who was the last real president?

[steven]

I dont mean good I mean real as in an average joe.

I gotta say nixon or carter

Baby Bush was definatly Born with the spoon in his mouth, His dad didnt even know they scanned things at the supermarket. Clinton was a political animal and didnt even own his home until after his presidency he had to ask to stay in the governors mansion during the transition.

Reagen comes close until you see all the hollywood stuff and the history of hobknobbing with sinatra and the lot. Ford doesnt count as he wasnt elected

who was the last real man of the people?

[moonshine]

Buchanan.

[steven]

I voted for Buchanon.

But he didnt win so he doesnt count

[moonshine]

You voted for James Buchanan? Wow, you are a lot older than you sound.

Last time I checked, he won that election.

[jbinbny]

Originally posted by steven
I dont mean good I mean real as in an average joe.

I gotta say nixon or carter

Baby Bush was definatly Born with the spoon in his mouth, His dad didnt even know they scanned things at the supermarket. Clinton was a political animal and didnt even own his home until after his presidency he had to ask to stay in the governors mansion during the transition.

Reagen comes close until you see all the hollywood stuff and the history of hobknobbing with sinatra and the lot. Ford doesnt count as he wasnt elected

who was the last real man of the people?


Jimmy Carter????

My, the bar is set extremely low!

[atotaltotalfan2001]

Originally posted by jbinbny
Jimmy Carter????

My, the bar is set extremely low!

Why do you say that?

[steven]

moonshine

Your a riot, I didnt mean that buchannon



jbinbny

what bar are you talking about?

[jbinbny]

Originally posted by steven
moonshine

Your a riot, I didnt mean that buchannon



jbinbny

what bar are you talking about?


Never mind. I reread your post. Sorry, my mistake!

[therising]

If you're just looking for an average joe, let's consider the man the was born in a Town called Hope. (Arkansas)

He had divorced, trashy, poor parents - how do you get any more average that that?

[Night Owl]

Clinton was the last real President of the US

[biker]

I understand your Hollywood point, but I'd have to go with Reagan.

His boyhood was nothing spectacular.

And I believe he had a break with the Hollywood set, which set him on the political road.

He had a knack for the turn of phrase, the self-deprecating comment, the ability to make a viewer feel like he was talking right to you , about your issues that was not just reading from a cue card or teleprompter.

He defeated the Evil Empire, yet turned Presidential debates into memorable one-liners. Who's the last to do that.

This is a hard topic. After all, you're looking for "average" from a cut-throat, competitive system in which only the most adept will survive. Hardly an environment conducive to "average" guys.

[therising]

Originally posted by biker
He defeated the Evil Empire, yet turned Presidential debates into memorable one-liners. Who's the last to do that.


Does Lloyd Bentsen count?
"Senator, I served with Jack Kennedy. I knew Jack Kennedy. Jack Kennedy was a friend of mine. Senator, you're no Jack Kennedy."

Or Mike Dukakis' passion-less response in '88 when confronted with the scenario of having his wife raped and killed?
:rolleyes:

[ERIEMAN]

Originally posted by Night Owl
Clinton was the last real President of the US

I'm gonna go ahead and agree with that...

He was also the blackest.

[steven]

Originally posted by ERIEMAN
I'm gonna go ahead and agree with that...

He was also the blackest.

ROFLMAO

Biker
Reagen was definatly a man for his time but I still look at his history and see a little of the elitest in there (he was a union boss in the actors guild).

Now nixon there was an average joe if I ever saw one. I looked into the great Kitchen debates and he knew what he was talking about. I doubt reagen or clinton ever walked into a supermarket and bought anything past the age of 25.

Clinton I still cant go with. Remeber Hillary not tipping at the diner? Something automatic for us regular joes didnt even cross her mind.

Remeber guys Im not talking good or bad just normal/regular.

[moonshine]

Reagan? You've gotta be kidding me. That guy expanded the federal government in ways that caused Lincoln to have wet dreams! Liberals are still trying to figure out a way to replicate his model.

Unless your motive is socialism I'm not sure how anyone could name any prez from the 20th century as being "great".

