I wish someone would make a movie about the Founding Fathers in a time machine

[Quixote1818]

Can you imagine Jefferson, Franklin, Adams and Madison showing up now and running for office based on the things they stood for and founded this country on? I just think that would make a wonderful movie! These guys would never get elected today and they might get run out of the country by Pat Robertson and the radical wing of the Republican Party.

They could use real quotes from the founders emphasizing their Deistic philosophy's and their love for the Age of Enlightenment, science and reason.

Such a movie would be very controversial and probably make a ton of money, while helping to educate the public about the ideas we were truly founded on.

Maybe Thom Hartman could write such a movie?

[shadowknows69]

1. Well, you're the one named after a famous literary character

write it! Actually really good idea. Maybe it's more "action movie" of me but I could see one where they somehow rally the 2nd American Revolution. MOVIE IDEA AGENT MIKE! Go read the other site for real terrorists.

[Geoff R. Casavant]

2. SNL did a skit about that

Washington, Franklin and Jefferson travel through time to the present to aid our nation. The press simply focuses on Washington's ownership of slaves, Jefferson's dalliance with Sally Heming, and Franklin's all-around man-sluttiness in France.

[Quixote1818]

4. I think in the movie, they wouldn't be able to reveal who they are

They would dress like we do and simply run for office based on the things they really stood for. If Karl Rove got hold of Jefferson, he would be seen as the anti-christ. The truth is, those guys were certainly not perfect but their ideas were brilliant.

[Melynn]

7. I remember that skit

It was funny and to the point.

[chaska]

3. I was thinking exactly this a few weeks ago....

I can't believe it hasn't been done.

[butterfly77]

5. I always think of this when looking at...

senators and congressmen and women on the floor, discussing some crazy law...

[BushOut06]

6. The Founding Fathers weren't perfect

They were human, just like we are nowadays. If you think negative attack ads and dirty tricks are bad now, read about the Hamilton/Jefferson debates and presidential campaign.

Honestly, if the Founding Fathers did show up today, they'd quickly be absorbed into our modern political climate. Hamilton would probably find new friends in the GOP, while Jefferson would most likely be a Democrat. George Washington would remain an independant, and would be relegated to obscurity.

[happyslug]

9. George NOT join the GOP, who are you kidding.

George Washington went to war in 1775 because the British had declared most of his wealth (invested in lands in Western Pennsylvania) no longer valid (Washington land grants were from Virginia, Western Pennsylvania by the Quebec Act of 1773 was declared part of Quebec). Other than this taking of his investment, Washington had no fundamental disagreement with London, Hamilton or any other politic ans who liked Government that enhanced and protected their investments, no matter who rights are being destroyed in the process (Remember the Indians? They were living on the land Washington had purchased from Virginia and that London had in 1773 said now belonged to Quebec).

Washington was a good politic ans (and, except when under the influence of better generals) a poor general. His greatest strength was like Reagan, he looked and played the part of the leader. In many ways his fellow politic ans knew his strength and weaknesses, thus Ben Franklin when he saw Von Steuben, Franklin promoted him to General and wrote a letter to Washington that Von Steuben had served on Fredericks the Greats Staff (Von Steuben had only been a Prussian Captain, but Franklin and his French General advisers saw potential and that Washington was extremely impressed by anything to do with the Military and Frederick the Great). Later on Franklin seeing Washington attending the Constitutional Convention realized Washington was out of his depth (and keeping himself open to participate in the the debate on the Constitution) proposed Washington be chairman of the Convention, it was both good for Washington's Ego (Washington liked being in charge) and a safe place for Washington to be given Washington know limitations as to actual Governmental policy.

[BushOut06]

12. Re-read my post. Washington would remain independent

He steadfastly refused to get involved with any of the emerging political parties during his time. I said that Alexander Hamilton would probably join the GOP.

[annabanana]

10. (and Patrick Henry would still die). . . .n/t

[happyslug]

8. I always liked John Adams opinion of his Fellow Revolutionaries

In my many years I have come to a conclusion that one useless man is a shame, two is a law firm, and three or more is a congress.

http://www.quotationspage.com/search.php3?Author=John+Adams&file=other

He also made another comment questioning the intelligence of his fellow revolutionaries (something like "I have great fears of winning given the intelligence of my fellow Congressmen"). Please note this is a paraphrased not a quote, but it always remind me that our politicians of today are no better or worse than the politicians of the 1770s. The only difference is we now look up to the politicians of the 1770s as some sort of "Supermen" when their fellow countrymen were doing all types of attacks on them that makes the attacks on Clinton look like love match. The leaders of the 1770s are no better or worse than the leaders of today, except that the causes that they fought for have run their course and as such no longer receive any bad reactions with people who opposed those causes. Jefferson and Washington are no longer made fun of for fighting for "Liberty" while holding black slaves. The Founding fathers are no longer attacked for saying "All men are equal" while holding non-land owners as having little or no rights, and treating blacks and Indians as some sort of sub-human. It is good when people only see the good parts of history but it hurts when you realized the same people ignoring the same bad parts of Politicians of 1776 while emphasizing the same bad parts of today's politicians.

[blogslut]

11. It's been done

...sort of. No founding fathers but they did bring along Lincoln. The message was, "Be excellent to one another"

[Mikey929]

13. Founding Fathers would go insane

The Founding Fathers would absolutely lose their s--t if they just landed into modern America -- ipods, television, planes, computers, cars, skyscrapers, and on and on. It would be sensory overload and they would crap their pants and have a heart attack.

I agree they would not recognize this country. But the world has changed so much I don't think they would only hate the R-wingers. Do you think John Adams would be down with two men marrying one another in Massachusetts? That might be a little bit of a shock. LOL. Some things just can't be imposed upon an old-fashioned psyche.