“Andrew Jackson had a pretty clear idea about America’s enemies,” our oracular fount of wisdom Newt Gingrich pontificated in last night’s GOP debate. “Kill them!” This prompted the ravenous wolves in the audience intoxicated with lust for raw Muslim meat and blood to go delirious.
But when it comes to Old Hickory’s most famous description of how he would deal with his enemies, Newt missed regaling the multitude with this choice bon mot:
“My only two regrets in life are that I did not hang John C. Calhoun and shoot Henry Clay.”
“Hang John C. Calhoun?” The most famous and esteemed political figure in the history of South Carolina? As a Lincolnian nationalist to his very marrow, Newt would no doubt heartily approve. And the rabid crowd would no doubt concur.
Strangely, there is another quote attributed to Jackson that “historian” Gingrich somehow missed last night on the stage in South Carolina:
“One man with courage makes a majority.”
But then that would have been describing Ron Paul’s undaunted courage and resolute dedication to the very principles of civilization — of international law, due process, and Habeas Corpus. This is something that the barbarians in the hall would never concede.
11:43 am on January 17, 2012
