I hear a lot of talk about the Big Lie... but no one has ever defined it... I don't think it's real.
Nixon though... one of the best presidents ever. Created the EPA, fought hard for women's rights... even initiated the creation the Privacy Act of 1974 (even though he didn't get to sign it) which has led to the cornerstone of FERPA, HIPAA, and several others that are now the mainstay.
Let's all give a big cheer for Nixon... I think even most Democrats liked him, especially after the original Democrats were all racist.
The Big Lie though... we know that's all just silly talk.
I rarely agree with anything that you post and I don’t agree with your premise that Nixon is the best president that the U.S. ever had. He is, however, infinitely more capable and qualified than the current office holder.
Nixon had a few accomplishments that are quite notable. He ended the draft; he enacted policies to protect the environment; he negotiated arms control with Russia; he established diplomatic relations with communist China. All of these accomplishments show that he saw the big picture and realised that the U.S. has a larger role to play in the world.
Tricky Dick’s reputation, however, is marred by Watergate where, he lied, obfuscated, blamed others, and felt that he was above the rest of the U.S citizenry. This led to his resignation in August 1974, when he became the first U.S. president to resign.
Best U.S. president? No. That honour belongs to Franklin Delano Roosevelt. Better than the current president? In my mind, without a doubt.
(Edited for spelling)
[This message has been edited by Mike in Sydney (edited 05-19-2025).]
I rarely agree with anything that you post and I don’t agree with you premise that Nixon is the best president that the U.S. ever had. He is, however, infinitely more capable and qualified than the current office holder.
Nixon had a few accomplishments that are quite notable. He ended the draft; he enacted policies to protect the environment; he negotiated arms control with Russia; he established diplomatic relations with communist China. All of these accomplishments show that he saw the big picture and realised that the U.S. has a larger role to play in the world.
Tricky Dick’s reputation, however, is marred by Watergate where, he lied, obfuscated, blamed others, and felt that he was above the rest of the U.S citizenry. This led to his resignation in August 1974, when he became the first U.S. president to resign.
Best U.S. president? No. That honour belongs to Franklin Delano Roosevelt. Better than the current president? In my mind, without a doubt.
Too clever for your own good on this one Todd To be fair to ol' Tricky Dick, he was never convicted of anything and still lost all that support and resigned in disgrace once folks realized he was a crook. Almost enough to make you nostalgic...the times -like the Republicans that live in them- they are a-changin’.
It's a perfect example of why leftists can't meme either.
Honestly... he kind of revealed something. Mike in Sydney has said many times that he used to be a Republican. Yet... he says that FDR was the best president we've ever had. Generally, the only person who'd say that would be someone who was very left-leaning. It bothers me that people seem to think that pretending like you used to be a member of a party gives you more cred in the party you are now (or ... I don't know, make that make sense). I used to actually be a Democrat... I did vote for Bill Clinton as the first president I could actually vote for. Mostly... I didn't really know what I was voting for since I did what my teachers (in Fairfax County, VA) told me to vote for. But I thought Bill Clinton was a pretty decent president, and I still do...
The last President to actually make a MEANINGFUL speech on space and space exploration, was President Clinton. Regan, Nixon, and of course... JFK all made great speeches on space travel... with I'd say JFK's being the most impactful. Reagan probably second, though not all for great reasons, and Nixon on the creation of the Space Shuttle Program (which of course, Reagan saved). But since Clinton, neither Obama, Bush Jr., or Trump made any meaningful public statements about NASA. Bush Jr. made a re-alignment speech, but it was thrown in with other things, and Trump mentioned it briefly too... though to be fair, Trump is the only one who's increased funding for NASA (barely) since Clinton. But Obama flat-out detested it, and viewed any money spent on space exploration as a waste that should be used for community purposes.
Anyway, I'm rambling now... but I liked Clinton because he's basically what Trump is today. Trump echo's much of Clinton's policies during the 90s... he's even instituting a lot of similar things that Gingrich pushed with the Contract for America (though Gingrich is decidedly better than Mike Johnson). But I legitimately have more or less been the same. My views on gays and abortion have changed (I now support gay marriage, am now against abortion, and am now against the death penalty). But people like Mike are fake. I'd be willing to bet he's always been very left-leaning.
