The Latest: Clinton accepts Dem nomination with 'humility'

It is DONE;

Hillary Clinton says she accepts the Democratic presidential nomination with "humility, determination and boundless confidence in America's promise."

“Here’s what Donald Trump doesn’t get: America is great because America is good,” she said.

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THE TOCQUEVILLE FRAUD
11:00 PM, NOV 12, 1995 | By JOHN J. PITNEY
Alexis de Tocqueville's Democracy in America is a beloved, canonical text; the urge to quote from it is understandably great. Politicians ever seek to demonstrate familiarity with it, from Bill Clinton to Pat Buchanan. One of their favorite quotes runs as follows:



I sought for the greatness and genius of America in her commodis harbors and her ample rivers -- and it was not there. . . . in her fertile fields and bound less forests -- and it was not there. . . . in her rich mines and her vast worl d commerce -- and it was not there. . . . in her democratic Congress and her ma tchless Constitution -- and it was not there. Not until I went into the churche s of America and heard her pulpits flame with righteousness did I understand th e secret of her genius and power. America is great because she is good, and if America ever ceases to be good, s he will cease to be great.



These lines are uplifting and poetic. They are also spurious. Nowhere do they appear in Democracy in America, or anywhere else in Tocqueville.

The authenticity of the passage came into question when first-year government students at Claremont McKenna College received an assignment: Find a contemporary speech quoting Tocqueville, and determine how accurately the speaker used the quotation. A student soon uncovered a recent Senate floor speech that cited the "America is great" line. He scoured Democracy in America, but could not find the passage. The professor looked, too -- and it was not there.

Further research led to reference books that cautiously referred to the quotation as "unverified" and "attributed to de Tocqueville but not found in his works." These references, in turn, pointed to the apparent source: a 1941 book on religion and the American dream. The book quoted the last two lines of the passage as coming from Democracy in America but supplied no documentation. (The author may have mistaken his own notes for a verbatim quotation, a common problem in the days before photocopiers.) The full version of the quotation appeared 11 years later, in an Eisenhower campaign speech. Ike, however, attributed it not directly to Tocqueville but to "a wise philosopher [who] came to this country. . . ."

One may conjecture that Eisenhower's speechwriter embellished the lines from the 1941 book and avoided a direct reference to Tocqueville as a way of covering himself. Speechwriters do such things from time to time. In his wonderful primer on politics, Playing to Win, Jeff Greenfield presented a model stump speech complete with a fake quotation from the Greek philosopher Heraclitus. "If you are worried about being found out," Greenfield wrote, " change 'Heraclitus' to 'The Poet.'" (See page 117 of Greenfield, if you'd like to check.)

Whatever its origin, the passage found its way into circulation. President Reagan used it in a 1982 speech, though his speechwriter hedged by attributing it to Eisenhower's quotation of Tocqueville. Two years later, Reagan declared that Tocqueville "is said to have observed that 'America is great because America is good.'" Thereafter, his speechwriters grew less careful, and several subsequent Reagan addresses quoted from the passage without any qualifications. At this point, it started showing up with greater frequency in political rhetoric.

In 1987, Rep. William Dannemeyer quoted the passage's final line, adding that "America ceased to be good in 1971, when America's promise to pay ceased to be good." He was referring to President Nixon's decision to close the gold window. Apparently, Dannemeyer disapproved.

The day after President Clinton's inauguration, Sen. Jesse Helms performed an ecumenical paraphrase on the line about churches: "As the remarkable French statesman Alexis de Tocqueville noted in the 1850s, the source of American virtue . . . will always be found in the churches and synagogues of America."

In 1994, Bill Clinton tapped the passage to temper his "No, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no" speech in Boston. "I believe fundamentally in the common sense and the essential core goodness of the American people. Don't forget that Alexis de Tocqueville said a long time ago that America is great because America is good; and if America ever ceases to be good, she will no longer be great."

And now, synthetic Tocqueville is appearing in the 1996 campaign. Pat Buchanan used the "America is great" line in the speech announcing his candidacy, and Phil Gramm invoked the flaming pulpits in his May address to Jerry Falwell's Liberty University.

It's a shame that politicians are using a knockoff product when the real thing is so fine. Democracy in America offers profound analyses of the roles of religion, morality, and voluntary action, though its insights are subtler than the purple prose of the counterfeit.

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Steven, The point of this blog is The Latest: Clinton accepts Dem nomination with 'humility' I know that you are aware that what you have post has little to do with what happened last night at The DEMOCRATIC NATIONAL CONVENTION.

What is your point Steven?

Now you want to pretend we are not talking about Hillary's acceptance speech. What do you think Ron, does it qualify as plagiarism?

Or is it just one of those myths passed down by generations of American politicians, like "your word is your bond?"

