Saturday, January 26, 2013

Which president?

If you could pick one American president (dead or alive) to COME BACK and lead America again, who would it be?

z

58 comments:

JonBerg said...

Reagan but you already knew that!! It will be interesting, or perhaps nauseating, to see who the whackadoodles pick.

Always On Watch said...

Most conservatives would choose Reagan. Certainly, of all the Presidents during my own lifetime, Reagan is my choice.

I must say, however, that childhood during the Eisenhower years was a wonderful period. Back then, there was a certain innocence in America.

Ed Bonderenka said...

Silent Cal.
Small government.
Extremely popular.
Inspiration for Reagan

American Jihad said...

My best would be Ronald Reagan and I'll give you my worst Barack Hussein Obama and Jimmy Carter gets the booby prize!

And I might mention that if by any chance we get SO UN-Lucky and the lying PIAPS aka Hillary Clinton gets to be the next President(gasp) she may take over that position she sure was a dipstick Secretary of State, no matter how much Obama and Kerry drools over her. Take that from where it comes. I only hope that wev'e seen the last of her, but don't hold your breath.

Fredd said...

Since we have been given authority by Z to bring dead presidents back from the grave to lead us instead of BO, I hereby nominate

(drum roll, please):

William Henry Harrision. As most of us know, he blathered in cold weather for over two hours during his innauguration in 1841, caught his death of pneumonia, and died 32days into his first term.

I would like to give him a chance to pick up from there and fulfill the rest of his term. 'ol Tippecanoe (...and Tyler, too!) could not possibly do us any more harm than the guy sitting in the Oval Office now.

My favorite quote from WHH: "the strongest of all governments is that which is most free."

How could we go wrong?

sue hanes said...


Z - That's a tough one. But I'll go for George Washington. I just finished a biography on him so he would be the one.

Warren said...

Ronald Reagan.

I was near the end of my Libertarian phase then and I didn't vote for RR, (more's the shame.)

In retrospect, I see he was definitely the right man for the job.

At the time, I couldn't respect his intellect or his commitment to freedom. There was no Internet and the dishonesty of the MSM wasn't readily apparent to someone trying to make an honest buck and too busy to question the truthfulness of NBC, CBS and ABC.

Unfortunately, still short sighted and run by a different bunch of "good ol' boys" than the pseudo-communitarians of the left. The Republicans are still the stupid party.

Ducky's here said...

Harry Truman

Z said...

While Ronald Reagan was a man above men, and certainly above most presidents, and I'd do just about anything to have HIM back, I am so pleased some of you named other presidents.

it's fascinating to read your reasons and I admire your grasp of presidential facts.

Sue is kind of an expert in this field, at least in our corner of the blogosphere so , Sue, thanks for weighing in.
If you have any others you'd like to throw in for certain things you admired about them, please do...Dem or Rep.

Fredd! "Z's been given the authority to bring back dead presidents".. I love that! And I WISH! :-)

Will comment later on today; I have to go into work this morning.

thanks!

oh..AND WARREN'S HERE! It's a red letter day at GeeeZ..hip hip HOORAY! And, of course, with SUCH a good comment.

Rational Nation USA said...

More lies, or this some skit from Saturday Night Live

“I, Barack Hussein Obama do solemnly swear that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic, that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; that I take this obligation freely, without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion; and that I will well and faithfully discharge these duties; So help me God.”

Benghazi violence was caused by an internet video & demonstrations!

I’ve done more for Israel’s security than any other President!

I will not rest until we bring the killer at Benghazi to Justice!

The health care bill will not increase the deficit by one dime!

The Health Care Package will pay for itself!

I will cut the Deficit in Half by end of first term!


Always On Watch said...

Duck,
Why Harry Truman?

Always On Watch said...

I have a great deal of respect for Ronald Reagan.

It is my view that he was an aberration in the GOP -- a good aberration, IMO. I don't think that another Reagan will be riding over the hill again.

Besides, if not for the debacles of the Carter administration, I highly doubt that Reagan could have been elected. I cannot prove that statement, of course, but it's what I believe.

In some ways, Reagan's administration hurt the GOP. What I mean is that we often yearn for another Ronald Reagan and have thus rendered ourselves incapable of accepting anything different.

Always On Watch said...

PS: I hope that I don't start a furor with my comment about Reagan. I hold the man in high esteem. And, like Warren, at the time, I didn't appreciate Reagan for the gem that he was. I DID vote for him -- and so did most of my Dem friends. That's how bad the Carter administration was!

Divine Theatre said...

Warren G. Harding...for keeping us out of the league of Nations...

sue hanes said...

Z - There are a lot of others that did one thing or another but I don't want to mention any names - as there are good things that they did and also had their failures.

So I''ll just stick with GW and Lincoln.

Z said...

Divine...good point. If only the UN had been avoided by us, too!


Sue...I think you're fearful of getting some flack....and I can't blame you. Of course, most Democrats would mention FDR for various reasons and most Republicans would balk at that for various reasons.

I WISH our forums were more open to different viewpoints because you're usually civil and we could have a talk, but you never know who's here :-)

Ducky's here said...