[300miles]

moonshine... re-read the original post. nobody said anything about "great". :)

As far as "average Joe", it depends what you really mean by that. You seem to suggest they're not Real if they were wealthy or had any family power. How many presidents don't fall into those categories? I don't think any of the recent (last 50 years) really qualify as an avg joe. Being a career politician, which most presidents are, immediately disqualifies them in my book.

If you meant "real" as in "sincere" or down-to-earth, then I would go with Carter or Reagan. I think both said what they truly felt. Even though reagan was rich and polished I believe he was 100% sincere. And Carter... if he was any more sincere he'd be a friggin priest.

But I would hardly call Carter "real" under my own definition. :)

[steven]

Originally posted by moonshine
Unless your motive is socialism I'm not sure how anyone could name any prez from the 20th century as being "great".

What has that to do with what we are discussing?

Are you off your meds again?

[steven]

Originally posted by 300miles
moonshine... re-read the original post. nobody said anything about "great". :)

As far as "average Joe", it depends what you really mean by that. You seem to suggest they're not Real if they were wealthy or had any family power. How many presidents don't fall into those categories? I don't think any of the recent (last 50 years) really qualify as an avg joe. Being a career politician, which most presidents are, immediately disqualifies them in my book.

If you meant "real" as in "sincere" or down-to-earth, then I would go with Carter or Reagan. I think both said what they truly felt. Even though reagan was rich and polished I believe he was 100% sincere. And Carter... if he was any more sincere he'd be a friggin priest.

But I would hardly call Carter "real" under my own definition. :)

I thought about carter but its funny his personal life (except for brother Billy) wasnt talked about a lot. He was a peanut farmer wasnt he?

[speaker]

I like Carter as a real guy. I didn't pay too much attention to him when he was prez because I just didn't relate-he was such a southern man. His home life wasn't talked about much because it was happy and uncomplicated. I think he's done more since he was president. I like him more.

[moonshine]

Are you off your meds again?

Sorry, I'll double my normal dose this morning.

[ReformWNY]

Regan.

Bar none... Regan was the last "real" president, and one of the best.

Clinton was a dirty hippie.

After Regan.. I'd have to say, Nixon.

And after Nixon... Dennis Miller.

[biker]

Ah Reform. Why'd you have to do that.

You've gone and stirred up the lib/lab hornet nest.

[ReformWNY]

Been away for about a week. Wanted to make sure the WNY world didn't think I forgot about them.
:)
/bow

[steven]

Originally posted by speaker
I like Carter as a real guy. I didn't pay too much attention to him when he was prez because I just didn't relate-he was such a southern man. His home life wasn't talked about much because it was happy and uncomplicated. I think he's done more since he was president. I like him more.

He got a bum wrap, the economy went to chit ,(remember the interest rates in the double digits? back then just leaving your cash in the bank was good, now a days people wouldn't blame the pres they would blame the fed chairman....... how times have changed) and the soldiers deaths in the failed rescue attempt where the last nails in his political coffin.

I feel like you, he was way to southern for me to understand. He has remade himself into a good statesmen, though I doubt history will look back favorably on his term.

[ReformWNY]

Originally posted by biker

You've gone and stirred up the lib/lab hornet nest.

You're right. They should go back to making their soap in their basements, and repairing their tambourines.

[ERIEMAN]

Originally posted by ReformWNY
You're right. They should go back to making their soap in their basements, and repairing their tambourines.

Saxophones. Clinton was a saxophonist....

Reagan, I'm sure, spent his time playing with a life-sized Han Solo doll, making "peeewwww peewwww" shooting noises when thinking about his Star Wars program.

Reagan wanted a frickin' "laser umbrella" over the US. Dr. Evil wanted sharks with frickin' laser beams on their heads.

[biker]

Originally posted by steven
now a days people wouldn't blame the pres they would blame the fed chairman....... how times have changed

Presidents appoint the Fed Chairman.

Carter appointed ol' whats his name.......

Reagan appointed Paul Volcker.

"Nuff said.

[atotaltotalfan2001]

Originally posted by Night Owl
Clinton was the last real President of the US

I agree with you. He came from nowhere, had no connections, no money. How he rose above his beginnings is amazing to me, but I do think he was last president you could say was "just folks."