FDR is the pinnacle of America's socialist era. FDR created the Social Security Administration, and grew government the likes no one had ever seen before. This goes well beyond Reagan's big red blob which was to combat Russia's military threat... FDR went roughshod over the Constitution in every single way the Democrats currently pretend to scream that Trump is doing right now. FDR disregarded Supreme Court rulings, then legitimately tried to pack the court with the Judicial Procedure's Reform bill because they ruled unfavorably to many aspects of his New Deal program. I mean, he even ran for multiple presidential terms, even though the unwritten standard at the time was 2 terms. FDR was, by all accounts, a true socialist president. He wasn't a bad guy (in my opinion), but the only real credit I can give him was that he actually used Keynesian economics in a way that was effective. There was none of the bull-**** they have today. He literally said... I want a dam built... anyone who wants a job, go here and we'll give you a decent pay, a place to live, and food. Obama and Biden's version of Keynesian economics was to create an insane spending bill... and then give it to corporations through the contract law process, which gets tied up in courts, union disputes, and eventually goes to foreign-owned businesses... all while... nearly 68% (I think is what we figured out), went to administrativa and never actually was spent on the things it was supposed to be spent on (like infrastructure, etc.).
No worries, Todd. But once again, you are wrong, wrong, so wrong.
I don’t recall ever claiming to belong to the Republican or Democrat party. I’ve stated before that I’m moderate / centrist in my political views. I vote for the person (or party as we vote for in Australia) that in my mind, is best for the country and aligns with my beliefs. I’ve voted for candidates from all parties. I’ve voted for independents and have written in names because the choice on the ballot is so poor. I’ve been voting several elections longer than you but as a matter of fact, I’ve voted much the same as you so I guess that makes you a left-leaning voter, too.
BTW, your comments on FDR are pretty accurate but that doesn’t mean he’s not the best President the U.S. has had. He pulled the country out of a. Depression with WPA and other means, established care for the aged by establishing the SSA, and led the country through WW2. Tell me these aren’t good things.
So…right back at you, Todd, thanks for the reveal.
No worries, Todd. But once again, you are wrong, wrong, so wrong.
I don’t recall ever claiming to belong to the Republican or Democrat party. I’ve stated before that I’m moderate / centrist in my political views. I vote for the person (or party as we vote for in Australia) that in my mind, is best for the country and aligns with my beliefs. I’ve voted for candidates from all parties. I’ve voted for independents and have written in names because the choice on the ballot is so poor. I’ve been voting several elections longer than you but as a matter of fact, I’ve voted much the same as you so I guess that makes you a left-leaning voter, too.
BTW, your comments on FDR are pretty accurate but that doesn’t mean he’s not the best President the U.S. has had. He pulled the country out of a. Depression with WPA and other means, established care for the aged by establishing the SSA, and led the country through WW2. Tell me these aren’t good things.
So…right back at you, Todd, thanks for the reveal.
Ah yes... a self-proclaimed "centrist" who votes for Kamala Harris.
Originally posted by 82-T/A [At Work]: Ah yes... a self-proclaimed "centrist" who votes for Kamala Harris.
Dang, Todd. You're making a habit of this.
Once again, you are wrong, wrong, so wrong. I didn't vote for Kamala Harris. As I said in an earlier post, I wrote in Liz Cheney. Why, you ask? Well, for two reasons:
Liz Cheney presented a better option and represented my views better than (and in order of preference) Harris, Biden, anyone else, my cat, the buck kangaroo that hangs out in my sheep paddocks, Donald J Trump).
As a former Alabama resident before coming to Australia, I have to absentee vote in the state of my last registry. As an Alabama voter, I realise that the chances of my vote swinging the Alabama Electoral College electors to the Democrat side of the ledger are highly unlikely, ergo see item 1.
Anyway, keep at it, Todd. You and I are likely to agree on something political if we keep digging.
Once again, you are wrong, wrong, so wrong. I didn't vote for Kamala Harris. As I said in an earlier post, I wrote in Liz Cheney. Why, you ask? Well, for two reasons:
Liz Cheney presented a better option and represented my views better than (and in order of preference) Harris, Biden, anyone else, my cat, the buck kangaroo that hangs out in my sheep paddocks, Donald J Trump).
As a former Alabama resident before coming to Australia, I have to absentee vote in the state of my last registry. As an Alabama voter, I realise that the chances of my vote swinging the Alabama Electoral College electors to the Democrat side of the ledger are highly unlikely, ergo see item 1.
Anyway, keep at it, Todd. You and I are likely to agree on something political if we keep digging.
