the most popular leader of your country ever?

1. 61

   pisean282311posted 14 years ago

   who is most popular leader of your country?

   replyreport
   1. 56

      leebertteaposted 14 years agoin reply to this

      Which country is that? Oops I see...the poster's country! I have to say it's probably George Washington, the first president of the USA.

      replyreport
      1. 61

         pisean282311posted 14 years agoin reply to this

         your country..the country which you belong to...

         replyreport
   2. 72

      seanorjohnposted 14 years agoin reply to this

      Winston churchill was probably the most popular leader in England.  However, he was shocked to lose the 1945 election despite his personal popularity.If he had switched to the Labour party he would have been elected on a landslide.(He had switched parties before.)

      replyreport
2. 0

   ralwusposted 14 years ago

   I tend to think Lincoln may be number one, but Washington could be as well.

   replyreport
   1. 56

      leebertteaposted 14 years agoin reply to this

      The sad fact is that we are reaching back more than 140 years in the case of Lincoln, and over 200 years in the case of Washington for our country's heroes!
      
      Where are the men of principle today, the true leaders, those reluctant to serve and who do so out of a sense of necessity rather than a sense of greed, and a thirst for wealth and power?
      
      The truth is they don't exist and government itself has become obsolete and of little value to the common man.

      replyreport
      1. 76

         Shadesbreathposted 14 years agoin reply to this

         I'm with you on Washington.  They would have made him King if he'd taken it.
         
         And the men who reluctantly serve don't serve.  All our politicians now WANT to be politicians, which is the worst kind.  The original intent was to take people with vision and ambition and intellect and get them to do a bit of time in service to the country that allowed them to succeed by the use of those qualities. 
         
         Anyone who wants to be in politics is someone motivated to be powerful and influential. That's not a good place to start if we're looking for men of principle rather than serving out of greed, etc. as you said.  Our system does nothing to promote or encourage service from the likes of Washington and Lincoln anymore.

         replyreport
      2. 60

         Ron Montgomeryposted 14 years agoin reply to this

         Neither Washington nor Lincoln would have fared well in today's 24 hour news cycle.  Washington would have been denounced as a tyrant by the teabaggers for his handling of the whiskey rebellion.
         
         The need for a strong, competent government is MORE not LESS self evident today than in any other era.  The robber barons are more powerful than ever, and some counter acting force needs to be in place to protect the populace.  The myth of a self-regulating free market economy is no longer believed by rational people.

         replyreport
      3. 81

         manlypoetrymanposted 14 years agoin reply to this

         "Here, here"...I second that.

         replyreport
         1. 65

            Greek Oneposted 14 years agoin reply to this

            aren't you forgetting...
            
            
            

            replyreport
            1. 81

               manlypoetrymanposted 14 years agoin reply to this

               Yes..I am deff forgetting that one! (and a whole lot more!)

               replyreport
            2. 81

               manlypoetrymanposted 14 years agoin reply to this

               And...his legacy is for "forgetting" how to spell potatoe...!

               replyreport
               1. 0

                  ryankettposted 14 years agoin reply to this

                  Potato?
                  
                  Who is he? Out of interest?

                  replyreport
                  1. 81

                     manlypoetrymanposted 14 years agoin reply to this

                     Dan Quayle...and i might have misspelled his name...kind'a ironic. But he was a V.P. under Bush 1. Not that that would qualify you as a great leader by any means...but the Greek one is very entertaining and inventive!

                     replyreport
            3. 61

               pisean282311posted 14 years agoin reply to this

               

               replyreport
   2. 85

      rebekahELLEposted 14 years agoin reply to this

      I would say Lincoln.
      
