The Right Man Won

[poliphilo]

Well, that's a relief!

I'm not a fan of Obama- I'm not a fan of any politician- but I think the right man won.

I believe this'll be my eleventh American president. I've just counted them on my fingers. My first was Truman. Have I left anyone out?

Truman, Eisenhower, Kennedy, Johnson, Nixon, Ford, Carter, Reagan, Bush, Clinton, Bush. Hang on, That makes Obama the twelfth. So I did miscount. I believe I skipped straight from Kennedy to Nixon. Sorry, LBJ!

There aren't any heroes in that list. By which, I mean anyone I regard as a hero. The one who comes closest is Ike, whom I respect for his speech on the military-industrial complex. And for his war record, obviously.

The only American president who makes my personal pantheon is Abe Lincoln.

The Times recently asked a panel of experts to rate the presidents in order of excellence. Lincoln came top, followed by Washington and FDR. The full list is here. Dubya ties with Nixon at the bottom, above Harrison (who died after catching a chill at his inauguration), Van Buren ( responsible for the genocide of native Americans), Pierce (who mismanaged everything and was disowned by his own party while in office) and Buchanan (worst of the worst, who failed to prevent the Civil War).

Ike comes in at number 6, by the way. He sent troops into Little Rock to enforce the desegregation of schools. He also desegregated the army. I hadn't realised just how radical and forceful a president he was.

Obama comes into office on a great wave of hope. Some of my friends have been disturbed by the messianic tone of his campaign. But "he's not the Messiah, he's just a....." Well, you know the rest.  Remember that he inherits the most god-awful mess: two misbegotten wars, an economic crisis at home and abroad, American prestige more battered and bruised than at any time I can remember.

Don't expect too much of him, folks.

Comments

[poliphilo.livejournal.com]

One of the things that's exciting about the result is that we've entered new territory here. Anything could happen next.

I shouldn't be surprised if future historians don't record this as the day the 21st century really got underway.

[ex-redrain.livejournal.com]

As opposed to Sept. 11, 2001, which seemed to send this country and its policies back into the 1950s.

[poliphilo.livejournal.com]

Exactly.

The USA had the world on its side that day- vast amounts of goodwill- which the Bush administration then proceeded to squander.

[ex-redrain.livejournal.com]

From what I understand, even the extremist groups thought that move was taking things too far.

[poliphilo.livejournal.com]

There were those who saw it as a long desired smack at the Great Satan.

But, broadly, no. There was huge sympathy. Even Bush- who was already despised abroad- got a good press when he stood among the ruins and put his arm round that firefighter.

[ex-redrain.livejournal.com]

I remember that support for Bush dramatically increased here, too, even though one of his messages was to keep going shopping. The panic from the gas supplies being cut off was interesting to watch too.

And suddenly it was "unpatriotic" to criticize him, too. Someone told him what was going on while he sat in an elementary school classroom, and what did he do? He continued sitting.

[poliphilo.livejournal.com]

People were "willing" Bush to measure up to events. They so wanted him to be the inspiring leader he so obviously wasn't.

[ex-redrain.livejournal.com]

I think calling him a "leader" even goes too far. He strikes me more of a puppet than anything.

[poliphilo.livejournal.com]

I'm looking forward to reading the history of the Bush presidency. I'd like to know who was really pulling the strings.

[daisytells.livejournal.com]

By the time the history is written, it will have been re-written, as was that of Ronald Reagan. Sad, but true.

[poliphilo.livejournal.com]

There's a difference. Reagan was well-loved. Bush isn't.

And then again, Reagan was perceived to have won the Cold War, whereas Bush's presidency has piled disaster upon disaster.