Worst USA President

E-Dub wrote: To be honest, I'm saddened whenever I hear about another soldier being blown up by a car bomb and I'm ready to get them out of there. That being said, what should the United States have done after 9/11? I mean we had to do something and it was proven that Hussein was working with Bin Laden. My biggest concern is he's still on the loose. It just all seems to be a vicious cycle, though. As I've said before, there are a lot of psychotics who simply enjoy blowing stuff up. Say what you will about the Japanese, but at least they had enough guts to come after our military and not innocent civilians. E

Who isn't saddened?


The US tackled too big of a problem. They should have dealt with Saddam in the early '90s when he invaded Kuwait. They also should have made Afghanistan stable before sending troops elsewhere.

E-Dub wrote: progismylife wrote: Where are all the good US Presidents? It seems all the ones in the past century have been horrible except FDR. Although it was the mid 1800's, there will never be another president like Lincoln. You want to study a man of integrity and pure honesty, he was the blueprint. E

I wonder what would have happened if Lincoln wasn't assassinated.

progismylife wrote: E-Dub wrote: progismylife wrote: Where are all the good US Presidents? It seems all the ones in the past century have been horrible except FDR. Although it was the mid 1800's, there will never be another president like Lincoln. You want to study a man of integrity and pure honesty, he was the blueprint. E      I wonder what would have happened if Lincoln wasn't assassinated.

Simply imagine the pressure he was under while the country was torn by the Civil War. I can't even begin to fathom it.

E
    

progismylife wrote: Lincoln is a hero. He tried to keep the country together when it was falling apart and he was releasing slaves. I bet the civil rights movement would have happened a lot sooner if Lincoln wasn't killed.

Totally agree. The Discovery Channel had Reagan as the greatest American ever, with Lincoln in second. Sorry, but whoever came up with that conclusion is on something. Lincoln is America, in my opinion.

E
    

E-Dub wrote: progismylife wrote: Lincoln is a hero. He tried to keep the country together when it was falling apart and he was releasing slaves. I bet the civil rights movement would have happened a lot sooner if Lincoln wasn't killed. Totally agree. The Discovery Channel had Reagan as the greatest American ever, with Lincoln in second. Sorry, but whoever came up with that conclusion is on something. Lincoln is America, in my opinion. E

Regan was okay but he sold weapons to Iran!! That is one of the stupidest things ever done!

I'd like to answer Stonie's question about the view Europeans have of the US. Unfortunately, I have to admit there is quite a lot of hostility in Europe (especially in Italy, where I live) towards the US - both for its current politics and, at least in the case of my own country, for the influence they have had on our political life over the last 60-odd years. Personally, I have to say I don't find it totally unmotivated. Just a couple of hours ago I read on an Italian newspaper's website that US authorities will have access to the personal data of all European passengers traveling to the US through their e-mail addresses and credit card numbers. Moreover, when I got to Washington less than two weeks ago, I was bluntly asked by the immigration officer why I was entering the country. This is something that had never happened to me before, and sure didn't please me a little bit - especially as I've brought money to spend and am doing no harm to anyone.

Airline conveiniences? Sure, go ahead. But giving the government a free pass at tapping "as many phone lines as they want" is sickening! Come on, is it worth is to take so many steps toward a police state to try and prevent something that, if people are determined enough, is very, very hard if not impossible to completely stop. Terrorism is NOT going away.
    

Edited by stonebeard - January 02 2007 at 00:05

I would never trust the government with so much power, especially with no check or balances. Court ordered phone taps? Sure, go ahead. Tapping whoever based on any tip? Hell no!

E-Dub wrote: If another attack like this can be avoided on American soil, then they can tap all the phones lines and inconvenience as many airline passengers as they please. I'm American. I've also been questioned and had to go through metal detectors in my stocking feet.

E-Dub wrote: stonebeard wrote: Airline conveiniences? Sure, go ahead. But giving the government a free pass at tapping "as many phone lines as they want" is sickening? Come on, is it worth is to take so many steps toward a police state to try and prevent something that, if people are determined enough, is very, very hard if not impossible to completely stop. Terrorism is NOT going away. Sickening? You want to see sickening then refer to my last post and take a good look at the picture. It's been over 5 years, but still feels like yesterday. I'll never get over it...and I shouldn't. E

It's not worth eroding the constitution to try and stop something that, the way I see it, is inevitable. Within all means of legality, fine, incovenience the hell out of me. We're too rushed as a society anyway. Besides, airlines don't have to be public do they? Hey, it might hamper business and lesiure a bit, but we don't actually have common citizens fly do we? I've flown once in my life, so it would screw me up either way.

My position is: If you erode the constitution (ie, doing stuff without checks and blances and proper oversight in this case) then there's no point. To use an overused phrase: "The terrorists win." (Man, I feel so crappy writing that. The worst cliche... )