Who was the best dem president and how much experience did they have?

[The Straight Story]

Not trying to start (or end) a flame war but after reading a lot here I am wondering what you all feel about it.

[Drachasor]

1. Arguably Abraham Lincoln. He served 1 term in his State Senate.

Beyond that he was a lawyer.

[LuvMyPorsche]

3. bad choice

Lincoln trampled the constitution 10X more than chimp.

[JohnnyLib2]

4. Ummmm--check his party affiliation.

[Drachasor]

26. Missed the "dem" part, though back then the two parties were basically opposites to what they are

In the 1910s-1920s they switched, more or less.

[JohnnyLib2]

34. Yup. I have to look it up periodically.

[Frances]

47. Southern Dems didn't start becoming Repubs until

Nixon's Southern strategy in 1968. REagan sealed the deal by talking about states rights (code for white rights) near the Mississippi town where 3 Civil Rights workers were murdered when he ran for President the first time.

[Benhurst]

5. Lincoln served a term in the U.S. Congress.

He also was a Republican, not a Democrat.

[Drachasor]

29. He didn't serve in the U.S. Congress. He lost the race to Douglass

The speeches he gave in that race did make him famous, however.

[SemiCharmedQuark]

30. He did serve one term in the House.

It was his bid for the Senate that he lost. Even though he won the popular vote.

[Benhurst]

38. Of course he did. He was elected in 1846 and served one term.

Look it up.

Sorry, SemiCharmedQuark. I got attached to your post instead of the one above it.

[Drachasor]

42. My mistake, one term in the house

Still a very scant record

[Recursion]

6. "Dem" President. Abe was the last honest Republican

And I distrust experience in office. People should stay on capital hill a decade or so and then return to the real world.

[Common Sense Party]

71. Damn straight. 12 years, I've always said.

Four terms in the House or two Senate terms, max. Or, more likely 2 House terms, one Senate.

A dozen years is more than enough time for anyone.

I HATE seeing career politicians bragging of their 24 years of service, or 35 years in Washington.

Blech.

Go back home and get a REAL job.

[chknltl]

9. Wasn't President Lincoln a republican? nt

[bilgewaterbill]

10. I thought he was a republican.

[verges]

52. He was in the US House of Representatives

1847-49

[sandrakae]

88. Ah. Lincoln was a Republican. He was the best Republican President. So you are half right.

[ElsewheresDaughter]

2. FDR and a lot 10 yrs NY Senate, Dem nom for VP in 21, NY Gov. 28 & Pres 32

[The Straight Story]

7. Here is some info:

http://www.whitehouse.gov/history/presidents/fr32.html

[ElsewheresDaughter]

20. thanks

[Captain Hilts]

21. Assist. Sec. of Navy, like TR. He also had Eleanor. nt

[ElsewheresDaughter]

33. marrying Eleanor was one of the smartest thing he ever did....my fav women ever

[emilyg]

67. Oh yes. Mine, too.

[Captain Hilts]

78. Okay, time for the political version of a 'Kittens pix' thread: Eleanor picture:

Note that even she needed a cheat sheet to vote:

[ElsewheresDaughter]

83. Hey I voted for Hillary on that same machine on Feb 5th.......pic

[Captain Hilts]

86. I voted on those in the late 70s. Very cool. nt

[Captain Hilts]

80. Make sure you catch this video:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.ph...

[Kurt_and_Hunter]

8. FDR. And a decent amount of experience.

Asst. Secretary of the Navy during WWI (I stand corrcted... I had thought he was THE SecNavy)

Governor of NY for a number of years, which was considered a presumptive "potential president" position at the time. (NY was probably the biggest state in the 1920s... I don't know when CA would have passed NY)

Personal Life Experience: Overcoming near total paralysis through determination.

[Drachasor]

37. No one knew about his paralysis

To be fair

[Captain Hilts]

79. People DID know that he had trouble getting around. They did not know the degree...

to which he was disabled. That was the ONLY reason people tolerated ER traipsing through all those New Deal projects, because it was known he could not do so.

He was not able to dress himself and the presidential train rarely went over 35 miles per hour as he didn't really have the back muscles to stabilize himself for significant periods over that speed.

[Muttocracy]

11. here's some lists if like me you can't remember them all of the top of your head:

several different formats

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Democratic_presidents

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Presidents_of_the_...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_the_United_Stat...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_United_States_Demo...

[izzie]

12. Washington and he was just a man with hope.

--

[Kurt_and_Hunter]

15. A democrat, but not a Democrat

The real father of our party was Andrew Jackson who was, unfortunately, kind of a rat bastard in many ways.

Though he was tough. He had several bullets lodged in him from a life-time of duels and bar-fights. Those bullets caused him great pain during his presidency.

