I know that all of you are sitting around with nothing better to do than read through 60-year-old Presidential speeches, but after reading a few brief comparisons between Bush's political handling of the Iraq war and FDR's handling of WWII, I decided to read through a few of FDRs "fireside chats". That, and I have a cold which means I personally don't have anything better to do.

Fireside Chats of Franklin D. Roosevelt

The truth is you can't really say the Bush is either exactly like, or not like, FDR. It would probably be very easy to cherry pick quotes and say, "That's exactly what President Bush said and he was laughed at"*, or "You see how open FDR was with the American people, he never deceived the American people!"**.

The best thing to do to get a complete picture is to read through entire speeches.

*"On the road ahead there lies hard work" - December 9, 1941

* "This war is a new kind of war. It is different from all other wars of the past, not only in its methods and weapons but also in its geography. It is warfare in terms of every continent, every island, every sea, every air-lane in the world." - February 23, 1942

** "We have most certainly suffered losses -- from Hitler's U-Boats in the Atlantic as well as from the Japanese in the Pacific -- and we shall suffer more of them before the turn of the tide. But, speaking for the United States of America, let me say once and for all to the people of the world: We Americans have been compelled to yield ground, but we will regain it." - February 23, 1942

**"Several thousand Americans have met death in battle. Other thousands will lose their lives." - September 7, 1942

There's plenty of other interesting details - FDR's constant optimism on the outcome of the war, his calls for sacrifice, praise of the Russians and criticism of the "Japs". Fascinating stuff, especially when you know the outcome in advance.