[atotaltotalfan2001]

Originally posted by atotaltotalfan2001
I agree with you. He came from nowhere, had no connections, no money. How he rose above his beginnings is amazing to me, but I do think he was last president you could say was "just folks."


Just as an aside -- and NOT to start any I Hate Clinton wars....

I have a lot of kin in Arkansas. They are nearly all Dems and supported Clinton, but the women -- aunts, cousins etc -- always made it clear they knew the man behind the office and did not approve! They knew his "type," which referred to his wife-cheating ways. The liked the job he was doing as president, but thought he deserved to be strung up by his toes for the way he treated Hilary.

I have to admit I liked the way they were able to separate the man from his job as president.

The men were mostly silent on the subject. All in all, very pragmatic attitudes, I thought.

[Night Owl]

Hardly does the actions of President Clinton compare to those of President Nixon's.

Nixon's last days in office came in late July and early August, 1974. The House Judiciary Committee voted to accept three of four proposed Articles of Impeachment, with some Republicans voting with Democrats to recommend impeachment of the President.

The final blow came with the decision by the Supreme Court to order Nixon to release more White House tapes. One of these became known as the 'smoking gun' tape when it revealed that Nixon had participated in the Watergate cover-up as far back as June 23, 1972. Around the country, there were calls for Nixon to resign.

At 9pm on the evening of August 8, 1974, Nixon delivered a nationally televised resignation speech. The next morning, he made his final remarks to the White House staff before sending his resignation letter to the Secretary of State, Dr. Henry Kissinger.

Clinton, in his own way showed the American people that he was human. And his personal life did not effect the possitive impact he had on the American people.

IMO- no President in recent history has done more for the people than William Jefferson Clinton.

[WestSideJohn]

I just can't get past marital infidelity.

I can seperate out the presidency from the president, and I agree, things were fairly good during Bill Clinton's presidency, but I have zero respect for the man.

A real man takes his marriage vows seriously.

[speaker]

I think Clinton was and is a statesman. He has that charm which lets people relax, and a sense of humor. I guess he was about the most self made man who ever became president .
So from what I know of all of the presidents, he would get my vote.:)

[Boost Buffalo]

Originally posted by Night Owl


IMO- no President in recent history has done more for the people than William Jefferson Clinton.

dont mean to put you on the spot, Night Owl, but just what is it that he did for the American people that you liked?

[ERIEMAN]

Originally posted by Boost Buffalo
dont mean to put you on the spot, Night Owl, but just what is it that he did for the American people that you liked?

How about everything?:

http://www.perkel.com/politics/clinton/accomp.htm

[speaker]

Zowie.
Peace, happiness, prosperity, growth.

[ReformWNY]

I didn't like Bill Clinton. I still don't.
I prefer Regan. I prefered the elder Bush too.
I prefer Pat Buchanan quite a bit more.
I didn't Like John Kerry... but I also am not very impressed with the Younger Bush.

I love sending in my contributions to the Democratic Committee with Regan stamps on them. :)

[ERIEMAN]

If Buchanan would have chose David Duke as his running mate, they could have combined their resources and had a nice voter base with the Neo-Nazis, the KKK, the Right-to-lifers, God's Army, as well as any surviving Hitler Youth.

If you notice, Buchanan doesn't move his mouth when he talks. All of his vocal sounds come out of the indentation on his chin, which happens to also be his assh0le.

[biker]

Regan-former EC Executive
Reagan-conqueror of the Evil Empire

[Night Owl]

dont mean to put you on the spot, Night Owl, but just what is it that he did for the American people that you liked?

The most important peice of legislation signed into law from President Clinton in recent history has marked an era of protecting all people of America, no matter their economic level.

The Family and Medical Leave Act.

US Code collection CHAPTER 28

(a) Findings
Congress finds that—

(1) the number of single-parent households and two-parent households in which the single parent or both parents work is increasing significantly;

(2) it is important for the development of children and the family unit that fathers and mothers be able to participate in early childrearing and the care of family members who have serious health conditions;

(3) the lack of employment policies to accommodate working parents can force individuals to choose between job security and parenting;

(4) there is inadequate job security for employees who have serious health conditions that prevent them from working for temporary periods;

(5) due to the nature of the roles of men and women in our society, the primary responsibility for family caretaking often falls on women, and such responsibility affects the working lives of women more than it affects the working lives of men; and

(6) employment standards that apply to one gender only have serious potential for encouraging employers to discriminate against employees and applicants for employment who are of that gender.