[The Straight Story]

18. Ah, but did they smoke in those bars?

[Kurt_and_Hunter]

22. Are you crazy? That would be dangerous!

[The Straight Story]

28. And those duels, damn they ran up our insurance costs

- oh how far we have fallen...

[Frances]

50. Jackson was responsible for the Trail of Tears

when the Indians of the Southeast were forced to leave their homes and walk to a reservation in Oklahoma. So many people died that their route is known as the trail of tears.

[chknltl]

17. Not a Dem. either n/t

[rug]

13. The twenty-fourth president had the most appropriate experience.

[SemiCharmedQuark]

35. Good point.

[bilgewaterbill]

14. Is that picture you?

You're GORGEOUS!

[The Straight Story]

23. The avatar is me, that pic is

My wife and DU'er AutumnMist

More photos of us both here, though I doubt you will think I am gorgeous...

http://s194.photobucket.com/albums/z302/TheStraightStor... /

[bilgewaterbill]

36. She's GORGEOUS! I'm envious. You're lucky! Best Wishes.

[The Straight Story]

41. No one ever tells her she is lucky....

what, am I that ugly?

[bilgewaterbill]

51. Straight Story? Meet straight man! No offense. LOL!

[Spider Jerusalem]

16. Franklin Delano Roosevelt...

who served one 2-year term as a state senator, seven years as Assistant Secretary of the Navy, and two two-year terms as governor of New York. So he had a total of six years' experience of elective office, and thirteen years' experience of government service total.

[mrreowwr_kittty]

24. I foresee Obama being like FDR

People like to compare him to JFK and RFK but I see him more as a candidate who runs on a platform of moderation and reconciliation, then gets in there and brings sweeping progressive changes.

[jwirr]

46. I think whoever wins will have to be an FDR our greatest Dem Prez

because we are going to be facing very similar circumstances. We are going to need a leader who can give us hope.

[chknltl]

19. Thomas Jefferson

Well he was the first one at any rate! Oh and on edit I guess he had some prior experience too:
Governor of Virginia, 1779-1781
First Us Secretary Of State 1789-1793
Second Vice President: 1797-1801
Pretty fair set of credentials before becoming POTUS from 1801 to 1809

[Muttocracy]

32. technically a Democratic-Republican, but yeah, he's a good one

though Jefferson didn't even want it on his tombstone (Univ. of VA, VA bill of religious freedom, and Declaration of Independence were his top 3)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Democratic-Republican_Part...

It's interesting to me that the parties have swapped sides back and forth on issues (e.g., Jefferson was an anti-federalist, huge on states' rights; Repubs more anti-slavery and civil rights at one time)

[Zoigal]

25. FDR by a long shot

He went out on a limb to get progressive ideas in place. He was the first president that
i remember. Pulled the country out of a big recession, too. All of his sons (i think) served in
WWII. z

[Muttocracy]

39. I'm thinking FDR near the top of the list too nt

[bobthedrummer]

27. FDR, he did have some experience as noted upthread, he also had polio

Here is his biography from the Franklin Delano Roosevelt Library

http://www.fdrlibrary.marist.edu/fdrbio.html

[The Straight Story]

31. Awesome link

Thanks for that! Will share with the wife tomorrow, she loves bio's and that is a pretty comprehensive link.

[bobthedrummer]

40. Everything that Great Democratic President did for our country is under attack

needless to say-glad you like the FDR Library link enough to share.

Good night.

[ElsewheresDaughter]

44. was a strange child though, killing little birds & squirrels having them stuffed for his collection

I live near Hyde Park and the house is full of them...kind of weirded me out.

[robbedvoter]

43. In my lifetime - Bill Clinton - governor multiple times

[DemzRock]

45. Clearly Bill Clinton... an excellent President - experience: governor.

He was also an economic miracle worker!

[Johnny__Motown]

54. I hope that is pure sarcasm

Being elected when a tech boom starts isn't a miracle, it's dumb luck.

[ElsewheresDaughter]

68. that wasn't very nice...Clinton was a great pres too got us out of debt & 1st huge surplus

[grasswire]

48. here's a real interesting timeline on Harry S. Truman

http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/amex/truman/timeline/index.html

He was vice president for just a short time before FDR died.

[Johnny__Motown]

49. State Senator & Asst. Sec. Of Navy v State Senator and U.S. Senator

I can agree that FDR is a great choice here.


http://www.fdrlibrary.marist.edu/fdrbio.html


Roosevelt was reelected to the State Senate in 1912, and supported Woodrow Wilson's candidacy at the Democratic National Convention. As a reward for his support, Wilson appointed him Assistant Secretary of the Navy in 1913, a position he held until 1920.




