Who Would Go on a Second Mount Rushmore?
(Written in late winter 2009)
As the slobbering love affair with Obama begins to wear off, and all but the most fervent supporters no longer think he’s the greatest president of them all, I’m wondering about something. George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Abraham Lincoln and Teddy Roosevelt grace the actual Mount Rushmore, but Newsweek’s Howard Fineman said after Obama’s SOTU campaign speech that Obama should be added to that revered monument. Fat chance, but if a second Rushmore were built, who should be on it? Assuming there would be 10 places instead of four, my list would be the following. Nos. 1, 2 and 3 are ones I’d definitely put on it. The next three (4, 5 and 6) are the ones I frequently go back and forth on. The final four (7, 8, 9 and 10) are the other ones I’ve considered, but haven’t quite made the cut.
Others in the running for my 7, 8, 9 and 10 slots include Audie Murphy or Sgt. Alvin York, representing the common American soldier, Billy Graham, representing America’s Christian heritage, Albert Einstein, representing scientific discovery, and Benjamin Franklin, representing the American Renaissance man. (Note: If Crazy Horse wasn’t getting his own monument, I might have him on this list.)
10) John Glenn
Astronaut
The first American to orbit the earth serves as an example of the American spirit of discovery, from Lewis & Clark to Watson (of Watson & Crick fame).
9) Clara Barton
Humanitarian
She was a teacher, nurse, humanitarian and the founder of the American Red Cross; one of the most indispensible organizations in the country today.
8 ) Thomas Edison
Inventor/scientist
America’s most prolific inventor could deserve the honor.
7) Franklin Delano Roosevelt
32nd President of the United States
FDR isn’t here because of his economic policies, but because he took on Hitler and Tojo and won. He definitely wasn’t always right in combating the worst financial depression in U.S. history, but his impact and legacy are tremendous.
6) Andrew Carnegie
Business titan/philanthropist
This transplanted Scot is a great example of the republican capitalist and self-made man. An immigrant, he amassed a great fortune, advanced the nation’s economy and business, and made the country better through the fruits of his success. Carnegie loved books, and it is said that more than 2,800 libraries were opened thanks to his support!
5) Ronald Reagan
40th President of the United States
The vast majority of presidential historians consider the 40th president to be “near-great,” and the second greatest president the 20th century. He faced down the Soviet empire and won, and restored America’s faith in itself. For those who disagree about RR, consider that historians now consider there to be an “age of Reagan,” which is akin to the “age of Roosevelt,” the “age of Lincoln” and the “age of Jackson.”
4) Elizabeth Cady Stanton
Suffragette/feminist
One of the greatest pioneers of women’s rights, Stanton was Christian, dogged, determined and indefatigable in her quest — and the nation is better for her. She was also much more of a real feminist than today’s crop.
3) Frederick Douglass
Abolitionist/civil rights leader
Douglass, the great abolitionist and champion of civil rights, is easily a model for the self-made man and the importance of continually improving oneself. The former slave lifted himself from nothing to the pinnacle of respected leadership and tremendous oratory.
2) Ulysses S. Grant
General-in-chief and 18th President of the United States
Grant, whose presidency is misunderstood, undervalued and dishonestly chronicled, “saved” the United States three times. First he won the war. Then he secured the peace at Appomattox and made sure it happened properly at Durham Station. And then he held the nation together during the most tumultuous peacetime decade in American history.
1) Martin Luther King, Jr.
Civil rights leader
It’s such an obvious choice, but that makes it no less deserved. He was the conscious of mid-20th century America and made the majority look into itself to start rejecting the ugly stain of racism.
So, what do you think? Who should belong on a second Mount Rushmore?
[1]
None of these.
The American Taxpayer.
[2]
“So, what do you think? Who should belong on a second Mount Rushmore?”
Eph Rove – b/c he keeps BJG pithy during the slow times
[3]
“As the slobbering love affair with Obama begins to wear off,”
You aint seen nothing yet, wait until the Superbowl pregame.
