Weblog Commenting and Trackback by HaloScan.com The Barnyard: A Founders' Quote

Monday, January 08, 2007

A Founders' Quote

The Patriot Post
Founders' Quote Daily
"Were the pictures which have been drawn by the political jealousy of some among us faithful likenesses of the human character, the inference would be, that there is not sufficient virture among men for self-government; and that nothing less than the chains of despotism can restrain them from destroying and devouring one another."--
Alexander Hamilton and James Madison (Federalist No. 55,15 February 1788)
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Political partisanship has been a glaring example of our American virtue, we can agree to disagree and move forward with America's best interests held forth. America has always been a partisan country and hopefully will remain so. It is not a new fangled phenomena, it is what we are. The Lincoln vs, Douglas debates come to mind as do the Federa;ist and anti-Federalist debates of our very founding. Ideas are meant to be tortured, wrangled and mauled through open debate and it has never been pretty. Ask a Founder, Alexander Hamilton as he died over a political duel or James Madison as he debated with George Washington over the course this new nation would take. The very basis of the conservative movement lies in these debates and it is up us, centuries removed, to uphold that noble creed set forth by wiser men than us. It cannot be born false witness for it stands greater than any besides the Bible for human dignity and freedom and false witnesses will be born out.
Sheepdog and I will bang heads and heatedly at times though and we are after the same goal, the method differs.
Newt Gingrich says it best in his latest E-alert from Human Events and it is the Barnyard's firm belief that he will shape the coming debate better than anyone else.
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Seeking Blame or Seeking Solutions?

If Chairman Biden decides to do a Fulbright-like partisan series of narrowly tailored hearings, he will clearly be focused on the past, seeking to assign blame, and pursuing a series of actions which would force the Bush Administration to be on the defensive. This will maximize partisan hostility and minimize the development of effective, creative solutions to our national security challenges.

Or he could choose an alternative path.

In 1946, Michigan Sen. Arthur Vandenberg was the new Republican chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.

The Republicans had been out of power for 16 years. They thought they could win the Presidency in two years. There was every temptation to be bitterly partisan. On domestic politics they were. Republicans disliked Democrat President Harry Truman and tended to speak of him with contempt.

However, Vandenberg had seen the failure of the peace process after World War I. He had seen the power of partisan politics to cripple American standing in the world.

He had also seen thousands of young Americans sacrifice their lives in World War II.

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Much is to be seen, much more can be had, which way will Congress go? The Barnyard has them under the spotter's scope, searching for targets.

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