@AOW --- Duck,
Why Harry Truman?

-----
Maybe as close to honest as we've had in the modern era.

Favored a single payer health system.

Had the guts to veto Taft-Hartley.

Did his best to bring some sense of sanity to the Red Scare.

Early foundation for the civil rights movement.

He was able to steer that nation through a very difficult period, certainly one that makes today look like a day at the beach and did it under severe criticism and unpopularity.

History has pretty much established that he made more significant strides preventing the spread of Communism than jerks like McCarthy managed(or Reagan for that matter).

He had a pair unlike the current castrato.

Brooke said...

Reagan, of the list.

But my preference would be none of the above. I'd rather see a rock-ribbed, fresh conservative take Office.

Ducky's here said...

... AOW, can't imagine why I forgot the Marshall Plan.

Thersites said...

I'll second Sue's first nomination. GW.

Z said...

Ducky, what do you think of Truman's decision to drop the atom bombs?

Ducky's here said...

I think it was inevitable and given the Japanese deaths by suicide in Okinawa and their intractability he probably spared as many Japanese lives as American.

JonBerg said...

Well,Well for once I agree with Ducky!

Redfish said...

Jon, I hope that was sarcasm

sue hanes said...


Z - You are right about my not wanting to get some flack. Call me a coward if you want - but that's what it is.

Anyway - I enjoyed reading what others thought about who was their favorite President.

My favorite President is John Adams - because he was married to Abigail - a very smart lady. Other than that I'll keep the rest to myself.

Z said...

Ducky, I think the suicides were the least of anybody's worry and not at all on Truman's mind.
I think he was worried about US first and absolutely made that decision knowing less innocent Japanese would die (by something or other) if he carried this off. A VERY TERRIBLE decision to make; one I wouldn't have wanted, that's for sure.
Possibly the toughest decision any president's had to make. good idea for a blog post.

Jon..me, too!

Hey CRABBY....you disagree with Truman and the A Bomb??
Tell us...and be as crabby as you like :-)

Sue...that's a smart thing to do, but it's sad, isn't it?
no one president was perfect or imperfect. I'd have liked that discussion but it isn't going to happen on a political blog! you're wise.
:-)

FreeThinke said...

George Washington, of course!

Ed Bonderenka said...

I must repeat myself.
Calvin Coolidge.
Should need no explanation.

Redfish said...

No Z, I do not disagree with Truman and the A Bomb. Ir was the right thing to do at the time. Maybe we should have done it in Afghanistan

Ducky's here said...

Interesting Ed, the man who was president during the run up to the great depression is your choice.

Little short sighted?

Kid said...

Ronald Reagan, a close second would be Ronald Reagan.

Ducky's here said...

He also had Russia to worry about, z.

They were certainly feeling expansionist (maybe justified after having the country destroyed with 20 million deaths) and the bomb would serve as a warning.

I mention the Japanese because so much is made of the destruction caused by the bomb when in retrospect we can safely say that many hundreds of thousand more would have died otherwise.

Z said...

Ducky, there's no doubt about it...MANY more would have died, like I mentioned above.
It was the right thing to do, but IMAGINE? My GOD, what a decision.

Crabby! I thought you were disagreeing because JonBerg agreed with Ducky who said he thought Truman did the right thing!

Kid...Amen to that.

FT..no, that's what's fascinating.."of course" has nothing to do with it. There are many great men, or parts of those men, and I am so pleased everybody's weighing in with others other THAN Washington. Who besides Wash. for you?

Ed...but tell us. I'm not a Cal expert!

Right Truth said...

I'm wondering what Reagan would do if he could come back and take over now. I'm betting he would be greatly saddened at the situation.

Debbie
Right Truth
http://www.righttruth.typepad.com

Ed Bonderenka said...

Z: About Truman's decision to use the bomb. Hiroshima and Nagasaki were not as horrible in their destruction as the firebombing that occurred in Tokyo, Dresden, etc.
It was that one plane could deliver such a punch.
Look at Hiroshima today compared to Detroit.
Like Truman said, just think of it as a bomb.

Duck: Coolidge saw a great growth in the economy. The whole world saw a depression. America was not the global economy then than it is today. Hoover presided our entry into the Depression. Roosevelt kept us there.

Z: Silent Cal was a laisez-faire capitalist, promoted equality for blacks and Indians, a small government guy and an inspiration to Reagan (peace be upon his name).

Ed Bonderenka said...

As to the bombing, I was of the acquaintance of a former German sub captain stationed in Japan during the war. We were discussing this over a beer after work and he, being married to a Japanese woman he met there during the war, agreed that the bombing was the proper thing to do.
And so did she. It prevented our troops from engaging old men, children and women on the beaches, defending the land of their god (Hirohito).

JonBerg said...

Crabby Old Man,

No, I wasn't being sarcastic. BTW I like your moniker. I once considered calling myself: 'The Crabby Cormudgeon'.

beakerkin said...

I say let the Dead continue to vote for Charlie Rangel.

Ducky did't write in for Hugo.


Teddy Roosevelt

Z said...