(b) Purposes

It is the purpose of this Act—

(1) to balance the demands of the workplace with the needs of families, to promote the stability and economic security of families, and to promote national interests in preserving family integrity;

(2) to entitle employees to take reasonable leave for medical reasons, for the birth or adoption of a child, and for the care of a child, spouse, or parent who has a serious health condition;

(3) to accomplish the purposes described in paragraphs (1) and (2) in a manner that accommodates the legitimate interests of employers;

(4) to accomplish the purposes described in paragraphs (1) and (2) in a manner that, consistent with the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment, minimizes the potential for employment discrimination on the basis of sex by ensuring generally that leave is available for eligible medical reasons (including maternity-related disability) and for compelling family reasons, on a gender-neutral basis; and

(5) to promote the goal of equal employment opportunity for women and men, pursuant to such clause.

[WNYresident]

How does his "The Family and Medical Leave Act." help the self employeed who have to work to have an income.

[atotaltotalfan2001]

Originally posted by WNYresident
How does his "The Family and Medical Leave Act." help the self employeed who have to work to have an income.

Hey, you must be anti-family! And here I thought only Democrats didn't support all- American values!

Don't make me report you to the GOP!!!

[Night Owl]

How does his "The Family and Medical Leave Act." help the self employeed who have to work to have an income.

That is a very good question. I am searching the code to see where that fits in, if it does at all. This is something between employer/employee to where if an employee needs medical time off, it will have to honored. I will definately got back to you on this on as best I can.

[Night Owl]

Hey, you must be anti-family!

I don't think that's what WNYresdient was getting at.

I know a few self-employed business owners whom have not made such a good inquiry.

[WNYresident]

The whole point is if that's all brown has done or items like that he will just add more burden to the folks that don't QUALIFY for the programs he's implemented.

For every program a politician creates there always someone else paying for them.

[biker]

You guys are being sarcastic, right?

Regulations aren't going to help the self-employed.

If he doesn't work, he doesn't make any money ("get paid" for you wage slaves).

Same dilemna for vacation: when the self-employed, small company person doesn't open up the shop, he doesn't get paid.

[WNYresident]

Originally posted by biker
You guys are being sarcastic, right?

Regulations aren't going to help the self-employed.

If he doesn't work, he doesn't make any money ("get paid" for you wage slaves).

Same dilemna for vacation: when the self-employed, small company person doesn't open up the shop, he doesn't get paid.

People just don't get it. They think people like me who own small businesses have money trees.. The reason I make money is because i'm putting in abnormally long hours and working for what I earn.

[Night Owl]

Regulations aren't going to help the self-employed.

But this is something that applies to a self-employed business owner who has employees.

[biker]

Like ships in the night.

[Night Owl]

:rolleyes: I would much rather not say anything more in this thread.

Like I said WNYresident I will let you know what I can find out within the charter code and send it to you. But don't mistaken my intention in mentioning the Family & Medical Leave Act, there are more "employed people" than self-employed.

[atotaltotalfan2001]

Originally posted by Night Owl
Hey, you must be anti-family!

I don't think that's what WNYresdient was getting at.



I know. My apologies. I couldn't resist after all this time listening to Republicans contend that Democrats are out of step with American family values.

But, in truth, I understand how hard it is for the self-employed. I grew up in a household of the self-employed and I know how government regulations can be a killer. Personally, I think providing leave for new parents is a great idea. But I know it is difficult for employers.

So, WNYresident, I'm sorry.

[ReformWNY]

Originally posted by speaker
I think Clinton was and is a statesman. He has that charm which lets people relax, and a sense of humor. I guess he was about the most self made man who ever became president .
So from what I know of all of the presidents, he would get my vote.:)

I almost agreed with you. Until I realized I misread you saying STATESMAN as me reading SALESMAN.

[ERIEMAN]

Originally posted by ReformWNY
I almost agreed with you. Until I realized I misread you saying STATESMAN as me reading SALESMAN.

