The Rise and Fall of President Wilson Obama

[PoliticalChic]

1. The progressives, led by President Woodrow Wilson, placed their faith in reason and the better nature of the American people. They had been inspired by a faith in democratic reforms as a salve for the wounds of both industrial civilization and power politics.

2. A former college professor, first (and only) POTUS with a PhD was the first president to have studied socialism, arguing that “in fundamental theory socialism and democracy are almost if not quite one and the same.”

3. His numinous rhetoric resonated with the highest of principles.

4. “Men as communities are supreme over men as individuals.”

5. He said that “when you do socialism justice, it is hardly different from the heart of Christianity itself.”

6. The progressives, led by President Woodrow Wilson, placed their faith in reason and the better nature of the American people as they perceive it.

7. His numinous rhetoric, it was concluded, was mere mummery.

8. He won his Presidency promising to be a transitional President, embraced by many leftists as a thaumaturgical leader of near-messianic promise,

9. Proposed that expanded government would serve as an engine of popular goodwill to soften the harsh rigors of capitalism.

10. But, unable to deal with the realities of the world situation, and difficulties with his domestic policies, his ability in question, his numinous rhetoric, it was concluded, was mere mummery.

11. Making a decisive break with Wilson and their optimism about his ability to deliver on his promises, the disenchanted progressives renamed themselves “liberals.


The more things change the more they remain the same.

It will be interesting to see the new name today's liberals will choose.


For interesting reading about President Woodrow Wilson: 1919: Betrayal and the Birth of Modern Liberalism by Fred Siegel, City Journal 22 November 2009

 

[ihopehefails]

1. The progressives, led by President Woodrow Wilson, placed their faith in reason and the better nature of the American people. They had been inspired by a faith in democratic reforms as a salve for the wounds of both industrial civilization and power politics.

2. A former college professor, first (and only) POTUS with a PhD was the first president to have studied socialism, arguing that “in fundamental theory socialism and democracy are almost if not quite one and the same.”

3. His numinous rhetoric resonated with the highest of principles.

4. “Men as communities are supreme over men as individuals.”

5. He said that “when you do socialism justice, it is hardly different from the heart of Christianity itself.”

6. The progressives, led by President Woodrow Wilson, placed their faith in reason and the better nature of the American people as they perceive it.

7. His numinous rhetoric, it was concluded, was mere mummery.

8. He won his Presidency promising to be a transitional President, embraced by many leftists as a thaumaturgical leader of near-messianic promise,

9. Proposed that expanded government would serve as an engine of popular goodwill to soften the harsh rigors of capitalism.

10. But, unable to deal with the realities of the world situation, and difficulties with his domestic policies, his ability in question, his numinous rhetoric, it was concluded, was mere mummery.

11. Making a decisive break with Wilson and their optimism about his ability to deliver on his promises, the disenchanted progressives renamed themselves “liberals.


The more things change the more they remain the same.

It will be interesting to see the new name today's liberals will choose.


For interesting reading about President Woodrow Wilson: 1919: Betrayal and the Birth of Modern Liberalism by Fred Siegel, City Journal 22 November 2009

I did not know this. This is interesting because I'm beginning to read Three New Deals and it opens up with how state building throughout the entire western world emulated the designs of the NAZIs and Italian fascist. The design seemed to suggest a feeling of superiority, power, and community all at the same time (God). The fascist of Germany and Italy chose that particular design to reflect their own philosophy but why would FDR also do that? Why would the same design pop up in France and England?

Aren't these very interesting questions...

 

[Sunni Man]

8. He won his Presidency promising to be a transitional President, embraced by many leftists as a thaumaturgical leader of near-messianic promise,

Thanks PC

I learned a new word today

thau⋅ma⋅tur⋅gic  [thaw-muh-tur-jik]
–adjective
1. pertaining to a thaumaturge or to thaumaturgy.
2. having the powers of a thaumaturge.

thau·ma·turge (thôm-tûrj) also thau·ma·tur·gist (-tûrjst)
n.
A performer of miracles or magic feats.