      I think one reason we stretch back so far is simply because of historical preservation. we have so many historical records, books, shows that go back and tell us their importance.

      replyreport
3. 60

   SomewayOuttaHereposted 14 years ago

   There are a few throughout history.  Pierre Elliott Trudeau was Prime Minister twice however.  He stands out for me because of how some really, really liked him and others hated him.  He was quite the charmer; gentleman; a scholar.  He married a very young 'flower child' and she went on to eventually party with the Rolling Stones while he was PM - LOL! ...flipped the finger at a group of protestors...he was quite the character.  When he died his flower child was by his side...even though they had been divorced for many years.

   replyreport
   1. 60

      SomewayOuttaHereposted 14 years agoin reply to this

      and of course he did make a difference while leader in Canada - was anti-separatist (Quebec vs Canada) and worked hard to keep the country together.
      
      Did a piourette behind the back of the Queen of England LOL!  and he was not politically correct.....

      replyreport
      1. 81

         timorousposted 14 years agoin reply to this

         Yes..after becoming particularly agitated, he once told the opposition leader in the House of Commons to f*** off.  The press at the time had a field day, but referred to the phrase as "fuddle-duddle".  This was the 70's after all.
         He was a character, a charismatic one, and very smart statesman.  Love him or hate him, he definitely put Canada on the map.

         replyreport
4. 65

   Greek Oneposted 14 years ago

   My favorite Prime Minister was Pierre Trudeau....
   
   
   
   but my favorite "leader" was Mike Palmateer.  Palmateer wasnt a statesman per say, but he was a great Canadian as he held the most important job in the nation... goaltender for the Toronto Maple Leafs
   
   

   replyreport
   1. 81

      timorousposted 14 years agoin reply to this

      Well, ok...if you're gonna go there, you could have a great goalie and a statesman all rolled into one with none other than Ken Dryden.  [No offense Greek One...I've been a hapless Leafs fan too, and no particular favouritism for the Canadiens].

      replyreport
      1. 65

         Greek Oneposted 14 years agoin reply to this

         Dryden was a just a good Leafs president. not a great one

         replyreport
         1. 81

            timorousposted 14 years agoin reply to this

            I was referring to his previous stint as a government senator, actually.
            
            Enough of this thread hi-jacking anyways, let's drop it.

            replyreport
5. 59

   Originposted 14 years ago

   I'd probably say George Washington too.

   replyreport
6. 0

   woolman60posted 14 years ago

   John Fitzgerald Kennedy
   
   
   Term: 35th President of the United States (1961-1963)
   Born: May 29, 1917, Brookline, MA
   Nickname: "JFK," "Jack"
   Education: Harvard College (graduated 1940)
   Religion: Roman Catholic
   Marriage: Jacqueline Lee Bouvier (1929-1994), September 12, 1953
   Children: Caroline Bouvier (1957- ); John Fitzgerald, Jr. (1960-1999); Patrick Bouvier (1963)
   Career: Author, U.S. Navy Officer, Journalist, Public Official
   Political Party: Democrat
   Writings: Why England Slept (1940); Profiles in Courage (1956)
   Died: Nov. 22, 1963, Dallas, TX
   Buried: Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington, VA

   replyreport
7. 61

   KKalmesposted 14 years ago

   My choice, hands-down, is President Obama... Many Americans, me included, were immediately attracted to his calm demeanor, his eloquence, his humor, and his charisma. A natural born leader without the swagger or ego of other men in power. President Barack Obama is a great man and great leader reflecting a healthy self-esteem combined with the intellect and resources to lead and challenge others around him. He welcomes debate and discussion, always willing to hear new ideas and others' opinions with respect and encouragement.
   
   Obama, a Democrat, has emerged as the paragon of personal virtue and family values, and even Republicans see it as a source of political strength. GOP strategist Matthew Dowd says serving as a role model is "a big part of the job" of president. Dowd notes that Americans "want to have pride" in their leader and that Obama is performing well on that score.
   
