James Buchanan
In the Federal system designed by the Framers of the Constitution, a strong central government is supreme over states and provides revenue sharing via a redistribution of wealth when needed to meet their needs. But today, Federalism and a strong central government have become associated with "big government takeovers" and "Socialism." Currently, folks like Grover Norquist and his admirers like Paul Ryan and Mitt Romney pandering to the Far Right state we should shrink our federal government so that it is no bigger than it was in 1900. Folks, the population in the United States in 1900 was a bit over 76 Million people and we only had 45 states. What about the additional 224 Million people living in the US today (let alone the additional five states)?
So, I just thought I would list all of our presidents that today would fail to meet the approval of the Far Right because of their collective beliefs in "Big Government." Because of the sheer number of presidents, I will have to do this in "parts."
Let's start with George Washington. Washington was one of the original Federalists, so scratch him from your list. John Adams also was a Federalist, so "he gone." Ah, Thomas Jefferson, the darling of the Tea Party. Nope! What? Jefferson broke the treasury wide open when he borrowed $12 million and put the country into a serious budget deficit when he unilaterally (and without Congressional approval) went ahead with the Louisiana Purchase. Tommy was BAD! James Madison. Well, he was a supporter of states' rights and he was mentored by Jefferson. But Madison was one of the primary authors of The Federalist Papers (with Hamilton and Jay), so no matter what, he has to go too. That leads us to James Monroe. Although Monroe was a staunch Anti-Federalist, he embraced the notion that the United States government held dominion over our hemisphere by promoting a foreign policy written by his Secretary of State John Quincy Adams, better known as "The Monroe Doctrine." Well, perhaps Monroe would be acceptable, but he did spend money on expanding the institutions of the federal government by embracing the concept of nationalism. Be off with him! John Quincy Adams? Nah, too much like his dad! Andrew Jackson? No way, he hated banks and used tariffs to subdue states' rights advocates like Henry Clay and John C. Calhoun. Martin Van Buren? Are you kidding? His mentor was Jackson and he too hated banks! William Henry Harrison? He worked to extend American Imperialism in Central America after serving in the Senate. Perhaps he would have been invited to the Tea Party, but his long winded Inauguration speech left him gasping for breath. He died three weeks into his term from Pneumonia. John Tyler never wanted to be president. Perhaps that is exactly the perfect candidate for the far right wing, being a reluctant leader easily manipulated by others? Nah, Tyler left the Whig party and abandoned established political parties when he admitted he really did not want to be president anymore. He was the first president never to run for the office! James Polk? Ah, Polk, the very president some pundits have compared Mitt Romney to! Polk oversaw the expansion of the government's role with the entry into the Mexican War. Our nation expanded as a result of that war, and so did our debts. Sorry Polk, you raised taxes to fund that war, you're gone. Zachery Taylor? After serving 40 years in the military, he was a career bureaucrat! Not exactly a favorite for the Tea party...anyways, Taylor's tenure was too short to really judge his performance, unless you count his push for New Mexico and California to move directly to state status by bypassing becoming a territory first. This way he could get them into the Union and head off a potential conflict between states favoring the expansion of slavery and those opposing it. Tea Party invite? Perhaps. Millard Fillmore? Not to be confused with the Right Wing political comic strip duck Mallard Fillmore...he might have been a darling of the Tea Party because he pursued the enactment of the Fugitive Slave Act. Sorry folks, but that shoe seems to fit the Far Right today. As far as presidents go, Fillmore ranks near the very bottom. So add another one for the Tea Party presidential invitation list. Franklin Pierce? Pierce was best known allowing the Country to founder over the issue of slavery through both the Missouri Compromise and then the Kansas-Nebraska Act. Allowing states to decide for themselves led directly to bloody conflict. Definitely a Tea Party favorite! James Buchanan? He sat back and allowed the Union to dissolve before his very eyes. Definitely well dressed for the Tea Party!
