this post was submitted on 01 Dec 2025
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History Memes

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Truth is an absolute defense :) (infosec.pub)
submitted 3 weeks ago by PugJesus@piefed.social to c/historymemes@piefed.social
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[–] PugJesus@piefed.social 50 points 3 weeks ago (4 children)

Explanation: Teddy Roosevelt, in one of his more based moments, did a bit of campaigning against corruption in US politics. One of the targets of his ire was William Barnes, a conservative who ran in some very 'old boys' circles in New York politics. Barnes sued Roosevelt for libel, at which point Teddy took the stand and spent several days arguing not that he made a slip of the tongue or meant it rhetorically (which would have been a pretty airtight defense itself under US libel laws), but that he did mean it and that he could prove that it was (at least to a degree that it would be reasonable for someone to non-maliciously and genuinely believe) factual.

He won the case, and ended Barnes' career with it. lmao

[–] gibmiser@lemmy.world 18 points 3 weeks ago

Motherfucker had balls.

[–] Ininewcrow@piefed.ca 14 points 3 weeks ago (2 children)

If only our current world included more political figures like this

[–] voracitude@lemmy.world 3 points 3 weeks ago* (last edited 3 weeks ago) (2 children)

I dunno, his rampant and virulent racism was pretty upsetting. Not that the current crop are any better in that regard, but it's still a big point against the guy.

[–] PugJesus@piefed.social 5 points 3 weeks ago

tbf, his racism was actually slightly less than the standard of the time.

[–] Honytawk@feddit.nl 1 points 3 weeks ago

I think they mean the judge

[–] KombatWombat@lemmy.world 1 points 2 weeks ago

Well, there's no shortage of politicians calling each other names and accusing each other nowadays. Political figures are pretty safe targets to verbally attack so long as you aren't too specific or threatening. And the president has been immune to civil suits like libel for official actions since Nixon v. Fitzgerald in 1982.

I think trusting the president to investigate government corruption is about as reliable as having the police investigate themselves. External agencies doing investigative reporting make better watchdogs. And if we do want internal checks, it makes more sense to come from the judiciary. They are at least less likely to be motivated by party affiliations and re-elections.

[–] chuckleslord@lemmy.world 11 points 3 weeks ago* (last edited 3 weeks ago) (1 children)

He was like 50% based, 45% racist motherfucker, 5% insane. Probably one of our best Presidents (though the bar is insanely low)

[–] captainlezbian@lemmy.world 2 points 2 weeks ago

Yeah his cousin was better, but the Roosevelt family was really good for America. Well, the united states, Teddy, was more mixed for the rest of the hemisphere. Both of them were rare in that they understood that capitalism was in danger if left to its own devices. Now I'm not grateful they kept capitalism going, but they curbed its excesses and made life better for the average person.

[–] mindbleach@sh.itjust.works 7 points 3 weeks ago

Imagine how dumb you'd have to be to get into a PR dick-measuring contest with Theodore goddamn Roosevelt. Someone shot this man, and he still spent an hour enthralling a crowd.