Couldn't you argue that you'd need to be a really good salesman to be the POTUS? I see you said you didn't really care for the younger Bush, who really sucks at sales.

Every time Clinton came on the screen to say something, He seemed to speak right to you, as an individual. I guess I really liked him because he presented a lot of optimism, as opposed to the pessimism of the current administration.

Reagan was really good, especially looking back. He made a lot of people a lot of money, and grew our economy tremendously.

This is a really good editorial....


==================================
It's Time Republicans Acknowledge Clinton's Accomplishments

Bruce Bartlett, in the NYT (July 1, 2004):

The death of Ronald Reagan led many of his liberal opponents to reassess his presidency, with some concluding that it was better than they thought at the time. The publication of Bill Clinton's memoir, meanwhile, has led many conservatives to reassess his presidency — and most have concluded that it was as awful as they remembered.

If they were honest with themselves, however, conservatives would view the Clinton presidency the same way many liberals now view the Reagan years. Just as Ronald Reagan was not as bad as many liberals thought, neither was Bill Clinton as bad as many conservatives think.

Like most conservatives, I thought Bill Clinton was a terrible president when he was in office. Especially after the Republicans won control of Congress in 1994, we all dreamed of the paradise that would be ours if we could just get a Republican in the White House. We could fix the budget and the tax system, rein in the bureaucracy, neuter the trade unions and trial lawyers, and do all those other things that could never be done because Democrats were always blocking the way.

It was foolish to think like this, of course, just as it is foolish for Democrats to think that every mistake President George W. Bush has made would have been avoided if Al Gore had won in 2000. Circumstances beyond any president's control determine much of what he does in office. If Mr. Gore had won, there would have still been a recession in 2001 that would have caused much of the surplus to disappear, even if there had been no tax cuts. And in all likelihood, the attacks on the World Trade Center would have happened, too.

Yet presidents are not impotent. Sometimes their impact comes from what they don't do, rather than what they do. Sometimes the most important thing a president can do is resist the demand or temptation to act when the right course is to do nothing. And sometimes a president is forced to do things against his will. In the end, however, a president can be judged only by what actually happens on his watch; not by what he thought or intended or by what he might have done but wasn't able to.

On this basis, conservatives should rethink the Clinton presidency. At least on economic policy, there is much to praise and little to criticize in terms of what was actually done (or not done) on his watch.

Bringing the federal budget into surplus is obviously an achievement. After inheriting a deficit of 4.7 percent of gross domestic product in 1992, Mr. Clinton turned this into a surplus of 2.4 percent of G.D.P. in 2000 — a remarkable turnaround that can be appreciated by realizing that this year's deficit, as large as it is, will reach only 4.2 percent of G.D.P., according to the Congressional Budget Office.

More important, from a conservative point of view, Mr. Clinton achieved his surplus in large part by curtailing spending. Federal spending fell to 18.4 percent of G.D.P. in 2000 from 22.2 percent in 1992. Although he raised taxes in 1993, he cut them in 1997. He even reduced the capital gains tax — something his predecessor, George H. W. Bush, tried but failed to accomplish.
==============================
http://hnn.us/roundup/comments/5953.html

[Night Owl]

He made a lot of people a lot of money, and grew our economy tremendously.

He eliminated the CETA program and gave very little towards job training to get low-income families into better job placements. Reagan made a lot of RICH people a lot of money and grew the rich economy tremendously.

Didn't he de-regulate the Banks as well. Those 30˘ fees from the banks are now $30. Easy enough for the rich, but another something to make it harder on the poor.

[ERIEMAN]

Originally posted by Night Owl
He made a lot of people a lot of money, and grew our economy tremendously.

He eliminated the CETA program and gave very little towards job training to get low-income families into better job placements. Reagan made a lot of RICH people a lot of money and grew the rich economy tremendously.

Didn't he de-regulate the Banks as well. Those 30˘ fees from the banks are now $30. Easy enough for the rich, but another something to make it harder on the poor.

