Name one Democrat who is universally admired

[prolesunited]

Just wondering if this is possible. Make your case and give it your best shot.

[eallen]

1. I can't name a person who is universally admired.

[ComerPerro]

114. Me either

[donco6]

2. I have to echo the above poster.

I can't think of anyone who is universally admired. Not a one. Isn't that sad?

[Big Kahuna]

3. Is this a Zen koan?

[Hissyspit]

8. Or is it a Ben Cohen?

Or a Joel and Ethan Coen?

[patdem]

4. Clinton...now name one repuke who is universally admired

tag..your 'it'

[prolesunited]

28. Do you really think most DUers would agree with that?

I think a lot of Dems, especially those of a more progressive bent, would not.

And, if you are talking about the universe of the GOP, my guess would be Reagan.

[patdem]

68. YES, I think MOST DUers wuld agree that Bill Clinton is universally

loved AND is a Democrat...Repuks are NOT universal..they are specific to this country...to no Reagan is NOT universally loved...I am right YOU are wrong!

[Lecky]

83. The question was about being universally admired...DU is just a small

fraction. Yes, Clinton is highly respected overseas...domestically as well.

[Democrats_win]

120. Those who dislike Clinton represent 0.00000000001% of earth's intelligence

(Obviously, they represent a larger portion of the earth's population)

No insult meant to DU members, just the repukes.

[Greyhound]

117. Sorry, no admiration here. He was/is a republican in Democrat clothes. n/t

[blondeatlast]

132. Respectfully disagree with that one. I didn't really care for him

much at all.

He lost points with me whn he wasn't upfront about his relationshi[p with Monica. Had he just come out with the truth, he would have gained respect from me, who voted for a primary opponent both times.

[Hissyspit]

5. What do you mean by "universally?" You mean everyone in the universe?

You mean by freepers AND animal-rights activists? Illegal aliens AND aliens?

[Mr_Spock]

6. This is DU - we don't like any Democrats universally

I don't know why we are so hard on our own people. Should they be sleazy liars like the Repukes - would that help?

[Lecky]

85. Do DU'ers even like Democrats?

/snark

:evilgrin:

[Mr_Spock]

115. Honestly, I'm not sure sometimes.

I'm not sure you could even get a majority to agree on support of any of the more highly visible Dems here.

[aint_no_life_nowhere]

7. John Glenn?

[katmondoo]

10. Al Gore?

[TomClash]

9. FDR

[Zomby Woof]

45. Not even him

Some of us do not admire him all that much.

Internment of Japanese-Americans.

Not supporting anti-lynching legislation.

Attempting to pack the Supreme Court.


Widely admired, yes. Not universally.

[rosesaylavee]

11. John Conyers n/t

[rosesaylavee]

13. Russ Feingold

[bigwillq]

44. I don't admire Russ anymore.

:-(

[DURHAM D]

47. Have not admired him since he took to his moral highground

during Clinton impeachment.

[laureloak]

64. John Edwards

[AndreaCG]

66. Fuck Russ

Even sometime DINO FeinSTEIN knew enough to vote against Roberts.

[Lecky]

88. Feingold is one of our most liberal Dem leaders...dayum!

I hold him in the highest respect but I don't think he is universally well-known enough to be mentioned.

He has potential...

[WI_DEM]

12. I think Carter to a certain extent is

if you look at public opinion polls he certainly is very admired by many for his good works.

[DURHAM D]

48. I think Carter was a better Post-President then President. eom

[JimmyJazz]

108. I am not an admirer of the Carter administration, but I admire

Jimmy Carter for his post-presidential work.

[Nitrogenica]

14. Well when Bill Clinton travels the world he draws huge crowds.

He has a history of drawing an enthusiastic audience, for some reason. I think we can overcome the current ugly face our country has been given, because the true majority of our Country are people who are not evil greedy folks.

[Rowdyboy]

15. Eleanor Roosevelt

I've yet to hear anyone here dare smear her name and work.

[connecticut yankee]

20. She's my favorite

But the Repukes had some very unkind words about her when FDR was President.

[Rowdyboy]

52. Universally admired by people of conscience and intelligence......

[DURHAM D]

51. Every Repug over 65 hates her and I mean hates her for some

reason, staring with my family. I, however, totally admire her and the other night at a dinner party the question was asked "Name three dead people that you would like to have dinner with?" Instantly I responded - Eleanor Roosevelt. Everyone else present was 30 or younger and just looked at me with a blank face.

