Favourite US President?
#16
Re: Favourite US President?
Originally Posted by SarahUK
I heard that Hilary Clinton tried to get a bill passed through congress pushing for reform changes in the healthcare system to make it more similar to the NHS but was, of course, defeated. If she does run in 2008 I would like to see her running the country with Bill as advisor and first husband I think they'd be a great team.
I also have great hopes for Barack Obama after watching his closing speech at the democratic convention I felt like somebody was finally saying all the things that needed to be said. Plus I like the fact that he wa the only non-millionaire running for senate.
I also have great hopes for Barack Obama after watching his closing speech at the democratic convention I felt like somebody was finally saying all the things that needed to be said. Plus I like the fact that he wa the only non-millionaire running for senate.
Barack Obama is one of the most inspiring speakers I have ever heard. The future holds great things for him if he learns how to duck.
#17
Re: Favourite US President?
Calvin Coolidge
The political genius of President Coolidge, columnist Walter Lippmann pointed out in 1926, was his talent for effectively doing nothing: "This active inactivity suits the mood and certain of the needs of the country admirably. It suits all the business interests which want to be let alone.... And it suits all those who have become convinced that government in this country has become dangerously complicated and top-heavy...."
---
At his innauguration ball, a woman approached him and said, "My husband bet me that I couldn't get you to say three words."
Coolidge replied, "You lose."
-----
Biography--http://www.whitehouse.gov/history/presidents/cc30.html
The political genius of President Coolidge, columnist Walter Lippmann pointed out in 1926, was his talent for effectively doing nothing: "This active inactivity suits the mood and certain of the needs of the country admirably. It suits all the business interests which want to be let alone.... And it suits all those who have become convinced that government in this country has become dangerously complicated and top-heavy...."
---
At his innauguration ball, a woman approached him and said, "My husband bet me that I couldn't get you to say three words."
Coolidge replied, "You lose."
-----
Biography--http://www.whitehouse.gov/history/presidents/cc30.html
#18
Re: Favourite US President?
Originally Posted by edwords
Calvin Coolidge
The political genius of President Coolidge, columnist Walter Lippmann pointed out in 1926, was his talent for effectively doing nothing: "This active inactivity suits the mood and certain of the needs of the country admirably. It suits all the business interests which want to be let alone.... And it suits all those who have become convinced that government in this country has become dangerously complicated and top-heavy...."
---
At his innauguration ball, a woman approached him and said, "My husband bet me that I couldn't get you to say three words."
Coolidge replied, "You lose."
-----
Biography--http://www.whitehouse.gov/history/presidents/cc30.html
The political genius of President Coolidge, columnist Walter Lippmann pointed out in 1926, was his talent for effectively doing nothing: "This active inactivity suits the mood and certain of the needs of the country admirably. It suits all the business interests which want to be let alone.... And it suits all those who have become convinced that government in this country has become dangerously complicated and top-heavy...."
---
At his innauguration ball, a woman approached him and said, "My husband bet me that I couldn't get you to say three words."
Coolidge replied, "You lose."
-----
Biography--http://www.whitehouse.gov/history/presidents/cc30.html
#19
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: Favourite US President?
Originally Posted by elfman
Lets say some positive things about US presidents for a change!
So who's your favourite US President? Doesn't necessarily have to be the best, but which one do you admire or simply like the most? Whether for achievements during his presidency (or other times), his background, character, or simply for personal reasons, I'm interested to know which one's y'all's (as my MIL says) fave.
Mine's Harry Truman - a man of humble background who rose to the top unexpectedly, after many years as a farmer, businessman, WW1 artillery officer and small town judge. He was supported by dodgy Kansas City businessmen/gangsters but never corrupted by them, and as a rookie senator in Washington he made his name and a reputation for integrity by chairing a commission that rooted out corruption and inefficiency in the arms industry in the first years of WW2.
As president he had to deal with the end of WW2, the atom bomb and recalcitrant soviets. He recognised the state of Israel, supported the creation of the UN and NATO, and was ultimately responsible for the Berlin airlift and the Marshall plan. He ended segregation in the US military and didn't take any crap from General MacArthur when MacArthur wanted to start WW3 in Korea. He also wanted universal health insurance but never got it past congress. Not a perfect man or president, but admirable as both, and when he spoke in folksy/earthy midwest rural aphorisms it was the real deal.
FDR comes a close second.
So who's your favourite US President? Doesn't necessarily have to be the best, but which one do you admire or simply like the most? Whether for achievements during his presidency (or other times), his background, character, or simply for personal reasons, I'm interested to know which one's y'all's (as my MIL says) fave.
Mine's Harry Truman - a man of humble background who rose to the top unexpectedly, after many years as a farmer, businessman, WW1 artillery officer and small town judge. He was supported by dodgy Kansas City businessmen/gangsters but never corrupted by them, and as a rookie senator in Washington he made his name and a reputation for integrity by chairing a commission that rooted out corruption and inefficiency in the arms industry in the first years of WW2.
As president he had to deal with the end of WW2, the atom bomb and recalcitrant soviets. He recognised the state of Israel, supported the creation of the UN and NATO, and was ultimately responsible for the Berlin airlift and the Marshall plan. He ended segregation in the US military and didn't take any crap from General MacArthur when MacArthur wanted to start WW3 in Korea. He also wanted universal health insurance but never got it past congress. Not a perfect man or president, but admirable as both, and when he spoke in folksy/earthy midwest rural aphorisms it was the real deal.
