Let's name Americans that Ronald Reagan was, apparently, greater than.

[Guaranteed]

I'll start with the obvious. According to the 24% of our country that are right-wing zealots with no perspective on our history, Ronald Reagan was a greater American than Abraham Lincoln, Martin Luther King, Jr., and Benjamin Franklin.

Who else?

[pocket]

1. James Maddison

Malcolm X

[Ronnie]

53. A big YES on James Madison.

...the Father of the Constitution, among other things. When I saw that he wasn't even on the first 100, I stopped paying attention. What a stupid poll. On the other hand, it got us talking about (and appreciating) people we haven't talked about (or appreciated) in a very long time.

[nadinbrzezinski]

2. Rosa Parks

Albert Einstein

[brainshrub]

3. Do you have the list somewhere?

[Blue_In_AK]

4. George Washington, Thomas Jefferson,

Thomas Edison, Alexander Graham Bell, Jonas Salk

ed. And Carl Sagan, who I really miss

[Guaranteed]

9. I believe Einstein was on the list, although whether or not he was

an American is debatable.

[greyl]

38. He became a US citizen in 1940

while retaining Swiss status according to this site at least: www.aip.org/history/einstein/chron.htm

He had renounced his German citizenship in 1896 in response to the Tyrannical government.

edit: "1952 - Offered presidency of Israel, and declines." Holy Crap! I didn't know that. :)
"In 1952, the Israeli government proposed to Einstein that he take the post of second president. He declined the offer, and remains the only United States citizen to ever be offered a position as a foreign head of state."

http://www.nationmaster.com/encyclopedia/Albert-Einstein

[DanCa]

5. Christopher Reeve

May the wonderful man that he was rest in peace.

[StevieM]

6. Most Americans in history were greater then Ronald Reagan....

he was a terrible president and not a very good man.

Steve

[Scurrilous]

7. Wright Bros.

...George Patton.

[Guaranteed]

34. Eisenhower. nt

[ms liberty]

8. John Adams, Thomas Paine....

Justice Thurgood Marshall, FDR

[deadparrot]

10. FDR, RFK.

[Guaranteed]

24. Yup. Such excellent judgment coming from these people.

Ronald Reagan was better than the man who won WWII and dragged us out of the Great Depression.

[Ragnar]

11. The guy who played "Enos" on the Dukes of Hazzard.

That guy was way better for the country than the gipper.

[alarcojon]

54. So were Cooter and Uncle Jesse eom

[ComerPerro]

68. "It's Enos" "Oh, what did I say?" "You said Anus"

Family guy.

[DanCa]

12. Jesus Christ? No wait you said americans. (n/t)

[noonwitch]

55. What, Jesus isn't an american?

And I thought He was a NASCAR-loving, gun-toting, clinic-protesting red-blooded american! Not to mention those flowing blonde locks and brilliant blue eyes!

[DanCa]

63. you know if you look closely at the christian coloring books

They have him looking at lot Hulk Hogan these days. "Whatcha going to do when christianity runs wild on you brother?"

[Straight Shooter]

13. My history major friend and I just had a discussion

My pick: Martin Luther King, because he changed history for the better
Friend's pick: Thomas Jefferson, same reason

He said Thomas Jefferson, Martin Luther King, George Washington or Ben Franklin would all have been much better choices.

I opted for King, Franklin or Bobby Kennedy. He said Bobby Kennedy could have some nasty personality traits. I said it didn't matter, that Bobby Kennedy's heart's desire was in line with what was good for America and Americans.

Reagan was a doddering, lying, deceitful, manipulative, greedy bastard.

edit to fix mistake and repeat once again that Reagan was a doddering, lying, deceitful, manipulative, greedy bastard.

[Ragnar]

14. Woodrow Wilson.

In 500 years, if human society is still around, I think he will be the one historians look back at and say, "Why didn't anyone listen to that guy!"

[deadparrot]

17. Yeah, but he was a big-time racist, too.

Granted, many people were, but it doesn't make it right.

[Ragnar]

23. So was just about every person on the list born before 1890.

There is a fantastic quote of Lincoln's in "The People's History of the US" about the white race being superior, and blacks being unable to be jurors and serve various public functions.