[Rowdyboy]

57. My partners father hated her with a passion, and (according to stories)

loved to rant in nasty terms about her!

[DURHAM D]

59. I grew up not realizing her name was not Mrs. Hoozavelt until

the 5th grade and yes, the comments were ugly, ugly, ugly. Esp. by the women of that generation.

[Hello_Kitty]

102. She was the Hillary Clinton of her time. n/t

[Greyhound]

130. Puleeese, to compare clinton with Eleanor, what are you on? Share? n/t

[Hello_Kitty]

147. Both were attacked viciously by their husband's enemies. n/t

[BlueJac]

16. Abraham, Martin and John

Civil rights....

[SteppingRazor]

18. Abraham was a Republican n/t

[BlueJac]

23. I gave three too........oops

[China_cat]

39. The republican party of Lincoln is what morphed

into the Democratic Party that we used to know.

[rosesaylavee]

17. How about the reverse... what Republican is universally admired?

I don't think there is one. Republican's do bicker a lot about what true Republicanism is - same as us.

[neuvocat]

25. Gerald Ford?

He seems like a decent guy to me.

[rosesaylavee]

27. Liked ok... but admired?

[neuvocat]

30. Oh. Right.

I misread.

[Blue Belle]

19. Mario Cuomo...

I'm still talking about Democrats... :)

[stanwyck]

55. second your choice

whenever I see him on TV, I think, what could have been...if we really elected the best person for the job.
Sigh.

[Drewskie]

21. Kent Conrad

Allan Greenspan goes to this guy for advice.

[prolesunited]

22. To clarify

I mean universally in terms of posters here -- DU representing our universe. Sorry for not being more clear.

[Thtwudbeme]

24. Do they have to be alive?

Because I would choose FD Roosevelt right off the top of my head. Generally credited with helping to win WWII; and whose policies started ending the Depression in the US...although some of those are open to debate.

As for a living Dem, I would have to say John Edwards. He was respected as a Senator, and has not been blamed for the horrible campaign that was run by the Kerry staff.

Stephanie

Senator Sam Ervin: I have never heard anyone say one word about that man that wasn't good.

[Clark2008]

118. The people of North Carolina didn't admire him

I think he would have lost had he run again. Seriously. They called him Senator Gone.

[Thtwudbeme]

123. That's funny; all the people I know in NC love him

some of the hardcore Repukes in Charlotte couldn't stand him, but otherwise I never heard anything bad.

Stephanie

[ultraist]

129. Yes, we do admire John Edwards in NC, very much so

I've never heard anyone call him, "Senator Gore." Edwards would have won his Senatorial seat back by a wide margin.

Your claim is totally unfounded.

Have you an idea what it meant to our state to have one of our own on the National ticket?

Your baseless smear is an old, worn out, Clarkie claim, "he wouldn't have won his Senate seat back." No polls to back it up, no facts to support it...

[CTD]

26. Bill Bradley

We need to draft him for 2008.

[Quixote1818]

63. I know a lot of Republicans who really like Bill Bradley

he would make a great Pres. Candidate! The amazing thing is....he is liberal as hell!

[CTD]

69. Well, I was a Republican until Bradley ran in 2000

Granted I was already VERY moderate. But I switched parties to be able to vote for him in the primaries. Of course he lost. But he really opened my eyes. And I've become increasingly liberal with each passing year since.

His mistake was running in a year where the part had a clear "party" candidate, Gore. He was going to be the nominee. Period. It was foolish to try to overcome that kind of situation.

But for 2008, he'd be great. Especially in light of the backlash we can expect against the right. Bradley is very liberal and he speaks in the right terms for today. He speaks of race and poverty. Of the societal promise of education and healthcare. And he does it with a lot more gravity than John Edwards can muster (and I *really* like Edwards).

[Quixote1818]

73. My good friend is a Republican and when Bradley was running

I was over at their house and his Dad who is a staunch Republican couldn't stop talking about how much he liked Bradley. I remember crystal clear the words he used to describe him "That Bill Bradley is smart as hell!"

[Beaverhausen]

29. Paul Wellstone

[renate]

33. you took my answer!

