Comments on: Strom

by: Anonymous

Wed, 31 Dec 1969 17:59:59 +0000

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by: Steven

Wed, 31 Dec 1969 17:59:59 +0000

Dan,

Perhaps. But from an objective standpoint he hardly ranks as one of the greatest Senators of all time, if one measures that in terms of influence over legislation, or philosophical influence.

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by: Signifying Nothing

Wed, 31 Dec 1969 17:59:59 +0000

Strom’s legacy
Steven Taylor, in response to Bryan’s post at Arguing with signposts…, makes some fairly good points about the legacy of the late Strom Thurmond. I’m…

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by: Backcountry Conservative

Wed, 31 Dec 1969 17:59:59 +0000

Black State Senator to Eulogize Thurmond

Patterson is a black Democrat from Richland County. Thurmond ran for president in 1948 as a segregationist, and the U.S. Senate counted him as one of its most conservative Republicans.

Why would Patterson agree to eulogize the man?

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by: Steven

Wed, 31 Dec 1969 17:59:59 +0000

I do agree that Byrd gets, and will get in death, a larger pass on the racism issue.

I will say, to be fair, that Byrd has been a far greater force legislatively, and in terms of his influence over the years on the rules and procedures of the Senate than Thurmond ever was.

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by: Backcountry Conservative

Wed, 31 Dec 1969 17:59:59 +0000

Thurmond and Civil Rights
Former Democratic National Committee Chairman Don Fowler

“I believe in spiritual and political redemption. I don’t think anyone can excuse some of hi…

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by: Matthew

Wed, 31 Dec 1969 17:59:59 +0000

Nick, I think Strom was up front about his racism simply because the media always decided that the “story of Strom” *was* his racism, whereas the “story of Robert Byrd” is about a pork barreler who loves to wax historical in his long-winded speeches.

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by: Brett

Wed, 31 Dec 1969 17:59:59 +0000

You read my mind, Steven, to an extent. I also agree with you on how interesting he is. Strange to think that Thurmond was as old as George Orwell would be this year. More interesting to write about Orwell, too. . .

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by: Nick

Wed, 31 Dec 1969 17:59:59 +0000

I doubt people will do this much soul-searching when Robert Byrd dies. At least you can say about Strom that he was upfront about his racism.

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by: bryan

Wed, 31 Dec 1969 17:59:59 +0000

Yeah, I’ve been in an area of cognitive dissonance over this issue. I live in SC, so I’ve seen all the trappings of a funeral for a head of state. But I’m also from Texas, so I have no personal feelings for the man.

The Greenville News and the State newspapers have numerous personal recollections from local people (proving that all politics is local), but I also see the venom (if that’s the word) that’s been spilled elsewhere.

It reminds me a lot of a longtime politico from my neck of the woods, Congressman Jack Brooks, D-Beaumont, who served a really looong time in the house. He wasn’t the highest rated congressman around, but he “brought home the bacon,” as you say. And so he kept getting elected until they redrew his district to include a conservative part of Harris County.

My favorite image of Brooks is him on the panel during Iran-Contra, stogie in hand (IIRC) telling Ollie North, “You say you cain’t remembuh, but you can remembuh whachu wanna remembuh.” Being a fellow southerner, I’m sure you’ll appreciate the phonetic spelling.

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