Again, I'm a lifelong Democrat, and even I can say the country is better as a result of Reagan. The country NEEDS periods of intense growth, even at the expense of the poor, because in the long run, it actually BENEFITS the poor

Those $30 fees employ a lot of people in Buffalo - at M&T, HSBC, First Niagara, Jamestown, etc....

[biker]

The liberals who faintly praise Reagan are hypocrites who don't want to get on the wrong side of history.

I was almost sick when I heard them nostalgically remembering his Presidency.

When he was President, Reagan was regularly and publicly called lazy, stupid, corrupt, superficial and all sorts of things I don't want to repeat.

To this day and on this message board, liberal spinmeisters intone how he presided over the largest deficits in the country's history. No mention of the Democratic leadership pronouncing each of his budgets "dead on arrival" or that they would spend the next six months jacking up the lower amounts he wanted to spend.

But not all of us were bamboozled then and we remember now.

And we'll keep bringing up the facts of the time as soon as these weasels start to spin it.

[biker]

Originally posted by Night Owl
[B
He eliminated the CETA program [/B]

One of the best moves he ever made.

[ERIEMAN]

Originally posted by biker
When he was President, Reagan was regularly and publicly called lazy, stupid, corrupt, superficial and all sorts of things I don't want to repeat.

He was. However, he did do a good job. I was too young to really have an opinion at that time, because reagan took a really far backseat to Legos.

[WestSideJohn]

Originally posted by biker
To this day and on this message board, liberal spinmeisters intone how he presided over the largest deficits in the country's history. No mention of the Democratic leadership pronouncing each of his budgets "dead on arrival" or that they would spend the next six months jacking up the lower amounts he wanted to spend.That's only true if you consider deficit as a percentage of GDP:

Reagan: 5.1%
Clinton: 0.3% (pretty damn good!)
Bush: 3.0%

The largest deficits in the country's history are happening <i>right now</i>, not back in the early 80s. Federal spending is up over 30% since President Bush took office, and close to 25% if you extract out the costs of the war on terror. Record deficits are adding to our already crippling debt.

Where are the fiscal conservatives?

[speaker]

Originally posted by biker
The liberals who faintly praise Reagan are hypocrites who don't want to get on the wrong side of history.

I was almost sick when I heard them nostalgically remembering his Presidency.

When he was President, Reagan was regularly and publicly called lazy, stupid, corrupt, superficial and all sorts of things I don't want to repeat.

To this day and on this message board, liberal spinmeisters intone how he presided over the largest deficits in the country's history. No mention of the Democratic leadership pronouncing each of his budgets "dead on arrival" or that they would spend the next six months jacking up the lower amounts he wanted to spend.

But not all of us were bamboozled then and we remember now.

And we'll keep bringing up the facts of the time as soon as these weasels start to spin it.

Man, am I tired of your generalizing, biker. I, and people like me who voted split tickets all the way, never thought of Reagan as lazy, stupid or any of those things. If he appeared corrupt, it was because we really wondered if he believed in the trickle down theory, which doesn't work more often than it did. Or was he just a little out of touch. People didn't "hate" Reagan, and recognized that he had positive points. He was congenial and had that same quality, that Clinton has, which relaxed people somehow.

You rarely bring up facts, biker, just insults.

[biker]

I wasn't referring to you, but the syrupy "news" reports last June.

But if the shoe fits......

[biker]

Originally posted by speaker


You rarely bring up facts, biker, just insults.

Budgets pronounced DOA. Fact. By "Sheets" Byrd, among others.

Come to think of it, though, those facts are insulting.

[Linda_D]

To get back on topic: the last "Real Joe" elected POTUS has to be Clinton. He comes from the quintessial red-neck country background.

The next "Real Joe" was Lyndon Johnson. He grew up poor in Texas, got lucky and got an education -- and in the time-honored white Southern tradition, "married up" (Lady Bird Johnson was the daughter of a wealthy Texas family that had holdings in radio stations).

Both Reagan and Nixon were from middle class families, not wealthy by any long shot, but definitely not nearly as poor as Johnson and Clinton's families. Both Eisenhower and Truman were from middle class families as well.