:)

[SocratesInSpirit]

36. I concur

We need more dems like him. :cry:

[Demmygirl9888]

40. You Got That Right

I still can't believe that it has been almost three years since his plane went down. *cries*

[1932]

31. Barak Obama in IL? What can you say that's bad about Antonio Villaraigosa?

[Adenoid_Hynkel]

32. of the living - jimmy carter probably comes closest

only total nutjobs like bernie goldberg have a major problem with him

obama is pretty strong, too

[DURHAM D]

53. I'm sorry - I have always been an ardent Democrat but I

thought he was an extremely weak President. Actually, he is too nice to be President.

[Zuni]

58. But he is a great human being

he mike have been ineffective as a Chief Executive, but in humanitarianism and other areas he has dwarfed most in his accomplishments

[mandyky]

34. JFK and FDR

Even Bush quotes them at times.

[Zynx]

143. I don't particularly admire JFK.

I am an amateur scholar of presidential history and I do not approve of his general leadership style. I don't think he was a particularly effective president. Above average perhaps, but only because most presidents have been mediocre to poor. FDR I think was the best wartime president we ever had, but he did have his warts. All in all, I think FDR was a truly great president.

[mandyky]

145. Had JFK gone full cycle and been re-elected

he wouldn't have been as popular, granted. He is idealized because he died pure and simple, BUT his speeches were awesome! Ask NOT and all that... JFK was hated in the South.

[Splatter Phoenix]

35. Pobody's Nerfect.

[Demmygirl9888]

41. True

Just because a person isn't perfect, though, does not mean that they cannot be admired universally.

[China_cat]

37. Jimmy Carter

Hands down. His work on poverty spans not just this country but the rest of the world. His views on role of women in society caused him to leave the church he had belonged to his whole life.

The only ones I've ever heard say bad things about him have been republicans.

As for republicans universally admired...possibly Eisenhower.

[cassiepriam]

38. Looks like the repug propaganda has worked quite well...

we don't even like each other anymore.

[Lecky]

131. I still like us :) n/t

[shance]

42. Howard Dean and Al Gore - both widely admired and respected.

n/t

[CTD]

70. On what planet?

Gore's primary campaign in 2000 against Bradley was dispicable. I will never be able to support Gore after the outright lies he used to undermine Bradley. His tactics were as underhanded as anything Rove has ever pulled.

He has redeemed himself somewhat in recent years. But I have not forgotten. He showed himself to be a true political whore back then. And he will have to do a lot to fully redeem himself in my eyes.

[shance]

104. Its "despicable" by the way.

Bradley was sending the cheap shots at every single turn which was just "despicable" as you said.

I would not place my trust in Bradley after his divisive, transparent, cheap tactics. It said more about him than it ever did about Gore.

[philosophie_en_rose]

43. Jesus.

:shrug:

[Beaverhausen]

49. Oh yeah

Jesus would definitely be a Dem!!!

[Democrats_win]

125. Brad Pitt.

Women admire him and the men want to be him.

[smirkymonkey]

142. We do??

Hmm... that's news to me.

[blondeatlast]

133. I'd like to think so, but since prolesunited specified DU only--

hell no!

[berni_mccoy]

46. Define "Universally Admired"

If you mean 100% of the people have generally good feelings toward the individual, I would say that there is no PERSON (let alone democrat) who qualifies.

If you mean get over 50% of the republicans to have generally good feelings toward the individual, I can give you a list.

[WilliamPitt]

50. Name one politician who is universally admired

Not Lincoln, or FDR, or Churchill, or Kennedy, or O'Neill, or Reagan, or any of them.

No one is universally admired.

[OldEurope]

105. Mahatma Gandhi

[WilliamPitt]

106. Mmmm...except for the people who shot him.

[blondeatlast]

134. My hubby is Indian--he could have quite an argument with you.

And hubby is quite the leftie peacenik, too, moreso than I.

[DURHAM D]

54. Harry S. Truman eom

[Shakespeare]

56. Barbara Jordan.

Would that we had 100 of her right about now. :-(

[Sooner75]

82. Amen!!

[tigereye]

122. there you go

I think that it would be hard to find people to complain about her. She epitomized integrity. Many of the folks from those House committees of that time did. I also suspect there were a number of women from that time who were admired for their courage at a time when women politicians were few in number.

OTOH, I still don't think it is fair for folks to denigrate pols/Dems, etc. from the past who made mistakes that were common for their time period, as not being worthy of admiration.