So, is an Assistant Secratary of the Navy position far superiour to a U.S. Senate seat? In war time it could be argued that it may be, I can respect that opinoin. What was FDR's experience in regards to the Economy or other domestic issues?

[ElsewheresDaughter]

53. FRD the economy .....The New Deal....

[Johnny__Motown]

56. Exactly my point , thank you... what experience did he have before being elected that lead to this?

[ElsewheresDaughter]

60. 10 years as a NY state senator and 4 yrs NY Govenor

[ElsewheresDaughter]

55. are you trying to compare Obama to FDR in experience?

[Johnny__Motown]

57. yes, clearly

[ElsewheresDaughter]

61. well sorry but, there isn't any...10 yrs state senate and 4 yrs NY Govenor

[Spider Jerusalem]

76. FDR had TWO years as a state senator.

He only served one term. 1911-1913.

You should check your facts.

[izzybeans]

84. So Obama has spent more time in elected office then both Hillary and FDR, prior to POTUS.

If electoral experience is what really matters

[Frances]

62. FDR was governor of New York

which was a bigger deal then than it is now.

A lot of people used to think that the executive experience of a governor is superior to the experience of being a Senator.

But since W has messed up so much, I think people are more open minded now.

I think FDR was the greatest Dem president because he had to deal with the Great Depression and World War II. He wasn't perfect; after all, he signed the law that interned Japanese people simply because of their ancestry. But he did do a good job with the Depression and with World War II.

I wonder if it's possible for people born post-1941 to have any inkling of what life was like from 1929-1941 when many people did not have enough to eat.

[ElsewheresDaughter]

63. my mother, aunts and uncles also husband talk about what it was like

[Frances]

64. My daughter's father-in-law

looked around at all of the toys his grandchildren got one Christmas and said, "I was lucky if I got a beat-up old tin toy."

I was born in 1941 and times were easier for me and my younger siblings, because we got a couple of new toys each. And we got oranges and apples and nuts in our stockings. My grandchildren wouldn't understand why oranges and apples and nuts were treats!

But both my brother and I say our happiest memories of Christmas came when our parents let us put out the toys for the younger children on Christmas Eve night after the little ones had gone to bed. It truly is more blessed to give than receive. I'm happy my parents could buy those gifts. A lot of children were really poor when I grew up and got very little.

[Johnny__Motown]

70. OK, I agree, should have read down further..... NY Gov is a big deal

[Hepburn]

58. Franklin Delano Roosevelt...

...by far the best Dem president!

He was a NY State Senator for approx 2 years and Gov of NY for approx 4 years ~~ IIRC.

He was also Secretary of the Navy...but that is not an elected position.

[Major Hogwash]

59. JFK, and he was in Congress for quite a few years before running.

But, that's only during my lifetime.

FDR was probably the best ever.

[ElsewheresDaughter]

65. FDR the Rethuglicans hate him the most .......that's why he is the BEST!

[chknltl]

66. James Earl Carter

Served 2 terms in the Georgia Senate and was governor of Georgia from 1971 to 1975.

I was going for a Dem with the least amount of 'experience'. Given the chance, he might have been one of the Great Ones. The "proto" neocons with their darling actor, ronald reagan were not about to let Jimmy's dreams for America happen. We could have been sooooo green by now and sooooo off the oil addiction by now too.

[ElsewheresDaughter]

69. I love the man...He was the 1st Pres I ever voted for

[chknltl]

72. I still love the man

I believe he may have been the first one I voted for as well. I am not sure though, I seem to recall voting against Nixon's second term while I was in the Army but I don't remember who that would have been...I recall liking Humphry a lot but I absolutely do not recall ever voting for him. Most likely Jimmy Carter was the first President I voted for too. For a lowly peanut farmer, he became a GREAT man and could have been an even GREATER President....damn I hate republicans

[ElsewheresDaughter]

89. yup I love him more today

[anamnua]

73. Bill Clinton nt

[sueragingroz]

74. Didn't we already do a thread like this the other night?

Man I'm tired. I'm off to bed...

[metalluk]

75. FDR in his last three terms

and he had far more experience, by then, than any other president in history.

[Swamp Rat]

77. Barack Obama

I just got back from the future. He turned out to be a great president.

[mikekohr]

81. FDR

Best US President in history. Period. He is so far out in front I'm not sure second place even counts in this contest.

mike kohr

[Captain Hilts]

87. It would be comparing a professional to amateurs. nt

[book_worm]

82. FDR was in the State Senate and then first term as Gov of NY

when elected president. Much like Obama. Yes he was also asst Sec of Navy, so he had more experience than Hillary and Obama. Obama has had more elective experience than Hillary.

[joeprogressive]

85. Obama has been in an elected office more years than Clinton.

So of the two, Obama.