So under Part I of this posting, the Tea Party would definitely favor Millard Fillmore, Franklin Pierce and James Buchanan! The one thing that links these three presidents? Their total and complete failure to do anything to preserve the Union known as the United States of America. Which leads us directly to Abraham Lincoln. We can address whether he gets an invitation in Part II. Stay tuned. Which president do you think would be invited to the Tea Party?
So, I just thought I would list all of our presidents that today would fail to meet the approval of the Far Right because of their collective beliefs in "Big Government." Because of the sheer number of presidents, I will have to do this in "parts."
Let's start with George Washington. Washington was one of the original Federalists, so scratch him from your list. John Adams also was a Federalist, so "he gone." Ah, Thomas Jefferson, the darling of the Tea Party. Nope! What? Jefferson broke the treasury wide open when he borrowed $12 million and put the country into a serious budget deficit when he unilaterally (and without Congressional approval) went ahead with the Louisiana Purchase. Tommy was BAD! James Madison. Well, he was a supporter of states' rights and he was mentored by Jefferson. But Madison was one of the primary authors of The Federalist Papers (with Hamilton and Jay), so no matter what, he has to go too. That leads us to James Monroe. Although Monroe was a staunch Anti-Federalist, he embraced the notion that the United States government held dominion over our hemisphere by promoting a foreign policy written by his Secretary of State John Quincy Adams, better known as "The Monroe Doctrine." Well, perhaps Monroe would be acceptable, but he did spend money on expanding the institutions of the federal government by embracing the concept of nationalism. Be off with him! John Quincy Adams? Nah, too much like his dad! Andrew Jackson? No way, he hated banks and used tariffs to subdue states' rights advocates like Henry Clay and John C. Calhoun. Martin Van Buren? Are you kidding? His mentor was Jackson and he too hated banks! William Henry Harrison? He worked to extend American Imperialism in Central America after serving in the Senate. Perhaps he would have been invited to the Tea Party, but his long winded Inauguration speech left him gasping for breath. He died three weeks into his term from Pneumonia. John Tyler never wanted to be president. Perhaps that is exactly the perfect candidate for the far right wing, being a reluctant leader easily manipulated by others? Nah, Tyler left the Whig party and abandoned established political parties when he admitted he really did not want to be president anymore. He was the first president never to run for the office! James Polk? Ah, Polk, the very president some pundits have compared Mitt Romney to! Polk oversaw the expansion of the government's role with the entry into the Mexican War. Our nation expanded as a result of that war, and so did our debts. Sorry Polk, you raised taxes to fund that war, you're gone. Zachery Taylor? After serving 40 years in the military, he was a career bureaucrat! Not exactly a favorite for the Tea party...anyways, Taylor's tenure was too short to really judge his performance, unless you count his push for New Mexico and California to move directly to state status by bypassing becoming a territory first. This way he could get them into the Union and head off a potential conflict between states favoring the expansion of slavery and those opposing it. Tea Party invite? Perhaps. Millard Fillmore? Not to be confused with the Right Wing political comic strip duck Mallard Fillmore...he might have been a darling of the Tea Party because he pursued the enactment of the Fugitive Slave Act. Sorry folks, but that shoe seems to fit the Far Right today. As far as presidents go, Fillmore ranks near the very bottom. So add another one for the Tea Party presidential invitation list. Franklin Pierce? Pierce was best known allowing the Country to founder over the issue of slavery through both the Missouri Compromise and then the Kansas-Nebraska Act. Allowing states to decide for themselves led directly to bloody conflict. Definitely a Tea Party favorite! James Buchanan? He sat back and allowed the Union to dissolve before his very eyes. Definitely well dressed for the Tea Party!
So under Part I of this posting, the Tea Party would definitely favor Millard Fillmore, Franklin Pierce and James Buchanan! The one thing that links these three presidents? Their total and complete failure to do anything to preserve the Union known as the United States of America. Which leads us directly to Abraham Lincoln. We can address whether he gets an invitation in Part II. Stay tuned. Which president do you think would be invited to the Tea Party?
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