What If A Really Great President From The Past Was In Office Today?

[High_Gravity]

You could literally consider almost everyone of our Presidents a war monger, to be honest I don't want a pacifist as our President.

 

[MiddleClass]

Ronald Reagan would not get nominated in today's far rightwing Republican Party. And it is for just that reason why the Republican Party is in trouble in 2012. Until the GOP stops catering to the far rightwing of its party, it will not fair well with independents in the general elections. And that will result in 'no' Republican President in 2012.

 

[Two Thumbs]

Ronald Reagan would not get nominated in today's far rightwing Republican Party. And it is for just that reason why the Republican Party is in trouble in 2012. Until the GOP stops catering to the far rightwing of its party, it will not fair well with independents in the general elections. And that will result in 'no' Republican President in 2012.

I disagree.

RR was the best speaker I have yet to hear in the WH. Combined with his leadership skills, Perry, Bachmann, etc, would be viaing for VP.

Remeber, he was far right for the times.

 

[CrusaderFrank]

If FDR were President, unemployment would be 19% and Libs would still say that he "Saved us from capitalism"

 

[Kuros]

Jackson or Jefferson would be great about now. We need an anti-bankster President more than ever. Obama actually makes me miss FDR . . . yes, things are so bad that I'd swallow FDR's hideous Constitutional overreaches and behemoth social programs to have someone in the White House who'd fight the theft of this country.

 

[syrenn]

Already it's starting - "We are going to have a choice of NOTHING in 2012. Aren't there any GOOD candidates out there running for President?"

It got me to thinking. Yes, it's tempting to compare today's candidates to the really good Presidents of past decades. But is that really a fair comparison? I guess what I am wondering about is this - is our almost universal dissatisfaction with current presidents and presidential candidates a function of their incapability or are they just as capable as ever, it's just that modern society has become so complex and so politically fragmented that their capabilities somehow fade away in the smoke and fog of all the b.s.?

To put it another way - how popular would Dwight Eisenhower, Ted Kennedy or Ronald Reagan be today if they held office in these troubled times?

I think that's an interesting thing to consider - how about you?

ppssstt

TED was never president.

 

[editec]

He'd be as hosed as Obama is.

Now if we replaced the entire CONGRESS, SCOTUS and POTUS, we might have a chance in hell of solving things.

I'd propose the same congress, SCOTUS AND POTUS we had on Dec. 1, 1941.

Those guys were clearly NATIONALISTS.

 

[Two Thumbs]

Already it's starting - "We are going to have a choice of NOTHING in 2012. Aren't there any GOOD candidates out there running for President?"

It got me to thinking. Yes, it's tempting to compare today's candidates to the really good Presidents of past decades. But is that really a fair comparison? I guess what I am wondering about is this - is our almost universal dissatisfaction with current presidents and presidential candidates a function of their incapability or are they just as capable as ever, it's just that modern society has become so complex and so politically fragmented that their capabilities somehow fade away in the smoke and fog of all the b.s.?

To put it another way - how popular would Dwight Eisenhower, Ted Kennedy or Ronald Reagan be today if they held office in these troubled times?

I think that's an interesting thing to consider - how about you?

ppssstt

TED was never president.

babies dreaming the big dream.

 

[George Costanza]

Apologies for the Ted Kennedy error in the OP - obviously I meant John F. and not Ted.

I had just finished reading the latest Ted Kennedy is a Jerk thread and his name was still fresh in my mind.

 

[syrenn]

Apologies for the Ted Kennedy error in the OP - obviously I meant John F. and not Ted.

I had just finished reading the latest Ted Kennedy is a Jerk thread and his name was still fresh in my mind.

 

[Two Thumbs]

Apologies for the Ted Kennedy error in the OP - obviously I meant John F. and not Ted.

I had just finished reading the latest Ted Kennedy is a Jerk thread and his name was still fresh in my mind.

Ted; Fat, redfaced drunk with a huge skull
JFK; Sexy beast that put it to Marylin Monroe


yeah, I can see how you would confuse the Two.



no really.

 

[George Costanza]

See we want the Constitution followed.

On your terms, of course. That's like saying: "We want things done PROPERLY!" Sounds great, until one takes a look at the Right's idea of what "following the Constitution" really means.

 

[Modbert]

I always find it so amusing when Republicans try to say JFK would be a Republican today.

New Frontier - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The Kennedy Administration pushed an economic stimulus program through congress in an effort to kick-start the American economy following an economic downturn. On February 2, 1961, Kennedy sent a comprehensive Economic Message to Congress which had been in preparation for several weeks. The legislative proposals put forward in this message included[12]:
(1.) The addition of a temporary thirteen-week supplement to jobless benefits,
(2.) The extension of aid to the children of unemployed workers,
(3.) The redevelopment of distressed areas,
(4.) An increase in Social Security payments and the encouragement of earlier retirement,
(5.) An increase in the minimum wage and an extension in coverage,
(6.) The provision of emergency relief to feed grain farmers, and
(7.) The financing of a comprehensive home-building and slum clearance program.[13]

Amendments to the Fair Labor Standards Act in 1961 greatly expanded the FLSA's scope in the retail trade sector and increased the minimum wage for previously covered workers to $1.15 an hour effective September 1961 and to $1.25 an hour in September 1963. The minimum for workers newly subject to the Act was set at $1.00 an hour effective September 1961, $1.15 an hour in September 1964, and $1.25 an hour in September 1965. Retail and service establishments were allowed to employ full-time students at wages of no more than 15 percent below the minimum with proper certification from the Department of Labor. The amendments extended coverage to employees of retail trade enterprises with sales exceeding $1 million annually, although individual establishments within those covered enterprises were exempt if their annual sales fell below $250,000. The concept of enterprise coverage was introduced by the 1961 amendments. Those amendments extended coverage in the retail trade industry from an established 250,000 workers to 2.2 million.