[blondeatlast]

135. YES! nt

[Beware the Beast Man]

60. Me.

:D

[LSdemocrat]

61. Harry Truman

[Quixote1818]

62. John Stewart seems to have appeal across the board. nt

[Cleita]

65. Believe it or not Bill Clinton is revered all over the world

much more so than he ever was here. He actually did a lot to bring peace to former enemies in the international scene although he didn't succeed in the Palestinian/Israel debacle. Most foreigners really think his impeachment was criminal and unwarranted. Of course living on the left coast you meet people from all over the world so you are privy to what they think more so than in other places in the USA.

[Alamom]

86. I agree.

It doesn't take much reading to see his name mentioned admirably by people all over the world.

[Piperay]

67. Jackie Kennedy

I believe is universally admired. :thumbsup:

[prolesunited]

71. She was the wife of a politician

She didn't run for election.

[Blue Belle]

136. She was the wife of a politician...

but she was a Democrat, and she was undeniably universally admired.

[walldude]

72. Henry Waxman...

He's about as close as you can get. Nobody is "universally admired" but Waxman is good with numbers so he earns respect from true conservatives as well as his dem colleagues...

Oh and if we are talking dead or alive here George Washington.

[Laura PourMeADrink]

74. jimmy carter

[nonconformist]

75. I'd have to go with JFK

Seems to be, in my opinion, universally admired and respected.

Then again, maybe not with the hardcore types... but you'd be hard pressed to find anyone EVERYONE admired. All sane people respected JFK, let's put it that way.

[NervousRex]

76. George Washington.

n/t

[understandinglife]

77. Congressman John Conyers. -nt

Peace.

[SunDrop23]

78. SunDrop23

Kidding.

[wisteria]

79. John Kerry!

On a visit to Washington and during a group meeting with Santorum a relative heard him say, that on a recent trip over seas (Pope John Paul's funeral)he traveled with Senator Kerry and when Kerry arrived he was greeted like a rock star.

[Lecky]

80. JFK, Carter...and perhaps Clinton

None of the above are perfect but all seem to be close to being well-admired worldwide.

That said...I bet I could name one Republican who is universally hated :)

[Dob Bole]

81. Anyone who is universally admired, isn't doing his/her job...

for one thing, a person can be hated for simply BEING a him or a her...

[Lex]

84. I agree. The more good you do, the more the repukes hate you.

[Tinksrival]

87. I found this on a search......

For Immediate Release
Date: February 2, 2004

Fifty-Five U.S. Ambassadors And Diplomats Endorse Clark

Little Rock - Fifty-five former U.S. ambassadors and diplomats, women and men who have served in some 36 countries during the last four administrations, believe that Wesley K. Clark is the right choice to lead America at this critical time in the world.

"Serving as representatives of the United States has allowed each of us to meet with world leaders and see what terrific leadership looks like," said Cynthia Schneider, Ambassador to theNetherlands and co-chair of Ambassadors for Clark. "We know that the world is more interconnected than ever before, and so the impact of good and bad leadership impacts Americaand the world more than ever before. Wes Clark appreciates that and ambassadors understand the interconnectedness of the world and the critical need for a new leader to repair and strengthen our global ties."

"I am thrilled by the endorsement of those that have the respect of world leaders on every continent," Wesley Clark said. "They understand the importance of rebuilding America's alliances and restoring our country to a position of leadership based on cooperation and respect."

Ambassadors and Diplomats for Clark grew out of the unique phenomena of the Draft Wesley Clark movement. Not only did Wes Clark receive encouragement to run from thousands of individuals from across the U.S., the letters of support came from people, both U.S. citizens and citizens of many other nations, who understand that Wes Clark is the person we need to lead America at this crucial moment in history. The full list of ambassadors and diplomats is below.

