bill clinton of course

JFK and Bill Clinton. thats why we need to put Hillary Clinton in the whithouse in 08. With her and President Bill Clinton could clean up (bush’b) mess. that was the good days. when we didn’t have to worry who was taking care of us. the younger generation don’t give a dang. they think everyday is party time….vote clinton 08……. thelma lancaster,ky.

Abraham Lincoln. He fought for a united country and at this time, when we are so divided, we need somone who has principles and is a unifier.

Jim
Chicago, IL

Bill Clinton, Because I felt that this country was moving forward. Everything that the Republicans represent is a throw back to the Dark Ages. The War in iraq is Dark. The War in Afghanistan is Dark. People not earning what is their true value, is Dark. Trying to take rights away from women is Dark. Trying to take rights away from people of color is Dark. John McCain as a candidate for President is Dark.
I don’t want to go back into the Dark Jack, I say bring Bill back!!!
Patricia,
Palmdale, Ca.

I have to say Bill Clinton. He was one of a few politicians who seemed to understand what it was like to live on $20,000 per year with 4 kids and many of his policies took that into consideration. Unfortunately I don’t think Hillary communicates the same sentiment. If you people would throw out that stupid rule which does not allow anyone to serve more than 8 years I believe MR Clinton would still be president. The American people should be able to decide how long someone can serve 1-100 years not some timeable

Not one but a combination of Jefferson and Honest Abe. I believe they were decent guys that did well under trying circumstances along with FDR. It would be hard to pick one to deal with the mess this country is in from decades of Republican and Democratic rule and nattering nabobs of liberal and conservative war at the expense of “We the People.”

George Washington. He knew how the English and their religion did to politics and he knew that was not the way too go and as you see religion is trying to get their bed back in politics.

I think Franklin Roosevelt could probably clean up this financial mess and restore our country to full employment. He was attacked by conservatives for his social programs, just like Democrats today are attacked. But his programs worked, and to this day they help stabalize our economy and prevent economic chaos such as the Great Depression. But in this political climate, he would be ‘Swift Boated’ righty off the campaign trail.

F.D.R.although he was a Democrat he pulled us out of the depresion,formed the C.C.C.and got a lot of infrastructure installed.We need a desalintion plant built on the west coast to help with the water problem on Lk. Mead.All our roads and bridges need an upgrade TheWPA was not the best of programs,BUT IT WORKED.I voted Rep.for the last 54 years but the last 7 years have turned me OFF.VIVA INDEPENDANTS.

Forgot to add where I am from I would pick Bill Clinton in a heartbeat!!!
Nina
Arkansas

I would have to pick President Kennedy because when times got tuff during the Cuban missile crises, he got this country through this potential mess without starting WWIII. When it came to inspiration and uplifting the country, Kennedy used his position as President better than anyone since President Franklin D Roosevelt. He set goals for this country to achieve, like the space race to the moon, that brought this country together for a common goal not unlike that during WWII.

Mike McKibben
Lady Lake, Fl

I would not wish that burden on anyone. There is no way to compare today with yesterday. It will not bring back lives lost and it will not solve anything.Those former presidents did not have what we have today nor can we go back to just what we had then. We can learn from the past and can try and anticipate the future but we can’t predict it nor should we even try. The best we can do is take one day at a time and at the end of that day hope that the politicians that we have entrusted our hopes and dreams and futures in do not fail us. Face it Jack, voting for a president is very similar to believing in God. You just have to have faith!

FDR; he had what Senator Obama has, the guts and determination to right the ship of state. And Eleanor Roosevelt was every bit as good as Michelle Obama, every bit. Eleanor said, “The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams.” I wish the Obamas and America every success, but I doubt we’ll see the like of the Roosevelts again. They were God’s gift in our next to darkest hour.

Theodor Rosevelt ! He was the only president that had America thinking about America and could care less about trying to resolve other countries problems. It it benefited the American people go for it. If it didn’t Who cares.

I think an combination of John F Kennedy and Bill Clinton is needed. With these two running this country, they could fix a lot of what the Bush Regime has done as well as undoing Gitmo, warrantless wiretaps and the such. It is sad that the current Administration would rather use fear to make people give into their inane and potentially illegal demands. Jack, it may take every past President to undo the destruction that George W. Bush has unleashed not only on this country, but the world as well.

Let’s pretend that we’re four years from now and “bring back Obama”.

Jack
Dont laugh, I would chose Dick Nixon, with a strong economic person as his VP along with Henry the K as his secratary of State. There was no one better with foreign policy than Dick Nixon, his only problem was he wanted to be King.

Jack if it was me I would pick Harry S. Truman. He was a president who was not afraid to make decisions that a new was right but not popular. He dropped the bomb on Japan be cause it would save America millions of lives. He fired a war hero for disobeying his orders. They came down hard on him for that one but later on in history he was proven right. He was a president who wouldn’t use double talk to save his butt. He was a man that you knew exactly where he stood when he talked. He was the man who made the phrase the buck stops here popular. That in itself should tell you a lot about the man and his character. I was just a baby when he president, but he was the man that made me interested in reading history.

past president would be jack kennedy or roosevelt, franklin

Jack,

it would definately be Theodore Roosevelt because he busted the monopolistic corporations in Oil, Manufacturing and Transportation that were robbing working people and was a friend to labor which allowed workers to form Unions and lead to the rise of the great Middle Class in America. he also formed the Food and Drug Administration which gave people some assurance that their food supply was safe and was a great early conservationist who stopped the wholesale destruction of public lands by the mining and lumber interests.

considering the amount of power major corporations and their lobbyists now have in Washington, we could use another Teddy Roosevelt NOW!!!

