Who is our "Greatest Living American"?

[jgraz]

I saw someone use those terms last night when referring to a certain late endorser. I'm wondering what other people think.

[YOY]

1. Other: Keith Olberman

The only one pointing out the glaring inadequacies of the current administration at times.

[jgraz]

7. Ooh -- I can't believe I left him out.

:banghead:

[sinkingfeeling]

2. Psst, Tim Russert is dead, so can't be our 'greatest living American'.

[jgraz]

4. Tim Russert can do anything. He's the Chuck Norris of newsmen.

[Orrex]

5. Chuck Norris will kick your ass when he hears that you said that

Chuck Norris would never equate himself with the most perfect and sublime of all celebrity, multimillionaire pseudojournalists.

[ColbertWatcher]

28. The Chuck Norris of newsmen!?

Pfft.

Here is America's Greatest Living American Newsman when he was the midday anchor in WPTS in Patterson Springs, North Carolina, 1987.



Roundhouse kick? That mustache could roundhouse kick Norris.

[jgraz]

99. Tim Russert doesn't eulogize politicians. Politicians eulogize him.

[asdjrocky]

58. Chuck Norris isn't afraid of the dark-

The dark is afraid of Chuck.

[annabanana]

3. my Dad

If you ask ME. .

[mainegreen]

6. Only politicals?

Pffffft.

[jgraz]

45. You are free to post your own poll. Might be fun to see some other choices.

[natrat]

8. mat lauer

[kath]

110. Are you SERIES??

[BrklynLib at work]

9. Bill Moyers

[jgraz]

13. Another blatant omission on my part

Damn, I suck at this. :(

[DaLittle Kitty]

132. Let's Not Forget Ole Johnny Edwards... Perhaps Our Next Vice President?

:) Ever Hopeful that we keep this Change thang on course and John Edwards surely will! :) :bounce:

[I Have A Dream]

19. Yep. That's who I thought of right away. He gets my vote too.

On edit: I have to say that I also really, really respect Dennis Kucinich.

[truebrit71]

32. Toss up between him and Jimmy Carter/Al Gore I think...

...

[tomg]

10. For me, it is always a toss-up

between four people: Jimmy Carter, Pete Seeger, Bill Moyers and anonymous activist who works the soup kitches, or organizes the anti-war marches, or runs a clothing drive for a family that lost it all in a fire or. . . ( and does it over and over again and has done it for years - the unknown version of the Big Three). Gore is really close to that bunch.

on edit: not necessarily political activist but citizen activist

[graywarrior]

11. Rescue workers including firefighters, EMT's, Paramedics, Emergency Ward personnel

[yellowdogintexas]

12. from this list: Jimmy Carter

but Bill Moyers is a good one too

[DFW]

14. Either Helen Thomas, or.......;

Some totally unknown person, selflessly giving their time to help others,
probably in a hopeless cause, but not wanting to die saying they never tried.
Not being the type to seek recognition or thanks, we'll never know their name.

[BeHereNow]

86. or... BILL MOYERS!

Without their brand of journalism, no great Americans
would ever be revealed.

Nor would the criminal wolves among us
masquerading as sheep.

BHN

[El Pinko]

15. Wow, not a single woman on the list?

I'm not sure, but my guess is it's probably a woman.

[jgraz]

20. Um... do you know something about Hillary Clinton that I don't?

[El Pinko]

123. LOL - my dyslexia's kicking in - totally missed her name.

Don't think Hillary would top my list of greatest living women, though.

Barbara Lee, maybe?

[jgraz]

25. BTW, if you complain about the dearth of women on the list, you HAVE to name one

You can't just lay a blanket claim of sexism without naming at least one woman whom you think was unfairly omitted from the list.

[El Pinko]

124. Honestly, I wasn't claiming sexism - and I spaced by missing Hillary.

I just thought it was odd there were no women (except Hillary) on the list - shoulda double-checked.

[Occam Bandage]

105. Okay. Name her.

[El Pinko]

125. Hillary is impressive (yes, I'm a moron for not noticing)...

...but off the top of my hat, I'd say Barbara Jackson Lee.

