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Who has been our greatest President?[W:196]

Who has been our greatest President?


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radcen

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Who has been our greatest President?

As President, not other times and aspects of their life.
 
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Re: Who has been our greatest President?

George Washington, the amount of power that guy could have had and instead left it all is sign of probably the greatest president of all.
 
Re: Who has been our greatest President?

FDR changed the nature of the Federal government. Before FDR, it ignored the suffering of the American People at the hands of capitalists. FDR changed that. He put the government on the side of the American People. He leveled the playing field and Americans thrived.
 
Re: Who has been our greatest President?

FDR changed the nature of the Federal government. Before FDR, it ignored the suffering of the American People at the hands of capitalists. FDR changed that. He put the government on the side of the American People. He leveled the playing field and Americans thrived.

FDR was a "great president" in the sense he accomplished is goals. he also had the most deleterious impact on America since he pissed all over the concept of a limited government. He made the government a malignancy
 
Re: Who has been our greatest President?

It's really hard to pick one president on his accomplishments unless you are familiar with the majority of their Congress that they had to work with during their term. The president I picked isn't on the list provided. I chose Andrew Jackson because he hated debt and made it a deliberate policy to pay off the national debt entirely -- and succeeded in doing so. He was a Jeffersonian through and through and the smaller the government the better. Ironically he was the father of the modern Democrat party. My how things have changed.
 
Re: Who has been our greatest President?

It's really hard to pick one president on his accomplishments unless you are familiar with the majority of their Congress that they had to work with during their term. The president I picked isn't on the list provided. I chose Andrew Jackson because he hated debt and made it a deliberate policy to pay off the national debt entirely -- and succeeded in doing so. He was a Jeffersonian through and through and the smaller the government the better. Ironically he was the father of the modern Democrat party. My how things have changed.

"I killed the bank."
 
Re: Who has been our greatest President?

I voted Other.

John Quincy Adams.

One of 2 Presidents (Other was JFK) brave enough to stand against the secret societies, like the Freemasons. He also reduced the national debt by $11 million in 4 years in office from 1825 to 1829. It went from $16 million to $5 million. He was not generally considered a consequential President, as Congress often worked against many of his great plans - I blame Congress more than him though.

Definitely by and far our most intelligent President. Learned to speak, read, and write 7 languages before the age of 10. He knew the classics like Shakespeare very well. He accompanied his father (then-future 2nd President John Adams) to France when his father along with Benjamin Franklin were Ministers to France. Same thing as Ambassadors but they had 3 instead of 1. JQA served as some kind of assistant to his father even at that early age.

Was Ministers himself to various countries, was also a Senator, and Secretary of State. Before being President, he negotiated the Treaty of Ghent, which effectively ended the War of 1812 (in 1814), he also authored the Monroe Doctrine.

After being President, he served in Congress from 1831 to 1848. His last (half) term in office was Abraham Lincoln's only term in office. Only man who served with both George Washington and Abraham Lincoln.

Washington and Lincoln each took office 72 years apart from each other. So JQA is an important link in history.

2 failed runs for Governor of Massachusetts in the 1830's, he got runner up status but declined to run in the runoff each time, I think.

He was a Co-Founder of the Anti-Masonic Party.

I think of him as the first REAL Republican President. He did at some point serve as a National Republican, and/or Independent Republican, and was also in his later years a member of the Whig Party, which is the predecessor to the Republican Party.

While in Congress, he was a strong voice that spoke out against slavery, even defying the gag rule, which prevented members of Congress from talking about the slavery issue.

John Quincy Adams defended the First Amendment which the gag order attacked. Effectively repealing the gag rule.

Say what you want about his Presidency, but you cannot deny that this man did more for this country than any other U.S. President. I dare you to find a more intelligent President. Or one that was braver than him. JFK, arguably, having given his own life just to expose the illuminati.

But, John Quincy Adams is my favorite, and for good reason.

Here's a poll I made on him some time back.

http://www.debatepolitics.com/history/190129-john-quincy-adams-approval.html
 
Re: Who has been our greatest President?

