Abraham Lincoln and Teddy Roosevelt were great Presidents. Lincoln steered us through a conflict that could have blasted this nation apart forever. Whether it was political expediency or heartfelt conviction (I believe it was both), he freed the slaves through the emancipation proclamation and brought an end to that ugly institution. Teddy was a bold decisive leader that helped vastly improve conservation efforts in this country, and he brought us into the progressive era by antitrust and other legislation.
But what has there been since in the Republican party regarding Presidential leadership?
We can disregard Harding, Coolidge and Hoover, as their disastrous policies steered us into the morass of the depression. Eisenhower was not too bad, creating the federal highway system and at least starting the space race. Nixon actually did some great initiatives, but completely undercut himself and the country with his dark, paranoid psychology that led to blatant illegalities. Reagan did have some ability to compromise and move things forward, but his rhetoric was off the charts nasty, leading to both the beginning of the decline of the middle class of this country, firing off the increasing inequality that continues to accelerate. Reagan's vile rhetoric also began the hostility that demonized the word liberal in this country and in my opinion, led to Newt Gingrich's clownish nastiness in the mid-nineties, right on through the current Tea Party madness. Bush, Sr. was a conservative but practical leader. He did an excellent job of coordinating the Gulf War, defined the objectives properly, garnered international support, and got us out quickly. He raised taxes when the needed to be raised. Bush, Jr. was by far the worst President, if not ever, at least since Franklin Pierce (of whom Barbara Bush was a descendant). To go into why would be an entire article in itself. So just accept it as my own feelings now.
So who is the best Republican President since Abraham and Teddy?
Why, President Barack Hussein Obama, of course.
He has assisted in enacting the very health plan that Republicans advocated in the nineties, that was outlined by the ultra-conservative Heritage Foundation, and successfully brought to life by Governor Romney in Massachusetts.
Although he has ended or decelerated Bushy Jr's ill-advised foreign wars, he has continued an aggressive drone program and an aggressive NSA spying program. He got Bin Laden, for God's sake. He's done more to destroy Al Quada than the previous four presidents put together.
He's cut the yearly deficit more quickly than any President since Eisenhower.
Except for the repeal of the Bush tax cuts on the wealthy, and some taxes to support the Affordable Health Care Act (again, almost focused on the wealthy), he has not raised the taxes on everyday Americans.
The stock market has more than doubled under his leadership.
His Presidency reflects the strongest values I've seen since Carter.
He has reached out to the other party more than any other President I have ever seen. It's not his fault that the opposition wants to behave like Neanderthalic thugs.
Being a committed progressive/liberal, am I disappointed in President Obama? Occasionally, yes. But he is moving the country slowly in a progressive, forward direction. As did Abraham and Teddy.
President Obama knows the most essential about being President. He knows he is not my President, or the President of the Progressive wing of the Democratic Party. He is the President of ALL the people. And I have seen him always conduct himself that way.
In reality, he does not administer as a Republican. Nor does he as a Democrat. He administers as an American, taking in the interests of all of us.
To end on his quote - "There are no red states. There are no blue states. There is only the United States of America!"
Something we should all strive to remember.
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