Free Republic

One score and four months ago, American voters brought forth in this country a historic presidency, conceived in hope and dedicated to the proposition that yes, we can. Now I am engaged in a great political war, the conditions of which I largely inherited from my predecessor, testing whether this presidency, or indeed any presidency, at least one so crowned in virtue, can long endure.... And from these honored dead I take increased devotion to that cause for which they gave the last full measure of devotion to me. I highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in...

"You cannot bring about prosperity by discouraging thrift." "You cannot help small men by tearing down big men." "You cannot strengthen the weak by weakening the strong." "You cannot lift the wage earner by pulling down the wage payer." "You cannot help the poor man by destroying the rich." “You cannot keep out of trouble by spending more than your income.” "You cannot further the brotherhood of man by inciting class hatred." "You cannot establish security on borrowed money." "You cannot build character and courage by taking away men's initiative and independence." "You cannot help men permanently by doing for...

There are only a few of our 43 presidents – Washington, Jefferson, Lincoln, FDR and Reagan come immediately to mind – whose legacies are emblazoned in the glorious history of our embryonic "experiment" in democracy. After only 200 years, we are now recognized as the most generous, powerful, wealthy country on earth – and the envy (and therefore animosity) of all others. George W. Bush can now relax vis-à-vis what is sure to be his remarkable legacy. With his second term in office only beginning, he already has changed the configuration of the world! And on domestic issues, he has...