Nathan Tyree: courage
Abraham Lincoln, a junior senator from Illinois, is remembered as the greatest of all presidents. It was his courage to stand for the right instead of taking a safe position based on the politically expedient that made him great. Bravery is what we are talking about here. It is, by the way, interesting to note that Lincoln was probably the least experienced man to serve as president. He spent a few years in the Illinois legislature, then a couple of years in the United States senate before becoming President.
John F. Kennedy was possibly the most beloved president of the twentieth century (FDR comes close in the estimation of many people). JFK rose to his position because of his ability for stirring oratory and his talent for raising people’s hopes. When Kennedy proclaimed that we would “go to the moon and do the other things, not because they are easy but because they are hard†he was making a promise that many would have labeled as ‘false hope’ raising. And yet, he had the audacity to say it and make it a reality.
Franklin Roosevelt took charge of a nation in crises. He forced a series of socialist programs through a congress that was terrified of the very idea because it was the only way to save a floundering country. He swayed and led a populace with his astounding speeches (including lines that were sometimes cribbed from others: like the nothing to fear but fear riff).
Those who have been the bests presidents were not those with the most experience. In fact, other being vice president, I'm not certain that one can amass any experience that is relevant to the office of the presidency. Rather, the best presidents have courage and the ability to inspire. This year there is only one candidate that fits that bill.
Obama inspires. There is no question about this. Just listen to him speak. Obama is courageous. He is the only one of the candidates who had the cajones to stand up against a popular war simply because it was wrong.
Hillary and McCain have both shown that they are interested mostly in the politically expedient. Our choice is clear.
Abraham Lincoln, a junior senator from Illinois, is remembered as the greatest of all presidents. It was his courage to stand for the right instead of taking a safe position based on the politically expedient that made him great. Bravery is what we are talking about here. It is, by the way, interesting to note that Lincoln was probably the least experienced man to serve as president. He spent a few years in the Illinois legislature, then a couple of years in the United States senate before becoming President.
John F. Kennedy was possibly the most beloved president of the twentieth century (FDR comes close in the estimation of many people). JFK rose to his position because of his ability for stirring oratory and his talent for raising people’s hopes. When Kennedy proclaimed that we would “go to the moon and do the other things, not because they are easy but because they are hard†he was making a promise that many would have labeled as ‘false hope’ raising. And yet, he had the audacity to say it and make it a reality.
Franklin Roosevelt took charge of a nation in crises. He forced a series of socialist programs through a congress that was terrified of the very idea because it was the only way to save a floundering country. He swayed and led a populace with his astounding speeches (including lines that were sometimes cribbed from others: like the nothing to fear but fear riff).
Those who have been the bests presidents were not those with the most experience. In fact, other being vice president, I'm not certain that one can amass any experience that is relevant to the office of the presidency. Rather, the best presidents have courage and the ability to inspire. This year there is only one candidate that fits that bill.
Obama inspires. There is no question about this. Just listen to him speak. Obama is courageous. He is the only one of the candidates who had the cajones to stand up against a popular war simply because it was wrong.
Hillary and McCain have both shown that they are interested mostly in the politically expedient. Our choice is clear.
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As for current politics, Obama does inspire. He, like Reagan, says that America can be doing better. Unlike Reagan who promised to get government out of our way, Obama seems to think the Government should be doing more for us via publicly funded programs.
From an economical point of view, that worries me. For the reasons why, one only has to look at FDR.
I wish we had a JFK for which to vote. If you think that Obama is Kennedy-esque, my only resort will be to paraphrase Lloyd Bentsen.