The main show horse: JFK

Jack, It would have to be JFK. The younger generations already feels the excitement by Sen Obama that brings and the older generation felt it previously w/JFK. JFK was an influential leader with the same charisma that Sen Obama brings to the table. That’s a magnetic trigger to bring parties together - because everybody wins & moves in a positive direction (and Lord knows this country needs it now more than ever after these last 7 years)

Nobody’s mentioned Tony Blair!

My choice would be John Adams. Here was a man who believed in LEADING, something this country hasn’t seen in it’s elected officials for quite some time. He didn’t take the country’s pulse in order to know where he should stand; he took it to see how much work he needed to do in order to convince the people his position was right. What a concept, eh?

Dan NY

Time and a place, today, Bill Clinton. We have lost respect around the world, economy is tanking. Eight years of Clinton ended better than 18 months of George W. Bush. Truman had his day, Kennedy was the man for the times as was Lincoln and FDR. Today it would be Clinton.

Jack,

No question, either Gerald R. Ford or Ike, they brought civility to our world, something we are in dire need of today. However it would take a second coming of Jesus to restore civility to you folks in the drive-by media!

Someone like Thomas Jefferson, who would actually remember that we have a constitution to follow.

It would be Abe Lincoln. Lincoln lived with the wounded soilders instead of the White House for a large part of his service to this country. If he had not been killed, he had learned so much about all of the people that he governed while he was in office that the minorities of our country would not have suffered so much for the next 150 years. I believe that he would bring distinction to the office of President today.

I have two choices who are very much alike so it’s hard for me to choose. President Kennedy and President Clinton. They were both so much alike in their thinking and what they wanted to do for the people of this country. They actually cared about the citizens of this country, they were genuine. They were both very intelligent people. They were the “people’s president.s.”

Jack, the way we are in today’s world right now, it seems that we need to put an end to war and to start all over again. We would need someone like George Washington to get us out of a mess and restore the constitution, along with checks and balances back into this country. He would be ashamed of what is going on with this nation and its current problems.

Lincoln, Clinton, Truman, Kennedy, Roosevelt — jeez, Jack, you do ask tough questions!

But as a member in good standing of the ultra conservative right wing fanatical retards (UCRWFT) I submit the name of Hoobert Heever -er, ah, Hebert Herverr — damn, whoever he was - wasn’t he a stamp collector or something before he saved the nation? No more restrictions on capitalism!!! Down with common sense!!! Fanaticize!!!

Hold me back, Jack, I’m on a roll.

We need an FDR for 2 reasons
1. to make the hard social decisions and implement more humane programs.
2. The US people loved him - elected 4 times.

harry truman, he had the balls to use the big bomb,
and it got results.

bowling green,mo.

JFK - Last time I really felt we had a leader.

Hey Jack
We have to bring back Harry Truman, my main political hero. I’m not the first commentor to suggest this. However, Truman’s appeal is that throughout his life, he always took a licking and got right back up and started fighting again. Sure, his political career was bouyed by old fashioned machine politics, but once he was in position, he had the guts to stand up for what he believed and tried to act on it.
Truman was also willing to change his mid when he was wrong on an issue. Where has that concept gone in the political arena?

I think FDR would be the best man for the job, even in this day and age. That was a president who knew how to bring about change and progress through unity and consensus during a time of war and a challenging economic situation.

We should definitely pick a dead President to lead this country since he does not has any life in him to do anything. That way we can watch the country continue its course and become a third world country like any other. This will surely give Americans something to think about and they will be facing a few dilemmas third world countries are currently facing. In doing so, Americans will look at it as a wake up call and every citizen will make an effort in making this country better than how it is today.

FDR, JFK, Bill, and Abe. In that order. I hear alot about the “evil” Republican party, and even though I’m technically a Democrat, I still have to say that it’s not the Republican party that’s evil, the original ideas are almost what this country was founded on: small government, small taxes. The problem is with modern Republicans who distort “Republican” to “conservative.” Who am I talking about? That’s right: Down with Reagan and his followers.

John F. Kennedy of course! He rallied the American people, it would be nice to remember what it feels like to have the people represented instead of Corp. America. Oh, for the good ole days!!!!!!

Without a doubt Bill Clinton, he paid down the debt, created a surplus after Regean and Bush letf this country in bad shape. Had some of the best relations with world leaders and was well respected around the world. But the best question is who is the worse President in the history of the U.S.A that would be none other then george bush.

I just couldn’t resist. Eleanor Roosevelt, who was the driving force behind FDR’s domestic policies, would be my first choice.

JACK’ once again you are asking a simple question, JOHN F. KENNEDY is without a doubt the best president that this country has ever had. The sad part about that is the fact that he did not even get to finish out his term. What does that say about the rest of the president’s that did, some even had two terms and what do we have to show for that, Please dont get me started!

With the legacy of greed,incompetence, dishonesty,and death this administration will be leaving behind this country is going to need somebody to restore it’s peoples faith in its government once again. That person would have to understand that is what his purpose is at this moment in history and he would have to subjegate his own and his partys agenda to do what was right for the country and it’s citizenry. Gerald Ford was the right man at the right time after the last disgraced republican administration, and he would be the man to restore this countrys faith in decency once again.