1. Morton Abramowitz, Ambassador to Turkey and Thailand, Assistant Secretary of State
2. Brady Anderson, Ambassador to Tanzania.
3. Christopher Ashby, Ambassador to Uruguay.
4. Jeff Bader, Ambassador to Namibia, Senior Director National Security Agency
5. Robert Barry, Administrator, Agency for International Development; Head, OSCE
6. J.D. Bindenagel, Special Envoy for Holocaust Issues.
7. Donald Blinken, Ambassador to Hungary
8. Amy Bondurant, Ambassador to OECD
9. Avis Bohlen, Ambassador to Bulgaria, Assistant Secretary of State
10. George Bruno, Ambassador to Belize
11. Paul Cejas, Ambassador to Belgium
12. Tim Chorba, Ambassador to Singapore
13. Bonnie Cohen, Under Secretary of State
14. Nancy Ely-Raphel, Ambassador to Slovenia
15. Ralph Earle, Deputy Director of State, Chief U.S. Negotiator, SALT II Treaty
16. Thomas H. Fox, Assistant Administrator, U.S. Agency for International Development
17. Mary Mel French, Chief of Protocol
18. Edward Gabriel, Ambassador to Morocco
19. Richard Gardner, Ambassador to Italy & Spain
20. Robert Gelbard, Ambassador to Indonesia & Bolivia, Assistant Secretary of State
21. Gordon Giffin, Ambassador to Canada
22. Lincoln Gordon, Ambassador to Brazil, Assistant Secretary of State
23. Anthony Harrington, Ambassador to Brazil
24. John Holum, Under Secretary of State
25. William J. Hughes, Ambassador to Panama
26. Swanee Hunt, Ambassador to Austria
27. James Joseph, Ambassador to South Africa
28. Rodney Minott, Ambassador to Sweden
29. John McDonald, Ambassador to the United Nations
30. Stan McLelland, Ambassador to Jamaica
31. Gerald McGowan, Ambassador to Portugal
32. Arthur Mudge, Mission Director for Agency for International Development
33. Lyndon Olson, Ambassador to Sweden
34. Donald Petterson, Ambassador to the Sudan, Tanzania & Somalia
35. Kathryn Proffitt, Ambassador to Malta
36. Edward Romero, Ambassador to Spain & Andorra
37. James Rosapepe, Ambassador to Romania
38. Nancy Rubin, United Nations Commission on Human Rights
39. James Rubin, Assistant Secretary of State
40. David Sandalow, Assistant Secretary of State
41. Howard Schaffer, Ambassador to Bangladesh, Deputy Assistant Secretary of State
42. Teresita Schaffer, Ambassador to Sri Lanka & Maldives
43. David Scheffer, Ambassador at Large for War Crimes
44. Cynthia Schneider, Ambassador to the Netherlands.
45. Derek Shearer, Ambassador to Finland
46. Richard Schifter, Assistant Secretary of State
47. Thomas Siebert, Ambassador to Sweden
48. Richard Sklar, Ambassador to the United Nations
49. Peter Tarnoff, Under Secretary of State
50. Peter Tufo, Ambassador to Hungary
51. Arturo Valenzuela, Senior Director, National Security Council
52. William Walker, Ambassador to El Salvador & Argentina, Head, Kosovo VerificationMission
53. Vernon Weaver, Ambassador to the European Union
54. Phoebe L. Yang, Special Coordinator for China Rule of Law, State Department
55. Andrew Young, Ambassador to the United Nations

[Tinksrival]

89. I found this research on Buzzflash:

http://www.wesleyclark.h1.ru/awards.htm

It's too huge to post in it's entirety but a great research job!

<snip>

INTRO:
General Wesley K. Clark USA (ret.) is the nation's most highly decorated officer since Dwight Eisenhower. Among his military decorations are the Defense Distinguished Service Medal (five awards); Distinguished Service Medal (two awards); Silver Star, Legion of Merit (four awards); Bronze Star Medal (two awards); Purple Heart; Meritorious Service Medal (two awards); Army Commendation Medal (two awards); NATO Medal for Service with NATO on Operations in Relation to Kosovo, NATO Medal for Service with NATO on Operations in Relation to the Former Republic of Yugoslavia, Legacy of Leadership and Lady Liberty(TM) Award.

His Foreign awards include the Honorary Knight Commander of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (United Kingdom); Commander of the Legion of Honor (France); Grand Cross of the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany; Knight Grand Cross in the Order of Orange-Nassau, with Swords (Netherlands); Grand Officer of the Order of Merit of the Republic of Italy; Grand Cross of the Medal of Military Merit (Portugal); The Commander's Cross with Star of the Order of Merit of Republic of Poland; Grand Officer of the Order of Merit of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg; Grand Medal of Military Merit (White Band) (Spain); The Grand Cordon of the Order of Leopold (Belgium); Cross of Merit of the Minister of Defense First Class (Czech Republic); Order of Merit of the Hungarian Republic; Commander's Cross, The Silver Order of Freedom of the Republic of Slovenia; Madarski Konnik Medal (Bulgaria); Commemorative Medal of the Minister of Defense of the Slovak Republic First Class (Slovakia); First Class Order of Lithuanian Grand Duke Gediminas (Lithuania); Order of the Cross of the Eagle (Estonia); The Skandeberg Medal (Albania); Order of Merit of Morocco; Order of Merit of Argentina; The Grade of Prince Butmir w/Ribbon and Star (Croatia) and the Military Service Cross of Canada.

