Favorite President ?

[TLAM Strike]

Originally Posted by the_tyrant

...he was shot before a speech and he insisted on finishing it

Did you know that Teddy Roosevelt is alive today? He changed his name to Chuck Norris.

[Skybird]

What good, real statesmen there have been in a far away past, is not that important. The important question is: why don't we have any today? Not a single name there is left today whom I would call that: a statesman. Instead we have attention-craving career-managers playing Diplomacy, and political party oligarchies that have completely hijacked and assassinated democracy and have put their own power interests before state's reason and the interest of the community. It's a total mess.

Can't say I know all US presidents there have been, but time and again I stumble over the quotes by Jefferson, and I think Eisenhower was a very good one, too, often a bit understimated. He was able to form bridges between Reps and Dems, instead of polarising them, and he had an indepoth knopwledge from first hand of the military and the interlinkiung between industry and military. Also, he did not want to become president, and had no craving for it, which again speaks for him. Both Roosevelts also get my positive attention.

In Germany, to me and many other Germans the choice is clear: Helmut Schmidt probabaly was the most clever and truthful chancellor we ever had - a bit arrogant, but Hanseatic in the best meaning fo the word, a Prussian- influenced officer with a stroing sense of duty (he even dared to reject the Bundesverdienstkreuz, Germany'S highest order, after he had left office, because he said that he did his duty, and fulfilling one's duty must not be rewarded). Even while now being in his 90s, he is still held in high esteem as one of the highest moral authorities in this country - and one of the most intelligent analysts of German and global politics we have.
Richard von Weizsäcker also is on my mind, an educated, decent gentleman from a family that has brought up several bright minds known in the world of science, politics, arts. Money and wealth was not what brought Schmidt and von Weizsäcker to ranks and honours.

[Jimbuna]

Roosevelt he came to the aid of the UK when we stood alone against Hitler.

[TLAM Strike]

Originally Posted by jimbuna

Roosevelt he came to the aid of the UK when we stood alone against Hitler.

FWI for all Europeans...

Roosevelt in WWII = FDR
Roosevelt from Spanish American War = Teddy

Not all non Americans know there were two. There were also two Adams, two Harrisons and two Bushes

[Oberon]

Both Roosevelts were great presidents, I can't deny that. FDR was a fantastic friend to the UK and pushed every law he could to help us whilst still at peace, and those fireside chats...I still think that modern Presidents or Prime Ministers should do this, by radio, so as not to intrude on television, but just a communication to the people they govern as to what's going on, what the President thinks, that kinda thing.
Teddy Roosevelt, well, I don't actually know much about him aside from what has been written in this thread (and that's awesome enough) but, I mean, he just looks awesome, heck, they both do.


Epic glasses

[Sailor Steve]

Originally Posted by mookiemookie

I admire Teddy Roosevelt.

Originally Posted by the_tyrant

Teddy Roosevelt for sure!

Originally Posted by TLAM Strike

Teddy Roosevelt

Originally Posted by Oberon

Teddy Roosevelt

Are any of you aware that he absolutely hated being called "Teddy"? He preferred 'TR'. His wife called him "Thee" (as in short for "Theodore").

Recordings of TR speeches:
http://memory.loc.gov/ammem/collecti...lm/trfsnd.html

[CaptainMattJ.]

what most people dont know is that lincoln wasnt as big an abolitionist as propaganda has inferred. Lincoln basically banned slavery as Punishment to the south for breaking off in the first place. The south's entire economy was pretty much based on slaves. Lincoln didntlike slavery, sure , but he didnt go out and start the war bbecause of it. it came towards the end. He also imprisoned anyone speaking out against him, calling them "a threat to national security".

Clinton was great. he really got america in tip top shape. Now bush F-ed all that up, and now Obama has to be the one who gets pelted by fruit in town square. Bush REALLY Screwed this country up, and just cause obama isnt getting it done in 4 years doesnt mean Jack. Obama is......decent...... but hes not good enough to fix it up ASAP. Its not his fault that republicans are Fighting him EVERY single step of the way. The health care bill Got mangled and screwed up and now it sucks. Now health care REQURES you to have insurance, and the only game in town is private insurance companies. Republicans Only care about corporations, and thats a FAAAAAAAAACT. They couldnt Give a God dam about this country, just the people on top. Their motto is "screw the middle class" and its ingraved in stone. then again, DEMOCRATS are Greedy A holes too. ESPECIALLY in California. BOth parties are corrupt, and as ong as they are in power this country will fall.

[Jimbuna]

Originally Posted by Oberon

Both Roosevelts were great presidents, I can't deny that. FDR was a fantastic friend to the UK and pushed every law he could to help us whilst still at peace,

I'm wondering if history might have turned out differently post Dec 41...when America was attacked by Japan, America declared war on Japan but not Germany.

We have Hitler to thank for it was he who declared war on America....otherwise it is possible the Americans may have put major emphasis on the PTO and left Britain and the Commonwealth to get on with the war in Europe.

We did declare war on Japan in support of our American cousins though.