“The things that will destroy America are prosperity-at-any-price, peace-at-any-price, safety-first instead of duty-first, the love of soft living, and the get-rich-quick theory of life.”
-Teddy Roosevelt

He’d get my vote.

I would pick Franklin Roosevelt for two reasons. First, his relationship with the business leaders of his day was always give and take. He was pro business, as long as the big shots acted in the best interests of the country at large. He needed and enlisted the help of business leaders to get his programs and his war to work out. Secondly, he had a conscience. Her name was Eleanor. She was the ultimate lobbyist. She lobbied on behalf of the poor, the unemployed, the hungry. She gave power to their voice and kept after her husband to get things done. Maybe we should reinvent the role of the first lady along those lines, instead of the hostess-decorator-pet project role that has evolved. (Or devolved)

The last President to lead this country through a global crisis was FDR. I don’t agree with his liberal socialist agenda but he fixed the depression and he won WWII. It was over by the time he died so I don’t give Truman any credit. Weak Democrat and Republican presidents got us into the depression. It took a bold democrat to get us out. Obama needs to fight McCain by reminding Americans that if we stand together we have “nothing to fear but fear itself”. Obama can unite us. McCain and Clinton divide us.

FDR, Clinton, Carter, or … Lyndon Johnson (without Vietam). Most people forget (or try to not remember) that LBJ was the one who got the civil rights bills passed, plus a ton of anti-poverty legislation. It was NOT John Kennedy - he did little except get us through the Cuban Missile Crisis, which his failed Bay of Pigs invasion might have partly triggered.

But through the media lens, JFK has become the great president, anyway. He was mostly style and scant substance - it appears however, that many Americans value that combination - I have no clue as to why.

Bill Clinton. Period. The great uniter. And if we can’t have him, I will happily settle for his wife!

I am writing from German:

JFK , because he “was a Berliner”, and with this, saying that he was embracing even his former enemies!

Today, there is only one person who is prepared to reach out and who will unite people from all backgrounds, countries and colours and this is: Senator Obama

Anybody Jack? The answer is simple. Thomas Jefferson. He abhorred large centralized government. The government belonged to the people. Get it Jack: The government belogned To The People. Cool concept huh?

The country is so badly damaged that we would need two of them: Eisenhower and Kennedy. Eisenhower, because he would get us out of that BS in Iraq as quickly and sanely as possible, and Kennedy so he can rebuild the economy to what it was in the mid 1960’s. Although both of them would do it with tears in their eyes.

I would pick Thomas Jefferson, because he was a free thinker and would be able to stand up to the religious right who have been making themselves so obnoxious of late. Then we could make some progress with stem cell research and other areas that have been repressed over the past 7 years.

I would have to agree with Alan Greenspan when he said something to the effect without quoting, that Bill Clinton and Richard Nixon were the best presidents to work with because they both understood economics in ways that no other president understood. Sure, they both had scandal, but it’s about what they brought to the table.

Don’t tell Bill Clinton, he only got 13% percent. The poor guy would lose it for sure. As to the question, a combination of FDR and Jimmy Carter sound good sprinkled with a bit of Ronald Regan - just a little bit of Regan though…..

I would have to say F.D.R. I am old enough to remember him, and the things he did for this country. I remember the W.P.A. which constructed things like military bases and I remember the Civilian Conservation Corps which put people like my uncle to work in maintaining our national parks. There was also the Tennessee Valley Authority which built dams to provide electricity to many people. Many of the people he put to work would probably have starved if not for these and other programs his administration instituted. He also started the social security program which, even though it goes through lean times, provides for many of us today. Try to imagine what it would have been like if the Republicans (like a George Bush) had been elected. He also brought our country together in world war 2. with his words like “WE HAVE NOTHING TO FEAR BUT FEAR ITSELF” Imagine something like that from W.

JACK, The Clinton years were very good years. Bill Clinton had his personal problems but he was a super president for the people. Obama’s message of hope blows away in the political winds but Hillary is the “MAKE IT HAPPEN” candidate.

Jack,
How about Presidential hopefulls? This country missed out on a huge opportunity the day Bobby Kennedy was shot. There is alot of well deserved hype over JFK but what about the things his brother invisioned for this country. If I had to choose between 43 Presidents I would pick the one who could have been great, the one who never was.

I wholeheartly concur with everything Bill from Quarryville, Pa, said about Harry Truman, I could not say it any plainer than he did about Mr. Truman. I am currently reading “Where The Buck Stops. The Personal and Private Writing of Harry S. Truman”. A fascinating read and a real insight and perspective on the Presidency. He not only knew how to be President, he knew what a President was supposed to do and he did it.

Thomas Jefferson because it would be good to have a person who understood the Constitution of the United States and one who understood that the greatest threat to individual liberty and freedom comes NOT from terrorists and the like but from an unrestrained out-of-control federal government.

Eisenhower, because he knew how to work accrose the isle with the great speaker Tip O’neal and Republican leader Everret Dirkson.
You see Jack, these leaders were leaders they did what was best for Americans not themself’’s.

Ronald Reagan with out a doubt 4 years of Hillary or Obama and everyone will be screaming for Bush.

Bill Clinton - Jack this is obvious as this was one of the most prosperous periods in our history. That is why we need Hillary to get in and clean up after yet another Bush.

We are in this position because of Bill Clinton. I don’t believe Bush is taking us in the right direction, but Bill Clinton is just as much to blame - cutting the military, cutting intelligence funding, not getting Bin Ladin when he could. It is always easy to look back at a President in a positive light that for 8 years fostered evil throughout the world towards the US but just happened to not be in office when it all went down.