Carter was born a step up still from Reagan, Nixon, Eisenhower, and Truman. He came from a family of well-to-do peanut farmers, maybe even "wealthy" farmers. Wealth-wise, Carter was probably in the same economic strata as Franklin Delano Roosevelt. (The Teddy Roosevelt branch of the Roosevelt family was the one with the big $$. FDR's Hyde Park was a working farm). The difference was that FDR was raised more as an aristocrat while Carter was raised as a rich farmer's son.

[speaker]

Yes, we all know, biker, you and several others would not be happy or large enough in spirit unless we all unanimously chimed in, in chorus, that we think W is a real prez. Or the last real one. Or something on that order.
It all has to dwindle down to a squabble thread until everyone gets bored and goes home.

[ERIEMAN]

Originally posted by Linda_D
To get back on topic: the last "Real Joe" elected POTUS has to be Clinton. He comes from the quintessial red-neck country background.

The next "Real Joe" was Lyndon Johnson. He grew up poor in Texas, got lucky and got an education -- and in the time-honored white Southern tradition, "married up" (Lady Bird Johnson was the daughter of a wealthy Texas family that had holdings in radio stations).

Both Reagan and Nixon were from middle class families, not wealthy by any long shot, but definitely not nearly as poor as Johnson and Clinton's families. Both Eisenhower and Truman were from middle class families as well.

Carter was born a step up still from Reagan, Nixon, Eisenhower, and Truman. He came from a family of well-to-do peanut farmers, maybe even "wealthy" farmers. Wealth-wise, Carter was probably in the same economic strata as Franklin Delano Roosevelt. (The Teddy Roosevelt branch of the Roosevelt family was the one with the big $$. FDR's Hyde Park was a working farm). The difference was that FDR was raised more as an aristocrat while Carter was raised as a rich farmer's son.

Why do "real joes" have to be poor to be able to reach out to the people?

[WestSideJohn]

Originally posted by ERIEMAN
Why do "real joes" have to be poor to be able to reach out to the people? I don't think wealth (or lack thereof) makes much difference in terms of reaching out and connecting with people, but it makes a huge difference in terms of a leader's level of understanding about issues many Americans deal with every day just to survive.

We've all heard stories about Hillary Clinton not even thinking about tipping when eating lunch at a diner, or the first President Bush not having any idea what a gallon of milk cost. They're funny stories, but they're more than that: they're a sign that our leaders are out of touch with what life is like for a huge chunk of the population.

I'm not saying a poor person would make a better or worse leader. I'm saying they'd have a different perspective from that of the typical affluent politician. It would be interesting to find out how - or even if - that would affect their ability to lead.

[ERIEMAN]

Originally posted by WestSideJohn
I don't think wealth (or lack thereof) makes much difference in terms of reaching out and connecting with people, but it makes a huge difference in terms of a leader's level of understanding about issues many Americans deal with every day just to survive.

We've all heard stories about Hillary Clinton not even thinking about tipping when eating lunch at a diner, or the first President Bush not having any idea what a gallon of milk cost. They're funny stories, but they're more than that: they're a sign that our leaders are out of touch with what life is like for a huge chunk of the population.

I'm not saying a poor person would make a better or worse leader. I'm saying they'd have a different perspective from that of the typical affluent politician. It would be interesting to find out how - or even if - that would affect their ability to lead.

Yeah, but wasn't Hillary a "redneck" like her husband at some point?

I'd love to know what people think of Sharpton now. Not his old self - his new self. He seemed to have a ton of common sense, and was completely about protecting everyone's rights.

[WestSideJohn]

Originally posted by ERIEMAN
Yeah, but wasn't Hillary a "redneck" like her husband at some point?I don't know - I mean, I find it hard to believe that anyone could not know about tipping when you eat in a restaurant, no matter how wealthy you are/become.

Then again maybe she's just a cheapskate.

[atotaltotalfan2001]

Originally posted by biker
The liberals who faintly praise Reagan are hypocrites who don't want to get on the wrong side of history.

I was almost sick when I heard them nostalgically remembering his Presidency.



I'm not exactly liberal, although I am a Dem, and I didn't praise him when he was prez and not when he died either.

Hope that makes you feel better.:)

[biker]

Yes it does.

Me 'n Jimmy like our friends with us and our enemies against the wall over there----where we can see them.

