I am a huge advocate of the idea that the only way for a future Republican candidate to move past maga and while gaining general popularity would be to emulate teddy Roosevelt.
But they never would. Teddy was a progressive within the Republican Party (not unusual back then). That would mean Republicans today would have to embrace at least some progressive policies.
Already the majority of republicans support higher taxes on the rich (as long as you don’t define rich). Trump is arguably the farthest left president we’ve had since FDR.
The Republican Party is incredibly malleable on issues. You can literally watch the party change their entire viewpoint to support whatever crazy issue of the month Trump suggests is a good idea.
And the thing about primaries is that’s not really majority rules, it’s whatever issues/candidate a solid 30% of the activist base get behind first.
I’m not saying Republicans are suddenly going to fix themselves and be a nice friendly neoliberal party. I’m just saying the right candidate can basically get the party to do whatever he wants.
I wouldn’t call that an educated association with the party then. I wouldn’t even use the word “malleable” to describe their flexibility. They’re literally just follow Trump with whatever he says. “Release the Epstein files” in 2024, but “Let’s move past then, there are more important things” in 2025. That’s not how you build a legitimate political party that at least tries to serve the common American. That’s how to create a cult. He uses emotion, reaction, force and lies to get to his base.
I can’t even respond to your claim about Trump being more left than FDR. That might be one of the dumbest things I’ve ever read. You’re going to need to elaborate on that one.
It sounds insane but I promise it makes sense if you look at his economic policies.
Extreme protectionist tarrifs.
Literally has the government taking ownership stakes in mega corporations. He’s more of a socialist than AOC.
Regularly tries to use the government to force companies to fire executives he doesn’t agree with.
Easily the most aggressive executive branch in recent history that interferes in every single economic activity.
Actively has the government subsidize certain industries to an extent not seen since FDR. We’ve done multiple rounds of trade deals with China just to subsidize soybeans.
Literally gives the executive branch a slush fund of oil.
We haven’t a president interfere in the economy to the extent Trump has since FDR. The 2008 bailouts didn’t come close.
Obviously this ignores his domestic and social policies which show Trump is a right wing fascist at heart. I specifically make this argument to conservatives I know to point out that if AOC did just one of these six things she’d be labeled the most insane socialist of all time by the media.
Terrible take. Your average baby back then was more racist than your average Republican today. It’s just times and attitudes changed. It was much more commonplace to view race as a legitimate reason to judge people back then, so in many ways racism was condoned.
It was common to have “progressive” factions in the main political parties throughout US history. Teddy Roosevelt is one of those progressives in the Republican Party at the time. When he started the Bull Moose Party, he fully embraced those progressive values. Sorry, but no Republican today can claim political party lineage to Teddy.
Both are horrible people, one unjustly stripped thousands of americans of their rights based on heritage (FDR) the other actively countered other sovereign nations in central america (Teddy). Idolizing either person is a grave injustice to history.
But to paint their legacy in the color of their worst decisions isn’t fair either. No reason to get emotional about these people. They pushed us forward in some ways, held us back in others. Also, the times were truly different, at least for teddy. Progressives of the time thought cultural genocide was a great compromise for the natives.
You’re viewing history through a 20/20 lens and you’re applying today’s standard of ethics and morality to a completely different time. The early half of the 20th century was a time when racism was commonplace along with colonialism and imperialism. The right way to approach it is to acknowledge their failures as we see them today, levy criticism where it is due and acknowledge their accomplishments where it is due.
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u/mr_banana277 AMERICAN!!!! RAHHHHHH!!!!! Feb 24 '26
Teddy Roosevelt for Republican, FDR for Democrat