who would be in your pantheon of presidents and why?

[The Comrade]

to keep it topical, let's say mt. rushmore is blank and they're thinking of adding four presidential faces to it. who would your four presidents be and why?

jefferson - encompasses everything america is about. died in debt, hugely hypocritical on social issues (owned slaves, had mad hunnies who were slaves), polymath, and hugely influential. even though most of the people who quote and reference him now bastardize the hell out of what he said, you can't deny the influence he's had on people.

teddy roosevelt - had probably the smartest foreign policy in american history, even though he was a huge racist. mans man, he deserves a rugged monument just for that. his political positions were a genius mix of what we would today consider liberal and conservative. he was a true progressive, and he enshrined everything america was at the time, but also everything america could be. he also got shot and shrugged it off so he's pretty much a demi-god

FDR - successfully led the country through two of it's four most harrowing moments, FDR was the total opposite of an empty suit. he was a great orator, and he used his ability to not only comfort america, but to inspire it when it needed it most. much of what liberal democrats today pine for, or demand we keep, come directly from FDR and his administration. he's a twentieth century legend, and arguably the greatest president we've ever had.

JFK - the first modern democrat, and one of those rare presidents that looks beyond his own term to the future. a war hero, and arguably one of the most inspiring presidents to ever live. His few notable accomplishments are examples of everything great about america (NASA, the peace corps). had he not been assassinated by LBJ, i have no doubt that he would have gone down as the greatest president in american history.

honorable mention: carter - almost toppled JFK, but space is just so cool.

[Bauce]

Lincoln - everyone has heard for more about why Lincoln is so great than anyone needs, so I won't add to it. I'll just say that I think the hype isn't too far off.

FDR - this guy is probably the GOAT. The new deal was one of the best things to ever happen in US politics. Like our current president, FDR was accused of being a communist socialist fascist Marxist. Unlike our current president, FDR wasn't being accused of these things exclusively by toothless trailer dwellers. There were more respectable pillar of society types saying it too, and I bring this up because I love FDR's DGAF attitude. "They hate me and I welcome their hatred"

LBJ (no troll) - im giving him a pass in nam. Deal with it. LBJ was the real deal. These days anyone who serves as a party leader in the senate could never hope to eventually become president. Thank bullshit "reform waves" and the 24 hour news for that. It's a shame though because Johnson was legit, knew how to get his agenda through congress (duh) and was the last truly progressive president in US history. I also just like his style and swag.

Nixon (eh, 35% troll) - ok so this dude was a dick, but he was a really good president. And he's gotta be the bad guy for all time because of a botched 2-bit office burglary? I'm actually serious right now - when is America going to admit that watergate wasn't really a big deal? Anyway, I know Nixon isn't really Rushmore material,but I think he gets shitted on far too much considering he did a pretty good job. I guess this choice was kind of reactionary.

Honorable mention: Michael Vick - as of this writing, he has never been president. And while I really doubt he ever will be, I guess it's technically possible and it would be sweet to have him on Rushmore.

[The Comrade]

if nixon was cool until the war on drugs thing. major points off for that.

[Stratego]

Obama, Dubya, Clinton, and George H. W.

Those are the only ones I've experienced and know what the hell is going on.

[Mr.Bill]

Washington, Lincoln, FDR, Obama.

[Mr.Bill]

And Bush 1...

[Professor]

Washington - he literally made the Executive branch what it is today. 2 term limits, Cabinet, advisors, departments - he created the basework that became all of that. And, most impressively, when almost the entire country was asking him to serve a 3rd term, or even declare himself President for life (and wanted to call him "Your Majesty"), he declined to hold onto the power.

Jefferson - Kinda goes without saying, as it was already listed before.

Lincoln - Put the country through hell so that we would be stronger in the end.

GHW Bush - Yes, he capitalized upon efforts by numerous Presidents in ending the longest-running hostility in our country's history. But, he masterfully handled the transition, by befriending Russia when most of his advisors were calling for a hard-line stance to force capitulation, which most historians now agree would have led to a massive implosion and chaos, instead of a peaceful transition. Also, he forged one of the most successful alliances in modern history to take military action, then showed restraint when finishing the war.

[eynon81]

only 4? switch Franklin for Teddy. Keep everything else the same.

[Leviathan]

[eynon81]