Its Tebow vs. Hussein folks!!!!
[4]
#3 What? Is he getting involved in that too?????
[5]
4. Rumor has it that C-BS is doing an interview with Hussein during the pre-game to throw a bone to the man-haters
[6]
KH,
I know who belongs on Mt. Rushmore…do you???
mmm mmm mmm
[7]
Europeans “shattered” by Obama’s indifference: “Bush was not the problem. Obama is not the solution”
[8]
6 – If it’s a video wall, then indeed.
[9]
I would have 3 individuals who have made America what it is from the beginning to now.
1) The American GI, he has freed more people through his sweat, tears and blood than anyone else in history anomalously. And today protect us from threats from around the world.
2) The American mother who has raised each generation of children with little gratitude and thanks. They lay the foundation for each generation.
3) The American farmer who not only has fed this great nation but the world as well.
These are people are not famous but they are what makes this great nation work.
[10]
8. LOL! indeed
[11]
1. Ronald Reagan
2. Robert E Lee
3 .Alfred E neuman
4. Thomas Edison
5. Nicoli tesla
6. curly
7. Joe
8. Moe
9. Monica Lewinski
[12]
11.
7…ROFLMAO!
[13]
I would replace Teddy Rosevelt with Reagan and stick with that. I don’t think we need a second.
[14]
Since I have not really pondered it, I will go off your list and pick my four (in no particular order).
5, 9, 8, 1
I will say though, that for all the hoopla the left makes over MLK, they have still not learned from his words. They see a black man who many folks admired (and who they gain bonus points for the mere mentioning of!) and nothing more. His words said to look PAST color, not AT it (hear that, Chrissy Matthews?????) yet those who don’t get a tingle up their leg every time the president speaks are racists. *sigh*
[15]
IP -
Is the Joe with Curly and Moe Joe Biden?
[16]
Big Mo…Reagan is only #5 and you go back & forth on him? huh??
My top ten for the “2nd Mt Rushmore”…
1) Benjamin Franklin (one of our greatest Founding Fathers…too ofter unsung)
)
2) Martin Luther King, Jr. (for all the reasons you stated)
3) Ronald Reagan (he WON the Cold War…and restored TRUE hope to America after the “malaise” of Carter)
4) Thomas Edison (for all the reasons you stated)
5) Albert Einstein (he fled oppression by Germany to utlimately help us defeat Japan…and SAVE millions of lives!)
6) Frederick Douglass (for all the reasons you stated)
7) Ayn Rand (the inspiration for this site!
8 ) John Steinbeck (amazing author)
9) Dwight Eisenhower (General & President)
10) Winston Churchill (he did more than FDR to win WWII)
[17]
I beg you to watch this surreal ad from Carly Fiorina (a rino) attacking Tom Campbell (another rino). Watch the whole thing and tell me if you were not laughing your butt off at the end! Have fun.
http://barefootandprogressive.blogspot.com/2010/02/what-kentucky-needs.html
[18]
I’d add the teleprompter before I added Obama.
[19]
I forgot about Robert E. Lee…thx IP. Robert E. Lee can replace John Steinbeck in my list!!!
[20]
Number 10 would be joe biden’s butt.
[21]
John Steinbeck was a commie in my humble opinion.
[22]
As for Mt Rushmore:
Ronald Reagan
Margaret Thatcher
Rush Limbaugh
[23]
MT LUSHMORE
Helen Thomas
Janet Reno
Nancy Pelosi
Betty Frieden
MT TUSHMORE
Ann Coulter
Sarah Palin
Michelle Bachman
Dallas Cowboy Cheerleaders
MT RUSHMORE
Rush Limbaugh
Ditto Heads
Snerdley
Fraternity Rush week
MT BUSHMORE
George H W Bush
George W Bush
Blame Bush
Barbara Bush
MT MUSHMORE
The Alaskan Huskie
Southern Cheese Grits
Bread Pudding
(mush) what I would turn to if I met Sarah Palin
MT CRUSHMORE
Julias Peppers
Muhammed Ali
US Marines
Rocky Balboa
[24]
Ever wondered what was on the back of Mount Rushmore?