Ed, thanks for the Cal information. It's been a while since I studied all this.

Interesting point: Detroit's rubble compared to the new Hiroshima.
Very interesting that your German friend's Japanese wife agreed with the bombings, too. I suppose she'd not have had her family been living in the heart of Hiroshima...but as HORRIBLE as I think it was, Truman seems to have done the right thing.
Imagine being the guy on the Enola Gay to push the button? WOW.

I TOTALLY understand the reasons for the bombings and I totally agree, but..............it was HORRIBLE

And yes, Dresden was a nightmare...and completely COMPLETELY unnecessary.

FreeThinke said...

I've always like "Silent Cal" too, Ed.

After he finished his time in the White House, he was asked what he thought was his greatest accomplishment as president?

His answer endeared him to me forever:

I minded my own business," was all he said.

PRICELESS!

FreeThinke said...

I can tell you who I wish had NEVER been president:

Andrew Jackson, James Buchanan, Abraham Lincoln, Ulysses S. Grant, Teddy Roosevelt, Woodrow Wilson, Warren Gamaliel Harding, Franklin Delano Roosevelt -- and George W. Bush.

FreeThinke said...

WHOOPS! Bad on me! I forgot to add Jimmy Carter and Barack Obama to the list of those who should NEVER have been president.

(((Thought Criminal))) said...

I kinda like our 3rd and 17th Presidents, John Hancock and George Washington.

Always On Watch said...

Duck,
[Truman] had a pair unlike the current castrato.

Agreed. And he wasn't a lawyer, either!

Bombing Hiroshima and Nagasaki did bring to an end the Japanese front of WW2.



(((Thought Criminal))) said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
(((Thought Criminal))) said...

John Hancock was the 3rd President of the Continental Congress under the Articles of Confederation, and the presiding officer of America's government during the signing of the Declaration of Independence.

George Washington was the 1st President under the Constitution, but the 17th American government official to hold the title "President" if you count from 1723 onward.

(((Thought Criminal))) said...

er, 1774 onward...

Peyton Randolph
Henry Middleton
John Hancock
Henry Laurens
John Jay
Samuel Huntington
Thomas McKean
John Hanson
Elias Boudinot
Thomas Mifflin
Richard Henry Lee
Nathaniel Gorham
Arthur St. Clair
Cyrus Griffin

...then George Washington


(((Thought Criminal))) said...

gah... Washington was the 15th Prez, not 17th.

**wipes sleep from eyes**

John Q Voter said...

But...but.. Obama give us the biggest BANG for the buck!

Have you heard much about President Obama’s $787,000,000,000 economic “stimulus” (now estimated to cost $831,000,000,000) lately? In its last report, published in 2011, the president’s own Council of Economic Advisors released an estimate showing that, for every $317,000 in “stimulus” spending that had by then gone out the door, only one job had been created or saved. Even in Washington, that’s not considered good bang for the buck.

I´m not even sure that he believes this anymore! The ugly truth keeps raising it´s ugly head, and the stupid DemocRATS are still blind! Remember folks, his lips are still moving!
Put that on his list of accomplishments!Welcome to Black Liberal Democrat Regressive Party.
Kind of depressing.

Anonymous said...

@Z

"And yes, Dresden was a nightmare...and completely COMPLETELY unnecessary."

They say that was Churchills revenge for the London bombings.

An Angry, Old ,Rich, White Guy, who happens to be a Republican said...

Obama has been a very unsuccessful president whose plan is to destroy America. WAKE UP, liberals and undecided! If you keep sleeping, there won't be a free America left.

Z said...

Imp, it was also illegal...things had been called OFF..then they bombed.
ya, German cities were bombed, too....to a pulp, and it was Germany's choice to go to war, but Dresden was something most historians rue to this day.

People forget there were also innocent Germans murdered ... people who wanted no part of a war. Going in and bombing after major action was over was hideous.

highboy said...

There hasn't been a president dead or alive that didn't either a.) use his power for personal gain b.) overstep the role of federal government c.) both.

Even George Washington, a "great man" for supposedly denying power, used his presidential powers to make out like a bandit in the Whisky Rebellion.

Reagan would probably be the most ideal, but that isn't saying much. He was responsible for the biggest tax cut but most conservatives forget the government got bigger under Reagan than any other presidency (before Obama). Not to mention granting amnesty to illegals and letting the Japanese get away with economic murder in the 80s. Don't get me wrong, I don't want any regulation in terms of free market but he never played fire with fire.

Liberalmann said...

Yeah, let's have Reagan back to destroy the economy again and disregard the constitution with secret wars

highboy said...

Yeah Liberlmann's right. We should leave Obama in office so he can raise the debt ceiling on the 16 trillion he already put is in the hole with.

highboy said...

Oh, and not to mention Obama wiping his ass with the Constitution with his civil rights infringements. Those are always awesome.

Opinionated Me said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Opinionated Me said...

Z, your next blog should be a poll on who is the biggest Liar?

Manti Te´o, Obama, or Hillary Clinton!

Good gossip is always entertaining, especially when we are surrounded by Liars.