Reagan named greatest American

[Jeff In Milwaukee]

In AOL/Discovery Channel poll. What a bunch of friggin' morons.

[ghostsofgiants]

1. You gotta be shitting me

[Jeff In Milwaukee]

13. Put it in a time capsule and open it in 100 years...

Historians will be scratching their heads...This twenty-five year period will be marked as one of the most politically unaccountable eras in American history.

[Arkana]

65. Most likely a second "Gilded Age" for American politics.

[benny05]

32. It's sh***ing my spouse too

Who likes RR, but thinks Lincoln is still the best American.

[greatauntoftriplets]

2. I have only one thing to say....

:puke:

[RPM]

38. add to that:

liberal media my ass.......

[nickgutierrez]

117. And...

:hurts:

[Spinzonner]

3. Boy, that's freepy ...

[Droopy]

4. Did they vote on electronic voting machines?

[greatauntoftriplets]

14. Diebold....

:scared:

[lpbk2713]

98. Where was Katherine Harris when the votes were counted?

Something definitely smells like old fish here.

[Ekirh]

5. WTF?

Someone I saw it coming... but still... what the flying fuck. No way in hell he is the greatest American. Out of all the selections... what a fucking joke.

[minkyboodle]

6. weirdest thing ever

[Renew Deal]

7. I think the whole thing was a dumb thing to do.

How do you judge the "greatest american?" Almost all of these are wonderful people. Why even do something like this?

[Ekirh]

10. A lot of countries have been doing it.

If I remember Canada had theirs at the end of last years (Or maybe it was earlier than that?)

[ghostsofgiants]

29. Yeah, it was in November

And we voted for someone who actually DESERVED it.

[Ekirh]

44. "Nods"

Not aruging with the Canadian Pick... I thought you all did a good job with that pick :)

[minkyboodle]

16. it is the height of stupidity

I've always hated the "great man" theory of history anyway. I think its about the most ridiculous way to study past events, doesn't really teach you anything about the how or why (not to discount peoples achievements but this is an argument I used to have back in college all the time).

[yvr girl]

51. The Canadian Version was great - and educational

The CBC did it. All last summer we could vote on a large list (100 people I think) or nominate our own candidates. By the fall, the list was narrowed down to 10 people. Eight of them were very deserving to be on such a list. (We had two hockey figures as well (Wayne Gretzky told people not to vote for him.))

There was an hour long program about each of the top 10 where an advocate made the case why they should be the Greatest Canadian. There was a huge buzz factor. Everyone was talking about the list, and we could vote each week. The list consisted of 2 scientists, 1 inventor, 2 hockey people, 4 politicians and 1 iconic Canadian hero.

In the final week they had all the advocates making a final pitch for their candidates and engaging in debate.

The CBC also did a great website to go along with the programs and provided downloadable teaching materials for classroom use.

[minkyboodle]

55. well that makes sense

The CBC does great work (The Passionate Eye and the Nature of Things are two of my favorite shows). I still think the whole greatest/ranking thing is a goofy way to view history but at least it sounds like Canada did a better job of it... why does that not suprise me :)

[yvr girl]

63. I was familiar with everyone who made the top 10 in Canada

but I learned something about each one of them. I do understand what you mean. One is really forced to compare apples and oranges.

How do you choose between a Father of Confederation, the person who discovered insulin, the person who gave us our Charter of Rights and Freedoms and an iconic hero?

It was great to hear debate on all of their accomplishments though.

[acmavm]

8. Is this country full of dumbasses or what. The whole world must

giggle when they hear USA or America.

USA? Dumbasses
America? Dumbasses.
They worship the clowns who have done the most to damage their country.

[Mojambo]

9. That's the country we live in for you.

I'm not surprised in the least.

[GiovanniC]

11. Any Contest That Put Oprah in the Same Category as Jefferson

was bound to be this fucked up.

[Redstone]

12. Reagan's the Greatest American. And I am the Queen of Spain.

Redstone

[yvr girl]

15. We did a much better job in Canada

I can't believe Reagan was named greatest American. What about Lincoln, Washington, Jefferson, FDR, Benjamin Franklin - so many else.

[ofrfxsk]

19. Where was Jefferson, Franklin, Lincoln on this list?

Horrible.

