[lbo-talk] Tea Party: less than meets the eye

Dennis Claxton ddclaxton at earthlink.net
Thu Nov 4 08:46:28 PDT 2010


At 07:58 AM 11/4/2010, c b wrote:


>CB: I dont believe that you really hold a theory or model of the US
>system and Presidency that includes the notion from Teddy Roosevelt
>(!) that the Presidency is a bully pulpit with some automatic power to
>influence by just speaking like a preacher and in some sense
>"bullying" people into doing things Maybe Teddy Roosevelt could do it
>back in 1906 or whatever, but...

That ain't what it means:

http://www.c-span.org/guide/congress/glossary/bullypul.htm

This term stems from President Theodore Roosevelt's reference to the White House as a "bully pulpit," meaning a terrific platform from which to persuasively advocate an agenda. Roosevelt often used the word "bully" as an adjective meaning superb/wonderful. Roosevelt also had political affiliation with the Progressive Party, nicknamed the "Bull Moose" party. It got the moniker when Roosevelt ran for President as its candidate in 1912, after declaring himself as "fit as a bull moose."



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