionVet
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2127253/posts

[Vanity] Barack Obama Has Already Jumped The Shark
11/06/08 | JennysCool
Posted on 11/06/2008 9:43:29 PM PST by JennysCool
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2127642/posts

Vanity: Employers Beware!! — Summary Of What Obama Will Bring!
Vanity Press | 11-07-08 | cww
Posted on 11/07/2008 11:42:28 AM PST by CWW
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2128077/posts

Obama: Only Four Days, Already Two Broken Promises
Publius’ Forum | 11/10/07 | Warner Todd Huston
Posted on 11/10/2008 5:38:00 AM PST by Mobile Vulgus
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2129326/posts

Virulent talk radio may be a loser, too
The Buffalo News | 11-10-2008 | Douglas Turner
Posted on 11/10/2008 1:19:49 PM PST by Ouderkirk
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2129565/posts


15 posted on 11/13/2008 3:48:55 PM PST by SunkenCiv (https://secure.freerepublic.com/donate/_______Profile finally updated Saturday, October 11, 2008 !!!)
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