Political question

[Razaboo]

I've been following the political debate here on MM for quite sometime and thought I would throw a question out for the local pundits. People always talk about the need for a statesman. Can someone plese define what a statesman is?

Stan

 

[BomberBlackies]

Ask T and Dude they have all the answers.

 

[257Tony]

Aristotle -- "What the statesman is most anxious to produce is a certain moral character in his fellow citizens, namely a disposition to virtue and the performance of virtuous actions."


Harry S. Truman -- "A politician is a man who understands
government. A statesman is a politician who's been dead for 15 years."


Henry Kissinger -- "The statesman's duty is to bridge the gap between experience and vision."


Milton Friedman -- "One man's opportunism is another man's statesmanship."


Otto von Bismarck -- ?I consider even a victorious war as an evil, from which statesmanship must endeavor to spare nations.?


I hope that is clear as mud for ya....

 

[RELH]

A Statesman: A bull$hitter of the highest degree.

RELH

 

[TFinalshot]

Look up (D) Michael Joseph Mansfield, the great senator from Montana and the last statesman of our times.

 

[Forthewall]

Outside of Webster's definition, my definition would be as follows:

Respected both in and out of their party circles

Respected by allies and enemies alike.

Able to bridge over party and geographical boundries.

Brings success where there is doubt

Brings clarity where there is chaos

Brings unity where there is division

Brings hope where there is despair

In our modern era I believe Bush Sr. is a true statesman for his success in liberating Kuwait. Rallying a multitude of nations at very little cost in both money and American lives.

As well, Churchill and especially Lincoln come to mind.