Tag: theodorerooseveltnationalism

Politics, Uncategorized

For Sale to the Right Owner

Bob Claude |

It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, who comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming; but who does actually strive to do the deeds; who knows great enthusiasms, the great devotions; who spends himself in a worthy cause; who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement. and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who neither know victory nor defeat.

Theodore Roosevelt, Citizenship in a Republic, April 10 1910

Six years ago, I started this website to preserve the positive message of American nationalism in the face of the negativity of the first Trump Administration.   The goal was to save the nationalist cause from Trump’s bombastic, confrontational rhetoric and restore it as a unifying call for constructive permanent change. We supported President Trump’s policies when we agreed and did not hesitate to oppose him when they degenerated into corruption and globalism. We did the same during the Biden Administration, praising some policies while damning most others.

At the same time, Theodore Roosevelt’s words from his “Man in the Arena” speech haunted me. I dealt with TR’s challenge by setting the creation of a new progressive nationalist movement as the ultimate mission of the site. While I am grateful to the approximately 300 subscribers to the site on various platforms, this is far from the number needed to overcome the highly polarized politics of our time.

I firmly believe the problem is not the message, but the shortcomings of the messenger. This cause deserves the youthful energy of a Charlie Kirk and the social media savvy of a Joe Rogan. It deserves its own “man in the arena” fighting under the inspiration of TR’s New Nationalism.  Unfortunately, at almost 70 years of age, I lack the necessary energy, resources, and technical skills to achieve this.  Thus, I have decided to offer the site and its assets for sale or transfer, in the hope of finding a leader more capable of maximizing its true potential.

Any buyer must prepare to satisfy the following terms, in descending order of priority:

  • First and foremost, they must demonstrate a commitment to the ideology and unifying message of the site as expressed in our Mission Statement. No Internet troll or clickbait purveyor need apply.
  • They must have the will and resources to expand the subscriber base and reach of the site and the progressive nationalist movement, along with a plan to do so.
  • Next, while I would lose editorial control over the site, I would like to retain the right to continue submitting articles for publication.
  • Finally, I hope to recover some of my personal investment, both material and in effort, in creating and building the site.

The assets of New Nationalism currently consist of the website domain www.newnationalism.com , a Facebook page, a Substack page, and other intellectual property. I will be happy to itemize the assets for any serious purchasers. Any inquiries should be directed to the editor’s mailbox at editor@newnationalism.com .

Finally, to those who subscribed to any of these sites, I am grateful and humbled by the faith and commitment you have shown to me and our mission. I am not giving up the fight. I am simply looking for a new, more robust leader whom we all can support. The goal of this process is to give us the opportunity to participate in an exciting movement that can actually build a strong America and strengthen the American people. If I am unable to find someone who can fulfill this role, I will retain the site and continue the mission at a sustainable pace.  In the meantime, stay strong and God bless America!

Political Reform, Politics, Uncategorized

Happy 165th Birthday, Theodore Roosevelt!

Bob Claude |

Our country – this great republic- means nothing unless it means the triumph of a real democracy, the triumph of popular government, and, in the long run, of an economic system under which each man shall be guaranteed the opportunity to show the best that is in him. That is why the history of America is now the central feature of the history of the world: for the world has set its face hopefully toward our democracy; and, O my fellow citizens, each of you carries on your shoulders not only the burden of doing well for the sake for the sake of your own country, but the burden of doing well and of seeing that this great nation does well for the sake of mankind. Theodore Roosevelt, The New Nationalism

Theodore Roosevelt lived a life made for the cinema. He exhibited not only physical courage, but also an intellectual courage that met social and political crises similar to those of today. Acceding to the presidency after the politically motivated assassination of his predecessor, he challenged the elite of his day to address the inequities of his time threatening the American republic he so dearly loved.

Today we confront similar crises confronting the institutions that built this nation into an example for the entire world. Let us face them with TR’s optimism and his faith in this nation’s promise not only for its people but also for the world. Thank you for your example, Colonel, and rest in peace.

Domestic Policy, General, General, Politics

100 Days of Myopia

Bob Claude |

Source: “Pictures of TR & FDR Together”, Theodore Roosevelt Association Journal, Vol. 16, No.1 in Theodore Roosevelt Digital Library, Theodore Roosevelt Center, Dickinson State University

Nothing worth having comes without effort – Theodore Roosevelt

Since the purpose of this website was to develop a positive ideology of nationalism, I have avoided keeping up with the chaotic first three months of the second Trump administration. We have now reached the vaunted 100-day mark in his presidency, which is too often used to judge a president’s success. It leads to a temptation to focus on quick, shallow policy victories at the cost of lasting change and thus risks squandering a mandate.

Trump’s victory came amid claims that it heralded a historic realignment towards a new nationalist majority in the American electorate.  However, history shows that lasting political realignments are processes, not specific events. They begin before the election and are then fostered by the victors afterwards. The campaign doesn’t end, but continues as the victor explains their new national priorities and broadens his movement’s connection to the American public.  As Trump should have learned in his first term, he had no automatic sinecure, but was simply on probation. His support may have been a mile wide, but was only an inch thick.

The obsession with a president’s first 100 days harks back to the first administration of Theodore Roosevelt’s cousin, Franklin.  In an attempt to revive the economy during the Great Depression, he used the Democratic majority in Congress to enact a wealth of legislation to stabilize the economy and create jobs.  No one knew what would work, and so it was the policy equivalent of throwing mud against the wall and seeing what stuck. The Supreme Court voided some of it as unconstitutional. Most economists now agree it had little impact and that the economy did not fully recover until the advent of World War II.

This, however, does not mean it was ineffective.  Americans may not have known much about the alphabet soup of federal agencies FDR created, but every family huddled around their radios each week to listen to his fireside chats.  In a calm avuncular manner, Roosevelt used this relatively new medium to promote his legislative program and explain his philosophy. This created the support that enabled him to eventually pass iconic liberal goals like Social Security and the National Labor Relations Act in the latter two years of his first term.  It cemented a realignment that continued for almost 40 years and still is a part of our political landscape.

Trump has an opportunity to achieve a new nationalist version of the Roosevelt majority. Globalist Democrats are in disarray and their popular support has sank to historic lows. It is a golden opportunity for the kind of debate that would cement a lasting nationalist mandate. Instead, Trump 2.0 has taken the easy way out by making the same myopic mistakes as Trump 1.0, but on steroids. It has been dominated by Trump’s desire for revenge and his addiction to executive orders, many of which are futile, bombastic, unconstitutional or all three at once.

Theodore Roosevelt certainly pushed the boundaries of presidential power (see this earlier article), but as part of a coherent discussion of the policy reasons for it.  His most important political role was as a cheerleader for local Progressive reform movements. Much like FDR, he enjoyed using the “bully pulpit” of the presidency to promote his philosophy and embraced the possibilities for persuasion that the legislative process offered. It was hard work, but worth the reward. Instead, Trump’s arrogance and dictatorial methods risk reviving globalist legitimacy while justifying the use of similar tactics by a future president of that ideology.