[Howler]

16. Gore Vidal!!!!!

Too me he is the 'greatest living American" And a national treasure to boot.:hi:

[jgraz]

43. Yep, another great choice. Also Noam Chomsky and Howard Zinn.

[Howler]

48. Oh Man!!!!

I can't believe I forgot Noam Chomsky!!! Thanks jgraz at least someone had their coffee this morning! LOL! BTW GREAT picks for "Greatest living American"

[B.S. Lewis]

50. Howard Zinn FTW

or (gasp!!) Ralph Nader.

A lot of Democrats read Zinn and Chomsky and then happily vote for Democrats. It's like what they're reading isn't even sinking in. Vote for Democrats maybe, but not happily, just as the slightly lesser of two corporation-beholden, imperialist evils. At most, vote Democrat because they can win but channel the majority of your political efforts to things outside the electoral race, things that can potentially make any actual progressive difference. (That is, assuming you are concerned with economic justice and a non-interventionist foreign policy, rather than just domestic "cultural" issues like gay marriage and civil rights).

Zinn and Chomsky plan to vote Nader in 2004

Personally, if I lived in Ohio, I would vote Democrat, but because I live in CA, I will vote Green or Nader. In either case, I don't put nearly any importance in a vote, because the Democrats won't change things and Greens/Nader can't win. The idea that Nader/the Greens should run a full campaign in every state is absurdly anti-democratic. It's the Nader voters' "fault", not Nader's, if he takes votes from the Democratic candidate. To try and deprive people of the choice just amazes me.

Wow, this turned into a huge derail--Oh well.

[B.S. Lewis]

96. OOPS

I meant the idea that Nader/Greens DO NOT have the right to run a full campaign, is an absurdly anti-democratic one.

Sorry.

[Bozita]

17. Studs Terkel

[maxsolomon]

18. Bob Fucking Dylan

duh.

[jgraz]

21. If his middle name actually was "Fucking", he'd get my vote.

[ColbertWatcher]

22. Who else?

How dare you not include this great American's name in your list.

"Other" indeed.

[jgraz]

23. Couldn't put Jon and Stephen on the list -- too few slots

And without Jon Stewart, there would be no Stephen Colbert.

[ColbertWatcher]

31. What!?

Are we still on that "who made who" kick!

Dr. Colbert doesn't need that Jewy Stewart!

[jgraz]

36. Stephen, is that you?

You are so busted.

As your penalty, here's a picture of a bear.

[ColbertWatcher]

46. AAGGGHHH!

[Aviation Pro]

24. Henry Fucking Waxman....

....Patrick Fucking Fitzgerald, duh.

[jgraz]

27. Patrick Fitzgerald? No thanks.

He muffed that prosecution, perhaps intentionally. He doesn't deserve his "Fucking" middle name.

[mmonk]

136. Waxman is all bark and no bite.

He's part of the pretending to do something for political purposes crowd.

[leftofthedial]

26. Norm

from This Old House



There aren't any. That's part of our problem.

On the list, only Jimmy Carter and Al Gore would seem to qualify. Studs Terkel is great. Olbermann has staked a claim by speaking out so forcefully and eloquently against the neofascists.

How come the American Colonies in the 1700's, with a total population of a little over 2 million, produced Franklin, Jefferson, Washington, Adams, Paine and dozens more undeniably great leaders, while the US now, with over 300 million, produces George Bush, Hillary Clinton, Dick Cheney, Tim Russert and their shallow, opportunistic ilk? Even Obama isn't really "great." He's a remarkably charismatic orator, but what has he accomplished? :shrug:

[Donald Ian Rankin]

29. Probably either a scientist or an artist, or conceivably a philanthropist, not a politician.

I'm ashamed to say that I don't know who the big American names in theoretical physics and cosmology are at the moment, but I'd probably opt for one of them - one of the people who is leading the effort to understand how the Universe works.

One might also mention the likes of Bill Gates and Warren Buffet - making a lot of money and then giving large amounts of it away does an awful lot of good.

[jgraz]

39. Bill Gates?? Are you kidding?

The guy has personally set technology 30 years. If any techie deserves it, you gotta go with Steve Jobs (though, I can say from personal experience, he really is an asshole).

[SidDithers]

30. Tim Russert? Greatest Living American?...

Were you in a cave last week?

