Harry S. TrumanHarry S. Truman, (1884-1972), 33rd US President

Harry S. Truman Quote

“If you cannot convince them, confuse them.”

Harry S. TrumanHarry S. Truman
~ Harry S. Truman


Ratings and Comments


David L Rosenthal

Sounds similar to "If you cannot dazzle them with brilliance, baffle them with bulls**t." You know how I despise Truman. This doesn't improve things.

Anonymous, Reston, VA US

Must be one of King George's sources of blueprints on governing...

EGL, LA
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EGL, LA    12/11/06

In this land, and perhaps the world, where a vast majority of people are susceptible to the dictums of authoritarian despots, this is as true as it is dangerous and we are living the nightmare.

Jack, Green, OH

Good advice, Harry. Sounds a lot like some of our posters.

David L. Rosenthal

Truman knew how to act like a totalitarian. Thank God for term limits.

E Archer, NYC

Dazzle them with BS... like the 'Teflon-president' ... (they are all like that)

Jack, Green, OH

What did term limits have to do with Truman's tenure? He was eligible to run in '52, as the new two-term limit did not apply to him. He was excluded, being the current president at the time of its passage. He could have runn till he died, as FDR did...and win, too. Nobody thought he could win in 48, but he did. I voted agaist him but I know he could have won had he not decided to back Adlai Stevenson who lost..Stevenson couldn't win partly because he was not a Christian.

David L Rosenthal

Jack, I was making a general statement of gratitude, not for application merely to the Tyrant Truman, but to presidents in general.

Jack, Green, OH

Then don't thank term limit for anything, David. It was a mistake in 1951 and still is today - for anyone of any party to any office. People should have the right to vote for whomever they choose. Number of terms should not exclude them. I like the the remark that the Republicans aimed the 22nd Amendment at the Democrats but hit Eisenhower. So Ike settled on president of Columbia Univ instead as he was no longer qualified to be president of the US. What excuse is there for aterm limit anyhow? Can't people tell if a person is no longer qualified after a certain number of terms? Are they too stupid?

David L Rosenthal

Well, Jack, you might think me cynical, but I think term limits are a natural response from the miniscule, still-sane portion of legislative initiative that has not yet lost site of the fact that nobody is worthy to sit in any political office, and so it is warranted that they not be allowed to remain for too long. ;-)

jim k, Austin, Tx

Public servents: persons chosen by the people to distribute the graft. Mark Twain. Jack, if you don't see the necessity of term limits then I doubt that explaining it to you would do any good.But don't worry your little Liberal brain, Congress will never allow it. They love the gravy train they are on way to much to derail it.

Mike, Norwalk

Today's occupying statist theocracy infesting this land relies as much on convincing individuals that their lie's are truth, confusing any reasonable thought or seeking of truth as, they are just doing it because they can ( for example; 2500 light armored vehicles to DHS to fight Americans on American soil, and the CIA stating that it is not out of the realm of possibilities of using drones on Americans within the borders of the 50 States, etc., etc., etc.).

Mike, Norwalk

And, if you don't care about convincing them (because they are already dumbed down sufficiently) or, confusing them, just have the talking heads babble in superficial word salad - walaah !

Mike, Norwalk

And / or, in government's case, do what ever you want and don't tell anyone (if found out, the rest of government will back you up)

Patrick Henry, Red Hill

Generally, a means by which the dishonest and dishonorable endeavor to exploit the vulnerability of those who want for depths of rightly developed discernment.

As it written:

"God is not the author of confusion ..."

~ I Corinthians 14:33

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