[seriousstan]

22. Lincoln was second

[Jeff In Milwaukee]

30. Final Order

Franklin
Washington
King
Lincoln
He Who Must Not Be Named

Can you imagine anybody addle-minded enough to think Ronald Reagan contributed more to America that ANY of the other in the top five? I suppose I could understand Franklin because of historical illiteracy (surprised he made the top five, really). But for Christ's sake, Reagan?

[PittPoliSci]

118. Washington should've won hands down.

There is no man in American history who sacrificed so much for his country. Washington was rich beyond belief and would've done well to see the British remain in power, but he put everything he had made on the line. Shame on anyone who votes for another over Washington.

[Jeff In Milwaukee]

124. I think it was "Miracle at Philadelphia"

A good book on the writing on the Constitution. I always had Washington pegged as a big man, but something of a political lightweight. The book describes a delegate getting somewhat out of line in a heated discussion, then becoming aware that Washington was staring at him. Hard. Tempers got back under control. The book made it sound as though his mere presence in the room was enough to bring several ego's under control. When I get a few spare hours, I definitely want to reado a good bio.

Suggestions?

[Ekirh]

21. Exactly

So many great, historical, influencial choices... and.... ugh.... again I have to use the Internet abbreviation... WTF?

Oh... on a lighter note.. (Self-promotion time) 900 posts :).

[ofrfxsk]

17. Good grief

:puke:

[WhollyHeretic]

18. The jackass is the reason for a lot of the shit we are going through

and people are dumb enough to vote him greatest American. Fucking brain-dead idiots. :grr: :nuke: :grr: :nuke: :grr: :nuke: :grr: :nuke: :grr: :nuke: :grr: :nuke: :grr: :nuke: :grr: :nuke: :grr: :nuke: :grr: :nuke: :grr: :nuke: :grr: :nuke: :grr: :nuke: :grr: :nuke:

[minkyboodle]

27. yep

the story of him taking the fully functional money saving solar panels out that Carter put in rings especially true at this moment given the current energy situation.

[WhollyHeretic]

50. That little story there shows perfectly what an unmitigated

unbelievable asshole he was and led the republican party to become.

[alarimer]

82. And he was a crook

Iran-Contra anyone?? How many laws were broken there? Of course I am sure it was not even mentioned.

[WhollyHeretic]

83. A lot of the mess in Iraq and Afghanistan are his fault

[blackcat77]

20. Contact the Discovery Channel here:

http://extweb.discovery.com/viewerrelations

Right now they seem to be getting a lot of traffic because I can't get through, but I will stick with it to let them know that every single Discovery channel network has been locked off my cable box.

[seriousstan]

26. And tell them what?

It was a vote.

[minkyboodle]

33. tell them this

That the very idea for this program is just about one of the dumbest things I've ever heard. And the fact that they turned it into an american idol style participatory vote (ensuring that basically fanatics and those motivated by chain emails would vote) ensured that they would get whacky goofy results like they have tonight....

[AmandaRuth]

59. Tell them that any channel that would air such a program

as "The Greatest American" and use 2 of the most bile hateful spew chunkers, Miller and Coulter, as judges sure doesn't need our viewership. The very fact that they were selected to be judges tells you all you need to know about Discovery, and what they think of us. They are off my dial.

[minkyboodle]

61. holy shit

coulter was a judge..... amazing I didn't even know that this thing gets more and more weird everything I hear about it

[AmandaRuth]

66. I guess judge is the wrong word

It was an Internet vote, but they had a show where they profiled the final five, and the commentators were Coulter, Miller and get this,,,,,, no wait.....are you ready....... Randy Jackson.

No disrespect intended to Randy Jackson, but they have 2 right wing haters known for political commentary inflammatory to the left, I mean Coulter wants to talk to me with a baseball bat for petes sake and RANDY JACKSON.

I think Discovery just revealed its true feelings about liberals and the Dem party, eh?

[blackcat77]

49. This wasn't supposed to be the most POPULAR American

It was supposed to be the greatest one. That should involve some sort of rational criteria to determine greatness. Washington founded the country. Lincoln fought to re-unite the nation and freed the slaves. Franklin was a genius who gave our nation credibility at the time of it's founding. MLK brought Lincoln's dream to reality.