I am an Eisenhower fan.

It would have to be Bill Clinton of course; not because he who he was but moreso the times that were associated with his Presidency; rising employment, good jobs, lower deficits and happier times ahead. Unfortunately it seems now that whomever assumes the role next year, everything will moving in the opposite direction.

I think either McCain or Clinton could get us on the right track as each has worked across the aisle in the past. Let’s hope!

Eric
Toronto

My choice for bringing back a former president would be Harry Truman. At least he knew where the buck stopped.

Eisenhower, He warned about foreign entanglements. I bet he could figure out how to deal with these zealots blowing everything and everybody up.

Without hesitation, Bill Clinton. He eliminated the national debt once, and his wife, who is as (or more) competent than he, can do it again.

Thomas Jefferson - if you have to question why, do some research. Here’s a hint - the US Constitution.

Like some others have said, I’d pick Thomas Jefferson. At least he knows what the Constitution is… better yet, he was there to write the thing and would know better than anyone else what they actually intended with it.

Jefferson - we need someone who actually believed in smaller federal power and more states rights.

Why wouldn’t we take one from the past, at least it would a sound choice given their record and accomplishments. The current one has done absolutely nothing to point this country in the right direction!
We are becoming a laughing stock to a lot of different countries.
The Clinton’s have it, together or past separately.

Bill, so let’s get on with it!

If I could turn back time I would choose Lincoln so I could see my great grandfather drive Lincoln via horse and buggy to the 1st Lincoln-Douglas debate.

Mary from Florida (ex Illinois resident)

Good ol’ Teddy Roosevelt.

Everyone has seemed to of forgotten about him, but he was a great reformist and progressive today while pushing the “green movement”, not only that but he was an ideal American hero, and he truly knew how to work big stick diplomacy vs. bush’s 21st century spin.

None of the above. All those past presidents got us to these troubled times. We need new blood, not old dried up blood.

How about the Continental Congress? I’m not sure how much positive impact a president can have but we all know what they can do to screw things up. I’d rather bring them back and have them see what’s happened to this dream of theirs. The side benefit being they could finally put the 2nd Amendment issue to rest.

I would choose Harry Truman. He knew how to protect our country and was a fiscal hawk. He didn’t care what people thought and was not full of himself. His job was working for the people of the United States. He always took responsibility for his actions in saying, “The Buck Stops Here.”

No love for Chester A. Arthur?

I would like to see Bill Clinton re-elected into office. The period of time spent under former President Clinton was a prosperious one. We were not in a borderline recession, and the jobs were becoming plentiful. Bill Clinton for President is what I say.

Cindy–Gladstone, MO

Bill Clinton. Paid down the debt, choice, economic growth and US pride.

Dwight Eisenhower, with enough time to get up to speed on history and current politics. Dwight was a more than capable military leader and a moderate who warned us of the dangers of the military-industrial complex. With his experience I think he could lead us away from the quagmire of current US foreign policy, make the military realize they serve the citizens and return to a more moderate leadership style not beholden to the extremes of liberalism or conservatism.

The Bull Moose, Theodore Roosevelt. We need a good mix of no-nonsense foreign policy, strong environmental conservatism, progressive social reforms, and tough anti-corporate interest policy to weather the challenges placed on our country and make sure the United States is a place worth living in for future generations.

Grover Cleveland and Chester A. Arthur with a little visit from Jimmy Carter should make McCain the power runner we need in this country.
NY, NY

Ronald Reagan without a doubt. He defeated the USSR and gave people a reason to have Pride in America again.

The two Roosevelts are at the top of the list of Presidents in both foreign and domestic policy. I would go with TR, whose domestic policy experience fighting big business speaks more to current problems than FDR’s experience with the Great Depression.

And give him LBJ as vice-president, to help move universal health care through the Congress. But keep him away from foreign policy!

Of course, Madison might be better suited for the challenge of rebuilding Iraq and Afghanistan. He’s one of the most brilliant political thinkers in history, after all. Federalist 10 and 52 should be required reading in high school.

If you want Bill back, vote for Hillary!

Woodrow Wilson - kept us out of WWI for as long as he could until he had absolutely no choice, and understood what it meant to send American boys to war and to bring them home.

He also created the Federal Reserve, created the FTC, and implemented a progressive income tax and lower tarrifs.

The guy understood what it meant to be the Commander-in-Chief and the Economist-in-Chief, and he generally knew how to work with Congress (League of Nations debacle notwithstanding)

James Madison…he had more insight into how to help set up a nation then most people realize.

Bill Clinton would be the only past president that I could consider, When you thinks of the prosperity that we enjoyed during his tenure He lead this country and had to continue to fight with the republicans all the way, and still done a better job than any of them could do.

Bob

The guy that got us out of the great depression, established Social Security, reformed the stock market, and banking systems. and led America through WW11. Just to name a few of Roosevelt’s accomplishments. Of course there’s the guy who ran up a three trillion dollar debt, and led us through the war with Grenada. And Reagan was a nice guy, but he just didn’t have the challenges FDR had.

Jerry Wilson

Jack,
That will be JFK!!!
but I can tell you something else…. anyone but Clinton!!!!!! Anyone!!!!
We have the opportunity to choose a president like JFK let the politics of the past stay on the history books!!!!!!

Although he wasn’t a president, he should have been: Barry Goldwater. Or JFK, because he was young, handsome, and was assassinated, so everybody loves him

Nixon of course!