Sid

[jgraz]

37. Why? Did Tim do something bad?

I find that hard to believe.

[lpbk2713]

41. Russert? .... Dead? .... That cannot be.

Surely there would have been something on the teevee about it by now!

[LeftHander]

70. NOOOO NOT TIM!!! DEAD! is there coverage? nt

[cloudbase]

33. Pick one of the guys

who landed on Omaha Beach back in '44. Any one of them will do.

[cynatnite]

34. What about these women...

Ruth Bader Ginsburg
Maxine Waters
Oprah Winfrey
Nancy Pelosi

Some folks on this list would also include Cindy Sheehan. To a point I agree since she did help put the antiwar movement in the headlines at a crucial time, IMO.

Interesting that no women were on this list.

[Phentex]

54. There is one on the list

but I like your list.

[cynatnite]

57. Oops, my bad...

:blush:

I like it, too. :)

[jgraz]

64. I'd put Nancy Pelosi on some sort of list of Americans, just not the greatest.

[cynatnite]

67. First woman speaker and tough as nails...

In my book, she's one of the greatest. This is all opinion-based.

[jgraz]

69. Tough as nails? She's not even tough as fingernails.

She gave up her claim to any praise when she took impeachment off the table to save her own complicit ass.

[cynatnite]

76. She has stuck to her guns on that and won't be pushed...

I understand her reasoning for it, too. They can't convict in the senate without two-thirds vote. Impeachment is toothless unless bush and cheney can be forced out of office. She knows it's not going to happen...along with Obama who doesn't support impeachment either. I want them impeached, indicted and imprisoned, but I'm realistic enough to know it's not going to happen.

[jgraz]

88. Not to hijack my own thread, but Pelosi's reasoning is crap

Impeachment is NOT toothless, even if it fails. Getting BushCo's crimes documented and on the record, especially without the interference of his fictional "executive privilege" is of paramount importance. Someone needs to stand for the rule of law, and right now that isn't Pelosi. She's "sticking to her guns" because it's her ass on the line as well. She was briefed on torture, black site prisons and wiretapping and did nothing.

Also, Obama's position is irrelevant. The power to impeach lies with the House, and he has no say in what they decide. I'd love it if he came out for impeachment, but his first job is to get himself elected president. Pelosi should be the one tasked with making sure impeachment goes through.

[cynatnite]

91. It is toothless if it does not get them out of the WH...

That is what impeachment is supposed to be there for. It's not some symbolic motion for 'documentation' and the founding fathers never set it up that way to begin with. Their crimes are well documented. Most everyone knows them. A google search is all anyone needs.

I don't understand how anyone thinks Pelosi can do anything about most of this crap that happened prior to the dems taking control of congress. Even now, the repukes can still sideline important legislation.

It still has to take a chunk of votes, including repuke ones, just to make a bill veto-proof. That's harder than hell to accomplish. Look at it this way. If most of the repukes won't even break from bush (despite how unpopular he is) on the war, there is no way in blue hell they'd break from him on most anything else...especially on something like impeachment.

The Dems have a slim majority in the senate. It's enough to run committees, have hearings and get subpoena power, but without a larger majority it still falls short of what they are able to do.

Since impeachment is not going to happen, it makes far more sense for our energy to be spent on getting Obama in the WH and widening the Dems majority in congress. I don't believe Obama's position is irrelevant. His say so alone on the subject would make it very relevant if he thought it would have a positive impact on his campaign and would end in bush and cheney's reign.

Since their reign is going to end anyway, it'll be quicker and easier to get them out by way of election. That has a far better chance of ending the war and preventing one with Iran.

Oh, and let me add this...there is nothing in the constitution (or anywhere else for that matter) that says we can't impeach bush after he is out of the WH. With a larger Dem majority our chances would be far better, IMO.

[jgraz]

98. Just plain wrong. That's like saying we can't prosecute unless we already know the verdict

Part of the process is getting access to information and setting a precedent that any presidential abuse of power will be met with opposition.

What you seem to be saying is that as long as the President's party has more than 1/3 of the Senate, the Prez can do whatever he wants.

[Cerridwen]

35. Dolores Huerta as one example of a "Greatest American"

Here's the rather brief wiki page about her.