Abraham Lincoln. Ending slavery and preventing a rogue state that would've continued the barbaric practice from seceding is likely the greatest problem this nation has ever faced. Washington is also admirable in a lot of areas, but I'm not going to give the title to someone who supported slavery. The same issue arises with FDR and Japanese internment. Reagan, Clinton, and Wilson shouldn't even qualify for the top nine, let alone number one.

It's really hard to pick one president on his accomplishments unless you are familiar with the majority of their Congress that they had to work with during their term. The president I picked isn't on the list provided. I chose Andrew Jackson because he hated debt and made it a deliberate policy to pay off the national debt entirely -- and succeeded in doing so. He was a Jeffersonian through and through and the smaller the government the better. Ironically he was the father of the modern Democrat party. My how things have changed.

Are you willing to overlook the Trail of Tears for the sake of balancing the budget?
 
Re: Who has been our greatest President?

I think Mount Rushmore pretty much sums it up for me.
Though I do love Eisenhower's interstates .
 
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Re: Who has been our greatest President?

It's really hard to pick one president on his accomplishments unless you are familiar with the majority of their
Congress that they had to work with during their term. The president I picked isn't on the list provided.
Especially the last 3+ years.
I chose Andrew Jackson because he hated debt and made it a deliberate policy to pay off the national debt entirely -- and succeeded in doing so.
He was a Jeffersonian through and through and the smaller the government the better.
Ironically he was the father of the modern Democrat party. My how things have changed.

And certainly for the better since the civil war ones like McDaniel went to your GOP.

We no longer have "trails of tears" across our own country either.
There was a time when Indian casinos wouldn't take $20 bills .
 
Re: Who has been our greatest President?

FDR was a "great president" in the sense he accomplished is goals. he also had the most deleterious impact on America since he pissed all over the concept of a limited government. He made the government a malignancy

But who has been our greatest President--the thread?

Not bash FDR every time you see his letters .
 
Re: Who has been our greatest President?

Personally, probably FDR, but then again, I support Federalism over state's rights, and am not a supporter of the limited government that others are. In a country as large and varied as ours, government needs to be large and varied, too.

However, I would like to put in a plug for one of our more under rated Presidents: Chester A. Arthur. Gotta respect the man. He helped foster civil service reform... even though it alienated him from his party, and it's past manipulation was something that he himself had used to gain power in the past. Doing this showed quite a bit of integrity and bravery, politically, something that we would see very little of in today's world.
 
Re: Who has been our greatest President?

Personally, probably FDR, but then again, I support Federalism over state's rights, and am not a supporter of the limited government that others are. In a country as large and varied as ours, government needs to be large and varied, too.

However, I would like to put in a plug for one of our more under rated Presidents: Chester A. Arthur. Gotta respect the man. He helped foster civil service reform... even though it alienated him from his party, and it's past manipulation was something that he himself had used to gain power in the past. Doing this showed quite a bit of integrity and bravery, politically, something that we would see very little of in today's world.

Rarely do we hear about the Tree army, C.C.C., W.P.A. during FDR 's days.
Since I travel the roads they built, I'm appreciative of what they did, only a few thousand in Texas still living.

I hate to admit it, but when I went to Mount Rushmore with my wife for the first time, I had to ask who that 4th guy was.
Comes with being fixated on Chem/Physics.

And thus began my thirst for the Progress--ive era.
One followed by another assassination, just like Arthur.
 
Re: Who has been our greatest President?

Personally, probably FDR, but then again, I support Federalism over state's rights, and am not a supporter of the limited government that others are. In a country as large and varied as ours, government needs to be large and varied, too.

However, I would like to put in a plug for one of our more under rated Presidents: Chester A. Arthur. Gotta respect the man. He helped foster civil service reform... even though it alienated him from his party, and it's past manipulation was something that he himself had used to gain power in the past. Doing this showed quite a bit of integrity and bravery, politically, something that we would see very little of in today's world.
A lesser known aspect of our Presidential history. Nice call.
 
Re: Who has been our greatest President?

I was torn between Washington and Reagan. So I went with in my lifetime and Reagan.
 
Re: Who has been our greatest President?

Abraham Lincoln. Ending slavery and preventing a rogue state that would've continued the barbaric practice from seceding is likely the greatest problem this nation has ever faced. Washington is also admirable in a lot of areas, but I'm not going to give the title to someone who supported slavery. The same issue arises with FDR and Japanese internment. Reagan, Clinton, and Wilson shouldn't even qualify for the top nine, let alone number one.



