Ike Predicted GOP Demise Over Social Security

[Jon8503]

You might not expect a Republican president to predict his own party's demise. But that's exactly what President Dwight D. Eisenhower predicted in no uncertain terms when discussing his party's extreme proposals on Social Security.

"Should any political party attempt to abolish social security, unemployment insurance, and eliminate labor laws and farm programs, you would not hear of that party again in our political history. There is a tiny splinter group, of course, that believes you can do these things. Among them are few other Texas oil millionaires, and an occasional politician or business man from other areas. Their number is negligible and they are stupid."
- President Dwight D. Eisenhower, 11/8/54

President George W. Bush, a Texas oil millionaire, is trying to abolish social security as we know it, starve unemployment programs, weaken labor laws, and gut rural/farm programs. In light of Bush's appalling record, let's hope Ike was right about his party's future.

Sources:
Eisenhower comments: http://www.eisenhowermemorial.org/presidential-papers/first-term/documents/1147.cfm
Bush trying to end Social Security as we know it: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/c/a/2005/03/10/MNGHOBN6LR1.DTL
Bush starving unemployment programs: http://www.cbpp.org/10-13-04ui.htm
Bush weakening labor laws: http://www.davidsirota.com/2005/04/bush-steps-up-his-war-on-workers_04.html
Bush gutting farm programs: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A23705-2005Apr3.html

http://www.davidsirota.com/2005/04/bush-steps-up-his-war-on-workers_04

[WLKjr]

1. WOW, that is kewl

I am bookmarking this one.

[rndmprsn]

2. thanks thanks...

for the post post...ok you edited it now this makes no sense =]

[WI_DEM]

3. Ike wouldn't have fit in with today's Republican party

he hated tax cuts and wouldn't support them unless they were paid for. He warned the country against the "military industrial complex" and now this quote on social security and other New Deal era reforms.

[xray s]

7. neither would Nixon or Reagan

Nixon put price controls on oil prices and Reagan appointed all those activist judges like Kennedy on the Supreme Court that has the wing nut fundies undies in a bunch...

[aeolian]

4. Eisenhower was a smart man.

Bush is not.

Seriously, would you have let Bush plan Normandy?

[WI_DEM]

9. the thought of it

General George W. Bush planning the invasion of Normandy--it is, in one of Eisenhower's favorite words, "inconceivable."

[aeolian]

10. Knowing him, he probably would have invaded Ireland instead

[pretzel4gore]

14. harry truman used to play poker with his nominees for cabinet etc

he said he could then judge a person's character while the whiskey was flowing and the air fulla cigar smoke....somehow, junior just wouldn't fit in, would he?

[acmejack]

We would be speaking German now

But from the bush family history that wouldn't really be much of an inconvenience to them and the rest of the "fraternity".

[acmejack]

16. We would be speaking German now

But from the bush family history that wouldn't really be much of an inconvenience to them and the rest of the "fraternity".

[coloradodem2005]

5. Eisenhower was a smart man.

Though he might not have taken into account the power of the corporate media and it is 50 years later.

[xray s]

6. This would make a great ad

someone should send Ike's comments to AARP

[rndmprsn]

8. agreed 100%

how can we get this to somebody who can make it happen?!

[LiberallyInclined]

13. and include the warnings about the military-industrial complex too.

i'm really starting to like ike.

[iconoclastic cat]

11. At what price? The elderly dying of exposure in droves?

[LiberallyInclined]

12. was he talking about john birchers?

the 'tiny splinter group' he referred to...?

[many a good man]

15. WE ARE the heirs of Eisenhower

Certainly not the current GOP.

Here in America we are descended in blood and in spirit from revolutionists and rebels - men and women who dare to dissent from accepted doctrine. As their heirs, may we never confuse honest dissent with disloyal subversion.

The people of the world genuinely want peace. Some day the leaders of the world are going to have to give in and give, it to them.

Though force can protect in emergency, only justice, fairness, consideration and co-operation can finally lead men to the dawn of eternal peace.

A people that values its privileges above its principles soon loses both.

Every gun that is made, every warship launched, every rocket fired, signifies in the final sense a theft from those who hunger and are not fed, those who are cold and are not clothed.


Dwight D. Eisenhower

[Spock_is_Skeptical]

17. Interesting - thanks for this awesome quote!!

One to save for future reference.
:thumbsup: