Spent the afternoon spraying Dalmatian toadflax and had a lot of time to think. I thought about Lyndon Johnson. I don’t know where the so-called “experts” rank him as a President, but I think he’s right down there with Carter and Obama, and I’m not so sure he isn’t the worst of all.
He lied to get the Tonkin Gulf Resolution, committing this country to Vietnam. His Great Society destroyed American families. Black American went from 25% of children born out of wedlock to 75%. White kids born out of wedlock went from 5 to 25%.
He’s a lying socialist and he ruined our country.This message has been edited. Last edited by: parabellum,
_______________________________________________________ despite them
May 15, 2018, 05:55 PM
bdylan
He's a fascinating character, but a true POS. I recommend the Robert Caro biographies on LBJ...they are possibly the best biography of an American President.
May 15, 2018, 06:18 PM
JALLEN
quote:
Originally posted by TMats: Spent the afternoon spraying Dalmatian toadflax and had a lot of time to think. I thought about Lyndon Johnson. I don’t know where the so-called “experts” rank him as a President, but I think he’s right down there with Carter and Obama, and I’m not so sure he isn’t the worst of all.
He lied to get the Tonkin Gulf Resolution, committing this country to Vietnam. His Great Society destroyed American families. Black American went from 25% of children born out of wedlock to 75%. White kids born out of wedlock went from 5 to 25%.
He’s a lying socialist and he ruined our country.
He didn’t make ‘em do it, and certainly not singlehandedly.
He was an irrepressible weasel, no doubt.
I think I know more about Johnson than any other President. I grew up in so-called “LBJ Country”, knew quite a few people who knew him well, some supporters, some opponents, marched in his parade, twice, shook his hand several times, read several biographies, toured his library museum and ranch many times. He seems to have had a number of extraordinary qualities, and quite a few not so extraordinary. John Connally, no socialist, who worked for and with Johnson for decades, who I did know a little and admired considerably, was fairly realistic about his former patron.
I don’t admire his politics. I never voted for him, and would not, but I doubt he was the worst. Carter and Obama can tussle for that distinctions.
Luckily, I have enough willpower to control the driving ambition that rages within me.
When you had the votes, we did things your way. Now, we have the votes and you will be doing things our way. This lesson in political reality from Lyndon B. Johnson
"Some things are apparent. Where government moves in, community retreats, civil society disintegrates and our ability to control our own destiny atrophies. The result is: families under siege; war in the streets; unapologetic expropriation of property; the precipitous decline of the rule of law; the rapid rise of corruption; the loss of civility and the triumph of deceit. The result is a debased, debauched culture which finds moral depravity entertaining and virtue contemptible." - Justice Janice Rogers Brown
May 15, 2018, 06:23 PM
RichardC
He picked up his beagle by the ears.
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May 15, 2018, 06:25 PM
Scoutmaster
Years ago I read a report, can't verify the accuracy, but a former TX senior bureaucrat was on his deathbed, said he had to come clean, he certified enough phony ballots for LBJ to get elected to the Senate in 1948.
I think the iceberg principle may apply to LBJ -- the dirt we know is ugly enough, but the dirt below the surface probably did more damage.
"Liberty lies in the hearts of men and women. When it dies there, no constitution, no law, no court can save it....While it lies there, it needs no constitution, no law, no court to save it" - Judge Learned Hand, May 1944
May 15, 2018, 06:29 PM
bdylan
He had some memorable habits. Not only would he pick the dogs up by their ears, he would also insist aides accompany him to the latrine to discuss issues. Johnson would take a steaming shit while berating an advisor from the toilet.
May 15, 2018, 06:48 PM
Snapping Twig
I think back and I didn't like him then, and the fullness of time has not made him any more palatable.
Between him and the warren court, America was dealt a serious and long lasting injury.
johnson also rescinded Kennedy's orders to eliminate the Fed.
Traitor.
Not to mention the hanky-panky to get elected to the senate.
Or
Kennedy's Chicago voter fraud to get the Presidency.
May 15, 2018, 06:53 PM
12131
He might not be the worst President, but he surely is near the bottom. He started America to the path of dependency that it is today. Well, at least more than half of America.
I'll take JALLEN's words that he had some extraordinary qualities. But then, the Devil also possesses some extraordinary qualities. He convinced so many that he didn't exist.
Q
May 15, 2018, 06:55 PM
HayesGreener
The Texas Rangers had reports of ballot box stuffing by LBJ but they were pulled off the investigation, as reported in the bio of Frank Hamer
CMSGT USAF (Retired) Chief of Police (Retired)
May 15, 2018, 07:42 PM
ChuckFinley
Greatest missed opportunities for condoms in American history: Woodrow Wilson FDR LBJ Jimmy Carter BHO
_________________________ NRA Endowment Member _________________________ "Of all tyrannies, a tyranny exercised for the good of its victims may be the most oppressive. It may be better to live under robber barons than under omnipotent moral busybodies. The robber baron's cruelty may sometimes sleep, his cupidity may at some point be satiated; but those who torment us for our own good will torment us without end, for they do so with the approval of their own conscience." -- C.S. Lewis
May 15, 2018, 07:44 PM
fpuhan
He was a Democrat. Need I say more?