People are products of their times.

[deadparrot]

32. Like I said,

obviously, many people were.

However, not every person on the list was an active KKK supporter screening Birth of a Nation at the WH.

[lastliberalintexas]

61. No, others on th elist were only slave holders

Much better than actively supporting the KKK. :eyes:

Wilson was a racist, but so was Madison, Jefferson, Franklin, Paine and a myriad of others who did many other things for which they would be better than Reagan. Hell, Bobby Kennedy worked for McCarthy and Cohn and he's still better than Reagan!


On international relations issues, Wilson was *far* ahead of his time, and probably would even be further ahead of many people today. If only the other Allies and the US Congress had listened to him and not insisted on crippling sanctions against the Axis (esp Germany). If only the US Senate had not been full of right wing xenophobes of the day and had instead listened to Wilson and ratified the League of Nations treaty. If only.

Wilson wasn't perfect by any stretch. But he did a damn sight more to actually help the world than that racist, classist, Star Wars proponent and failed B actor Reagan.

[deadparrot]

73. Tell me,

did I defend a slaveholder? Did I nominate a slaveholder for Greatest American? If so, please tell me where. I'd quite like to know.

[queeg]

20. Part of Wilsons failed agenda may mean--

that no one WILL be around in 500 years---

Read Norman Angell's The Great Illusion for an example--

[Ragnar]

25. Of all people, Robert McNamara wrote a good book a couple years back

"Willson's Ghost" It's worth the read.

[DefenseLawyer]

28. Woodrow Wilson's record

with respect to race issues is probably the worst of the post slavery era. Terrible.

[Ragnar]

31. True.

He was a visionary in international relations though. At least 90 years ahead of his time, and counting.

And even if race is as important, he still beats the shit out of Reagan, as Wilson never actually poked a hole in the constitution so he could fuck it, as Reagan did.

[deadparrot]

15. Henry Ford. nt

[lastliberalintexas]

62. Hmm, upthread you criticize Wilson

and here you nominate Ford. You do know that Henry Ford was as anti-semitic and racist as they come, right? That he was also a eugenics follower and supporter of Adolf Hitler, right?

And even after pointing that out, I'd still agree that the SOB was better than Reagan. :)

[deadparrot]

76. Once again,

I didn't say anything about Ford being the greatest American. He was on the original list put out by the Discovery Channel people. I was simply pointing out that apparently, Reagan was greater than him.

[Ragnar]

16. Orville and Wilbur Wright - nm

[In Truth We Trust]

18. Tyrone the crack head was better than RR. reagan is the second worst

president behind the frat boy fraWD.

[deadparrot]

19. Teddy Roosevelt.

Toni Morrison.

This is fun. :)

[SmileyBoy]

21. Malcolm X

[in_cog_ni_to]

22. Jimmy Carter, JFK

and Michael Moore.

[Guaranteed]

26. Mohammed Ali, Jesse Owens. nt

[Ikonoklast]

27. Thomas Paine, George Marshall, Robert Kennedy,

Richard Feynman (A man who was the definition of a true genius), I could go on like this for days. Raygun was a disaster for this country and history will not judge him kindly.

[deadparrot]

29. Dorothy Day, Frederick Douglass, Harriet Tubman...

[FredScuttle]

30. All the great muckrakers and "troublemakers"

All defined by a singular moral courage:

Sinclair Lewis
Upton Sinclair
John Steinbeck
H.L. Mencken
Edward R. Murrow
Seymour Hirsch



Reagan? Feh! Why don't we just name the Michelin Man the greatest American?

[Ragnar]

33. Mark Twain, Joseph Heller, Herman Melville, Kurt Vonnegut. nm

[Ragnar]

35. How about ron Jeremy and Jenna Jameson?

We know they can get some love.

[Blue_In_AK]

36. Benjamin Lundy,

distant ancestor of mine on my grandma's side, instrumental in the Underground Railroad in Southern Ohio.

http://www.strattonhouse.com/index.php?section=history&content=31135108

[mykpart]

37. Margaret Sanger. Eleanor Roosevelt. Betsy Ross

Alexander Graham Bell. James Michener. Rogers & Hammerstein. I nearly threw a brick at my TV when they announced Raygun as the greatest American!