(Central Europe Sep. 8, 2000, U.S. State Department Oct. 2, 1999, http://Individual.com)

More details on who and when awarded Gen. Wesley K. Clark, here below:

http://www.wesleyclark.h1.ru/awards.htm

[Tinksrival]

93. Wes Clark

Is probably more well known in Europe than in his own country!
We can thank the media for that!

[FrenchieCat]

100. Fucked up media...you've got that right!

It's ok.....cause this too shall pass, if I have anything to do with it!

Carter and Clinton...Universally admired in the larger universe.

Only Carter, Conyers and Boxer in the DU universe, I'd guess.

[Martin Eden]

90. Washington is the ONLY president who comes close

to being universally admired by the left AND the right. (I'm not limiting my list to Democrats) Jefferson would be second, but the Sally Hemmings revelations diminished him somewhat in the eyes of African Americans. John Adams created the infamous Sedition Act.

Andrew Jackson robbed the Cherokee and sent them on the Trail of Tears.
Lincoln is still reviled in much of the South.
Teddy Roosevelt's reforms angered the right, and he was an imperialist.
Wilson failed at Versailles and with the League of Nations.
FDR is anethema to conservatives.
JKF was more promiscuous than Clinton.

Wellstone can be safely admired because he's dead, but if alive the wingnuts would attack him mercilessly if he was the vocal critic we know he'd be.

[Lecky]

92. Maybe domestically but universally?

[Martin Eden]

139. Domestic is part of the universe.

If it's not universal domestically, then it's not universal.

[insane_cratic_gal]

91. Willy Nelson?

:P

Hey you never said he had to be a politician

[JaneQPublic]

94. Will Rogers. He's the one who said...

"I am not a member of any organized political party. I am a democrat."

He also said...

"This country has come to feel the same when Congress is in session as when the baby gets hold of a hammer."

[jayctravis]

95. John Conyers?

He has done know wrong I know of, and he seems to be completely off the radar for the right wing. Probably the worst would be, "Left wing...gnrrr! Delivering that letter! Baaah!"

[Endangered Specie]

96. Jimmy Carter

[CAG]

97. Daniel Moynihan, may he RIP... nt

[Meatwad]

98. Now or then?

Because I'm going to say Paul Wellstone.

No need to explain.

[genieroze]

99. Rev. Billy Graham

"Couric: I read, though, that you're a Democrat. Is that true?

Graham: Yes. I am."

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/8326362/

[prairierose]

101. I heard George McGovern speak on Sunday...

about his new book which details his plan to end world hunger. He has been working at this project since 1962. He introduced legislation in this country that began the school lunch program here.

I can remember being in school as a kid, before that program began, and seeing kids who did not have any lunch at school. The milk program was the only ting there was in the early '60s and even that had to be paid for but it was at a reduced cost. There were kids in my classes who couldn't afford that.

Today, every kid that can't afford school lunch can get it through the school. So they get at least one decent meal a day. Many schools also have breakfast programs now which are an extension of the lunch program.

The program that the Senator is advocating & has advocated through the UN for many years is a global extension of what we think of as our school lunch program. He was explaining that studies show that in countries where they have started pilot programs, school attendance goes up. Families know that their children will get at least one good meal a day. They are also starting pilot programs to extend what we think of as WIC programs along with the school lunch programs, providing staple foods for the family.

Where girls can go to school and go through at least the first 6 years of school, the birth rate drops from 6 to 2.3. So this program also tangentially affects birth rate in areas where the program is in effect.

This is a significant part of what the UN is trying to do with ending poverty in the world...the program the bushites are trying to kill.

Of course, I have to admit that I am prejudiced in favor of McGovern. He was my Senator for a good chunk of my life. I first met him when I was about 10. I campaigned with him in 1980, the year he lost his Senate seat. I never heard him say anything negative about anyone. He was and is a truly nice man who cares about people. And he looks absolutely great for a man of 83, still strong and ready to travel and speak about this issue of world hunger that he has been so involved with for so long.