 

[Oddball]

11. Making a decisive break with Wilson and their optimism about his ability to deliver on his promises, the disenchanted progressives renamed themselves “liberals.


The more things change the more they remain the same.

It will be interesting to see the new name today's liberals will choose.

Actually, a lot of them are running back to "progressive". Probably because the average schlubb on the street has no idea what damage T. Roosevelt/Wilson progressivism has done to the republic.

 

[rightwinger]

He won his Presidency promising to be a transitional President, embraced by many leftists as a thaumaturgical leader of near-messianic promise,

Wilson won his Presidency because of the Bull Moose Party lead by Teddy Roosevelt. Roosevelt and Taft split the republican vote leaving the Presidency for Wilson.

Kind of like what Sarah Palin is trying to do. Palin is the first candidate since Teddy Roosevelt to actually shoot a Bull Moose

 

[Xenophon]

Ah, Wilson, the massive racist who claimed that each race needed its own lil country (ironic that he was president of a country based and functioning on EXACTLY the opposite) who threw the USA into a Worl War it had no business in to help the colonial powers for a buck, and was laughed out at the peace conference and unsupported by his own house and senate.

And I didn't even mention that he thought blacks should be seperated from whites as to him they were inferior.

Some 'hero.'

 

[JenyEliza]

He won his Presidency promising to be a transitional President, embraced by many leftists as a thaumaturgical leader of near-messianic promise,

Wilson won his Presidency because of the Bull Moose Party lead by Teddy Roosevelt. Roosevelt and Taft split the republican vote leaving the Presidency for Wilson.

Kind of like what Sarah Palin is trying to do. Palin is the first candidate since Teddy Roosevelt to actually shoot a Bull Moose

And hold his still warm (eye) balls in her hand.

 

[PoliticalChic]

He won his Presidency promising to be a transitional President, embraced by many leftists as a thaumaturgical leader of near-messianic promise,

Wilson won his Presidency because of the Bull Moose Party lead by Teddy Roosevelt. Roosevelt and Taft split the republican vote leaving the Presidency for Wilson.

Kind of like what Sarah Palin is trying to do. Palin is the first candidate since Teddy Roosevelt to actually shoot a Bull Moose

What is the point of your post?

Is it to simply to posit that you are aware of the Bull Moose Party?

Did you not understand that the OP pointed out a number of similarities in the rise of President Obama and President Wilson...and the suggestion that he is just as much an empty suit, using his academic background and speaking ability to hide the many imperfections, and socialist inclinations?

BTW, it was the second term election, not the 1913 election in which he garnered Bull Moose votes. He won the Presidency, second term, by bringing sizable numbers of Bull Moosers (who admired Germany’s proto-welfare state) and Eugene Debs’s Socialists into his “peace camp,” and maintained his strong ties with the largely antiwar Left- even after entry into the war.

"Wilson faced a Republican Party that had recovered from a 1912 split between Teddy Roosevelt’s breakaway Bull Moose progressives and anti-reform regulars to coalesce around Supreme Court Justice Charles Evan Hughes. As war raged in Europe, the incumbent narrowly won by bringing sizable numbers of Bull Moosers (who admired Germany’s proto-welfare state) and Eugene Debs’s Socialists into his “peace camp.”

1919: Betrayal and the Birth of Modern Liberalism by Fred Siegel, City Journal 22 November 2009


"That’s a shame, because Wilson’s two terms in office provide the clearest historical window into the soul of progressivism. Wilson’s racism, his ideological rigidity, and his antipathy toward the Constitution were all products of the progressive worldview. And since “progressivism” is suddenly in vogue – today’s leading Democrats proudly wear the label – it’s worth actually reviewing what progressivism was and what actually happened under the last full-throated progressive president.

The record should give sober pause to anyone who’s mesmerized by the progressive promise.

But they don’t even understand their own intellectual history."
The First “Progressive” President - Transterrestrial Musings

 

[rightwinger]

He won his Presidency promising to be a transitional President, embraced by many leftists as a thaumaturgical leader of near-messianic promise,

Wilson won his Presidency because of the Bull Moose Party lead by Teddy Roosevelt. Roosevelt and Taft split the republican vote leaving the Presidency for Wilson.

