Hell, if you can keep it. "There is a story, often told, that upon exiting the Constitutional Convention Benjamin Franklin was approached by a group of citizens asking what sort of government the delegates had created. His answer was: "A republic, if you can keep it."" Neo-cons are now quoting this to suggest that Mr. Bush gave the Iraqis a republic, but they just could not keep it. It would be more accurate to say that Mr. Bush gave them hell, if they can keep it.