An Executive Order was issued (1962) which provided federal employees with collective bargaining rights.[23]

Scholarships and student loans were broadened under existing laws by Kennedy, and new means of specialised aid to education were invented or expanded by the president, including an increase in funds for libraries and school lunches, the provision of funds to teach the deaf, the handicapped, the retarded, and the exceptional child, the authorisation of literacy training under Manpower Development, the allocation of President funds to stop dropouts, a quadrupling of vocational education, and working together with schools on delinquency. Altogether, these measures attacked serious educational problems and freed up local funds for use on general construction and salaries.[27]

Unemployment and welfare benefits were expanded.[33]
In 1961, Social Security benefits were increased by 20% and provision for early retirement was introduced, enabling workers to retire at the age of sixty-two while receiving partial benefits.[34]
The Social Security Amendments of 1961 permitted male workers to elect early retirement age 62, increased minimum benefits, liberalized the benefit payments to aged widow, widower, or surviving dependent parent, and also liberalized eligibility requirements and the retirement test.[35]

The School Lunch Act was amended for authority to begin providing free meals in poverty-stricken areas.[37]

A pilot food stamp program was launched (1961), covering six areas in the United States. In 1962, the program was extended to eighteen areas, feeding 240,000 people.[38]

Employment of African-Americans in federal jobs such as in the Post office, the Navy, and the Veterans Administration as a result of the Kennedy Administration’s affirmative action policies).[53]

The Clean Air Act (1963) expanded the powers of the federal government in preventing and controlling air pollution.
The first major additions to the National Park System since 1946 were made, which included the preservation of wilderness areas and a fund for future acquisitions.[77]

The water pollution prevention program was doubled.[78]

Thanks for the laugh though.

 

[Modbert]

The Dems would be totally outraged if George Washington ran or Calvin Coolidge.

George Washington. The same guy who lead the command to put down the Whiskey Rebellion after Congress imposed a excise tax on distilled spirits.

 

[rightwinger]

No president could get annything passed this Congress.

 

[Kevin_Kennedy]

They go after Abe Lincoln like he was Sarah Palin

Would there be a contemporary Conservative supporting Lincoln? I doubt it! Lincoln fought a Civil war to preserve the federal union and sublimate state's rights.

Plus, Lincoln was a brilliant thinker. Are you comparing Palin's intellect to Lincoln's? really?

He fought to preserve the constitution, so yes, Conservatives would support him.

See we want to Constitution followed. What we don't want is this corruption in the Federal Government that ever expands it to eliminate the liberties of men.

I am confident Lincoln would be fully supporting Conservatives as we uphold the Constitution.

There was no threat to the Constitution from the Confederacy.

 

[Kevin_Kennedy]

He'd be as hosed as Obama is.

Now if we replaced the entire CONGRESS, SCOTUS and POTUS, we might have a chance in hell of solving things.

I'd propose the same congress, SCOTUS AND POTUS we had on Dec. 1, 1941.

Those guys were clearly NATIONALISTS.

I don't think clearing out the current scoundrels for a different set is going to make much difference, honestly.

 

[editec]

Would there be a contemporary Conservative supporting Lincoln? I doubt it! Lincoln fought a Civil war to preserve the federal union and sublimate state's rights.

Plus, Lincoln was a brilliant thinker. Are you comparing Palin's intellect to Lincoln's? really?

He fought to preserve the constitution, so yes, Conservatives would support him.

See we want to Constitution followed. What we don't want is this corruption in the Federal Government that ever expands it to eliminate the liberties of men.

I am confident Lincoln would be fully supporting Conservatives as we uphold the Constitution.

There was no threat to the Constitution from the Confederacy.

Not after the ass-kicking the CSA, got, no.

 

[Kevin_Kennedy]

As to the premise of this thread, I can't think of any Presidents that I'd consider great. I can think of only one who was mostly alright, and that's Grover Cleveland. If he was in office today I think you'd see a lot of vetoing going on and probably all the troops home, but that's about it. I don't think he could get any kind of legislative agenda through Congress.

 

[Kevin_Kennedy]

He fought to preserve the constitution, so yes, Conservatives would support him.

See we want to Constitution followed. What we don't want is this corruption in the Federal Government that ever expands it to eliminate the liberties of men.

I am confident Lincoln would be fully supporting Conservatives as we uphold the Constitution.

There was no threat to the Constitution from the Confederacy.

Not after the ass-kicking the CSA, got, no.

Not before it either. They had their own constitution to worry about.