[25]
Wright Brothers maybe…???
I like having Benjamin Franklin included
Dwight Eisenhower…???
Albert Einstein…???
Perhaps Lee and Grant side by side together, as they both held the country together after The Despotic War Of Yankee Usurpation; Lee by preventing guerrilla warfare, Grant by his magnanimity (sp?) in victory
[26]
Intriguing post, BigMo, thank you!
[27]
Mullet
Well done!
[28]
Certainly Jefferson Davis is a runner up.
[29]
Ditto post 27~~~
[30]
MT TUSHMORE
I was thinking Tiger Woods but you went the other direction
[31]
How about John Adams?
Andrew Jackson?
Jonas Salk? (I’m old enough to remember getting the polio vaccine when schoolkids were lined up by the millions to get this vaccine that basically eliminated polio)
[32]
Amelia Earhart?
[33]
Grant: great general, awful President
[34]
My personal hero is Patrick Cleburne who advocated freeing the slaves and making The Despotic War Of Yankee Aggression (“The Civil War” to you non-Southerners) solely a war for southern independence
[35]
24 – I see you found one that does indeed show the american taxpayers.
[36]
MFG,
John Adams, yes!
[37]
#35 Ayep!
[38]
There is a WONDERFUL book out of print now “Lee and Grant” with each chapter alternating between Lee and Grant as they moved through their turbulent lives
Grant – from failure and poverty to ultimate success back to failure and poverty again
Lee – the South’s new George Washington who failed in war yet succeeded in helping the two countries reconcile after the war
[39]
Grant was a good man, but the living example of the Peter Principle: “A man is promoted until he reaches the level where he is incompetent”
[40]
Well here is my list –
James Madison
Alexander Hamilton
Ben Franklin
All instrumentalists in making the Constitution happen.
——————
Ronald Reagan
Ended the cold war.
——————
George Westinghouse
Nicholas Telsa
Enrico Fermi
John Bardeen,Walter Brattain
Westinghouse developed the electro-industrial complex and willed FM radio into existence
Telsa for his development of the AC electrical system. Your world would not be the same without it.
Fermi for material development of atomic energy.
Bardeen/Brattain for the practical development of the transistor.
——————
John Rock
Developed ‘The Pill’ a major contributor to the social situation the country now faces.
That’s my list.
Thomas Edison — actually he could be on my list as well. However if you read the battle that ensued between him – Westinghouse – Telsa you come away of a man certain of his soul but lacking facts later in his career.
Franklin Delano Roosevelt – What can I say, never make it on any list of mine.
Andrew Carnegie – Could be on my list but for a very different reason. His influence in the development of modern railroad mgmt became a model for corporate governance. The idea of time zones we use today are from Carnegie.
Ulysses S. Grant – I think his negatives outweigh the positives. The surrender at Appomattox was only the Northern VA force. The war continued for another 4 months.
Martin Luther King, Jr. – A great man in my view, but looking at things, his message has been subverted almost to the point of 180 to what it is.
The rest, I trust your judgement Mo.
[41]
17 – lol I liked it,except the faces on the sheep was a bit overboard and it’s way long even for a web ad.
[42]
Either Lee or Grant could have ruined the country forever
At Appomattox Porter Alexander passionately tried to convince Lee to disband the army, take to the hills and commence guerrilla warfare; can you imagine what the country would look like today if he had done that?
We would have become Northern Ireland
[43]
Hey [hic] how about me??? Oh well, when they start work on that 2nd Mt. Rushmore we’ll just cross that bridge when we get to it!
[44]
Grant was kind, decent, generous and very far sighted in making generous terms for Southern surrender; a vindictive approach would have destroyed the country, perhaps irretrievably
[45]
#43 Welcome, Teddy! How is hell treating you?
