The Election Of The Greatest Con-Man In Recent History

[SirJosephPorter]

Didn't bother us one bit. Anything he did, he did well and totally supported those maintaining our peace. His people were happy.

His people may have been happy, but his presidency was light on accomplishment, heavy on rhetoric.

It is presidencies like Lyndon Johnson which influence the course of history, which cause a paradigm shift in the society, and hence are very instrumental in societal change. Presidencies like Reagan do not matter in the long run; presidencies like Johnson or FDR mark the pivotal points in American history.

 

[ironsides]

Obama is like Reagan when it comes to communicating, connecting with people. Let us just hope that he is better than Reagan at actually getting things done.

Indeed, I remember in the last two years of his presidency, Reagan achieved absolutely nothing (except the stock market crash). House and Senate Democrats ate him for lunch; they overrode so many of Reagan’s vetoes that it must be some kind of record. And since it requires bipartisan support to override the veto (one party cannot do it alone), it was clear that Democrats were able to persuade Republicans to vote against Reagan.

In his last two years, Reagan achieved absolutely nothing. Not that he achieved a whole lot during the other six years either (except make people feel good, of course).

If your saying they influenced something, your right. Johnson just couldn't seem to be able to get us out of the Vietnam quagmire. Actually over time I have come to the conclusion that Truman was better than FDR, not that FDR was bad. I also still think the end of the Cold War was a pivotal point in World history, credited to Reagan no matter who say's otherwise. Wonder how many were killed or injured during it. I know the U.S. goverment a couple of years ago gave all who served during it a certificate of thanks.

 

[Cannuck]

Define peace.

peace

   /pis/ Show Spelled Pronunciation [pees] Show IPA noun, interjection, verb, peaced, peac⋅ing.Use peace in a Sentence

–noun 1. the normal, nonwarring condition of a nation, group of nations, or the world. 2. (often initial capital letter

) an agreement or treaty between warring or antagonistic nations, groups, etc., to end hostilities and abstain from further fighting or antagonism: the Peace of Ryswick. 3. a state of mutual harmony between people or groups, esp. in personal relations: Try to live in peace with your neighbors. 4. the normal freedom from civil commotion and violence of a community; public order and security: He was arrested for being drunk and disturbing the peace. 5. cessation of or freedom from any strife or dissension. 6. freedom of the mind from annoyance, distraction, anxiety, an obsession, etc.; tranquillity; serenity. 7. a state of tranquillity or serenity: May he rest in peace. 8. a state or condition conducive to, proceeding from, or characterized by tranquillity: the peace of a mountain resort. 9. silence; stillness: The cawing of a crow broke the afternoon's peace. 10. (initial capital letter, italics

) a comedy (421 b.c.) by Aristophanes.
–interjection

 

[ironsides]

:lol:

 

[SirJosephPorter]

If your saying they influenced something, your right. Johnson just couldn't seem to be able to get us out of the Vietnam quagmire.

Nixon didn’t get you out of Vietnam in his eight years, so what is your point? By any measure, Johnson’s achievements are stellar, most of the programs; laws he enacted are still around and (now) enjoy bipartisan support.

Civil Rights legislation
Medicare
Medicaid
National Endowment of Arts
Space Program.
War on Poverty

A president would be lucky to enact even one such program, Obama is struggling to get the health care passed (and it is not at all certain that he will get it). Each of the many programs enacted by Johnson were more far reaching, more influential to American society that health care reform.

As for Truman, he was like Reagan, all rhetoric, no achievement, no substance.

 

[darkbeaver]

Johnsons greatest policy accomplishmet was the offing of Kennedy for the bankers.

 

[TenPenny]

peace

   /pis/ Show Spelled Pronunciation [pees] Show IPA noun, interjection, verb, peaced, peac⋅ing.Use peace in a Sentence

–noun 1. the normal, nonwarring condition of a nation, group of nations, or the world. 2. (often initial capital letter

) an agreement or treaty between warring or antagonistic nations, groups, etc., to end hostilities and abstain from further fighting or antagonism: the Peace of Ryswick. 3. a state of mutual harmony between people or groups, esp. in personal relations: Try to live in peace with your neighbors. 4. the normal freedom from civil commotion and violence of a community; public order and security: He was arrested for being drunk and disturbing the peace. 5. cessation of or freedom from any strife or dissension. 6. freedom of the mind from annoyance, distraction, anxiety, an obsession, etc.; tranquillity; serenity. 7. a state of tranquillity or serenity: May he rest in peace. 8. a state or condition conducive to, proceeding from, or characterized by tranquillity: the peace of a mountain resort. 9. silence; stillness: The cawing of a crow broke the afternoon's peace. 10. (initial capital letter, italics

) a comedy (421 b.c.) by Aristophanes.
–interjection

Well then, by your own given definitions, Reagan didn't preside over 8 years of peace.

 

[ironsides]

If your saying they influenced something, your right. Johnson just couldn't seem to be able to get us out of the Vietnam quagmire.

Nixon didn’t get you out of Vietnam in his eight years, so what is your point? By any measure, Johnson’s achievements are stellar, most of the programs; laws he enacted are still around and (now) enjoy bipartisan support.