Kind of like what Sarah Palin is trying to do. Palin is the first candidate since Teddy Roosevelt to actually shoot a Bull Moose

What is the point of your post?

Is it to simply to posit that you are aware of the Bull Moose Party?

Did you not understand that the OP pointed out a number of similarities in the rise of President Obama and President Wilson...and the suggestion that he is just as much an empty suit, using his academic background and speaking ability to hide the many imperfections, and socialist inclinations?

BTW, it was the second term election, not the 1913 election in which he garnered Bull Moose votes. He won the Presidency, second term, by bringing sizable numbers of Bull Moosers (who admired Germany’s proto-welfare state) and Eugene Debs’s Socialists into his “peace camp,” and maintained his strong ties with the largely antiwar Left- even after entry into the war.

"Wilson faced a Republican Party that had recovered from a 1912 split between Teddy Roosevelt’s breakaway Bull Moose progressives and anti-reform regulars to coalesce around Supreme Court Justice Charles Evan Hughes. As war raged in Europe, the incumbent narrowly won by bringing sizable numbers of Bull Moosers (who admired Germany’s proto-welfare state) and Eugene Debs’s Socialists into his “peace camp.”

1919: Betrayal and the Birth of Modern Liberalism by Fred Siegel, City Journal 22 November 2009


"That’s a shame, because Wilson’s two terms in office provide the clearest historical window into the soul of progressivism. Wilson’s racism, his ideological rigidity, and his antipathy toward the Constitution were all products of the progressive worldview. And since “progressivism” is suddenly in vogue – today’s leading Democrats proudly wear the label – it’s worth actually reviewing what progressivism was and what actually happened under the last full-throated progressive president.

The record should give sober pause to anyone who’s mesmerized by the progressive promise.

But they don’t even understand their own intellectual history."
The First “Progressive” President - Transterrestrial Musings

No, the purpose was to point out that the original post is a load of shit.

Obama was an overwhelmingly popular elected President. Wilson was elected because Teddy Roosevelt split the republican party.....just like Sarah Palin is going to do

 

[PoliticalChic]

Wilson won his Presidency because of the Bull Moose Party lead by Teddy Roosevelt. Roosevelt and Taft split the republican vote leaving the Presidency for Wilson.

Kind of like what Sarah Palin is trying to do. Palin is the first candidate since Teddy Roosevelt to actually shoot a Bull Moose

What is the point of your post?

Is it to simply to posit that you are aware of the Bull Moose Party?

Did you not understand that the OP pointed out a number of similarities in the rise of President Obama and President Wilson...and the suggestion that he is just as much an empty suit, using his academic background and speaking ability to hide the many imperfections, and socialist inclinations?

BTW, it was the second term election, not the 1913 election in which he garnered Bull Moose votes. He won the Presidency, second term, by bringing sizable numbers of Bull Moosers (who admired Germany’s proto-welfare state) and Eugene Debs’s Socialists into his “peace camp,” and maintained his strong ties with the largely antiwar Left- even after entry into the war.

"Wilson faced a Republican Party that had recovered from a 1912 split between Teddy Roosevelt’s breakaway Bull Moose progressives and anti-reform regulars to coalesce around Supreme Court Justice Charles Evan Hughes. As war raged in Europe, the incumbent narrowly won by bringing sizable numbers of Bull Moosers (who admired Germany’s proto-welfare state) and Eugene Debs’s Socialists into his “peace camp.”

1919: Betrayal and the Birth of Modern Liberalism by Fred Siegel, City Journal 22 November 2009


"That’s a shame, because Wilson’s two terms in office provide the clearest historical window into the soul of progressivism. Wilson’s racism, his ideological rigidity, and his antipathy toward the Constitution were all products of the progressive worldview. And since “progressivism” is suddenly in vogue – today’s leading Democrats proudly wear the label – it’s worth actually reviewing what progressivism was and what actually happened under the last full-throated progressive president.