Man, I'm not trying to be mean here... but either you think we're all stupid, or you're being stupid. Why would you vote for someone who's not even running? Literally no one will even notice it, it absolutely did zero except waste your time, and a piece of paper by voting for Liz Cheney. There was no "ah hah" moment where people saw her name on a list after you wrote her in and people thought... "stunning and brave!" Is that an ego thing?
Originally posted by 82-T/A [At Work]: Man, I'm not trying to be mean here... but either you think we're all stupid, or you're being stupid. Why would you vote for someone who's not even running? Literally no one will even notice it, it absolutely did zero except waste your time, and a piece of paper by voting for Liz Cheney. There was no "ah hah" moment where people saw her name on a list after you wrote her in and people thought... "stunning and brave!" Is that an ego thing?
No ego thing, Todd. Not at all. Whether you think my vote was a waste of time or not means nothing to me. How I vote means something to me.
The fact that I wrote in a candidate seems to really annoy you. Out of curiosity, do you feel the same about the other ~2.5 million voters that didn’t vote for a major party candidate? I’m not the only one who wrote in another choice. Mike Pence, George W. Bush, and I suspect many other prominent republicans did the same.
Finally, Todd, I’m not being stupid and I don’t think you’re stupid either - just set in your ways and unwilling to accept or consider another person’s point of view. That’s really a shame because there’s a lot to be said about considering other points of view.
No ego thing, Todd. Not at all. Whether you think my vote was a waste of time or not means nothing to me. How I vote means something to me.
The fact that I wrote in a candidate seems to really annoy you. Out of curiosity, do you feel the same about the other ~2.5 million voters that didn’t vote for a major party candidate? I’m not the only one who wrote in another choice. Mike Pence, George W. Bush, and I suspect many other prominent republicans did the same.
Finally, Todd, I’m not being stupid and I don’t think you’re stupid either - just set in your ways and unwilling to accept or consider another person’s point of view. That’s really a shame because there’s a lot to be said about considering other points of view.
No, it doesn't annoy me... if we were talking in person you would see I'm not being rabid or frothing at the mouth. But I do think it's weird and honestly... you did waste your vote. No one will notice except you, so if there was a point you were making by it... it was completely lost. As a matter of fact, the only thing you legitimately got out of it was probably the hand exercise of writing her name in.
I mean, that's just what it is... but you do you. I don't know about the "considering other points of view." I honestly don't really care what other people do, but I do usually want to understand the psychology behind what people do, because I find that interesting.
As for your comment on the other 2.5 million voters, that's what we call a "straw man," which I think you tend to do a lot of here. No, I never said that. If you're voting for another (3rd party) candidate who's in a registered party... it at least comes up in the national tally, and most people do that as either a "protest vote" or ... even if they know they're going to lose, they do it for a show of support to encourage others the next time around (whether that works or not is debatable).
But writing in a candidate at the national level, who isn't even running or dropped out, is a waste because literally no one would even look at it. Matter of fact, it doesn't even get tabulated unless there's a discrepancy in the vote count or the percentages are close. In this case, your vote literally did not "count," but you do you man...
EDIT: Also... I'm not trying to be mean or combative... just wanted to make that clear.
[This message has been edited by 82-T/A [At Work] (edited 05-21-2025).]
But In this case, your vote literally did not "count," but you do you man...
EDIT: Also... I'm not trying to be mean or combative... just wanted to make that clear.
Who are you to say my vote did not count? Are you the conscience police? As I said, it mattered to me.
For someone not “trying to be mean or combative”, you’re certainly being insulting about how I voted. I could say the same about your vote by saying it was spent on the wrong candidate but I have not. Your vote is a personal thing and even though I don’t agree with your choice, I respect it. That said, I’ve said and commented enough.
BTW, Nixon wasn’t a bad President, just an amoral one. Still, he was much better than the current office-holder.
Who are you to say my vote did not count? Are you the conscience police? As I said, it mattered to me.
For someone not “trying to be mean or combative”, you’re certainly being insulting about how I voted. I could say the same about your vote by saying it was spent on the wrong candidate but I have not. Your vote is a personal thing and even though I don’t agree with your choice, I respect it. That said, I’ve said and commented enough.
BTW, Nixon wasn’t a bad President, just an amoral one. Still, he was much better than the current office-holder.
As for the “you do you man”, I always do.
And with that comment, I’m done with this thread.
Ok, you're taking this personally... that's not my intent, but I am trying to understand, and now you're running away.