Here's her bio at the Dolores Huerta Foundation website.

She was co-founder of what would eventually become United Farm Workers. She was an organizer and a lobbyist and advocate for farm workers' rights. For her efforts, she has been arrested 22 times and beaten by the SFPD. She won the case against SFPD and the City of San Francisco and used the monetary award for, yep, farm workers.

She's 75 years old and is still active in progressive politics and organizing with People for the American Way and the Feminist Majority along with her own foundation (listed above).

Did I mention, she also has 11 children.

[TransitJohn]

38. Phil Lesh

Seriously, no artists on this list?

[NightWatcher]

40. the only bombs dropped should be Phil Bombs

[TransitJohn]

44. Word.

I could use a monster China-->Rider right about now.

[jgraz]

42. I don't identify artists with one particular country --hence the political nature of the list.

[Bluenorthwest]

113. That is odd as hell

Art and artists are a big, giant part of what defines this or any nation. Our artists are a huge part of our identity. We are not global property, and obviously, Dylan in the UK would have been, what, Donovan? Sacthmo and Ella are America, and could not have existed elsewhere, Ellington, Whitman, the Dead for that matter...Robert Johnson and Johnny Cash, do you really think they are not part of this nation and vice versa? Would their art have been the same born in Australia?


Just an odd way of looking at a nation and at artists if you ask me. Without cultural figures on the list, it is of no value to me. Our greatest American would not be political or a pundit in the media. Not in my mind.

[jgraz]

114. Birthplace is one thing, effect is another.

I think that the work of our great artists belongs to the world and not just America.

[fishwax]

100. Hey TransitJohn, that's a cool sig pic

:)

:hi:

[TransitJohn]

137. Go Pokes!

:hi:

[poverlay]

47. My Dad ... n/t

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

49. Someone who is not a politician and actually does something worthwhile.

Artists, doctors, scientists, plumbers, truck drivers, farm workers, caregivers, librarians, teachers...

Politicians rate somewhere between insurance salesmen and pimps.

"Government, even in its best state, is but a necessary evil; in its worst state, an intolerable one."
Thomas Paine

[JackRiddler]

135. Thank you. No shit.

There's a Beltway Bubble, and there's also a DU Bubble!

[AngryAmish]

51. Michael Irvin

[Ishoutandscream2]

56. I was going to say Cedric Benson

[AngryAmish]

61. Michael Irvin was the Playmaker, Cedric benson is just a drunk

[Ishoutandscream2]

85. Well, they both, ah, have had some problems with mind altering substances

What is it with Texas running backs anyway? Ricky Williams, Cedric Benson, and the police blotter in Austin has been growing with Texas ballplayers. Looks like good ol' boy Mack Brown is developing a University of Miami type of program for the new millenium.

[Faygo Kid]

52. Norman Borlaug? He fed the world.

And won the 1970 Nobel Peace Prize for it. Still alive in his 90s. http://nobelprize.org/nobel_prizes/peace/laureates/1970/borlaug-bio.html

[Asgaya Dihi]

53. Truth tellers such as Moyers

The ones who act in the political arena are useful enough but those who educate and motivate the rest of us I think are more important in the end. Thats the step we keep missing, we think we have to either go with the status quo or just preach great ideas and the public will fall in line, if they don't the idea wasn't so great to start with. That's the wrong way to look at it. The repubs worked their ass off from the 70s through recently to build the 'conservative' movement and if we want to get anywhere we've got to do the same thing. Convince them.

Those who move and shape the public opinion, who try to shift us from one understanding to the next, they are the real movers in history. Not the actors who finally recognize the demand and act on it only when it gets safe or popular to do so.

[ccharles000]

55. Hillary.

[jgraz]

63. Seriously? I don't even think she's the greatest American in her family.

[Recursion]

59. Cal Ripken

[Tommy_Carcetti]

77. Go O's! nt

[PfcHammer]

60. it's gotta be a sports dummy

Murkans just luv their misbehavin' ballers :eyes:

[GreenPartyVoter]

62. Jimmy Carter, Walter Cronkite, Stephen Colbert, Jon Stewart, Dennis Kucinich, Keith O, Rachel Maddow

Amy Goodman, and Bill Moyers all rank highly in my book. :)

[Cleita]

65. None of the above.

I'm going to vote for our administrators here at DU who provided us with this forum to get out the truth since the day Bush took office. If it wasn't for this website, God knows what more this maladministration would have attempted. I truly believe that DU has prevented the complete takeover of our country by the corporations because we could huddle together and exchange ideas and information.