WTF did Reagan do?? Even his own head cheerleader on that show couldn't seem to come up with an answer other than something about believing in God. Ron Reagan seemed embarrassed by the result.

As the earlier poster said, we've reduced "greatness" to something will all the depth of a teenage crush -- all passion and no brains. I really fear for a county that would do something like this -- they've abandoned all reason.

[minkyboodle]

57. LOL

Ron Jr did seemed to be quite embarassed. I kept waiting for him to say well, I would have probably voted for Lincoln lol

[Liberalynn]

77. It says something

when your own family practically admits they wouldn't have voted for you. ;-)

Didn't Laura Bush say in Oprah Mag once that she admits she didn't vote for George Sr? :evilgrin:

[stevans_41902]

28. I had a really good feeling he would win - can't believe all of the morons

in this country who are convinced he is the best president.

[ghostsofgiants]

35. That'd be great if Discovery actually picked it themselves

It was voted on by their viewers.

[GiovanniC]

56. And That Was the Problem

And Discovery was responsible for that.

Seriously, you put Reagan above Jefferson or Franklin... and you put Oprah and Dr. Phil and MOTHERFUCKING RUSH LIMBAUGH in the same category as the truly great people who really did things that shaped this country for the better for generations... you deserve heaps of criticism even if you excuse it because you set it up like a junior high student council election instead of something with some credibility.

[minkyboodle]

23. all you need to know

Limbaugh on there..... W at number 6. 4 bush people voted on (both prez and wives) and Oprah above FDR... wow I don't know how the hosts of that show can broadcast it with a straight face. Its quite an indictment on those who voted views... I mean cmon give me a fucking break :shrug:

[Ekirh]

24. OPRAH over FDR

You gotta be shitting? Sadly I know your not. I didn't even watch the show... but that really makes the list completely screwed in my eyes.

[PittPoliSci]

119. oh didn't you know?

It's all FDR and his "welfare states'" fault that we're in Iraq right now! DUH!!! Oprah rules FDR. Oprah can draw circles with more than 360 degrees. Oprah is the most intelligent person in the history of the planet, she, and only she knows the real power of Dr. Phil. Oprah gave away FREE CARS!!! FDR only gave out social security! Who needs social security when you've got a FUCKING CAR!?

[Seneca]

25. He is the greatest American...

...gasbag. Fuck that dead clown.

[Jeff In Milwaukee]

31. If I had one wish...

It would be that he were still alive today. I enjoyed his death so much the first time, I'd like to relive that warm, fuzzy moment.

[Liberalynn]

34. Well

we all know how good Freepers are at Rigging Polls. There they go again. :banghead:

When the hell is this conservative swing going to end? I hope it goes back to the liberal side in my lifetime cause this makes me sick to my stomach.

The only things Reagan was good at was being a selfish, stupid, evil puppett.

And not that I have anything against Oprah but no way do I believe that she is a greater Amercian than FDR.

This would make me give up any sort of hope that things can get better in this country and in this world, if I didn't know and accept how easily these polls can be swayed or fixed.

Surprising Paris Hilton wasn't on it, given the obvious lack of knowledge on the participant's part.

[caty]

54. You can bet there

was a plan among the repukes to call in and vote on the internet to make r.r. the winner. The one great thing about America is that there should be no such thing as the "greatest" American. Millions of people made this country great. There are those who stand out because of title, power, and their place in history. But when all is said and done it is "we the people" who are the greatest Americans.:think:

[Liberalynn]

68. Very well

said.

[Mayberry Machiavelli]

36. Was FDR even on their list? Yeah, Reagan was much greater than Abe.

Uhhhh right. :eyes:

[Jeff In Milwaukee]

37. He was in the Top Ten

FDR, Clinton, and GW Bush -- quite a few catcalls when his name was announced.

[barb162]

39. that's downright ridiculous

[Mayberry Machiavelli]

40. ...to poop on!

[Catchawave]

41. Thanks to the media...

...it's the friggin' Q-factor. His week long 24/7 funeral put him above GOD in popularity polls. The guy had dementia during his second term in office for crissakes.

Iran-Contra and cutting and running on the marines after the Beirut Barracks bombing in '83. Geesh.