You can't truly call yourself "peaceful" unless you are capable of great violence. If you're not capable of great violence, you're not peaceful, you're harmless.
NRA Benefactor/Patriot Member
May 15, 2018, 07:45 PM
220-9er
quote:
Originally posted by 12131: He might not be the worst President, but he surely is near the bottom. He started America to the path of dependency that it is today. Well, at least more than half of America.
I'll take JALLEN's words that he had some extraordinary qualities. But then, the Devil also possesses some extraordinary qualities. He convinced so many that he didn't exist.
He also did all that in a relatively short time. Remember, he came into office filling out just over a year of JFK’s term and was a lame duck for a large part of his own. In between that he made a real and lasting mess of things.
Originally posted by ChuckFinley: Greatest missed opportunities for condoms in American history: Woodrow Wilson FDR LBJ Jimmy Carter BHO
You speak the truth brother!
——————————————— The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God. Psalm 14:1
May 15, 2018, 07:50 PM
arfmel
I was a little kid of around 6 or 7 when he became President. We lived in Houston. I remember being astonished at the hatred all the adults in the neighborhood had for him, considering that he was a Texan. After I got older I realized why. What a despicable piece of shit.
May 15, 2018, 08:14 PM
JALLEN
quote:
Originally posted by arfmel: I was a little kid of around 6 or 7 when he became President. We lived in Houston. I remember being astonished at the hatred all the adults in the neighborhood had for him, considering that he was a Texan. After I got older I realized why. What a despicable piece of shit.
Quite a few people over here knew him, from Congress and Senate days, had dealt with him. Johnson saved Brown and Root from disaster in the Buchanan Dam project, and got FDR to award a no bid cost plus contract to Brown and Root to build the Corpus Christi Naval Air Station before WWII. He was very instrumental in the electrification of the hill country south and west of Austin, which changed life for the better immeasurably.
OTOH, he had many who hated him, including the 4 old ranchers who used to take coffee on many Saturday mornings at a drug store in New Braunfels where I worked in 1959-60. I heard the story many times about how back in the late ‘20’s, one of the old guys had caught some college kids rustling cattle on his ranch over near Wimberly, and the ring leader was a tall skinny guy named Lyndon Johnson. “I shuda hung him while I had the chance!”, he lamented. Whether this was old men blowing off steam or God’s Truth, nobody could say.
Luckily, I have enough willpower to control the driving ambition that rages within me.
When you had the votes, we did things your way. Now, we have the votes and you will be doing things our way. This lesson in political reality from Lyndon B. Johnson
"Some things are apparent. Where government moves in, community retreats, civil society disintegrates and our ability to control our own destiny atrophies. The result is: families under siege; war in the streets; unapologetic expropriation of property; the precipitous decline of the rule of law; the rapid rise of corruption; the loss of civility and the triumph of deceit. The result is a debased, debauched culture which finds moral depravity entertaining and virtue contemptible." - Justice Janice Rogers Brown
May 15, 2018, 08:18 PM
FrankMoses
He looks like he was picked up by the ears a few times too.
May 15, 2018, 08:21 PM
Tejas421
#1 for Caro’s biography. Fascinating reading.
May 15, 2018, 08:28 PM
bubbatime
______________________________________________________ Often times a very small man can cast a very large shadow
May 15, 2018, 09:00 PM
JALLEN
quote:
Originally posted by Tejas421: #1 for Caro’s biography. Fascinating reading.
And a lot of it! All 4 volumes.
One of the best things was Caro’s detailed description of life in the Texas hill country in the first third of the 20th century, the economics, hardships, challenges, opportunities, etc.
Luckily, I have enough willpower to control the driving ambition that rages within me.
When you had the votes, we did things your way. Now, we have the votes and you will be doing things our way. This lesson in political reality from Lyndon B. Johnson
"Some things are apparent. Where government moves in, community retreats, civil society disintegrates and our ability to control our own destiny atrophies. The result is: families under siege; war in the streets; unapologetic expropriation of property; the precipitous decline of the rule of law; the rapid rise of corruption; the loss of civility and the triumph of deceit. The result is a debased, debauched culture which finds moral depravity entertaining and virtue contemptible." - Justice Janice Rogers Brown
May 15, 2018, 09:01 PM
radioman
quote:
Originally posted by ChuckFinley: Greatest missed opportunities for condoms in American history: Woodrow Wilson FDR LBJ Jimmy Carter BHO