   I loved the Kennedy's, but President Obama has all the qualities required of a man to be a great leader... history will bear this out.

   replyreport
   1. 0

      ryankettposted 14 years agoin reply to this

      Yeah he was popular in the UK too until recently, he seems to really want to hammer the final nail into the coffin of BP... that isn't going to much for our country, or our pensions. Having said that, it won't do much for the US either - considering there are 2.4 times more American employees than British.

      replyreport
      1. 0

         woolman60posted 14 years agoin reply to this

         How many times to we have to save the UK?
         This is a company's fault and problem, and a company that does not care about who or what it has done to the worlds environment, wild life or human life.
         
         Please stop, with the Obama and the Americans are picking on us, put the blame where it belongs, not on a country but on a company.

         replyreport
   2. 82

      Rafiniposted 14 years agoin reply to this

      It's too early to tell with Obama.  I agree he has the makings of a great or popular leader, but will he come through?

      replyreport
      1. 61

         KKalmesposted 14 years agoin reply to this

         He will... I have absolutely no doubt of this!

         replyreport
8. 61

   TMMasonposted 14 years ago

   Abraham Lincoln/George Washington
   
   
   
   Obama, on the other hand, represents the worst this country has to offer for leader-ship. It is a sad state of affairs when a man who is so utterly incompetent for the job, is elected because of his color.
   
   A shame...

   replyreport
   1. 65

      Greek Oneposted 14 years agoin reply to this

      oh the things that were said about Lincolm up until the time he was shot!

      replyreport
   2. 61

      KKalmesposted 14 years agoin reply to this

      That is an odd opinion (without merit I might add) for someone who pictures himself as a dog with his nose up the @#$$ of another dog... maybe a fresh perspective is in order.

      replyreport
      1. 61

         Doug Hughesposted 14 years agoin reply to this

         It's hard to get a fresh perspective when all you can see is...

         replyreport
9. 0

   ryankettposted 14 years ago

   

   replyreport
10. 82

    Rafiniposted 14 years ago

    I would say JFK - but for the wrong reasons....

    replyreport
    1. 81

       manlypoetrymanposted 14 years agoin reply to this

       I think JFK may have done things that helped the  U.S. that will never be fully revealed...myself.

       replyreport
    2. 0

       ryankettposted 14 years agoin reply to this

       Because he was good looking?

       replyreport
       1. 82

          Rafiniposted 14 years agoin reply to this

          yeah, and charming, charismatic, rich....(remember Camelot?)

          replyreport
       2. 0

          woolman60posted 14 years agoin reply to this

          try learning a little bit about our presidents, here are a few things of importance,
          
          
          Domestic Policy
          
          Kennedy had a tough time getting many of his domestic programs through Congress. However, he did get an increased minimum wage, better Social Security benefits, and an urban renewal package passed. He created the Peace Corps, and his goal to get to the moon by the end of the 60's found overwhelming support.
          On the Civil Rights front, Kennedy initially did not challenge Southern Democrats. Martin Luther King, Jr. believed that only by breaking unjust laws and accepting the consequences could African Americans show the true nature of their treatment. The press reported daily on the atrocities occurring due to nonviolent protest and civil disobedience. Kennedy used executive orders and personal appeals to aid the movement. His legislative programs, however, would not pass until after his death.

          replyreport
11. 61

    Doug Hughesposted 14 years ago

    I have to say FDR.  He took over in the Great Depression, faced a banking crises in his opening days, aggresively pursued programs for the people. He was the longest-serving president ever, an indication of his popularity. As a wartime president, he marshalled the full economic and military force of the country. (For my foreign frinds, I  am NOT suggestiong America 'won' the war - but our participation under FDR as a true partnership turned the tide in the Great War.)
    
    FDR died before the end of WWII. But the decades that followed were the most prosperous ever for the middle class due in no small way to the decisions he made in the 12 tough years which preceeded those golden years.

    replyreport
12. 61

    ediggityposted 14 years ago

    FDR
    
    “the only thing we have to fear is fear itself.”

    replyreport