[Jeff In Milwaukee]

45. To be fair...

The host (I was only listening -- sounded like Matt Lauer) commented that Reagan's recent death may have influenced the polling. Ron Reagan Jr. -- who accepted the award on his father's behalf -- said basically the same thing. The Lincoln spokesperson showed admirable restraint in saying that 100 years from now, Lincoln would still be on the list -- I really think she wanted to say that Lincoln would kick Reagan's ass, but she didn't.

[Liberalynn]

58. One thing

I will say is that I have to admit moments of admiration for the son, no matter how much I loathed what his father did to this country.

[Jeff In Milwaukee]

72. And Nancy has had her moments regarding stem cell...

Who knows? Many it skips a generation. Patti Davis seems to have turned out OK.

[Chichiri]

42. I am AMAZED . . .

. . . that people actually watch the Discovery Channel.

[minkyboodle]

43. unfortunate but true

anytime something good is on the discovery channel you can pretty much bank on the fact that its a BBC production ported over with a more annoying anouncer... :(

[DemGirl7]

46. This what I think...

:puke: :puke: :puke: :puke: :puke:

[Deja Q]

47. www.liberalslikechrist.org /reagan - this site needs to be distributed

www.liberalslikechrist.org/reagan

www.liberalslikechrist.org/reagan

www.liberalslikechrist.org/reagan

www.liberalslikechrist.org/reagan

www.liberalslikechrist.org/reagan

[CBHagman]

90. Thank you, HypnoToad!

People need a jolt of reality. It drives me nuts to see people telling these fairy tales about the '80s. Cheney even recycled the idiotic Reagan story about the Salvadoran elections, inserting the word "terrorists" to give it a contemporary feel, I suppose.

:puke:

[tinfoilinfor2005]

48. Well he did raise a brilliant son...

who obviously detests the bush regime.

[-..__...]

52. So... It's not like it's going to help in his re-election.

:evilgrin:

[supernova]

53. Oh, you are kidding, aren't you?

I mean, what about Thomas Jefferson?

Abraham Lincoln?

Neil Armstrong?

Albert Einstein?


What a bunch of fucking morons Discovery Channel viewers are.

[mrdmk]

60. Have you watched Discovery Channel latey

It is nothing but American Chopper and spin-offs of Monster Garage. Not to mention that the Wings Channel was changed to the Military Channel not to long ago because of "viewer preference". TV is a joke now a days.

[Liberalynn]

64. This is also true

of TLC.

Okay I used to watch Trading Spaces but then they turned it from a fairly good copy of Changing Rooms into let's see how hard we can make the owners cry and how much we can have to make them spend on repairs to their rooms.

And I used to love all the history and natural mystery programs on the mummies, the pyramids, Atlantis, and all that stuff, and your right, now it is all bounty hunters, car repo guys, extreme this, extreme that.

I guess the other stuff was too "intellectual" just like all us liberals.

Why did our teachers spend all that time telling you it's good to be smart, when our society values and mocks that trait more and more with each passing year? If I'd have known that was the case I would have gone and hung out with the fence gang, instead of trying to raise my algebra scores so I could go to college.

Hey if an idiot can be President, and an idiot can be named Greatest Amercian why bother trying to be smart? :scared:

[Jeff In Milwaukee]

70. 128 channels of crap...

But hey, it's in high definition...

[nytemare]

62. YAYYYYYYYYYYY! Reagan's the greatest American!! Yayyyyyyy!

:sarcasm:

[Ekirh]

67. My Republican Uncle

Just entered my room and told me that Ronald Reagen winning the the greatest American Poll is the greatest...................crock of shit ever.... (he would've been satisfied with either Washington or Lincoln.)

My Uncle may be a Republican.. but he calls B.S when he sees it (And no he doesn't support W)

[mrdmk]

73. Somebody got Brownie Shirt points for this one

It is explanation for this tripe. The Reagan Administration had just as many scandals and more convictions than the Harding Administrations Teapot Dome scandal. Reagan did nothing special for this country.

[Jeff In Milwaukee]

75. But he single-handedly ended the cold war...

by saying, "Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this wall." Too bad he didn't say it before he blew a trillion dollars on an arms buildup. My favorite was the 600-ship Navy, which nobody (not even the Navy Brass) thought was necessary. And no sooner than he completed that little project, the Bush Sr. Administration started mothballing all those ships that we didn't need in the first place.

