Opinion of Theodore Roosevelt

[Mr. Smith]

More good than bad under him, in spite of his imperialist tendencies.

[Mr. Smith]

HP (not a racist, imperialist, conservative nutjob)

How in God's name is Teddy Roosevelt a conservative outside of Marxist overthink?

How is he a liberal outside of the fine and storied tradition of modern Democrats "claiming" any and all past Republicans who are remembered fondly by history?

Two words: Universal healthcare.

Such an idea is unthinkable by a party that's getting their tizzy in a fit over even regulation of insurance companies.

[Mr. Smith]

FF (racist, imperialist, conservative nutjob)

...
As to your conspiracy theory about the left "claiming any and all past Republicans who are remembered fondly by history", you don't see a lot of Democrats placing dibs on Reagan and Eisenhower.

Actually, I have seen Democrats claim that Eisenhower would be one if he was alive today.

Not saying I necessarily believe in that claim, but there is evidence in favor of the argument. Eisenhower was a moderate, coveted by both parties for a presidential run, who preserved and in some cases expanded New Deal ideas, enhanced government spending and created various agencies (Highway System, NASA, etc.), criticized growing military spending, etc. Combine that with the hard evidence that the Republican Party is more conservative than its 1950s counterpart and you have a compelling argument.

Here's a more compelling argument: how many Presidents who have lived decades after leaving office and watched their parties change significantly have ever switched parties?

Well, how many presidents have lived to see their parties change significantly, period? The only examples that come to mind immediately are John Adams and Martin Van Buren, both of whom did abandon their parties once it became clear that they no longer represented their ideals.

I'm sure you'd argue that today's GOP is crazy or whatever compared to its past selves, but Gerald Ford remained a Republican until his death in 2004.  When Truman first would have been a Democrat, it would have been a very different party (especially in MO) than the one he died seeing in the 1970s, but he never defected.  Hoover remained a Republican until his death in 1969.

First of all, it was Reagan that died in 2004, not Ford.  Hoover did not die in 1969, that was Eisenhower. Secondly, the mainstray of the Democratic party did not change on Truman, no more than it did with Carter, and even if it did, it moved rightwards!

[Mr. Smith]

The Philippine-American War is enough to make him a HP alone.

But his call for Single-payer health care in 1912 and Environmental preservation record is far more than enough to counter that.

[Mr. Smith]

FF overall, despite his opinions on war and racism.

HP for those exact reasons.

So you support monopolies that force workers to put up with horrible things?

No. But his horrid race bigotry and imperialism make him a horrible figure.

Roosevelt was not racist against the blacks. Against the Filipinos, yes.

Still racism.