Teddy Roosevelt had the superficial bluster that so many Americans love today, but he also had the brains to understand the long term implications of conservation and economic policies that allow a veritable open season on the public domain such as we face today.
We need a leader who understands the difference between fascism and true free market capitalism, and that the problem is seldom too many capitalists but too few.

thomas jefferson - to a bishop of the catholic church in 1802 “Believing with you that religion is a matter which lies solely between man and his God, that he owes account to none other for his faith or his worship, that the legitimate powers of government reach actions only, and not opinions, I contemplate with sovereign reverence that act of the whole American people which declared that their “legislature” should “make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof,” thus building a wall of separation between church and State. Adhering to this expression of the supreme will of the nation in behalf of the rights of conscience, I shall see with sincere satisfaction the progress of those sentiments which tend to restore to man all his natural rights, convinced he has no natural right in opposition to his social duties.”

I like a man who values the constitution above his own principles

Theodore Roosevelt. Nobody used the bully pulpit like Teddy.

Teddy Roosevelt was a champion of American and the American people…..Abe Lincoln made the tough unpopular decisions…….George Washington and Thomas Jefferson are Giants of our origin…..Throw in Andrew Jackson for some flair and bring them all back!!!! We need them all!!!!

Ronald Reagan.

Ronald Regan - We are a stronger country because of his administration

I would have to go with James K. Polk. A generally underrated President who was able to successfully get done what he set out to do, helping to expand the country in the process. He was able to successfully balance the budget and lead our country through war. Plus, he does have experience in being able to bring the country back up following the Presidency of a largely criticized and incompetent predecessor.

I think we should bring back William Henry Harrison. I feel he would have been a great president had he lasted more than 30 days, which is exactly how long GWB should have lasted. Let’s have Harrison take another chane, and for Pete’s sake bring a coat this time.

I would have to say Bill Clinton, he was a great leader and left office with a $8 trillion surplus. Too bad that was destroyed by the great commander in cheif we have now.

If I were an American I would want JFK to be back in the White House.

The United Stated needs a JFK or a Pierre Elliot Tredeau (Canada’s Greatest Prime Minister).

hands down in a runaway, Harry Truman.

The buck (really did) stop there!

Millard Fillmore. He did nothing when nothing was the thing to do, then disappeared from history.

Abraham Lincoln:

Less experienced than Obama,
Less educated than Huckabee
Less ideologcally coherent than McCain
More divisive than Clinton

However, he had a vision of what America could be, the practical intelligence to see the world as it was, and the political abilities to work with us to bring it about.

James K. Polk. Our next president needs to have a low profile and actually speak through accomplishments, not rhetoric. Polk accomplished a lot of amazing things in his presidency that shaped America, but he didn’t bother with the flowery speeches and thus isn’t remembered as a “great” president today. Give me another Polk, not another Reagan or Clinton.

Bring back: President Dwight D Eisenhower. Honest, strong, shunned being in the spot light. Loved his country. Warned us of the mess we are in today with Military-Industrial-Congressional complex now in full control. We were warned but here we are.
Bill

Texas

Bill Clinton hands down!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Millard Fillmore

Just because I like the name…

NC

FDR…and here is why.History has a way of repeating itself.
Franklin Delano Roosevelt was elected president while the nation was in the depths of the Great Depression. Prior to his election, factories closed, farms faced foreclosures, banks failed and unemployment soared. He gave back to our discouraged nation a sense of faith and hope, stating in his Inaugural address, “the only thing we have to fear is fear itself.”
Roosevelt is known for creating the New Deal during the Great Depression of the 1930s to provide relief for the unemployed, recovery of the economy and reform of the economic system. He energized the Democratic Party and initiated the Social Security System. He ended isolationism and worked closely with allies during World War II.
Despite his great achievements in history, Roosevelt had his naysayers. Some businessmen and bankers turned against Roosevelt’s New Deal program. They disliked that he had taken the nation off the gold standard and most of all, were appalled at his concessions to labor. His response was an enormous work relief program for the unemployed, Social Security and heavier taxes on the wealthy. It is doubtful these actions would have flown in the recent past.
Roosevelt tried to avoid war when Hitler attacked Poland in 1939 but doubted America could stay neutral for long. The Japanese surprise attack on Pearl Harbor followed by Germany’s and Italy’s declarations of war against the US brought us into World War II. But from war, Roosevelt set the foundation for the United Nations and hopes for lasting worldwide peace.

i would like to bring back Ronald Reagan who would be run out of town because his policies would not hold up to the conservative litmus put forth by the Limbaugh crowd today.

Jack,

It sure would NOT be Bill Clinton - disgraced the Presidencey. It would have to Reagan and/or Lincoln.

I read through approximately 20 comments, confirming my belief that the country is still infested with stupidity. This country needs Bill Clinton again like Custer needed Geronimo ( I know, he already got Sitting Bull and Crazy Horse). Maybe Hillary will be elected and give us the equivalent of all three plus Cochise.
Steve
East Williston, NY

FDR! I’m sick and tired of Bush/Cheney’s “Be Afraid…be very afraid!”
(and surrender your liberties to us to be safer…trust us!). We need a president who really believes in the greatness and strength of America and can say, with conviction, “All we have to fear is fear itself.” This attitude got us through a depression and defeated Fascism. If our leaders let us, it will take care of Al Qeda as well.

anybody but Bush pleaseeeeeee. Michael Jackson would be a better president.

Bill Clinton Ofcourse………..

Truman. This president was not afraid to go after corporations who raped the American taxpayers with excessive and inflated prices during WWII.