[blitzen]

39. Walt Whitman, Henry David Thoreau n/t

[fujiyama]

40. Bill Clinton!

Yeah he pisses me off at times, but I still yearn for the day when our biggest problem is the president getting a bj.

[amandabeech]

41. John Marshall, Chief Justice

Secured judicial review of Congressional action in Marbury v. Madison. Cousin of Jefferson, much to J's chagrin.

[Spider Jerusalem]

42. Jonas Salk

Frank Lloyd Wright
Robert Goddard
Ernest Hemingway
William Faulkner
Philip Glass
Eli Whitney
Chief Joseph
Geronimo
Sitting Bull
Clara Barton
Ulysses S. Grant
William T. Sherman
Robert LaFollette
Henry Clay
Ralph Ellison
Louis Armstrong
John Coltrane
Charlie Parker
Dizzy Gillespie
Miles Davis
Jimi Hendrix


the list goes on and on, and I'd say any of them are "greater" than Reagan...

[oldcoot]

72. I would add Jane Addams to your list

She not only founded Hull House but also was a peace activist.

[bj2110]

43. Ummm... no FDR yet? Man, Franklin Delano Roosevelt!

[Jeff In Milwaukee]

51. He was mentioned earlier, but what the hell...

Another vote for FDR!

[elshiva]

44. You said "AmericanS" so here goes:

Barbara Jordan, Sojourner Truth, Shirley Chisholm...

[unhappycamper]

45. Anyone who has worn a military uniform for real.

[B Calm]

46. Pee Wee

[mopaul]

47. scott peterson was better than ronald reagan

[Liberalynn]

48. Susan B. Anthony

Elizabeth Blackwell
Sojurner Truth
Harriet Tubman
FDR
Eleanor Roosevelt
Theodore Roosevelt
Lincoln
Jefferson
Sam Adams
John Adams
Abagail Adams
Alexander Graham Bell
Thomas Edison
Martin Luther King
JFK
Robert Kennedy
Bill Clinton
Jimmy Carter
Rosa Parks
Maya Angelou
Martin Sheen
Christopher Reeve/Dana Reeve
Michael J. Fox
Elisabeth Glaser

Every single one of those fire fighters who went into the Twin Towers on 911 to try and save others, and the same for the ones in Oklahoma. In fact every fire fighter every day and every honest police officer or law enforcement official.

Doctors, nurses, every one who glories in trying to save lives instead of rejoicing in deaths because of false piety

My Dad, a mechanic and volunteer fire fighter (for over 30 years) and who worked at an honest job until he was 82 and was generous to a fault even though he was hardly rich. Rest in peace Dad. Thank you for letting me proud of you.

My Sister also generous to a fault
My Mom who was an RN before she retired.
Me,
My College Professors
My Highschool Teachers (at least most of them)

just to name a few. It would take forever to name the millions of Amercians who have been greater than Ronald Reagan ever thought of being

[Guaranteed]

49. Lewis and Clark. nt

[newportdadde]

50. Edison.

[WhoWantsToBeOccupied]

52. John Conyers

[NewJeffCT]

56. Just about anybody who didn't commit mass murder was better

Reagan is pretty far down the list, possibly only * and Cheney are lower.

[LibDemAlways]

60. I'd say RR still rates higher than Rummy,

Rice, and Wolfowitz, too. But the bottom rungs of the ladder are so crowded with the members of recent repuke administrations, its hard to say whose lowest.

[mopaul]

57. any schmuck off the street

[Mad_Dem_X]

58. Thomas Jefferson????!!!!!!

There is NO WAY on God's green earth that Reagan was better than Jefferson. I'm gonna puke! :banghead: :puke:

[kentuck]

59. Because we have a "liberal media"...

That's the only way that Reagan could win...

[goclark]

64. He is greater than the Chimp LOL

[Kraklen]

65. John Wayne Gacy

Reagan killed a greater number of children.

[zinndependence]

66. howard zinn, martin luther king, thurgood marshall...

william brennan, eleanor roosevelt...

