Posts Tagged ‘history’

The Classic Liberal answers first

Posted: July 4, 2010 by datechguy in fun
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Here is the Classic Liberal’s alterations to my list per my statement Here are his corrections to my list:

Obama isn’t even done with his first term yet, so he shouldn’t be ranked at all. But he is setting himself up to be one of the worst ever.

On Thomas Jefferson … The Louisiana Purchase is considered by many to be his biggest sin (even though it worked out). It wasn’t constitutional. He did however lower taxes, pardon John Adams political prisoners, and his election was also a major victory over the Federalists (who wanted a government more like we have today). So Jefferson deserves to be towards the top.

Prior to Obama, GWB grew the size and scope of government greater than any other president in history. Therefore he belongs at the bottom of the list along with the other major progressives – T Roosevelt, Wilson, FDR, and LBJ. Lincoln was no saint either, being responsible for the death of over 600,000 Americans in his war against the south that started not over slavery, but over taxes. So these are my 6 worst presidents.

Calvin Cooldige is incredibly underrated in our history. And despite some of his problems, Andrew Jackson deserves to be among the top for his success in shutting down the central bank.

I disagree with a lot here, but that’s half the fun with these lists.

Southern Storm: Amazon Review

Posted: July 3, 2010 by datechguy in amazon reviews, war
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My review of Noah Andre Trudeau’s book Southern Storm: Sherman’s March to the Sea is available at Amazon.com here.

This volume is very much worth reading. The only reason I can think of for not buying it at Amazon is that I found a copy in the bargain bins at my local Barnes and Noble for $5. How a book this good ended up in that bin is beyond me.

Ok readers tell me why I’m wrong and I’ll post it.

Posted: July 2, 2010 by datechguy in opinion/news
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Had a long discussion about my ranking of presidents with a reader today. It got me thinking that plenty of people might have their own opinions so I’m going to give you a chance to express them here.

I invite any reader to e-mail me a paragraph on who should be higher and why and who should be lower and why. I’ll publish the paragraphs as guest posts under your byline.

Not a bad thing for a July 4th weekend.

Two nasty thoughts…

Posted: July 2, 2010 by datechguy in Afghanistan war, opinion/news, war
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…one about the past and one about the present.

Nasty Thought #1: All this draft nonsense:

Do you get the feeling that MSNBC and the left are pushing and talking draft right now because they are afraid of Gen Petraeus? Not afraid of him politically but afraid of him as a general. I have the horrible and uncharitable feeling that they are afraid he will actually win this war.

Success in the war would mean a more powerful US. One more likely to act rather than talk. The concept of the US military as a force never to be used is even more sacred to the left than the first black president. They aren’t in a position to attack Petraeus so the only way to counter him is to get the country talking draft. With a high unemployment rate and college so expensive it is a tempting solution to several social/economic problems but it would scare the britches off of many in the ME generation.

The left has never lost their love of 60’s radicalism, it was their greatest moment, it is their dream to bring it back in living color.

Such an appraisal is not very fair to most of the left and is as I said a nasty thought, but right now it is stuck in my head and won’t come out.

Nasty Thought #2 Al Gore

For years I’ve wondered why Al Gore didn’t assert himself during the Clinton Impeachment stuff. It would have been up to Gore to talk to the president and say it was time for him to go. If he had conventional wisdom says he would have easily won election in 2000 and maybe even in 2004. Not only did he not assert himself but he after the impeachment vote made that ludicrous speech calling Mr. Bill “One of our greatest presidents” (talk about grading on a curve)! In my mind the question has always been: Why did he play along?

I have the nasty feeling that question has now been answered. Does anyone believe for one moment that if the Clintons knew Gore had some ahem “interesting diversions” they wouldn’t have held that over him? Al understood that people judge a Rogue differently than a “strait arrow”. It’s the expectations game. People were not surprised that Clinton was messing around and judged him accordingly, but Gore? He would be judged by his strait arrow image.

Again this is a nasty thought and assumes Gore’s guilt but I can’t get it out of my head.

Are these thoughts a sign I am becoming paranoid or am I just becoming more street savvy? What do you think?

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