Civil Rights legislation
Medicare
Medicaid
National Endowment of Arts
Space Program.
War on Poverty

A president would be lucky to enact even one such program, Obama is struggling to get the health care passed (and it is not at all certain that he will get it). Each of the many programs enacted by Johnson were more far reaching, more influential to American society that health care reform.

As for Truman, he was like Reagan, all rhetoric, no achievement, no substance.

Harry Truman was responsible for ending the war with Japan as well as signing the Marshall plan which rebuilt Europe. Getting the Korean war brought to a shaky stalemate. Johnson's end came about because of the Vietnam war. Yes he was responsible for far more plans that influenced American society. Obama has no hope of ever being to the likes of L.B.J.

 

[Cannuck]

Well then, by your own given definitions, Reagan didn't preside over 8 years of peace.

First of all, yes...by my definition he didn't however, by the authors definition he did. That's probably why he wrote what he did.

Secondly, "1. the normal, non warring condition of a nation, group of nations, or the world." ...By that definition, Reagan did preside over 8 years of peace since the US was not at war during his two terms. Do you have a point?

 

[ironsides]

The United States was at peace. The UN on the other hand had its problems.

 

[ironsides]

"Nixon didn’t get you out of Vietnam in his eight years, so what is your point? By any measure, Johnson’s achievements are stellar, most of the programs; laws he enacted are still around and (now) enjoy bipartisan support."

I never compared Johnson with Nixon, still trying to figure out what Nixon did that was not controversial.

 

[SirJosephPorter]

"Nixon didn’t get you out of Vietnam in his eight years, so what is your point? By any measure, Johnson’s achievements are stellar, most of the programs; laws he enacted are still around and (now) enjoy bipartisan support."

I never compared Johnson with Nixon, still trying to figure out what Nixon did that was not controversial.

Nixon’s greatest achievement (and the only one that I can see) was to open up the dialog with China.

 

[SirJosephPorter]

Harry Truman was responsible for ending the war with Japan as well as signing the Marshall plan which rebuilt Europe. Getting the Korean war brought to a shaky stalemate. Johnson's end came about because of the Vietnam war. Yes he was responsible for far more plans that influenced American society. Obama has no hope of ever being to the likes of L.B.J.

I quite agree. Johnson’s accomplishments were numerous, much more than any other president that I can think of. Unfortunately, he was sunk by Vietnam War. At the end of his term, all of his achievements on domestic front didn’t count for anything, he became deeply unpopular because of Vietnam War.

Ironically, because Americans didn’t like the involvement in Vietnam (and didn’t like the fact that Johnson continued the involvement), they elected a president (Nixon) who was much more hawkish than Johnson and got involved into Vietnam to even a greater extent.

 

[ironsides]

Nixon’s greatest achievement (and the only one that I can see) was to open up the dialog with China.

That's about it.

 

[EagleSmack]

Ironically, because Americans didn’t like the involvement in Vietnam (and didn’t like the fact that Johnson continued the involvement), they elected a president (Nixon) who was much more hawkish than Johnson and got involved into Vietnam to even a greater extent.

Wrong again!

 

[SirJosephPorter]

Wrong again!

You are a Republican, EagleSmack, so I can understand you not thinking anything bad of Nixon. However Nixon was much more Hawkish on Vietnam than both Johnson and Humphrey. He expanded Vietnam War, took it to new venues (such as bombing of Hanoi and Hai Phong harbours). He was very enthusiastic about the Vietnam War.

After eight years of maximum effort by Nixon, Ford saw the wisdom of pulling out.

 

[EagleSmack]

You are a Republican, EagleSmack, so I can understand you not thinking anything bad of Nixon. However Nixon was much more Hawkish on Vietnam than both Johnson and Humphrey. He expanded Vietnam War, took it to new venues (such as bombing of Hanoi and Hai Phong harbours). He was very enthusiastic about the Vietnam War.

After eight years of maximum effort by Nixon, Ford saw the wisdom of pulling out.

Wrong again!

"Eight years of maximum effort." Nixon was Pres Jan 1969- Aug 1974. I don't know...I just can't get 8 years out of that.

Nixon withdrew troops. To say he was more Hawkish than Johnson on Vietnam is just plain silly.

 

[TenPenny]

First of all, yes...by my definition he didn't however, by the authors definition he did. That's probably why he wrote what he did.

Secondly, "1. the normal, non warring condition of a nation, group of nations, or the world." ...By that definition, Reagan did preside over 8 years of peace since the US was not at war during his two terms. Do you have a point?

Grenada mean anything to you?

 

[EagleSmack]

We can't forget Libya, or Beruit.

I still liked Reagan.

 

[SirJosephPorter]

Wrong again!

"Eight years of maximum effort." Nixon was Pres Jan 1969- Aug 1974. I don't know...I just can't get 8 years out of that.

Nixon withdrew troops. To say he was more Hawkish than Johnson on Vietnam is just plain silly.

Sorry, I forgot he had to resign in shame.

And i don't remember Nixon withdrawing any troops. I do remember his escalating the war big time by bombing Hanoi and Hai Phong harbours (I was living in USA at that time). I remember the widespread unrest, demonstrations because of Nixon’s heavy involvement in the war.

As I recall, it was Ford who pulled out.