[Indenturedebtor]

66. All those votes for Carter? Seriously?

I mean Carter did some good things, and some stupid things, and seems to have his heart in the right place... but really that many of you think Carter?

[jgraz]

68. He's a good, centrist choice.

Lefties don't like his foreign policy misadventures (e.g. Suharto's Indonesia) and righties hate him for ... well, who knows what fuels their pea-brains?

But he's done some good things as an ex-president, and his energy policies look more and more prophetic every month.

[Indenturedebtor]

72. Yes he had some good ideas but couldn't deliver on them as far as I know

Matter of fact he kind of fumbled a lot of the programs that most of us support, and may well have set us back overall. Flame me if you like, but a botched sale is much harder to close than a fresh customer... he literally botched the sale.

I mean he's a great guy, but greatest living American? I was seriously shocked that so many chose Carter.

[NewJeffCT]

75. If DU were around in 1980

A majority of us would have supported Ted Kennedy over Carter and called Carter a DINO and not very different than Reagan.

[baldguy]

71. I'm a big Jimmy Carter fan.

If we had followed his energy policies 30 yrs ago, we wouldn't be in the fix we're in today.

[HEyHEY]

73. Obama? Clinton? Come on!

Hey, I like Obama and Clinton, but seriously, what has either of them even had a chance to do yet? Ya gotta be more than a senator for a few years before you can get the "Greatest living american" title. That said, my vote goes to Muhamed Ali.

[RUMMYisFROSTED]

74. Ted Jefferson.

Look it up.

[HEyHEY]

78. I vote for George Jefferson

[RUMMYisFROSTED]

81. I bet you do.

[HEyHEY]

82. Seems the only way to get a non-white person on this list.

besides Obama

[jgraz]

92. Or, you could just name a non-white person who deserves to be on the list

Naw, that would make too much sense.

[HEyHEY]

94. I did in my earlier post - try reading... nah that would make too much sense

[jgraz]

95. It works better if you put it in the subject line, instead of relying of obsessive readers

Naw, that would make too much sense.

[HEyHEY]

108. considering George Jefferson is black - your point was moot anyway

[jgraz]

115. Hate to break this to you, but George Jefferson isn't real.

If you want to nominate Sherman Hemsley, feel free.

[HEyHEY]

120. How can he not be real?! he was in TWO tv shows!

[Buck Rabbit]

79. Warren Buffet

Greatest Investor - Wall Street Guru in history, humble in both attitude and lifestyle, giving his billions to charity, a Democrat despite his great wealth and I love his Tales from Margaritaville album.

[XOKCowboy]

83. Jimmy Buffett

Sorry. It was just too tempting.

[jgraz]

89. Fresh Choice Buffet

[lutefisk]

80. Carter. He lives the life of a great "American". What a model for the rest of us. n/t

[Hart2008]

142. Carter never sold out. He just went home and continued to do good things after leaving D.C.

And that is the way is should be.

[road2000]

84. I chose Gore,

but I thought Garrison Keillor would make a graceful addition to the list.

[EFerrari]

87. Henry Louis Gates.

He's cute, too.

[LibDemAlways]

90. There probably is no one greatest living American or

citizen of any country for that matter. There are millions of unsung heroes who work hard, look after their families, cope with the many obstacles they encounter, and do their part to leave the world a little bit better place.

[Swamp Rat]

93. FIRST VOTE FOR BARACK OBAMA!!!

:patriot: You saw it here. I'm number one. :D

[Lydia Leftcoast]

97. There is no ONE greatest American

There are many great Americans, some famous, some not famous.

