Wednesday, November 10, 2004

Some Words from A Star-Crossed Politician

Rather than going back a century, let's look at an honorable progressive who was certainly not lucky enough to run for President at the right time.

It was pretty hard to run as a Democrat against a guy who was instrumental in defeating Hitler, concretized the "New Deal" program at home, appointed Earl Warren as Chief Justice, sent troops into Little Rock, carried on most of the strengths of Truman's foreign policy and brought about the truce in the Korean War.

Such was the lot of Adlai Stevenson, a noble man, a noble warrior. A two-time loser in the Presidential Circus.

But the man did have a way with words. Some of which we should remember...along with the fact that despite his losses the Democrats roared back in 1960 and 1964.



Every age needs men who will redeem the time by living with a vision of the things that are to be.


I believe that if we really want human brotherhood to spread and increase until it makes life safe and sane, we must also be certain that there is no one true faith or path by which it may spread.


All progress has resulted from people who took unpopular positions.


My definition of a free society is a society where it is safe to be unpopular.


For my part I believe in the forgiveness of sin and the redemption of ignorance.


Patriotism is not short, frenzied outbursts of emotion, but the tranquil and steady dedication of a lifetime.


The Republicans stroke platitudes until they purr like epigrams.


Those who corrupt the public mind are just as evil as those who steal from the public purse.


We have confused the free with the free and easy.


You will find that the truth is often unpopular and the contest between agreeable fancy and disagreeable fact is unequal. For, in the vernacular, we Americans are suckers for good news.


They all still work.

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