[46]
My scotch keeps bursting into flames! Otherwise it’s ok, since pretty much everyone I ever knew in my life is down here with me! (OK, except that gal I drowned)
[47]
43 – Teddy’s Ghost get’s the most fitting Gravtar of the week award.
[48]
I really think the Wright Brothers should be included…
[49]
How’s Coakley doing as the Junior Senator from Massachusetts??
[50]
Uh, Coakley lost to a Republican.
[51]
It was actually tesla
[52]
#49 Ask Hitler, he made a video all about it….
[53]
Teddy became a ghost a long time before he died.
[54]
thanks Mr. KnightHawk! Say, can you do your best to keep Nancy Pelosi alive for as long as you can? We all agree down here that this place is going to go from Hell to PURE HELL when she shows up!
[55]
come to think of it, Adolph has been out of sorts the last few days.
[56]
Satan will probably pee his spandex when he meets Pelosi……
[57]
Crucially, projections of the overall debt-to-GDP ratio for the US are seen rising from 53 per cent in 2009 to 73 per cent in 2015 and 77 per cent by 2020.
Moody’s, however, says this understates the overall US debt level.
“Using the general government measure, including state and local governments as well as the federal government, which is used internationally, this ratio would be well over 100 per cent in 2020.”
http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/a82cfe04-10f5-11df-9a9e-00144feab49a.html
—
Woohoo!
[58]
51, yep.
[59]
Bankruptcy
It’s whats for dinner…
[60]
I’ll see what I can do Teddy, but she keeps putting a huge target on her back.
[61]
Tiny Tim – For his contributions to entertainment
Captain Kangaroo – For his obvious military accomplishments
Mister Rogers – For his community organizing skills
Oscar the Grouch – For his developing America’s interest in recology
Algore – For his gift of the internet and himself……and ManBearPig
[62]
56,
I thought Satan was keeping her chair to his right warm for her. Its not every day Satan gets a date with someone without horns.
[63]
#62 what makes you think she doesn’t have horns?
[64]
59 – More like a Last Supper.
[65]
Even Nancy’s dad, Beelzebub, isn’t too keen on having her around. But rules are rules, and they already got a flock of buzzards ready to pluck out her entrails on a daily basis when she shows up.
oh (and this is supposed to be a secret) they’re going to add like 3 feet of flabby skin to her face! That should be a hoot!
[66]
tesla
[67]
The humor is strong this evening.
[68]
A trillion here, a trillion there
What’s the big deal…???
[69]
speaking of entrails, I gotta go have mine plucked. More [hic] later!
[70]
Can you say hyperinflation…???
[71]
For You Teddy
[72]
WASHINGTON — The US debt is on track to hit a congressionally proposed debt ceiling of 14.3 trillion dollars by the end of February, the Treasury said Wednesday, a day ahead of a key vote to raise it to that level.
“Based on current projections, Treasury expects to reach the debt ceiling as early as the end of February. However, the government’s cash flows are volatile, making it difficult to forecast a precise date,” the Treasury said in a statement.
—
Lovely they are going to blow it all in a couple weeks? I’m laughing but it’s not funny.
[73]
63, if that’s the case, then that Botox they be using is goooood stuff!
[74]
What’s the next prefix to hyper? highhyperinflation? superduperhyperinflation? bananarepublicsuperduperhyperinflation?
[75]
Sounds to me like the Govt needs to go down to JC Penney’s and ask for a revolving charge account.
[76]
74,
Argentinium
[77]
Hell by this time next month my 1 oz. silver coins and bars will be worth $1 trillion dollars. FREAKIN’ AWESOME!!!!! Sing it with me….. “Happy days are here again…….”
[78]
Varones was right in his recent post on Polipundit
Buy a house now, thirty years from now (or even 10) you’ll be paying the note with the change you find in your couch…
[79]
I vote bananaflation.
[80]
There’s One Of These For Everything
[81]
78 – Yup.