The record should give sober pause to anyone who’s mesmerized by the progressive promise.

But they don’t even understand their own intellectual history."
The First “Progressive” President - Transterrestrial Musings

No, the purpose was to point out that the original post is a load of shit.

Obama was an overwhelmingly popular elected President. Wilson was elected because Teddy Roosevelt split the republican party.....just like Sarah Palin is going to do

Consistency: your language has the same depth as your thinking.

Either document any of the bullet points in the OP that are, shall we say, 'incorrect', or continue to exhibit the dunce cap that is your holiday accessory.

You have earned the honor by neglecting to admit that you named the wrong election in your last post.

I don't mind repeating, since a conservative never stands so tall as when she stoops to help a liberal- 'progressive'- to understand.

Presidents Wilson and Obama share the career impetus of being able to speak in ways that inspire.

Presidents Wilson and Obama share the career faults in that they are less than competent, and misguided in their political philosophies.

History will document the absence of substance in the Obama Administration.

Serendipidous for you, history rarely names gullible supporters of failed regimes.

 

[CrusaderFrank]

The only reason FDR went to war against Hitler was because Hitler threatened to top FDR at becoming the era greatest force for Socialism; FDR wanted the #1 spot all to himself

 

[rightwinger]

This is really what you think is so "Threadworthy"?????

Presidents Wilson and Obama share the career impetus of being able to speak in ways that inspire.

Presidents Wilson and Obama share the career faults in that they are less than competent, and misguided in their political philosophies.

Big fucking deal. Its a takeoff from the wingnut "Hitler was a good speaker, Obama is a good speaker, therefore...Obama is the same as Hitler

History will document the absence of substance in the Obama Administration.

Wishful thinking by rightwingnuts someday hoping to recapture the White House. Obama will go down in history as a top 10 President. Our last wingnut endorsed President is currently a bottlm 5 President

Serendipidous for you, history rarely names gullible supporters of failed regimes.

More wishful thinking from the wingnuts. Obama has redirected the country as is leading an economic recovery and healthcare bill that will seal his place as a top ten President. Yes, I will proudly tell my grandkids that I voted for Obama ...twice

 

[CrusaderFrank]

Was Wilson born in Kenya?

 

[CrusaderFrank]

This is really what you think is so "Threadworthy"?????

Presidents Wilson and Obama share the career impetus of being able to speak in ways that inspire.

Presidents Wilson and Obama share the career faults in that they are less than competent, and misguided in their political philosophies.

Big fucking deal. Its a takeoff from the wingnut "Hitler was a good speaker, Obama is a good speaker, therefore...Obama is the same as Hitler

History will document the absence of substance in the Obama Administration.

Wishful thinking by rightwingnuts someday hoping to recapture the White House. Obama will go down in history as a top 10 President. Our last wingnut endorsed President is currently a bottlm 5 President

Serendipidous for you, history rarely names gullible supporters of failed regimes.

More wishful thinking from the wingnuts. Obama has redirected the country as is leading an economic recovery and healthcare bill that will seal his place as a top ten President. Yes, I will proudly tell my grandkids that I voted for Obama ...twice

Hitler ran German industry and Obama is trying to run American Industry

 

[EriktheRed]

The Rise and Fall of President Wilson Obama

Well, he has had a "fall" in terms of approval numbers, but it's still wishful thinking on cons' part to say already that his is a "failed" Presidency with only about 11 months into office.

One op-ed deserves another:

With your permission, of course, I will once again defy popular suppositions. For while the free-floating disappointment with President Obama, not the thinker but the actor, is all too real, the fact is that in less than one short year, he has wrought change so profound in the American scene that one would barely recognize today's country compared to that of 2006 and 2007.

First consider health care and insurance. Do you recall ever hearing anything about health during the George W. administration (except in their beloved gruesome battlefield hospitals, of course)? Obama has made health into the subject du jour; the papers and TV are full of it; individual cases of insurance denial are being taken apart, bit by bit. Many Americans have noticed that the health insurance companies have not dared to tell "their" story -- when one did come into the news, it was because it had turned down a desperately ill insured man needing around-the-clock care, calling him a "dog." So much for the moral stature of the insurance companies we trust with our lives!

