This is a story about a man named Sam. He was known for his integrity. Early in his career, a wealthy businessman delivered a beautiful horse to his farm seeking favor. No one was looking, and no one would have ever known had he kept it. He sent the horse back. He was a man who could not be bought.
Your continued knowledge Steve is remarkable. Do you even sleep? Everything you share is eye awaking for me. I’m not young and should know a lot of what you share. I hope I live long enough to continue to learn from you. Thank you!!!
Thank you Steve for remembering and for caring. I remember Sam. And Ike and Lyndon. I grew up in a small rural farming community but my mom was a devotee of political watching, like a hawk. The news was on 3 times a day 6 days a week because the weather followed and no farmer wanted to miss that. She even subscribed to the Congressional minutes so she’d know who said what when. The times of my early life were filled with change. The values of Sam Rayburn were the values of my paternal grandparents, whether they knew it or not, and they valued themselves as progressive Democrats who read the newspaper daily to keep up with things. I learned to read from the sports page because I already knew my numbers and figured it would be easier to figure out the letters and words with that much already behind me. The following years brought the world of change you alluded to with enhanced transportation systems, highways & roadways linking every part of the country, and an eye to democracy for all surviving despite the fascistic leanings of a few. But the issues of freedom, fairness & equality for all saw us through the assassinations of J.F.K., Martin Luther Ling and Bobby Kennedy. And the racism &hypocrisy began to crystalize anew with the advent of Dixie rats leaning toward the new, now worse than ever, Republican Party. It was a harsh time despite the advances heralded by our first man from earth walking on the moon and all that followed. We went from rural economies with small family farms to agribusiness and the destruction of 0ur wetlands, plains & mountains with no longer soil conservation practices but huge acres of fields tilled by enormous mechanical monsters ripping up the earth, tearing down mountains in mining ventures, and on and on til today. Yes, I remember Sam. And for the past 6 years the thing that comforted me most was that Nancy Pelosi was 2nd In line to the presidency if worst came to worst. Today, there is no comfort. Only hope, thank you for remembering Sam.
America is on a slippery slope because of an uneducated and backwards population centered in what is known as the “Bible Belt” the Republican Party has become an evil faction holding the majority hostage. It’s time to beat them at their own game.
Thank you, Steve. I had never seen a list of the progress made by Sam Rayburn and how much of it was during my lifetime.
McCarthy is a political pool boy. He’s truly pathetic and is going to failure spectacularly. He has nothing close to being or behaving like a statesman. Statesmanship is a requirement of the position he unfortunately holds. The Founders have been betrayed.
Jan 8, 2023·edited Jan 9, 2023Liked by Steve Schmidt
Kevin McCarthy's "rise" (more like descent) to the office of Speaker is much like the desecration of the Capitol itself on January 6, 2020. The insurrectionist rabble have hijacked the hallowed halls of democracy, and Kevin enables and empowers them in exchange for the opportunity to take cheesy selfies in the Speaker's office. "Mr. Sam" would be horrified.
Kevin's term will be nasty, brutish, and (mercifully) short.
While sewing today, I finished listening to the audio version of Robert Caro’s The Power Broker about Robert Moses, and began listening to Path to Power which is about Lyndon Johnson. The more I learn the more astonished I am at how little I really know about our government, politics, and the influence of politicians. Thank you for contributing to my continuing education.
An amazing piece of writing. Thank you and please keep it up. We need minds like yours to help us understand this moment in our history and prepare us for what is to come. I am 75 and fear for my descendants. May the coming cohorts call these crooks to account!
Thank you for sharing this. I enjoyed learning more about Sam Rayburn. What a contrast between he and McCarthy. McCarthy’s legacy will be that he was owned by everyone in order to secure the positions he held. His speakership will be a desperate time for the country as he is weak and will do whatever he has to do to sustain his speakership. It will be a difficult time for America but may demonstrate to our fellow Americans just how far our Republican brothers and sisters have fallen in the effort to retain power. We can only hope this breaks the spell. McCarthy is nothing short of pathetic.
McCarthy was elected Speaker but he will not last. Matt Gaetz will instigate a no confidence vote within months and the sh**show that is the Republican Party will resume its voting follies.
Sam was a man who could not be bought. Kevin is a man who has been bought, paid for, and will go down in history as the only un-American-insurrectionist-supporting Speaker Of The House.