Are you willing to overlook the Trail of Tears for the sake of balancing the budget?

Just as you pointed out, there are things that all the presidents on that list did that were controversial. I chose Jackson because he showed we could live debt free. He has been the only one to ever do so. And we are paying the price today for not having more like Jackson in regard to spending. You cite those you could not support because of some form of slavery or internment. But national debt the size we now carry enslaves every taxpaying citizen. We are now at the point we struggle to come up with the money just to make interest payments let alone pay it down. And it will be a trail of tears for generations not yet born if something isn't done quickly.

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Re: Who has been our greatest President?

I picked Reagan, but there are others I would consider:

Eisenhower
McKinley
Jefferson (I know he's on the list)
 
Re: Who has been our greatest President?

Just as you pointed out, there are things that all the presidents on that list did that were controversial. I chose Jackson because he showed we could live debt free. He has been the only one to ever do so. And we are paying the price today for not having more like Jackson in regard to spending. You cite those you could not support because of some form of slavery or internment. But national debt the size we now carry enslaves every taxpaying citizen. We are now at the point we struggle to come up with the money just to make interest payments let alone pay it down. And it will be a trail of tears for generations not yet born if something isn't done quickly.
A balanced budget could certainly be done in today's world, sure, but it was a drastically different time in Jackson's day. While revenue was limited compared to today, demands were as well.
 
Re: Who has been our greatest President?

But who has been our greatest President--the thread?

Not bash FDR every time you see his letters .

Keep in mind the "New Deal" that was Roosevelt's hall mark domestic policy.
 
Re: Who has been our greatest President?

Keep in mind the "New Deal" that was Roosevelt's hall mark domestic policy.
Has anyone in your family ever benefitted from the New Deal?
Such as with Social Security ?
 
Re: Who has been our greatest President?

Has anyone in your family ever benefitted from the New Deal?
Such as with Social Security ?
Actually no. Both my parents died well before they were of age to collect.
My uncles were pretty well off, so I don't know if they took it or not. But are dead regardless.
My grandmother may have, not sure. But she died in1983 at 88 years old. And was clear she disliked the Roosevelts.
I have two aunts that my be collecting SS, one probably. She has been crippled for her whole life. But not in that much contact with her to discuss politics.
The other aunt is a Obama hater to the bone. She is very smart and dedicated lady.
So, anyone that needed. Really needed may have. Any one that didn't, didn't.
So, your point?
 
Re: Who has been our greatest President?

A balanced budget could certainly be done in today's world, sure, but it was a drastically different time in Jackson's day. While revenue was limited compared to today, demands were as well.
It helps to remember that debt has always been a choice in the U.S. After the Revolutionary War the states held a debt of around 75-80 million. That was a lot of money back then. They thought about defaulting but decided to consolidate all the state debt. Most politicians back then hated debt the controversy came in how fast they should pay it off. Oh if only we had such an attitude today. Jackson did what most would say was impossible and paid it all off in six years. Back then they also held the constitutional belief of small government but today government has grown so big it can no longer be managed efficiently. Today a balanced budget would only slow down the bleeding. We are headed to 18 trillion in debt and spending is up 101% A train wreck just waiting to happen.
 
Re: Who has been our greatest President?

You brought up the New Deal.
What was your point ?
Actually no. Both my parents died well before they were of age to collect.
My uncles were pretty well off, so I don't know if they took it or not. But are dead regardless.
My grandmother may have, not sure. But she died in1983 at 88 years old. And was clear she disliked the Roosevelts.
I have two aunts that my be collecting SS, one probably. She has been crippled for her whole life. But not in that much contact with her to discuss politics.
The other aunt is a Obama hater to the bone. She is very smart and dedicated lady.
So, anyone that needed. Really needed may have. Any one that didn't, didn't.
So, your point?
 
Re: Who has been our greatest President?

You brought up the New Deal.
What was your point ?

A lot of people didn't like the New Deal. That was my point. But in typical fashion you got nothing, so you make the thread about another poster instead of the topic.
 
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