I am not sure what you are talking about STEVEN?

Are you accusing Hilary of PLAGIARISM?

Are you saying that she lifted whole passages of a life experience from somebodies speech and claiming that she wrote it or those was her words?

What are you saying Steven? I am not sure what you are talking about STEVEN?

Are you accusing Hilary of PLAGIARISM?

Are you saying that she lifted whole passages of a life experience from somebodies speech and claiming that she wrote it or those was her words and those was her experiences?

What are you saying Steven? You got my attention!!! You got my attention!!!

I'm asking you about her declaration of America is great because America is good. Do you agree?

Like the rest of the speech it is flat and meaningless.

YES... With all of this countries problems with the Republicans not doing there jobs, fighting this president at every turn, trying to make Obama a one term president and failed miserably because the American people spoke twice. By doing this, it's clear that the Republican Party waged war on the people of this great and good people which makes up this country.

Sorry, you see no hope in the American people Steven but I do.

You are wrong Ron, I do see hope

WHERE, NOT IN TRUMP... He is HOPELESS following doom and fear.

I see it is all about Trump bashing. I probably should just leave you with your choir.

Just sharing some FACTS on the Donald, some of the things that you act like you don't see what the Donald is doing, like painting the picture that only he and he alone can fix the nations ills. Can't you see that we are all here together?

Now if you don't want to ear the truth about The LYING DONALD, you can run off Steven.

Hillary Clinton says Donald Trump has brought the Republican Party a long way — from "Morning in America" to "Midnight in America," and fear one another.

There's nothing to be concerned about. We've got all the candidates in play and we can just coast into November.

I am looking forward to the debates, will trump be there?

The debates will change little. 99% of Americans have already made up their minds.

The networks will continue to rake in the dough.

It is still people out there who have not made up their minds, some polls are ranging from 11 to as high as 20% and that will make a difference between the winners and the losers know that both conventions are over. The debate process will prove to be crucial in the decision-making and I can't wait for The first debate.

By The way Stephen did you notice how Democratic national convention dream was about **** is in patriotism and how we can come together as a nation to fix the problems of the nations ills.

That 11-15% is Green Party and Libertarian Party.

BTW Ron, the only reason you didn't hear about the Green Party until now is because you weren't paying attention.

/*
...Damn!

I keep asking myself: What In Hell Is Wrong With People - "Who are you gonna believe, me or your lying eyes?"

...And, I keep asking myself: "Why can't the unbelievers not see the 'BIG PICTURE?'" (not to mention the person who looks like Me, "In the Woodpile") Until major changes are made, the only tool we have currently is the one set before us...let us use it for all that it's worth! This country cannot afford to go it alone...No Damn Chump (trump)!
I wonder if it's okay to be a seditionist and a traitor to your country - whether you are rich or poor, no matter who you like or dislike?

ProudAmericansSigned-ThankYou!
https://www.change.org/p/donald-trump-shou... …
#Petition #Truth #Justice #BLM #Treason #Sedition #BoulwareBooks #USA #NativeVoices

...Couldn't help but commenting on this fellas. I don't intend on getting into an argument or heated discussion.

Those of you have decided to vote for that man as opposed to Hillary have not really heard or understood the message. The point remains, it really has nothing to do with the candidates and their parties - it's to do with the AMERICAN PEOPLE AND THE FUTURE OF OUR CHILDREN AND THE WHOLE WIDE WORLD!

I'd like to see my Grandchildren bring forth their Grandchildren (as well as yours) move forward in prosperity, prosperity, in a world chock full of peace and safety; free of pollutants, vile politics, and cleanliness - A GOOD EARTH!

Thanks for the allowance of my two-cents worth...


"G"
*/

Let's remember we are voting for Congress too.

I hope that Trump takes that whole ticket down with him as well. That is the Greatest fear of The Republican Party.

Then your eye's will be open.

Brother Doctor Gregory Boulware, I see that you have chimed in. I am on the road right now but I will get back with you real soon.

Thanks for your Two Cents... Because that is worth a million.

TEACH...:-)

Is that your prediction Ron?

I really don't see no unity in the republican party.

That doesn't sound like a prediction. Ron, if you want a better predictor, analyze the electoral map and demographics of the 50 states.

She says President Franklin Roosevelt's famous words are the perfect rebuke: "The only thing we have to fear is fear itself."

Notice she gave the attribution for that one, but not the America is great because America is good one.

She and Obama both are Machiavellian. Obama is more convincing. That's why he took her under his wing.

"This is the moment, this is the opportunity for our future," said retired Marine Gen. John R. Allen, a former commander in Afghanistan. "We must seize this moment to elect Hillary Clinton as president of the United States of America."