[gauguin57]

111. I'll agree with you on McGovern.

Carter and McGovern.

[johnaries]

103. Ghandi. Oh, wait - some people actually criticize him!

No individual will ever be "universally admired".

Just my way of saying, "your question is pretty much, well, trying to be diplomatic about it...., STUPID! Not that I am saying that YOU are stupid, but there is no denying that the question you asked is stupid and would be stupid no matter who asked it."

No, there will never be anyone who is "universally admired", Democrat or otherwise.

[prolesunited]

107. Calling the question stupid is diplomatic?

When I saw the original post wasn't clear enough, I did clarify it by noting that the "universe" was abstractly defined as our universe of DU posters, which some may have missed if they didn't read the thread. I apologize.

But, as far as the "stupid question" question goes, my whole point was that we are not a monolithic force and no one voice speaks for us or defines us. For every person someone cites, another will have a reason why there were not progressive or moderate or too conservative on such and such an issue.

I tried to do it in a way that it might turn on the light bulb for some.

We've always disagreed around here, but the tone has gotten much uglier, as your post so aptly demonstrates, and there were not all of the demands to fall into lockstep thinking.

You are right. No individual will be universally admired, even if that universe is the narrow confines of DU.

Whether we're looking at candidates, or issues, no one is going to pass the purity test because everyone's view on purity differs.

I always thought we saw the world in shades of gray, anyway.

[norml]

109. Because of the activities of the right wing media, none.

The only Democrats these right wing media whores would like are the ones who've turned traitor on us.

[laureloak]

110. JOHN EDWARDS

[TWiley]

112. Ignore the 30% who are die hard bush supporters.

And you wind up with Jennifer Granholm, Governor of Michigan.

[dback]

113. Two reps: Pete Defazio (OR) and Zoe Lofgren (CA)

Both have pretty sterling reputations. Also Sen. Patty Murray (WA).

[Blue Belle]

138. Pete DeFazio is my rep...

and he's spectacular. :)

[GOPAgainstGW]

116. ZORRO!

[goodhue]

119. universally admired by whom?

all human beings?
all us citizens?
all democrats?

FDR comes closest I think, but certainly not admired by right-wing fascists.

[bunkerbuster1]

121. JFK is the safest.

I think it's impossible to name anyone, anywhere, who's universally admired, but other than the marital infidelities, most people will find something admirable in JFK. Some of the glow of Camelot still shines.

RWers look to him and see a tax-cutter who was a stalwart anti-Communist, about as far from being a "bleeding heart" as you can be.

We look to him and see a man who was pretty enlightend, who would've gone on to do great things (and probably pull us the hell out of Vietnam) had he lived and served a second term.

We idealize him and his era. So, that'd be my choice.

[pox americana]

146. don't forget Jackie

also admired, by some anyway...

[Kailassa]

124. Cindy Sheehan

People in other countries are looking at what she's doing and realising there may be hope for America yet.

[LeftyMom]

126. Jimmy Carter

Even the people who disagree with him seem to treat him with respect and some degree of admiration since he's such a genuinely nice man.

[WA98296]

127. Aaron Broussard -- A democrat not afraid to speak the truth--Ought to run

For a national seat in Congress or the Senate, or perhaps Governor of LA. I think he's got some "political capital" going for him. I'd love to hear more from him.

[CornField]

128. Eleanor Roosevelt

If she isn't, she should be.

[txaslftist]

137. Thomas Jefferson?

oh yeah.. that whole slavery thing...

nevermind.

[OneNation]

140. Grover Cleveland

President Cleveland was so universally admired that they named a city after him. And when is the last time you heard anyone say anything bad about President Cleveland?

Just kidding.

I would have to go with JFK, although the right wing in this country hated him and smeared his name with unproven gossip.

[Zynx]

144. Cleveland was conservative, but highly principled.

There's no reason to kid there. Sure, he did not respond particularly effectively to the Depression of 1893 because he felt it was not government's place, but that was the feeling of the time. He was, however, a very principled person who struggled mightily to keep government clean and honest.

[GOPAgainstGW]

141. Larry Flynt! - LF the Rep Killer for Prez in '08!

[SaveElmer]

148. Jackie Robinson...

Was Republican, switched because of Nixon's treatment of MLK! Was a big supporter of Humphrey in 1968!!!