Your continued knowledge Steve is remarkable. Do you even sleep? Everything you share is eye awaking for me. I’m not young and should know a lot of what you share. I hope I live long enough to continue to learn from you. Thank you!!!
Kevin McCarthy is a cowardly, feckless weasel. Period.
Thank you Steve for remembering and for caring. I remember Sam. And Ike and Lyndon. I grew up in a small rural farming community but my mom was a devotee of political watching, like a hawk. The news was on 3 times a day 6 days a week because the weather followed and no farmer wanted to miss that. She even subscribed to the Congressional minutes so she’d know who said what when. The times of my early life were filled with change. The values of Sam Rayburn were the values of my paternal grandparents, whether they knew it or not, and they valued themselves as progressive Democrats who read the newspaper daily to keep up with things. I learned to read from the sports page because I already knew my numbers and figured it would be easier to figure out the letters and words with that much already behind me. The following years brought the world of change you alluded to with enhanced transportation systems, highways & roadways linking every part of the country, and an eye to democracy for all surviving despite the fascistic leanings of a few. But the issues of freedom, fairness & equality for all saw us through the assassinations of J.F.K., Martin Luther Ling and Bobby Kennedy. And the racism &hypocrisy began to crystalize anew with the advent of Dixie rats leaning toward the new, now worse than ever, Republican Party. It was a harsh time despite the advances heralded by our first man from earth walking on the moon and all that followed. We went from rural economies with small family farms to agribusiness and the destruction of 0ur wetlands, plains & mountains with no longer soil conservation practices but huge acres of fields tilled by enormous mechanical monsters ripping up the earth, tearing down mountains in mining ventures, and on and on til today. Yes, I remember Sam. And for the past 6 years the thing that comforted me most was that Nancy Pelosi was 2nd In line to the presidency if worst came to worst. Today, there is no comfort. Only hope, thank you for remembering Sam.
America is on a slippery slope because of an uneducated and backwards population centered in what is known as the “Bible Belt” the Republican Party has become an evil faction holding the majority hostage. It’s time to beat them at their own game.
Thank you, Steve. I had never seen a list of the progress made by Sam Rayburn and how much of it was during my lifetime.
McCarthy is a political pool boy. He’s truly pathetic and is going to failure spectacularly. He has nothing close to being or behaving like a statesman. Statesmanship is a requirement of the position he unfortunately holds. The Founders have been betrayed.
So interesting, Steve. Wow. Can you do more like this? You know, they things they didn’t teach us in school. ❤️
Kevin McCarthy's "rise" (more like descent) to the office of Speaker is much like the desecration of the Capitol itself on January 6, 2020. The insurrectionist rabble have hijacked the hallowed halls of democracy, and Kevin enables and empowers them in exchange for the opportunity to take cheesy selfies in the Speaker's office. "Mr. Sam" would be horrified.
Kevin's term will be nasty, brutish, and (mercifully) short.
While sewing today, I finished listening to the audio version of Robert Caro’s The Power Broker about Robert Moses, and began listening to Path to Power which is about Lyndon Johnson. The more I learn the more astonished I am at how little I really know about our government, politics, and the influence of politicians. Thank you for contributing to my continuing education.
An amazing piece of writing. Thank you and please keep it up. We need minds like yours to help us understand this moment in our history and prepare us for what is to come. I am 75 and fear for my descendants. May the coming cohorts call these crooks to account!
Wonderful. I’m old enough to remember Mr Sam. Your eloquence is unmatched. Thx.
Thank you for sharing this. I enjoyed learning more about Sam Rayburn. What a contrast between he and McCarthy. McCarthy’s legacy will be that he was owned by everyone in order to secure the positions he held. His speakership will be a desperate time for the country as he is weak and will do whatever he has to do to sustain his speakership. It will be a difficult time for America but may demonstrate to our fellow Americans just how far our Republican brothers and sisters have fallen in the effort to retain power. We can only hope this breaks the spell. McCarthy is nothing short of pathetic.
McCarthy was elected Speaker but he will not last. Matt Gaetz will instigate a no confidence vote within months and the sh**show that is the Republican Party will resume its voting follies.
We are about to embark on two years of assault on the sensibilities of Americans. Buckle up.
So disappointing that McCarthy will hold the gavel and have this power. My stomach turns...
Sam was a man who could not be bought. Kevin is a man who has been bought, paid for, and will go down in history as the only un-American-insurrectionist-supporting Speaker Of The House.
Brilliant essay!