Next consider Wall Street. The negative coverage of the big brokerage houses and their outrageous gaming of the system has become so clear to Americans over this last year that no one could expect them to reclaim their former place of respect in our society. While there is still a lot of questioning on whether the administration's enormous stimulus package will rescue the economy and bring enough funds to small business, the undeniable fact is that the administration has acted, and acted swiftly. Now the discussion is about how the nation responds when its economy is failing.

And finally, consider our foreign policy. Under George W. Bush, and especially in the hands of Donald Rumsfeld and Dick Cheney, all three of whom seemed to get a Viagra punch out of insulting our allies and trying to wipe off the face of the Earth anyone they didn't particularly like, America had sunk to its lowest place in the world order for many years. Obama has changed that.

Change has come to the national debate -- chicagotribune.com

 

[rightwinger]

Hitler ran German industry and Obama is trying to run American Industry

Crusader once again proving his ignorance. Hitler did not run German Industry.

Obama is not even close

 

[PoliticalChic]

The Rise and Fall of President Wilson Obama

Well, he has had a "fall" in terms of approval numbers, but it's still wishful thinking on cons' part to say already that his is a "failed" Presidency with only about 11 months into office.

One op-ed deserves another:

With your permission, of course, I will once again defy popular suppositions. For while the free-floating disappointment with President Obama, not the thinker but the actor, is all too real, the fact is that in less than one short year, he has wrought change so profound in the American scene that one would barely recognize today's country compared to that of 2006 and 2007.

First consider health care and insurance. Do you recall ever hearing anything about health during the George W. administration (except in their beloved gruesome battlefield hospitals, of course)? Obama has made health into the subject du jour; the papers and TV are full of it; individual cases of insurance denial are being taken apart, bit by bit. Many Americans have noticed that the health insurance companies have not dared to tell "their" story -- when one did come into the news, it was because it had turned down a desperately ill insured man needing around-the-clock care, calling him a "dog." So much for the moral stature of the insurance companies we trust with our lives!

Next consider Wall Street. The negative coverage of the big brokerage houses and their outrageous gaming of the system has become so clear to Americans over this last year that no one could expect them to reclaim their former place of respect in our society. While there is still a lot of questioning on whether the administration's enormous stimulus package will rescue the economy and bring enough funds to small business, the undeniable fact is that the administration has acted, and acted swiftly. Now the discussion is about how the nation responds when its economy is failing.

And finally, consider our foreign policy. Under George W. Bush, and especially in the hands of Donald Rumsfeld and Dick Cheney, all three of whom seemed to get a Viagra punch out of insulting our allies and trying to wipe off the face of the Earth anyone they didn't particularly like, America had sunk to its lowest place in the world order for many years. Obama has changed that.

Change has come to the national debate -- chicagotribune.com

Now this is kind of repartee I like.

First of all, thank you for the style, posting a cogent document as an answer. So different from the vituperative ravings of the immature 'wingy,' whose posts are more on the line of "so are you..."

To the fray:
1. You are correct, of course, as to the limited duration of his Presidency, and things may well change, but you are not correct that one must wait until the term is over to voice opinion or criticism.
Based on the 11months alone, he has failed in so many ways that independents are fleeing his camp, and he is taking fire from the left as well. From your post:"...the free-floating disappointment with President Obama..."
Point for my side?


2. As for "...he has wrought change so profound in the American scene that one would barely recognize today's country compared to that of 2006 and 2007...." this is truly comic relief.
Notice the columnist did not list any actual changes, and, being fair minded, you must admit that had a traveler visited in 2006, and now, he would find any differences, let us say, far from jaw-dropping.
The line reeks of high school journalism, and, at best, is overwrought polemic.