[82]
Zimbabwe price controls.
[83]
brave new world
[84]
Probably should invest in paper mills.
[85]
It will take more paper to buy a roll of toilet paper, than what’s in the roll.
[86]
Off to buy a loaf of bread
[87]
KH, they’re gonna hit the 14.3 trillion dollar ceiling by the end of February?? Are you freaking kidding me???
[88]
85 – Interesting observation IP.
[89]
the trick with HyperInflation will be to have enough non-currency assets to be able to buy things, and pay off debt (like mortgages)
the paper currency you’re being paid, and the paper you have in your wallet will becoming worthless almost instantly.
hard assets retain their value.
which means I need more hard assets…
[90]
Another 2 million this one attached to the AF budget.
http://www.neowin.net/news/us-air-force-builds-supercomputer-using-playstation-3s
[91]
JR – I keep telling you – beans & bullets.
[92]
Beans, bullets, and tp!
[93]
JM – toothpaste?
[94]
JR,
Use paper currency to pay fixed old debt (mtg), use hard assets for the rest.
[95]
90, makes sense. The hardware/console development guys have wrung every last ounce they can for visuals.
[96]
93, make the toothpaste from baking soda and scotch. Don’t swallow though.
[97]
#93 good call. Forgot booze as well.
[98]
knowing how to ferment booze might be a viable trading skill/product.
[99]
dr dog – on one survival forum they recommended those little bottles of alcohol for barter purposes.
[100]
LOL…
Yes any thread that kicks off with a suggestion that FDR go on a new Mt. Rushmore is a guaranteed humor thread.
[101]
yes we won WWII. does anybody seriously think that a republican would not have done at least as good a job of that– while not having previously created a welfare state?
[102]
Added to the original Mt. Rushmore quartet, I nominate–in no particulr order:
5. Edison
6. Carnegie
7. Reagan
8. John Muir (leader of the conservation movement and advocate for national parks)
9. Ben Franklin
10. the unknown soldier (representing every engagement–past, present or future)
[103]
Then build another monument on the next mountain behind Mt. Rushmore and put in 10 women, because you know behind every good man is a good woman (who helped make him what he became).
[104]
There shouldn’t be another Mt. Rushmore. I’m sick of everybody needed a statue, street, school, or airport named after them.
People do their frickin’ jobs and should be thanked. If some city wants a statue in a park named after them let them do it.
Every public bldg. in my citty is named after some idiot that half the [people didn’t vote for or was ann activist who felt a minority was being picked on by the police.
Our frickin’ dump is named after a politician. (Maybe that is okay.)
Damn, I must be a in a bad mood for a Thursday!
[105]
Their going to have to start naming our fire hydrants and man hole covers pretty soon. There is nothing else left.
[106]
Don’t they have statues of some of these scientist at the Smithsonian? Don’t they have statues of these founding fathers in Phil and Boston.
[107]
I want a statue of Obama on the dog run so my dog can piss on it.
[108]
Hey MI, with those big ears of his, one could do a fair facsimile of him on every fire hydrant in town
[109]
Glad you all had fun with this!
I stick by my praise of Grant, because his presidency was much better than history has made it out to be. See this for my reasons, if you’re interested.
http://thepresidentsatbigmo.blogspot.com/2007/10/number-18-ulysses-s-grant.html
And retlaw #103 – very interesting idea — and how true!
[110]
95 – Problem is while it’s sort of “cool” Dr, these guys have no use for it per the article. Was a largely pointless exercise you and I just paid for, if sony did it I wouldn’t care.
[111]
A real maggot gagger
[112]
test
[113]
test2
[114]
test3
[115]
To view and sign a Petition requesting that Audie Murphy be posthumously bestowed our Nations highest civilian honor, the U.S. Presidential Medal of Freedom please use this link:
http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/audiemurphy/
Thank you!
Dave Phillips
Creator/Administrator
Audie Murphy Presidential Medal of Freedom Petition Drive