We need someone with that courage to go after the Halliburton’s and others who have squandered taxpayer money on waste in Iraq. Billions and billions of wasted dollars. They should be treated like other traitors are: to the gallows!

Bill Clinton, of course…not a saint, major draft-dodger, not probably someone I’d like as a person, i.e,. invite over for dinner, etc…, but, he got things done, pure and simple…no deficit, american servicemen and women weren’t dying for a war that was lied about, strong economy, fairly solid diplomatic relations with most of the world….just a very effective administrator…..

Bill Clinton!!! I have voted for G. W. Bush the last two elections and am kicking the crap out of myself for it now! The Clinton years were the most prosperous years of my life and the best financial years this country has seen for a LONG, LONG time. So what he had some “personal issues” and maybe some pretty big morality issues…like George Walker doesn’t!!! I think Hill’s gonna do a FINE job and I can’t wait to see a woman in the White House! I wouldn’t mind seeing John Edwards as her VP either! Let’s go Democrats! And I’m a LONG time voting Republican and now ashamed to admit it!!!

I would say JFK. I am only a college student right now, so I was not even a glimmer in my parents eyes when he was elected. When Kennedy was elected, it was a changing of the guard from one generation to the next, and I feel that this is where we are now. To me Barack Obama is that change, and is exactly why I will vote for him, he is part of the next generation that will lead this country and have the unfortunate job of cleaning up after the “conservatives” that left this country in shambles. Clinton may have trashed the White House, but Bush trashed the entire country.

Abraham Lincoln. I think the inscription on his memorial pretty much sums it up:

In this temple, as in the hearts of the people, for whom he saved the union, the memory of Abraham Lincoln, is enshrined forever.

William Henry Harrison!

None of them. The challenges of 2008 are different from any in the past. We need as our next President someone who’s prepared to meet those challenges without the burden of his or her past battles. For the sake of our country, we need our next President to break through the political stalemate and help re-establish bi-partisanship. That’s our only hope for real progress and candidates with old enemies still seeking to even the score won’t get that chance.

Franklin Delano Roosevelt should return from the grave to be President…again. Elected four times, he was a man who loved the United States and had the wisdom to lead it successfully through the most trying period in our country’s economic history AND through the most important war in the history of the world. Kudos to Mr. Roosevelt for demonstrating extraordinary capability as the leader of the free world.

I WOULD DAY THAT FRANKLIN ROOSEVELT WOULD BE THE MAN…HIS ACCOMPLISHMENTS IN OFFICE GO WAY BEYOND WHAT A LOT OF OTHER PRESIDENTS DID…HE BROUGHT US THROUGHT A DEPRESSION AND A WORLD WAR….THIS WOULD BE NOTHING FOR HIM…AS IN ALL PRESIDENCIES THE PEOPLE HE HAS BEHIND HIM ARE JUST AS IMPORTANT AS THE PERSON RUNNING THE SHOW…

I’ll say Grover Cleveland. At least he’s been through it before; i.e., was elected, then defeated and elected to a second non-consecutive term.

I’d have to go with Garfield. The way I look at it, even a talking cat can do better than what we have now.

Bill Clinton of course. no need to say more.

George Washington, of course. Who better to take it back and get it started right all over again? We need old school back in this country, and we need it yesterday. I’m 38 and still have never registered to vote, and don’t plan on it for at least the next four years. No candidate has been worth my time to register thus far. Not with what they’ve spewed to my fellow Americans, no way.

Jefferson…..although in today’s idiotic climate he would be too unelectable because he was a free thinker. The right-wingers would never stand for anyone who would not kiss their butts.

With permanent trade status with China, GATT and NAFTA international free trade agreements, it took a few years, but now we all see its results with all the manufacturing jobs gone offshore but it was all Bush and Bill Clinton. Why do we want him back? You or your neighbor probably lost thier job because of Clinton. I thought manufacturing base states like Ohio, MI an PA would have little support for Hillary, are we all really that forgetful of who caused all this?

Why not make it Morning Again in America…bring back Ronald Reagan!!! He brought us out of the Carter years when we had a misery index, rationed gasoline, and a “crisis of confidence.” If anyone could make Americans feel good to be Americans again, it is Mr. Reagan!

As is so often the case, we must re-visit the lessons of history lest we pay the price of repeating past mistakes. During a time of war and economic uncertainty during which the very principles of our democratic republic are under seige from the government formed to protect them, we need a president of integrity, courage, and values. We need a man who did not surrender to fear nor flee from adversity. A man who saw the presidency as a humbling honor, not a stepping stone to personal glory or power. A man who recognized that the government’s role was to protect the rights and freedoms of men, not to dictate their daily affairs. We need a strong president to fight out foes abroad and limit the power of government at home. We need George Washington.

While normally I don’t think it is good to revisit the past, if we had the chance to have a past president back in the saddle, it would be Bill Clinton. We didn’t have a war and we didn’t have the financial problems we have under this administration.

I’m voting for Hilary because I believe she was involved in Bill’s presidency, and we need her experience and perspective. In addition, we’ll get Bill: two for the price of one.

Bill Clinton cleaned up the first Bush’s mess, and I believe it is going to take both Clintons to get our country back on the right track after the last eight years.

William Henry Harrison. We need a President who will have the courage to die 31 days into his/her term. Seriously, I think this would help demonstrate the complete absurdity of the 2 year campaign cycle. It’s not that I want any of the current candidates to win then almost immediately die, but I think the shock to the American political landscape might do us good. That and…this is a patently ridiculous question to begin with and it deserves an equally ridiculous answer.