[Pathwalker]

67. The late Barbara Jordan, whom I will never stop missing.

n/t

[alarimer]

69. Everyone on that list was greater than Reagan

Except for the Bushes. And maybe Oprah (but i have a hell of a lot more respect for here than I ever did for Reagan).

[oldcoot]

70. Have you seen the whole list?

To see the list for the "100 Greatest Americans," go to http://dsc.discovery.com/convergence/greatestamerican/top100/top100.html. If you have any background in history, this list will make you cry.

[jakefrep]

71. Hugh Hefner & Larry Flynt

[RandomKoolzip]

74. Frank Zappa

[AngryAmish]

75. Jim Anchower

Philosopher/King of America.

[sueh]

77. Mr Rogers

[BrotherBuzz]

88. Both of 'em

Fred and Will....

[David Zephyr]

78. Ronald Reagan Ratted on His Friends in Hollywood in the 1950's.

Ronald Reagan was a snitch.

Ronald Reagan participated in destroying the lives of a great many of fine actors, writers and artists during the 1950's by turning in the names of many of his associates behind their backs to the likes of , J. Edgar Hoover, Joseph McCarthy, Roy Cohn and Richard Nixon.

And knowing this explains the motivation as to why the actor Ronald Reagan later publicly "converted" to being a Republican in the 1960's. All of Hollywood knew that he had been a secret snitch in the 1950's and knew what he had done. And Ronald and Nancy knew that they could never whitewash such despicable activity with Hollywood and the Democratic Party.

That's the "why" Ronald Reagan "became" a Republican. It had nothing to do with him admiring Goldwater, being a "conservative" and the rest. He had been a first class shit in the 1950's and everyone out here knew it.

[Name removed]

79. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[bertha katzenengel]

80. It's easier to name who was/is greater than Reagan.

I'll start with Max Cleland.

Then I'll say Everett Dirksen.

Then Harry Truman.

How about Eleanor Roosevelt?

[maveric]

81. Pat Tillman, Dwight Eisenhower, Louis Armstrong, Babe Ruth.

Plus that were mentioned in the above posts.

The "Fix" was definitely in!

[Guaranteed]

83. Joe Montana. nt

[Jack Rabbit]

82. Humphrey Bogart and Groucho Marx

Both appeared in better movies and neither was never a second rate chief executive.

[karlrschneider]

84. Oh, how about Jeffrey Dahmer, Joe McCarthy, Ted Bundy,

Timothy McVeigh, Al Capone, Benedict Arnold, the entire BFEE, for starters. :D

[politicaholic]

85. Jesus...well...he's American now right? n/t

[Guaranteed]

86. Lance Armstong, Neil Armstong, Johnny Carson, Cesar Chavez,

Bill Gates, John Glenn, Bob Hope, Helen Keller, Richard Nixon, Colin Powell, Elvis Presley, Jackie Robinson, Carl Sagan, Steven Spielberg, Jimmy Stewart, Harry Truman, and Chuck Yeager.

Yes, Ronald Reagan- RONALD REAGAN, of all people- was a greater American than all of them.

[Terran]

87. FDR

How Reagan could possibly rate above FDR is completely beyond me.

Oh wait, I forget Americans don't know, and don't want to know, their own damn history. :grr:

[Guaranteed]

90. One of the worst injustices of the whole thing. That man right there. nt

[Tiggeroshii]

89. This would fit.

A couple years ago, there were a number of peopleon tlevision speaking about the importance of changing FDR's face on the dime to Reagan. ::shivers:: ... i mean, yay!

[MrSlayer]

91. How about Thomas Edison? Was anyone more important than he?

Did anyone have a more profound impact on America than Edison? Certainly not Reagan who was a disgrace.

[SmileyBoy]

92. Kurt Cobain, Stephen King, Joe Namath, Walter Cronkite

[Jade Fox]

93. Every single soldier who died in WWII while Reagan stayed in Hollywood.

Later as President, when he was clearly in the throes of early Alzheimers,
he spoke as though he had fought in WWII.

The Reagan era was when the press first learned to ignor the elephant in
the living room.