[atotaltotalfan2001]

Originally posted by biker
Yes it does.

Me 'n Jimmy like our friends with us and our enemies against the wall over there----where we can see them.

That makes no sense to me at all. Can you explain?

[biker]

It was a Jimmy Griffin comment. Friends/foes.

[atotaltotalfan2001]

Originally posted by biker
It was a Jimmy Griffin comment. Friends/foes.

Yikes! I didn't think anyone quoted Jimmy Griffin.

[Night Owl]

One of the best moves he ever made.

I guess I can see how....
(CETA), U.S. government program designed to assist economically disadvantaged, unemployed, or underemployed persons. Enacted in 1973, CETA provided block grants to state and local governments to support public and private job training and such youth programs as the Job Corps and Summer Youth Employment.
...is such a bad thing. :rolleyes:

Yikes! I didn't think anyone quoted Jimmy Griffin.

What's wrong with that?

An Original Jimmy Griffin quote
Thanks for one hell of a ride!

[biker]

How many CETA guys does it take to paint a doorway?

Three.

One to hold the can of paint.

One painting.

One to see the other two are doing it right.

Not an old WPA story.

What I saw, with my own peepers.

[speaker]

Originally posted by ERIEMAN
Yeah, but wasn't Hillary a "redneck" like her husband at some point?

.

Just for the record, Hillary Clinton was born and raised in Illinois and met her future husband at Yale law school. The tipping incident was because of a rude waitress. She gave up her own aspirations to follow her husband to Arkansas.

[biker]

Originally posted by speaker
She gave up her own aspirations to follow her husband to Arkansas.

But not to bake cookies.

[bflonum1fan]

Maybe I'm just too old, or they're not teaching history in school any more, but I can't believe that nobody has nominated Harry Truman yet.

Harry had some very memorable accomlplishments during his service to the country. He was a veteran of WWI. He came from an ordinary family (certainly no silver spoons here) in Missouri. He made the toughest decision of any president so far, that to drop the A bomb on Japan. He started the Marshall Plan, the reconstruction of Europe. He eliminated segregation in the Armed Forces. And finally, he fired 5 star general Douglas MacArthur for insubordination, a very unpopular choice at the time.

'The buck stops here' was his most memorable line. Harry's the man ! !

[Linda_D]

Originally posted by bflonum1fan
Maybe I'm just too old, or they're not teaching history in school any more, but I can't believe that nobody has nominated Harry Truman yet.

Harry had some very memorable accomlplishments during his service to the country. He was a veteran of WWI. He came from an ordinary family (certainly no silver spoons here) in Missouri. He made the toughest decision of any president so far, that to drop the A bomb on Japan. He started the Marshall Plan, the reconstruction of Europe. He eliminated segregation in the Armed Forces. And finally, he fired 5 star general Douglas MacArthur for insubordination, a very unpopular choice at the time.

'The buck stops here' was his most memorable line. Harry's the man ! !

I mentioned Truman as being from middle-class roots. Like fellow Southerner, Carter, Truman related better to "ordinary" people than most politicians, especially working class people. Maybe it was the nature of rural southern politics or maybe the way these two men were raised that enabled them to relate to "ordinary" people in ways that FDR, Kennedy, and the Bushes couldn't/can't.

BTW, Bill Clinton, like Lyndon Johnson, also "married up." Hillary is from a well-off Chicago area family.

[biker]

Hiya Bflonum1fan,

Haven't run into you lately.

I agree with Harry.

I like the story of one of his whistle-stop campaign tours. The reporters who travelled with him said his corn-pone accent got deeper the further West they went.

He was one tough cookie. But what do you expect from a man who hailed just a stone's throw from Zarda's, the best BBQ joint in the country.

[atotaltotalfan2001]

[i]
Yikes! I didn't think anyone quoted Jimmy Griffin.

What's wrong with that? [/B]


I wasn't here during Jimmy Griffin's reign, but what I've heard is that he was very devisive and , to be honest, a mean SOB.

That's why I was surprised anyone would quote him.

[Night Owl]

but what I've heard is that he was very devisive and , to be honest, a mean SOB.

He's really not so bad, but just an "SOB" when he has to be. :)

Jimmy was once a Presidental candidate.