I wouldn’t bring anyone back for another term. It’s time to look forward, not backward. I don’t want things to be as good as they were in Clinton years, I want them to be better. I’ll take a president who will aim higher than ever before while making a few mistakes along the way before I’ll take someone who will try to make things only as good as they were.

Teddy Roosevelt - “Walk softly and carry a big stick”. And he had a feel for the environment that no subsequent president has had.

US ex-pat - N. Ontario, Canada

I’ll second the following pair:

Abraham Lincoln (President) / Thomas Jefferson (VP)

This would truly be an excellent pairing, their differences would offset the areas they were over-zealous.

FDR for “Secretary of State”

Bill Clinton, with everything that the republicans tried to pin on him, he and Hillary came thru it. He left office with money for Bush to squander. Isn’t it funny how people chose dead presidents and then Bill Clinton? If Hillary is elected, he will be her sounding board just as she was his. They worked as a team. You get two minds for the price on one. I have no doubt that she would make the final decisions. She isn’t new to the polical arena. She wasn’t a sit at home wife who volunteers for good causes. She wanted to get into the middle of things.

Calvin Coolidge - He obviously didn’t get enough time to secure his legacy!

The idea of looking back is kind of counter-productive; we need to get away from these dynasties. But seeing as this is just an exercises I think I would have to go with JFK. Granted his father was a politician as well, but this country needs the kind of energy JFK had. We need to get all the people off the apathetic box and back into caring about our government. A government by the people and for the people requires the participation of the people. I think Obama’s success is a tribute to that, and its why I selected JFK for this exercise.

Abraham Lincoln - he was confronted with the worst crisis this country has ever faced - the possible disintegration of the union. He made mistakes, but he had the humility to learn from them. He also had the self confidence to bring dissenting voices into his Administration. We need a non-partisan leader of his stature to level with the American people and help us face huge problems that have been left to fester for 20 years.

Bill Clinton, because he brought us peace and prosperity and enjoyed world-wide respect, which still remains. He captured, tried and convicted and sent to prison the first terrorists to bomb the WTC! We would be fortunate to have him back in the White House!! Only the Republicans revile him because he did what they could NOT and are scared to death that Hillary will bring back BILL, and together they would clean up the mess that Bush ‘43 has dumped on us!!

Thomas Jefferson because he was a forward thinker and embodied the very ideals this nation was founded upon. He could have adapted to present day situations easily.

Bill Clinton, by all means. He kept the economy strong — even built up a surplus — kept us out of war — and other countries loved the guy & were more trusting of America back then.

Teddy Roosevelt without a doubt. I don’t know how people can say Bill Clinton - he was no better than average at best. We need someone to level the playing field and take on the special interests that are ruining this country to make a fortune for themselves.

Of the modern presidents, I would bring back Bill Clinton. Like all presidents, he made mistakes and we know what those were. That being said, he was a pragmatist; he was able to rebalance the budget and produce a surplus, even with a Republican Congress. He kept us out of major wars, was pursuing Bin Laden and understood the fine line between maintaining security and eroding civil liberties. I would also bring back someone who should have been President, Alexander Hamilton. In many ways, he was more the father of our modern US government than Washington, particularly our banking system.

Joanne, Arlington, VA

Dwight D. Eisenhower. Many people refer to the time that he presided over as the golden age. He was never really recognized for what he did. Under him we had a strong economy, no war, and advancement in civil rights. He didn’t bring us Nafta, debt, unnecessary war. He even warned us against the military industrial complex. He was a strong experienced leader that really made this country great. I’m sure if he was alived today, he’d be disgusted by what this country has become.

We should re-elect FDR. He showed great restraint involving this country in a war that did not directly affect us. He also had the vision to look “outside the politcal box” to come up with solutions, however temporary to help solve economic issues in our country. I don’t agree with all of the interanl policies that he implemented but at least he tried things to help the country turn around on a much better path than it was when he took office in 1932. All I see out of the Presidents today, including the current set of sheep running is they do what is best for the political interests of themselves and their party, no matter whether it is good for the country or not.

Bill Clinton — family income tripled under Clinton.

4 layoff under Bush 1
6 under Bush 2 and family incomed halved.

While this may sound selfish — it is a tale that rings true of many people.

So much for Obama denouncing the politics of the last 16 years and taking us back to Reagan / Bush 1 era
He is denouncing the last 16 years instead of last 8 - just for political gain. A uniter not a divider? Denouncing politics as usual?
Then how come he is happy to take advantage of Hillary’s bad name even though it is - in his own words - through no fault of her own?

Thomas Jefferson.

Theodore Roosevelt, a Republican and a progressive from a time when the Republican party was a progressive party. T. Roosevelt was successful in delivering strong foreign policy (winning the Nobel Peace Prize), strengthening US positions throughout the world through diplomacy, but was also a war hero. He successfully addressed economic problems related to those of today, in banking, lobbying, and undue corporate influence in state and federal politcal processes. He also ensured fair business competition by breaking apart monopolies (including those in energy), benefiiting both business inetrests and consumers.

This country needs to get its head out of the its past(bet you thought I was going to use a different spot) As soon as someone is dead or out of office they become a GREAT LEADER! How about one of these leaders that will do for the American people like they do for the rest of the world, start giving us some of our money to repair what they’ve broken. as Billary said ,GIVE ME A BREAK!

