.

Get a giant swallow of this, my thirsty friends —

We had to struggle with the old enemies of peace–business and financial monopoly, speculation, reckless banking, class antagonism, sectionalism, war profiteering.

They had begun to consider the Government of the United States as a mere appendage to their own affairs. We know now that Government by organized money is just as dangerous as Government by organized mob.

Never before in all our history have these forces been so united against one candidate as they stand today. They are unanimous in their hate for me–and I welcome their hatred.

Franklin Roosevelt, October 31, 1936

And if that doesn’t chill you to the bones, he also said in that speech —

Here is an amazing paradox! The very employers and politicians and publishers who talk most loudly of class antagonism and the destruction of the American system now undermine that system by this attempt to coerce the votes of the wage earners of this country. It is the 1936 version of the old threat to close down the factory or the office if a particular candidate does not win. It is an old strategy of tyrants to delude their victims into fighting their battles for them.

I am not sure that being “civil” and compromising is going to win back this country to the middle class who has done the labor, fought the wars, paid the taxes and made this country great.

If we do not insist on having Roosevelt’s courage to “welcome the hatred” of the organized mob, then I fear we will be swallowed by them.

America was not built on civility.  It was built on courage, dammit.

And that is your Monday Morning Hissy Fit, brought to you by Franklin Roosevelt and Juanita Jean.