People do things for different reasons... I don't understand the "I did it for me." People do things "for them" if it has an effect. You writing in a candidate at the national level literally does nothing. That write-in candidate vote was not recorded, and at this point, will never ever be seen by any machine. A write-in is only looked at when there are close percentages, or there is a significant number of votes where a write-in candidate occured, and then and only then do they look at them.
Basically... you wrote in whatever her name is, and it wasn't counted... 1. Because she wasn't even running as a write-in Candidate, and 2. Because there weren't enough write-in candidates for them to even bother counting them... or more specifically, they literally didn't even count the number of write-in candidates because the percentages for the two leading candidates was already greater.
I'm having a frank conversation with you, not trying to upset you... just trying to understand what you mean when you said "for you." I'm assuming then that maybe you didn't know this? When people do things, they usually want an effect. That doesn't mean they need adoration from their peers, but when you give money to a poor person, no one knows or cares, but the effect is that it helps that one person (or at least we hope it does). When you vote for a 3rd party (registered) candidate... you are at least showing "protest," which is sometimes the point. But she wasn't even running... so I don't understand the point.
My top two Presidents are Trump Reagan. Nixon would be third.
quote
Originally posted by 82-T/A [At Work]: Nixon though... one of the best presidents ever. Created the EPA, fought hard for women's rights... even initiated the creation the Privacy Act of 1974 (even though he didn't get to sign it) which has led to the cornerstone of FERPA, HIPAA, and several others that are now the mainstay.
First off, creating the EPA was a good idea. It has not turned out to be a good thing. If their ideas / regulations were voted in by Congress, okay. The same with all the alphabet agencies. Unelected bureaucrats should not make laws.
Trump's accomplishments ? Not in order of importance.
First term.
Peace maker. Abraham Accords.
Border Wall, despite Democratic resistance. They shut it down when Biden got in office. Biden chastised the he only got a small portion standing. 400 miles of our 3000 miles of Southern border. Despite much more completed fencing laying on the ground, which Biden would not allow Texas to install it on our dime. Then he sold much for pennies on the dollar.
Unprecedented Economic Boom.
Delivered a future of greater promise and opportunity for citizens of all backgrounds. DELIVERED.
Brought jobs, factories, and industries back to the USA.
Hit record stock market numbers and record 401ks.
Rebuilding and investing in rural America.
Achieved a record-setting economic comeback by rejecting blanket lock downs. (Which Biden took credit for.)
Passed $3.2 trillion in historic tax relief and reformed the tax code.
Jobs and investments poured into Opportunity Zones.
Massive Deregulation. Ended the regulatory assault on American Businesses and Workers.
Successfully rolled back burdensome regulatory overreach.
Americans more more money in their pockets.
Fair and Reciprocal Trade. Secured historic trade deals to defend American workers. Ended NAFTA and enabled the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA).
Took strong actions to confront unfair trade practices and put America First.
Historic support for American farmers.
American Energy Independence. In every presidential election since Jimmy Carter, all claimed to do that. Trump did not but achieved it anyway. By Increasing access to our country’s abundant natural resources in order to achieve energy independence.
Affordable and high-quality Child Care for American workers and their families.
Advanced women’s economic empowerment.
Ensured American leadership in technology and innovation.
Preserved American jobs for American workers and rejected the importation of cheap foreign labor.
Life-Saving Response to the China Virus. Restricted travel to the United States from infected regions of the world.
Acted early to combat the China Virus in the United States.
Re-purposed domestic manufacturing facilities to ensure front line workers had critical supplies.
Replenished the depleted Strategic National Stockpile. REPLENISHED THE DEPLETED STRATEGIC NATIONAL STOCKPILE. (Which Biden emptied trying to keep gas prices low, which he caused to go high.)
Appointed a historic number of Federal judges who will interpret the Constitution as written.
Fully enforced the immigration laws of the United States.
Ended asylum fraud, shut down human smuggling traffickers, and solved the humanitarian crisis across the Western Hemisphere. Which Biden re-enabled. ****************************************************** A lengthy but interesting read of all the facts backing up these assertions.
Not mentioned was Trump was the only US President to set foot in North Korea. He also set Iran on their knees with his sanctions, depriving them of money to fund terror organizations in the region. He also pulled us out of the Iran nuclear deal Obama agreed to (giving Iran ten years before they could have a nuclear weapon. Which started their uranium enrichment program. Similar to Biden allowing Russia a limited incursion into Ukraine).
All in his first term. I will highlight the first four months later. He got a lot done so far.