[Bubblehead1980]

Originally Posted by CaptainMattJ.

what most people dont know is that lincoln wasnt as big an abolitionist as propaganda has inferred. Lincoln basically banned slavery as Punishment to the south for breaking off in the first place. The south's entire economy was pretty much based on slaves. Lincoln didntlike slavery, sure , but he didnt go out and start the war bbecause of it. it came towards the end. He also imprisoned anyone speaking out against him, calling them "a threat to national security".

Clinton was great. he really got america in tip top shape. Now bush F-ed all that up, and now Obama has to be the one who gets pelted by fruit in town square. Bush REALLY Screwed this country up, and just cause obama isnt getting it done in 4 years doesnt mean Jack. Obama is......decent...... but hes not good enough to fix it up ASAP. Its not his fault that republicans are Fighting him EVERY single step of the way. The health care bill Got mangled and screwed up and now it sucks. Now health care REQURES you to have insurance, and the only game in town is private insurance companies. Republicans Only care about corporations, and thats a FAAAAAAAAACT. They couldnt Give a God dam about this country, just the people on top. Their motto is "screw the middle class" and its ingraved in stone. then again, DEMOCRATS are Greedy A holes too. ESPECIALLY in California. BOth parties are corrupt, and as ong as they are in power this country will fall.

You know, I did not want this to be a thread for argument, just statement but this was just bull so I must respond.


Lincoln gets too much praise, I find him to be a terrible President who is highly overrated.Sure, he did some good things but did a lot of terrible things as well such as not allowing criticism, traits of a tyrant and dictator for sure.

Clinton is overrated, he could play that working class hero crap well so it helped him with the masses.Clinton was a lot like Obama his first two years, but Republicans took control of Congress and Clinton began to govern from the center(somewhat) as the economy rebounded and thus secured his reelection, plus Bob Dole was not exactly a great candidate.Not to get start on Obama but Obama will not do the same because Obama is too much of an ideologue.Congress was controlled by Republicans for most of Clinton's Presidency and were the safeguard against Clinton's more Leftist ambitions.Clinton would be looked at much different had Republicans not won the mid terms in 94.

[Bubblehead1980]

Tie with Reagan and George Washington.As another poster pointed out, George Washington could have been a dictator but he was a great man who did not want that.

Ronald Reagan of course.Reagan was an everyman, essentially a regular guy who moved up in his career then got involved with politics because he hated where the country was going.Reagan fought the good fight and despite the detractors, he won in 1980 and turned the economy around while defeating the Soviets, who we had dicked around with since the murder of JFK.Reagan left office with a 64% approval rating and a recovered economy, best modern President.

No offense but some of you guys should really think about FDR.I used to admire him but things I've learned over past few years, he was not so great.Wartime leadership was excellent but his economics, ehhh not so much.

[Takeda Shingen]

Originally Posted by CaptainMattJ.

Clinton was great. he really got america in tip top shape. Now bush F-ed all that up, and now Obama has to be the one who gets pelted by fruit in town square. Bush REALLY Screwed this country up, and just cause obama isnt getting it done in 4 years doesnt mean Jack.

I should point out to you that the one of the major causes of the gobal economic crisis was the collapse of the housing market, in no small part due to the issuance of subprime mortgages financed by the tax incentives given by HUD. This, of course, was begun in 1996 under the Clinton administration. The same administration was also, largely, asleep at the switch in regards to Islamic terror; paving the way for the attacks in 2001.

Bubblehead, I stand by my assessment of Franklin Roosevelt. You may not like him, but his mark on American governance is indelible.

[Bubblehead1980]

Originally Posted by Takeda Shingen

I should point out to you that the one of the major causes of the gobal economic crisis was the collapse of the housing market, in no small part due to the issuance of subprime mortgages financed by the tax incentives given by HUD. This, of course, was begun in 1996 under the Clinton administration. The same administration was also, largely, asleep at the switch in regards to Islamic terror; paving the way for the attacks in 2001.

Bubblehead, I stand by my assessment of Franklin Roosevelt. You may not like him, but his mark on American governance is indelible.

Good point, I forgot to include that Clinton was basically responsible for the attacks in 2001 as well as the subprime crisis.

I do not deny FDR had an impact but hate when he gets high marks, he in large part he planted the seeds for many of our problems today.From taking people's gold, to bullying the Supreme Court and his very socialist programs.Lets not forget his legacy which is now nothing but a damn burden on us basically, Social Security.

[Skybird]

Originally Posted by jimbuna

I'm wondering if history might have turned out differently post Dec 41...when America was attacked by Japan, America declared war on Japan but not Germany.

We have Hitler to thank for it was he who declared war on America....otherwise it is possible the Americans may have put major emphasis on the PTO and left Britain and the Commonwealth to get on with the war in Europe.

We did declare war on Japan in support of our American cousins though.

I think being at war with Japan would have neutralised any former hesitation to get engaged in Europe as well, so maybe it would have changed the timing a bit if Hitler would not have declared war, but sooner or later the US would have entered the European war, too.

[Tchocky]

Favourite, now there's a tough one.

I find Clinton, Nixon and Kennedy to be the most interesting to read about and learn about. That said, the Presidency up until Wilson is not something I know much about.

We did declare war on Japan in support of our American cousins though.

In fairness the declaration was in direct response to the landings on and bombardments of Britsh possesions in the far east, the attack on American possesions is not mentioned at all in the declaration.