3. Next: "...First consider health care and insurance. Do you recall ever hearing anything about health during the George W. administration..." Hearing is the operative term. Nothing has been done. Can you point to any changes?
Now, as to the explanation of the import of the sentence: a) since 85-90% of folks with healthcare are happy with it, there was no reason to trumpet it, and b) the real reason for the healthcare bill is to allow bigger government and more control over the economy.

If you like, I will document that the United States Healthcare System is the best in the world, and results in the greatest longevity.

4. Unintentional truth: "... the papers and TV are full of it..." You can say that again!

5. "...individual cases of insurance denial are being taken apart, bit by bit. Many Americans have noticed that the health insurance companies have not dared to tell "their" story -- when one did come into the news, it was because it had turned down a desperately ill insured man needing around-the-clock care, calling him a "dog." So much for the moral stature of the insurance companies we trust with our lives!"
Which Nationalized-Universal Healthcare has 100% satisfaction, no flaws, or the outstanding record that the US system has?

Which Insurance companies in the US can sell policies in every state, or which ones are allowed by state law to determine exactly what they cover?
None and none.
These are government problems, not problems of healthcare.


6. "...no one could expect them to reclaim their former place of respect in our society..." The scribbler needs to retake that high school journalism class.
What was their previous level of respect?
Is this a prediction that folks will stop investing, and secret their money in the mattress?


7. And this one: "While there is still a lot of questioning on whether the administration's enormous stimulus package will rescue the economy ..."
Isn't this covered by "...he has wrought change so profound in the American scene..."
So, the economy which is viewed as our biggest problem, hasn't been profoundly changed?
Kind of insipid in the 'change' department.

8. And "...undeniable fact is that the administration has acted, and acted swiftly..."
So we are to salute actions which, according to the previous item, hasn't worked?
I think this is the hallmark of public education.
Might I venture a guess that you are a graduate of same?


9a) "... consider our foreign policy..." Which aspects, outside of bows and apologies, has President Obama reversed vis-s-vis President Bush? Afghanistan? Iraq?
And if you can list any other forieign policy actions, which have borne fruit?

9b) "...insulting our allies and trying to wipe off the face of the Earth anyone they didn't particularly like,..." Documentation, please. Are you including returning the Churchill Bust, and the DVD's as insults? Those would be Obama. Withdrawing support from Poland, as in the missile defense plan? Obama again. Telling Israel where they can build? Obama.

I missed which ones we were "trying to wipe off the face of the Earth"- please list some.

10. "...America had sunk to its lowest place in the world order for many years. Obama has changed that..."
Reality is defined by actions, not words. But this misunderstanding is shared by most liberals.
Please show the dramatic change in the actions by the various nations in their actions vis-a-vis American interests since the Obama Apology Tour.

So, thank you for posting that article.

Having dissected that, I will now return to cooking, so that we may dissect another turkey.

 

[rightwinger]

In rankings by prominent historians since 1948, Woodrow Wilson has consistenty ranked as a top ten President in history....so much for your premise

Historical rankings of United States Presidents - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

 

[PoliticalChic]

This is really what you think is so "Threadworthy"?????

Presidents Wilson and Obama share the career impetus of being able to speak in ways that inspire.

Presidents Wilson and Obama share the career faults in that they are less than competent, and misguided in their political philosophies.

Big fucking deal. Its a takeoff from the wingnut "Hitler was a good speaker, Obama is a good speaker, therefore...Obama is the same as Hitler

History will document the absence of substance in the Obama Administration.

Wishful thinking by rightwingnuts someday hoping to recapture the White House. Obama will go down in history as a top 10 President. Our last wingnut endorsed President is currently a bottlm 5 President

Serendipidous for you, history rarely names gullible supporters of failed regimes.

More wishful thinking from the wingnuts. Obama has redirected the country as is leading an economic recovery and healthcare bill that will seal his place as a top ten President. Yes, I will proudly tell my grandkids that I voted for Obama ...twice

Your grasp is so elementary...I'm almost embarrassed for you.

 

[CrusaderFrank]

Wilson is arguably one of the worst, most anti-American President ever. Like Obama, his goal was to inflict as much permanent damage on our institutions and society as time would allow