[Liberalynn]

87. Yep he drove the USSR

into wasting all their money on nukes, only problem was he didn't stop to notice that he was doing the same thing to the good ole USA. Nor did he worry about whose hands those old unstable Soviet nukes might fall into once their government fell apart. :shrug:


Plus the Soviet's collapse had nothing at all :sarcasm: to do with a fact that it was an absolutely corrupt, bankrupt form of government that would have fallen in upon itself sooner rather than later with or without a push.
Not to mention the fact that all that nuke building was unnecessary. Like Sagan said when you are in a room full of gasoline, all you really need is one match. :nuke: I mean after all there is only one world to blow up, but then again the THUGS never were to good with Math or Logic.

[TheMightyFavog]

105. Ahh yes, the 600 ship navy...

Which included Iowa Class Battleships built before and during WWII which served no useful purpose except as floating inaccurate artillery platforms.

[Jeff In Milwaukee]

120. And they've so-o-o-o useful in the War on Terra!

nt

[TheMightyFavog]

127. Actually, Clinton had the good sense to Mothball those ships

I think they all have now been converted or are being converted into floating museums.

[Floogeldy]

69. I call BULLSHIT.

Great American my ass.

}(

[Chichiri]

71. Here's why he won:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=104&topic_id=3955245&mesg_id=3955245

[opihimoimoi]

74. But But He was an ACTOR...He acted presidential, He never knew what was

going on...had to be told what to say, etc. He was COACHED,,,just like this Bush guy is...

There was no surplus under RRR nor is there with Bush>>>>>

[gardenista]

76. If this relied on AOL people, I'm sorry, but the poll was seriously

weighted to survey people who can't think for themselves. Hence, this is no surprise.

Sad, but no surprise.

[Floogeldy]

93. What's wrong with AOL?

B-)

[Placebo]

78. America at her finest.

:puke:

[alarimer]

79. That sucks

What do you expect from a TV poll though? The morons know nothing about Franklin,Washington, jefferson or Lincoln.

I wouldn't put a lot of faith in this. It is more a popularity contest after all. If they had had historians or scholars determine the results, it would be very different. Reagan sucks.

[WindRavenX]

80. fuck that noise

REAGAN OVER MLK JR?!?!!?

[Enraged_Ape]

81. Kill your fucking cable, people

I haven't had cable TV in more than 15 years, and I've NEVER missed it. It is all just a shitload of megacorporate propaganda that, amazingly, YOU PAY A BUTTLOAD FOR!!

Get rid of it. Cancel it tomorrow. Find something else to do with the $45+ per month; you won't be sorry. I promise that you'll be able to live without it.

[Robeson]

84. You know, I just want to move to another country. I'm really, really....

...tired of this one.

[Jeff In Milwaukee]

85. May I suggest Canada?

In the Canadian version of this little exercise, they voted for the founder of the Canadian Universal Healthcare System.

[Robeson]

88. Obviously, they are an intelligent people. As opposed to this cesspool...

...of stupidity.

[progmom]

86. bummer

good thing this doesn't really mean anything at all. :)

[WMliberal]

89. I'll be starting my career as a history teacher this fall...

Looks like I've got a lot of work cut out for me :scared:

[Liberalynn]

91. The text books you will be provided with

to teach from will probably read "and then Ronald Reagan" created the earth and it was good. Then his son Dumbya came down to save it from all those mean sinful liberals trying to destroy it.

[WMliberal]

94. don't get me started on it. The US History standards already ask

"Students will be able to describe how Reagan's efforts helped win the Cold War"
plus lots of perpetuating Civil War myths (the Union burned everything, war wasn't about slavery, etc)
:banghead:

at least the World studies and Government standards aren't as blatant.

[Liberalynn]

92. Let Them Eat Ketchup! Reagan Proclaimed

I say Let the thugs have him and may they eat poop.

[JohnnyBoots]

95. what positives did they credit him with? He was

pretty good in, "Bed Time for Bonzo." Other than that what?

[porkrind]

96. There they go again

This just proves dumbfuck red-state America hasn't learned a damn thing. We were stupid in the 80's and we're stupid now. Incredibly, comparing * to Reagan, it seems we're even more stupid now. Just how stupid we can get is anyone's guess, but the trend is clear.