FDR comes a close second.
The funny thing was Senator Truman never wanted to be Vice President (FDR's Vice President from 1941 to '45) let alone President. Truman was happy as Senator Truman.
In his earlier years he was financially ruined several times, but the nettle and character of the man was such that he always recovered to fight another day ... he even recovered from his disastrous foray into drilling for oil, he bought a rig, hired a crew and drilled until he ran out of money and sold it to someone who quickly struck oil. That must have knocked Truman, he so much wanted to be a successful to bolster his chances of marrying his sweetheart, but there he was, missed out on what should have been his oilstrike, penniless having lost all the money including the money he borrowed form his dear sweetheart. But he recovered, and later married his sweetheart. Truman's letters to his wife/former sweetheart were published some time ago, but Truman's letters that he held back showed how much he sacrificed himself for country, he hated being apart from his wife, who hated DC and politics and insisted on moving back to her home state.
#20
Re: Favourite US President?
[QUOTE=elfman]Lets say some positive things about US presidents for a change!
So who's your favourite US President? Doesn't necessarily have to be the best, but which one do you admire or simply like the most? Whether for achievements during his presidency (or other times), his background, character, or simply for personal reasons, I'm interested to know which one's y'all's (as my MIL says) fave.
QUOTE]
I've only experienced one presidency and thus I couldn't comment about any other president including the 4 who have been since i was born. I might have experienced much of clintons foreign relations thus I could say he was popular outside the US.
Here's to Texas best
So who's your favourite US President? Doesn't necessarily have to be the best, but which one do you admire or simply like the most? Whether for achievements during his presidency (or other times), his background, character, or simply for personal reasons, I'm interested to know which one's y'all's (as my MIL says) fave.
QUOTE]
I've only experienced one presidency and thus I couldn't comment about any other president including the 4 who have been since i was born. I might have experienced much of clintons foreign relations thus I could say he was popular outside the US.
Here's to Texas best
#21
Re: Favourite US President?
Originally Posted by UKintheUSA
He was a really GOOD man.
Debs
Debs
Thousands and thousands of dead and tortured people in Central America would disagree. However, since this isn't the thread for that, I'll just take a sedative and go away.
#22
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: Favourite US President?
Originally Posted by UKintheUSA
My Favorite was Ronald Reagan. Boy were those Reaganomic years good for this countries economy! Things were flying back then. I used to love watching him giving a speech or talking to people etc. My ex always said I liked him and everyone else did because he was an actor and that's why he did a great job with people because he was "acting." I don't believe this. I actually saw him in person and I didn't think it was an act. I also liked President Bush. Not the chimp that's there now, but the REAL President Bush. He was a really GOOD man. I also loved his wife and have tons of respect for her. If you want to read a good book sometime, read Barbara Bush's autobiography. She did not lead a charmed life nor did he by any means. They endured quite a bit of hardship and came out shining. That's my two cents or ten pence as you lot call it!
Debs
EXCELLENT THREAD By the way! Nice to see someone starting something POSITIVE to talk about.
Good JOB elfman!
Debs
EXCELLENT THREAD By the way! Nice to see someone starting something POSITIVE to talk about.
Good JOB elfman!
Last edited by Franklin; Feb 8th 2005 at 8:28 am.
#23
Re: Favourite US President?
I'm for Bill - he may have had an unfortunate habit of getting his c*ck out at every opportunity, but I thought it made him all the more human.
I used to love to watch Ken Starr frothing at the mouth
I used to love to watch Ken Starr frothing at the mouth
#24
Re: Favourite US President?
Originally Posted by Big Vern
I'm for Bill - he may have had an unfortunate habit of getting his c*ck out at every opportunity,
#25
Re: Favourite US President?
Originally Posted by Franklin
Who would have thought Reagan who many believed wanted war in fact would save countless millions and millions of undead people around the world
#26
Re: Favourite US President?
Originally Posted by Big Vern
I'm for Bill - he may have had an unfortunate habit of getting his c*ck out at every opportunity, but I thought it made him all the more human.
#27
Re: Favourite US President?
Originally Posted by Franklin
Reagan is my second favorite President.
Fr. Miguel D'Escoto, a Catholic priest based in Managua, Nicaragua.
#28
BE Forum Addict
Joined: Jul 2002
Location: Arizona
Posts: 3,113
Re: Favourite US President?
Clinton, because he could smooze the pants of anybody and sometimes literally did!.
#29
Re: Favourite US President?
I love Slick Willy......
er, and I think Clinton was the best president too...
er, and I think Clinton was the best president too...
#30
Re: Favourite US President?
Originally Posted by fatbrit
The 8 years Reagan was in office represented one of the most bloody eras in the history of the Western hemisphere, as Washington funneled money, weapons and other supplies to right wing death squads. And the death toll was staggering - more than 70,000 political killings in El Salvador, more than 100,000 in Guatemala, 30,000 killed in the contra war in Nicaragua. In Washington, the forces carrying out the violence were called "freedom fighters." This is how Ronald Reagan described the Contras in Nicaragua: "They are our brothers, these freedom fighters and we owe them our help. They are the moral equal of our founding fathers."
Fr. Miguel D'Escoto, a Catholic priest based in Managua, Nicaragua.
Fr. Miguel D'Escoto, a Catholic priest based in Managua, Nicaragua.