My Favorite Presidents (not who you might think)

If I were given the tools and opportunity and skills and equipment and space and time and etc to craft my own Mt Rushmore of American Presidents it would be as follows:

Thomas Jefferson

                                                            

Andrew Jackson

Teddy Roosevelt

Ronald Reagan

Interesting group right? They have some obvious similarities, they're all white, dead, American politicians. But even more so, all four had a particular approach to governing the country. They emphasized freedom domestically while parading American culture abroad.

            Thomas Jefferson makes sense right? Father of the Constitution. Author of many a good quote about freedom, ("When the people fear the government, there is tyranny. When the government fears the people, there is liberty.") But he also had a low view of the central, federal system. He believed in the power of democracy. His presidency was a bit reactionary from the Federalists Adams and Hamilton, but it was essential to the progress of the nation. He fought Hamilton's bank to his dying day and my next hero dealt the killing blow (not Aaron Burr). The power of the President was an extension of America's power abroad not domestically. I think we have a pretty powerful President right now, but here at home. NOT how I think it should be.

            Andrew Jackson?!?!?!? You ask incredulously, as my dad often does when I mention this affinity of mine for the old General.Yes, Old Hickory himself. Consider the momentous occasions in his presidency, all face-offs with various other members of the administration. He threatened to hang his VP, a personal hero, John C Calhoun. He virtually ignored the most prestigious Supreme Court Justice in the History of the United States, John Marshall. He un-chartered the US Bank. He signed the Indian-relocation act. He hand-picked his successor, Martin Van Buren. Other than that last one, He rocked. THE INDIAN RELOCATION ACT!!!!!????!!!! You scream in disgust. Well, yes actually. See, I believe the Indians were a conquered people group, much like the Mexicans living in Texas. I don't see many people railing on the Texans for moving the Mexicans out. Even if you are in that tiny little minority, do you think it was unjust for Israel to occupy the West Bank? Do you think it was unjust for the French to occupy Normandy? Do you think it was unjust for William to occupy London? Do you think the French or the Germans should have Alsace-Lorrain? The person who won the fight makes the rules. The Indians were treated horribly on the trail of tears (I'm actually 1/25 Cherokee) and I am not rubber stamping that with approval. However, Jackson did not march the trail of tears, he just signed a Bill and was acting in the best interests of the United States. If the Cherokee had acted in the best interests of the Cherokee, things would have worked out better for everybody. In my, not-so-popular, opinion. He acted as a symbol of power to the outside world.

            Teddy! The sailing of the Great White Fleet is a high mark in American History. Was quoted as saying "In my own judgement the most important service that I rendered to peace was the voyage of the battle-fleet around the world." If you don't believe that, you've bought into the liberal, wishy-washy, tolerant agenda. (How'd that sound, convincing?) He is the shakiest member of my quad-some as he liked absconding American territory for natural conservation, which isn't ideal. But He, like the others, was a symbol of power around the globe. He negotiated a boat-load of treaties, not the least of which included the end of the Russo-Japanese War and the conclusion of the Moroccan Affair. Had he been around during any of the major international conflicts, the United States would have been at the fore-front of solving the issue (more so than we already were). Something I think any country should aspire to. If a people group is serious about peace, they have to be serious about war. (That's my own, pretty cool right?).

           Finally, Mr Reagan. His excellent domestic economic policies aside. Ronald, with some help from Pope JP II and the natural results of a bad economic system, defeated Communism. 'Nuff said.

Runners up include: George Washington, Bill Clinton (ask me), FDR and John Tyler.

Next time the 4 worstest ever.

Doubleheader for the Bravos in Colorado today - in the words of the great Mr. Cub "What a great day for a baseball game, let's play two."