----------------------
Har!
Truer words were never written.
Congressman Billybob
Sobran, O'Rourke, but especially Mencken speak so much truth in such few words as to make my head hurt and my heart ache.
Thanks again, now where did I put the Excedrin and the Guinness?
Freedom, Wealth, and Peace,
Francis W. Porretto
Visit the Palace Of Reason: http://palaceofreason.com
Those who like Mencken should also like the one politician that Mencken admired, Missouri Senator James A. Reed. I have three speeches and a long article by Reed from Mencken's American Mercury at my web site, to illustrate effective debating techniques for student Conservatives. I believe that you can link to at least a couple directly from the Mencken tribute to Reed, linked above, including the one described by Mencken in the above tribute.
William Flax Return Of The Gods Web Site
On the other hand, the most dangerous man in the WORLD is a Marine PFC with a duty belt. But for entirely different reasons. <_/Humor_>
"...The silliest kind of application came from our VicePresident that the Senate should direct him to sign some bills for furniture got for Mr. Otis. I opposed it, as I know Otis. There is, in all probability, some roguery in it.
...Memorandum: Get, if I can, The Federalist without buying it. It is not worth it. But, being a lost book, Izard, or some one else, will give it to me. It certainly was instrumental in procuring the adoption of the Constitution. This is merely a point of curiosity and amusement to see how wide of its explanations and conjectures the stream of business has taken its course.
...unfortunately, intrigue and cabal take place of fair inquiry. Here an observation forces itself upon me: that, in general, the further any measure is carried from the people, the less their interests are attended to.
.... All people, down to the savage, were fond of finery, the rudest the most so. And I was convinced that the poor, the amount of their several stocks taken into consideration, spent more in superfluities than the rich;
...Up now rose Grayson, of Virginia, and gave us volley after volley against all kinds of titles whatever. Louder and louder did he inveigh against them. Lee looked like madness. Carrol and myself exchanged looks and laughs of congratulation. Even the Vice-President himself seemed struck in a heap--Izard would have said rotundity. Grayson mentioned the Doge of Venice in his harangue, as he was mentioning all the great names in the world. "Pray, do you know his title?" said the Vice-President from the chair. "No," says Grayson, smartly, "I am not very well acquainted with him."
...On going first among Indians, I have observed decent white people view them with a kind of disgust; but, when the Indians were by far the most numerous, the disgust would, by degrees, wear off, indifference follows, and by degrees attachment and even fondness. How much more likely are the arts of attention and obsequiousness to make an imitative impression!
... I had, to be sure, the greatest share in this debate, and must now have completely sold (no, sold is a bad word, for I have got nothing for it) every particle of court favor, for a court our House seems determined on, and to run into all the fooleries, fopperies, finches, and pomp of royal etiquette; and all this for Mr. Adams.
...John Adams has served to illustrate two points at least with me, viz., that a fool is the most unmanageable of all brutes, and that flattery is the most irksome of all service.
...It now seems evident that remarkable influence is exerted to delay the impost [tariff] until they get in all their summer goods. This is detestable; this is-- But I have not a name for it. I wish we were out of this base, bad place.
...Lawyers have keenness and a fondness for disputation. Wrangling is their business. But long practice in supporting any cause that offers has obliterated regard to right and wrong. The question only is, Which is my side?
... I can, through this channel, communicate what I please to Madison; and I think I know him. But if he is led, it must be without letting him know that he is so; in other words, he must not see the string.
... Never will I consent to straining the Constitution, nor never will I consent to the exercise of a doubtful power. We come here the servants, not the lords, of our constituents."