George Washington’s real birthday was 274 years ago today.
He delivered his Farewell Address in 1796. I imagine that as he wrote it, he looked 207 years into the future and saw the man that now occupies the office. Perhaps the current occupant inspired him to write these words:
It is important, likewise, that the habits of thinking in a free country should inspire caution in those intrusted with its administration to confine themselves within their respective constitutional spheres, avoiding in the exercise of the powers of one department to encroach upon another. The spirit of encroachment tends to consolidate the powers of all the departments in one, and thus to create, whatever the form of government, a real despotism.
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So, likewise, a passionate attachment of one nation for another produces a variety of evils. Sympathy for the favorite nation, facilitating the illusion of an imaginary common interest in cases where no real common interest exists, and infusing into one the enmities of the other, betrays the former into a participation in the quarrels and wars of the latter without adequate inducement or justification.
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Excessive partiality for one foreign nation and excessive dislike of another cause those whom they actuate to see danger only on one side, and serve to veil and even second the arts of influence on the other. Real patriots who may resist the intrigues of the favorite are liable to become suspected and odious, while its tools and dupes usurp the applause and confidence of the people to surrender their interests.
George W. knew what this country was about and he had some ideas about what type of people should hold office an how the government should serve its citizens.
204 years later, George Dubya took office with some crazy ideas about how he could screw it all up.
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