Franklin Delano Roosevelt might have had a crystal ball

[FakeNoose]

How did he know?

[hueymahl]

1. Such a great leader

I hope we as a party can continue to uphold his ideals.

[Boomerproud]

2. He was the target of such men and Gen. Smedley Butler

Saved this country from a coup. Roosevelt was considered a traitor to his class.

[erronis]

9. Just wanted to clarify that Gen. Smedley Butler was not part of "such men".

He was supposedly brought into a plot to overthrow the government but he instead revealed it. The committee that was set up to hear his secret testimony was similar to the McCarthy commie hunts - predecessors of dump's attack on the FBI and gov't.

[Boomerproud]

20. I said in my post that Gen. Butler saved this country.

N/t.

[erronis]

21. I was clarifying your title: "He was the target of such men and Gen. Smedley Butler"

If you had written it as "He and Gen Smedley Butler were the target of such men" it would have meant what you were implying.

Otherwise "such men and Gen. Smedley Butler" are considered a noun phrase and are taken together. (Jeez, it's been 60+ years and I [think] I remember things like "noun phrases".)

Anyway, points taken and agreed upon. (win-win)

[gabeana]

13. Smedley Butler

brought the information of the coup to Roosevelt

[mopinko]

3. cuz it has ever been thus.

since the beginning of time, there have always been pigs and scammers.

[Wounded Bear]

4. He watched Europe melt down and turn Fascist during the Great Depression...

What is happening now in the US happened in Italy, Spain, Germany and all over the Baltics back in the 30/40's.

One could argue (and some have) that Roosevelt saved American capitalism from Fascism back then.

This is just the next round. Russia has already fallen, Eastern Europe is in danger again. We're there again.

[FakeNoose]

6. It was fear of communism that drove the fascist movement in the 1930's

...and I think that same fear was growing here in the US during that time.

But we can't say that TODAY. Something else is fueling this conservative cycle, I believe it's a different kind of fear. And yes certainly, a few greedy, extremely wealthy people are taking advantage of it, and "feathering their nests."

[Wounded Bear]

7. Here and now, it is fear of existence...

Conservatives know that the demographic clock is ticking. The country is getting less white and less Christian. The Repub base is melting away.

They are fighting to retain power as a minority ruling class. Unfortunately, there are millions out there that hear that and react with fear and anger.

[catrose]

5. These were the people he dealt with every day

And he won--4 terms and the establishment of many progressive programs, many of those still in operation today.

[RobertDevereaux]

8. And thank God for Eleanor...

...who coaxed FDR even further in progressive directions.

An extraordinary woman and our finest First lady!

[erronis]

10. Brava! And she stood by her husband and supported him even with all the pressures

on both of them.

I can think of a couple of other strong Democratic women (well more than a couple) who have been strong and persevered even in the face of vile/bile-spouting politicians and "news" media. I hope we can honor all of them.

[Bleacher Creature]

11. Great quote, but definitely not indicative of a crystal ball.

This stuff has been going on all through human history. It's far from new.

[sweetroxie]

12. He was just a good reader of human nature.nt

[murielm99]

14. FDR knew this because they were his class.

He grew up with these people.

[blue-wave]

15. K&R

Let's not forget that these selfish men tried to overthrow Roosevelt in a coup, either making him a puppet or removing him completely from office.
http://www.eclectica.org/v1n1/reviews/wharton_plot.html


Roosevelt knew about these men because he was surrounded by them his whole life. He grew up in privilege, but thank God he was able to see through those who wanted America only for themselves. Roosevelt saved America and he saved, although those selfish men then and today won't admit, capitalism from itself.

[Ligyron]

18. Where are such members of the 1% in this day and age?

Ones with a conscience?

Few and far between nowadays...

[True Blue American]

19. Teddy Roosevelt too.

https://www.biography.com/video/jp-morgan-fight-against-roosevelt-29734979798

[bucolic_frolic]

16. He knew because he went to school with them

[liberalhistorian]

17. He knew the truth of this better even than

most average Americans because he grew up with, and was in the same class as, the very people who would gladly do this. He knew their bottomless selfishness and greed and that they didn't care about the effects on millions of Americans, and the country as a whole, as long as it benefitted them. Many members of his own family, especially on his mother's side, fit this description. Hence the title of a famous biography of him, "Traitor to his Class".