FDR - No better president to end a war and bring in the right type of government programs.

I would not choose any past President to lead this county now for the simple reason that the circumstances that prevailed when they were in office, do not prevail today. Laws have changed, Cabinet members would be different, issues are clearly different, and the world is not the same as it was for each of them at the time they served. Moreover, the composition of Congress, the Supreme Court, and the American voter has changed. American society has changed, the world players have changed, and the challenges that each past President faced were influenced by a multitude of factors that made each term a success or failure. History cannot be rewritten.

Kennedy was not a good president. Lincoln had the political astuteness necessary to work his way through a divided, literally and metaphorically, nation. Yet it is impossible to imagine how any former president (before say, 1960) would have handled things currently with the growth of the military industrial complex and the rise of globalism. An older president would also be astonished to find the amount of debt we hold and how we import a majority of goods.

Without a doubt it would be Ronald Reagan. He ‘led’ the nation as a President should. The economy was good under him. My 2d choice would be John Kennedy but he’d be a Republican today with the way the Democratic party has changed. And if I couldn’t have either of them, I’d choose Dwight Eisenhower or Richard Nixon. Eisenhower was a true leader who knows (knew)what war is about & would do the right action on Iraq, Afghanistan and Iran. Nixon was brilliant on foreign policy and would easily get out of Iraq and Afghanistan with diplomacy. Recent President’s like Clinton and Bush 2? No way in he*&!! And Hillary in the White House as President!!?? God help us all if that occurs.

Seeing the current state of the Constitution of the United States, I’d like to see its father brought back. James Madison for President!

I guess most people thought the list was restricted to those men who were elected president AND got to serve. I still think Al Gore would make a fine President.

JFK, certainly.
Here was a man who really could connect with the average American and empathize with those in need. How long has it been since there’s been an ounce of empathy for middle Americans who really understand what it’s like to struggle in this country?
The problem is that the poor and middle class so frequently embrace these candidates who don’t know what it’s like to work a hard day of labor or to struggle to feed their family. If you can’t find a candidate who can do that, then our ills will always remain and those special interests and corporations will be the only ones truly served in this country.
Uninsured? Unemployed? Some will say it’s your fault. But until we can reach a time in the United States where we quit blaming and start fixing, we’ll never be on the same page.
Yet those who need the changes most refuse to stand up and support a candidate that really knows the struggle that the average person faces. We’re told to shut up; the economy is doing wonderfully. Unemployment is down. The media echoes these sentiments in the worst way. Then we drive down the street past the factories that shut down, the homes with ‘For Sale’ signs after being repossessed, the shop on the corner that went out of business…straight up to the gigantic SuperCenter that all roads lead to. Full of products not made in this country.
Yes folks, until we find someone who actually CARES about the average American and who will acknowledge their struggles, the middle class will continue to dissipate and will eventually be completely wiped out of existence.
Because until such a time when the middle of the country is strong, we will NEVER be completely and truly strong. Just because a handful of people have riches beyond our wildest comprehension doesn’t mean that the person in Michigan who lost his job, has no health care and a pregnant wife has a shot at that ‘American Dream’ we were always lied to about.
And for all the bellyaching about CHANGE, Americans can’t seem to grasp the concept, can they? McCain represent change? Hardly. Not on his BEST day. Hillary as change? All hail the Bush/Clinton dynasty…where change is 2 steps forward and three steps back. History repeats itself. If we want history repeated, let’s go back a couple of decades, not a couple of years.
Don
Dayton, Ohio

Jack,I would choose The greatest ,Ronald Reagan.He was able to restore pride in the nation when we needed it most,lord knows we need that now.He was great uniter and won the cold war,and starred in some really good movies and some really bad movies,but what does an actor know about politics!

I would say JFK. I am only a college student right now, so I was not even a glimmer in my parents eyes when he was elected. When Kennedy was elected, it was a changing of the guard from one generation to the next, and I feel that this is where we are now. To me Barack Obama is that change, and is exactly why I will vote for him, he is part of the next generation that will lead this country and have the unfortunate job of cleaning up after the “conservatives” that left this country in shambles. Clinton may have trashed the White House, but Bush trashed the entire country.

Ryan Ruzich,
Duluth, MN

Thomas Jefferson wouldn’t be a bad one to lead us. He’d certainly would take us back to a form of government envisioned by our founding fathers instead of one that it too big, corrupt and doesn’t have the people in mind.

My vote would go for Theodore Roosevelt. He understood that we cannot ignore the world. His foreign policy engaged the world of his day and age. In addition, he addressed the social ills and injustices of the early 20th century. His leadership could not be defined as liberal or conservative, but active engagement with both domestic and foreign policy. We need just such a leader for this day and age.

Bill Clinton!

Jack,
JFK and Clinton, to repeate the sentement of previous bloggers… Those were the “good times” that most people can remember about our country. Also we had no deficite and more $$ in our pockets. We will get back there again!! Our nation will get back on track and when it does, it will be very difficult for the Republican party to ever get the chance to screw it up this bad again.

Off the top of my head, I would suggest Theodore Roosevelt. He was a strong person, with solid progressive views. He certainly was able to lead. And most of all, he was a real environmentalist.

If MLK was not assassinated, I am sure he would have been a great leader of this great nation. Let’s bring back MLK to lead this country.

None of them. I think we have learned lessons from our past leaders, but isn’t it time for new leadership, new ideas and to stop the same old same in Washington? And that’s why Mr. Obama will be our next president. End the duel White House dynasty…Obama ‘08.