Reagan was a disaster. An actor playing an insipid part, trying to be the Marlboro Man president, with all the hackneyed western bullshit and jingoistic religious nationalism. All we have to do to sum up his hypocrisy is remember how he busted the air traffic controller union and bargained with Iran to delay the hostage release to help with his election.

A plastic fake president for dumbfuck plastic fake red-state America. Sound familiar? Pass the fake plastic turkey, Bonzo.

[hyphenate]

97. What a fucking joke

These voters are fucking losers.

[Crazy Guggenheim]

99. What does that tell you about the goings on in the country

right now!! Incredible.

[hyphenate]

100. Okay, well, I have some news for everyone

about something I did about a month and a half ago regarding the "Greatest American" show. If I knew then what the outcome was going to be, I would have let it go.

They were starting to show the ads for the show, and in the background in one clip while Matt Lauer is talking, they were running peoples' names across like a marquee, and I saw a TYPO. Yes, a TYPO of someone's name MISSPELLED. I wrote to them about it, and while I got a canned response, I know that my note had been read, because suddenly the marquee "ended" before the name came across it.

It was Steven Spielberg's name, and they had spelled Spielberg "Speilberg." As I said, after my email to them, it changed, so they were listening.

I guess now I have to face up to the fact that a group that can't spell Spielberg correctly can only have Ronnie Raygun as the winner of their "award" because they're fucking useless as shit when it comes to accuracy. People really ARE stupid here in the US of A.

[AlGore-08.com]

101. Look on the bright side, folks - - at least it wasn't Smirk

100 years from now (if there is a 100 years from now), neither Ronnie Raygun, Smirk nor Clinton will be remembered as great Presidents.

FDR and Lincoln will still be on the list, however.

[rexcat]

102. It appears stupidity is rampant in the US.

[Julius Civitatus]

103. Great example of the DUMBING DOWN OF AMERICA

Truly puke-worthy decision.

:puke:

[Initech]

104. Over LINCOLN? What a crock of shit!

But then again, it's a stupid TV show and the commercials compared Elvis and Oprah with Martin Luther King, Jr.

[deadparrot]

106. Jesus.

That's not even funny.

Reagan? Greater than Lincoln?

MLK?

Jefferson?

Washington?

Franklin?


???????????????????????????

:puke:

[BulletproofLandshark]

107. I dismissed the validity of this show

When I noticed that BRETT FUCKING FAVRE was among the top 100 greatest. How in the hell does any NFL player make that short list? He's not even the greatest quarterback ever,let alone the greatest American.

[elshiva]

108. Reagan was an out and out sexist racist homophobe.

:puke:

How the heck did he win against Washington and Lincoln? Those two are very obvious choices, but hundred times better than Reagan.

[GoddessOfGuinness]

109. Rock solid proof that Americans

don't know their history.

[elshiva]

110. True and it's sad!

WTF about Benjamin Franklin?

[Blue_In_AK]

112. He was my choice, Elshiva...

[elshiva]

114. Thanks! I only said Benjamin Franklin there because that

is what Goddess of Guiness calls her anteater!

[Blue_In_AK]

115. Ha! Have you posted your greatest Americans on the

thread in GD?

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=104&topic_id=3956020&mesg_id=3956020

[elshiva]

116. Thanks, beautiful! I did now!

[PittPoliSci]

111. haaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!

that's seriously the funniest thing i've ever seen. What kind of fucking backwater dipshit moron would vote for him as the greatest American ever over...

ANYONE?!

[Robeson]

113. You're living in America. In this country, there are alot of people who..

...would fit the definition of "backwater dipshit moron". If not "backwater", then "dipshit moron" anyways.

[Debbi801]

121. I just don't get it....

Lincoln came in 2nd. I heard this on the radio this morning. It makes absolutely no sense. Exactly what did he do that was so great?
:shrug:

[JimmyJazz]

122. It must be the AIDS crisis he single handledly resolved.

:eyes:

[deutsey]

123. This doesn't surprise me

The thing was rigged from the start, imo.

[DrGonzoLives]

125. The whole list was a joke

So I'm not really that surprised. Let the freepers jizz their pants about it, whatever.

[BearClaws]

126. OMFG!

How sickening.
This country is fucked.