As the Book of Sirach has it (excuse the use of "men," but it is an ancient text) in a reading appointed for All Saints' Day:

<1>Let us now praise famous men, and our fathers that begat us.
<2> The Lord hath wrought great glory by them through his great power from the beginning.
<3> Such as did bear rule in their kingdoms, men renowned for their power, giving counsel by their understanding, and declaring prophecies:
<4> Leaders of the people by their counsels, and by their knowledge of learning meet for the people, wise and eloquent are their instructions:
<5> Such as found out musical tunes, and recited verses in writing:
<6> Rich men furnished with ability, living peaceably in their habitations:
<7> All these were honoured in their generations, and were the glory of their times.
<8> There be of them, that have left a name behind them, that their praises might be reported.
<9> And some there be, which have no memorial; who are perished, as though they had never been; and are become as though they had never been born; and their children after them.
<10> But these were merciful men, whose righteousness hath not been forgotten.
<11> With their seed shall continually remain a good inheritance, and their children are within the covenant.
<12> Their seed standeth fast, and their children for their sakes.
<13> Their seed shall remain for ever, and their glory shall not be blotted out.
<14> Their bodies are buried in peace; but their name liveth for evermore.
<15> The people will tell of their wisdom, and the congregation will shew forth their praise.

[Eurobabe]

101. 9 out of 10 Americans would say Paris Hilton n/t

[jgraz]

102. Then the greatest American is the one guy who disagrees.

[Eurobabe]

103. i agree

totally, like yeah, fer sure.

[BigAnth]

104. Bob Dylan

[snooper2]

106. ME!

:hi:



GOBAMA!

[bigwillq]

107. None of the above

There are tons of people in this country who are greater than anyone on that list. My mom and dad are two of them.

[TBF]

109. Wendy Kopp - founded Teach for America

Others I'd consider:

Jimmy Carter (Habitat for Humanity)
Michael Mountain (Founder of the Best Friends Animal Sanctuary)
Sandra Day O'Connor (her vote saved Roe the last time it was seriously challenged)
Nancy Brinker (started the Komen foundation after her sister Susan Komen died from Breast Cancer)
Al Gore (for his work on the environment)

[jeffrey_X]

111. Andrew Young

eom

[terrya]

112. Don't laugh, but....Studs Terkel.

I genuinely think he's a national treasure.

[blitzen]

116. Willie Nelson. Video bonus here: ("Cowboys are Frequently, Secretly Fond...

of Each Other")

http://youtube.com/watch?v=hajTNlooZKE

[Annces]

117. Paul Watson

Sea Shepherd.

[slackmaster]

118. Sid Caesar

[L. Coyote]

119. No such thing!!

[Jack Rabbit]

121. My Dad

He just celebrated his 97th birthday.

For those nights he was up with a colicky baby (who shall remain nameless) singing "Danny Boy", I vote him the greatest.

[rucky]

122. Ali. n/t

[digitalbuddha]

126. This poll is totally retarded

A bunch of politicians and people in the media, including a dead one. I'd rank Bill Gates higher than many of those people. He has had a much broader impact on the people of our country and the rest of the world and has given a ton of money to charity. True, he has made a ton, but he has still given more than pretty much anyone else on that list.

I am no science buff, but I am fairly certain there are some living scientists that have done more for mankind than these people.

Ugh.

[madokie]

127. To me there is no doubt but that Its the Honorable ex-President Jimmy Carter

The most compassionate and caring ex-President we've had in my 60 assed damn years

[MiniMe]

128. Walter Cronkite

[H2O Man]

129. Muhammad Ali.

[Zorra]

139. lol

[Hart2008]

130. Carter-The only honest President since November 1963, n/t

[mmonk]

131. For all who are thinkers and firm patriots, Dennis Kucinich by far.

[LWolf]

133. There is no "greatest" living American.

There are many "great" living Americans, but there is no accurate, subjective way to rank "greatest." A couple of them might be on your list: Kucinich and Gore.

There are many more; here is just a handful from a long list:

Granny D.

Medea Benjamin

Dolores Huerta

Ann Wright

Barbara Ehrenreich

Winona LaDuke

[Nye Bevan]

134. Other: Norman Borlaug

He has saved more lives than any other person who has ever lived.

[Alcibiades]

138. Walter Cronkite

If I had to pick only one.

[gatorboy]

140. These are my main options? I say Paul Newman.

[DemoCat25]

141. Ted Kennedy

He's done so much for the working folk.