The Best President in history

[randy]

OK-It was easy to pick the worst--an overwhelming majority are picking Bush and the re are NO chads involved--how about the best?

Lots of good choices:
Lincoln--guided us through civil war
Washington--Set the precedent of what needs
Roosevelt--guided us through the Depression
Clinton--was just plain fun
Polk--unknown , but the guy did what he set out to do

My choice-----Truman!!!! His dropping the bomb probably save d my fathers life as he was in transit to Japan, having just left Okinawa, as the bomb was dropped. Thanks Harry!!!!!!

[Frau_Blucher]

I Like Ike. [8D]

He gave us one of the coolest, most prescient warnings in history - to be wary of the military-industrial complex:

"In the councils of government, we must guard against the acquisition of unwarranted influence, whether sought or unsought, by the military-industrial complex. The potential for the disastrous rise of misplaced power exists and will persist. We must never let the weight of this combination endanger our liberties or democratic processes. We should take nothing for granted. Only an alert and knowledgeable citizenry can compel the proper meshing of the huge industrial and military machinery of defense with our peaceful methods and goals, so that security and liberty may prosper together."

Wow! I mean...f&*king wow!

But in reality, he was kind of an odd mixed bag. He managed to tip-toe through the Cold War without getting us blown up, he signed the Civil Rights Bill, balanced the budget in most years he was prez, and helped sponsor the Interstate Highway System. But he also let McCarthy run amok and didn't really put a more moderate stamp on Republicans like he would have wanted.

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[edisonoside]

Calvin Coolidge - Because he did absolutely nothing.[:)]

[hutter]

Teddy Roosevelt.

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[NuWaveRx]

Easy: George Washington.

Why? At the end of the Revolutionary War, and before the Articles of Confederation were drawn up a movement came about among some colonists to make Washington "King of America". Remember at this point the whole Democracy thing was new to the European/English Colonists and was not entirely trusted by anyone, especially wealthy aristocrats. Washington was (justifiably) enormously popular after the revolution and, most scholars believe, could easily have let himself become such a King. The Continential Army was still under his command as well. He rejected the notion out of hand. Think about it. How many people ANYWHERE at ANYTIME would have turned down that much power? It is almost against Human nature. Instead, Washington turned over the Continental Army back to Congress. Had Washington been anything but the extraordinary person he was the America we know could have been much, much, different.

Great book on Washington:
His Excellency: George Washington by Joseph J. Ellis

[ben_at_work]

Han Solo
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[egg-roger]

[quote][i]Originally posted by NuWaveRx[/i]
<br>Easy: George Washington.

Why? At the end of the Revolutionary War, and before the Articles of Confederation were drawn up a movement came about among some colonists to make Washington "King of America". Remember at this point the whole Democracy thing was new to the European/English Colonists and was not entirely trusted by anyone, especially wealthy aristocrats. Washington was (justifiably) enormously popular after the revolution and, most scholars believe, could easily have let himself become such a King. The Continential Army was still under his command as well. He rejected the notion out of hand. Think about it. How many people ANYWHERE at ANYTIME would have turned down that much power? It is almost against Human nature. Instead, Washington turned over the Continental Army back to Congress. Had Washington been anything but the extraordinary person he was the America we know could have been much, much, different.

Great book on Washington:
His Excellency: George Washington by Joseph J. Ellis
[/quote]

My thought's exactly.

Second place goes to Lincoln. Third - Teddy R.

Props to Polk for inspiring a TMBG song.

[Bitter Almonds]

George Washington
Abraham Lincoln
Andrew Johnson
Woodrow Wilson
Franklin Roosevelt

[egg-roger]

[quote][i]Originally posted by XXX[/i]
<br>George Washington
Abraham Lincoln
Andrew Johnson
Woodrow Wilson
Franklin Roosevelt
[/quote]

Andrew Johnson? Maybe you'd like to get Millard Fillmore in there too.