100 "Greatest" Americans: take part in this farce!

Kelgar · Post by **Kelgar** » June 14, 2005, 2:36 pm

http://dsc.discovery.com/convergence/gr ... op100.html

Some names belong, but fucktons of them have no business being there.

My personal favs: George W Carver, Tesla, and Ben Franklin <---badass inventors

Fuckers who have no business: all actors, actresses, film directors, athletes (no offense to Owens and Robinson), political commentators, all entertainers except for Carson and Hope, anyone named Clinton, especially anyone named Bush, and most of the mega-billionaires.

Voronwë · Post by **Voronwë** » June 14, 2005, 2:37 pm

yeah i heard an ad for this. sounds bad.

jefferson gets my vote though.

noel · Post by **noel** » June 14, 2005, 3:03 pm

I'll go with King, Lincoln, Franklin as my top three.

I love Lance, but he has no business being on that list.

Apostate · Post by **Apostate** » June 14, 2005, 3:10 pm

Seeing "Bush, Laura" right above "Chevez, Cesar" was some pretty impressive cognitive dissonance.

Seebs · Post by **Seebs** » June 14, 2005, 3:16 pm

The fact that Whoppi Goldberg helps host this sham is enough for me to pass.

I'd like to punt her cunt.

Ashur · Post by **Ashur** » June 14, 2005, 3:16 pm

3 votes for Benjamin Franklin!

You are right, wtf is with some of the names in the top 25??

P.S. Where's BO BICE!?!?! CAN I VOTE ON MY CELL PHONE!?!? RIPOFF!

Kilmoll the Sexy · Post by **Kilmoll the Sexy** » June 14, 2005, 3:31 pm

It is a travesty when Clay Aikens and Carrot Top are left off a list like this.

Kilmoll the Sexy · Post by **Kilmoll the Sexy** » June 14, 2005, 3:32 pm

Michale "child raper" Jackson made this list. Who gets to vote on who makes this list?

Kelgar · Post by **Kelgar** » June 14, 2005, 3:35 pm

The fact that most of them are still alive or were alive at some point when most of us were shows the short attention span most people have.

VariaVespasa · Post by **VariaVespasa** » June 14, 2005, 3:51 pm

I'd go with Franklin I think, but I cant vote from Canada.

Reading the bios for Franklin, Jefferson and Washington, Franklin seemed the most generally driven of the three amd therefor the greatest, although obviously all three did critical service to the country and its founding in their own ways.

*Hugs*
Varia

Drolgin Steingrinder · Post by **Drolgin Steingrinder** » June 14, 2005, 4:07 pm

It makes me laugh that they had Dr. Phil and Oprah on that list. That's just so fucking sad.

cid · Post by **cid** » June 14, 2005, 4:26 pm

Oprah has done a lot for kids. I hate to say it, but I don't have a problem with her being on there.

Seebs · Post by **Seebs** » June 14, 2005, 4:49 pm

I am not opening up the list again but Americans that I admire and that have done a ton for America in the past 40 years and probably are not on the list:

Captain Kangaroo
Mister Rogers
Alan Greenspan
Frank Storch
John Belushi
Jenna Jameson
Sam Kinnison
john Wayne gacy.

Dregor Thule · Post by **Dregor Thule** » June 14, 2005, 4:59 pm

Dr. Phil? DOCTOR FUCKING PHIL?

A soccer mom made that list obviously.

Hesten · Post by **Hesten** » June 14, 2005, 5:17 pm

Dregor Thule wrote:Dr. Phil? DOCTOR FUCKING PHIL?

A soccer mom made that list obviously.

No way, a soccer mom would not put Hugh Hefner on the list

Oh, and Martha Stewart. Cool, you guys are supposed to look up to convicted criminals

. They got Michael Jackson too (and yes, i know hes "innocent"), they just need to throw in a mass murdered for some spice

But im surprised to see Edison, Franklin, and Tesla on the same list as the Bush gang

Winnow · Post by **Winnow** » June 14, 2005, 5:18 pm

Ben Franklin (lock pick)
Nikola Tesla (lock pick)
Bill Gates (highly debatable)

XunilTlatoani · Post by **XunilTlatoani** » June 14, 2005, 6:10 pm

Barack Obama?! are you kidding me? He's a freshman U.S. senator...that's his biggest accomplishment and he's nominated as the greatest American ever. So what if he's black...he's not even the first black Senator from Illinois in the past 10 years. Yes it's true that there is speculation that he may be a strong candidate for President in 2008, and if elected that would be a big deal...but it's just speculation.

Drolgin Steingrinder · Post by **Drolgin Steingrinder** » June 14, 2005, 7:17 pm

Here are the ones that make me go

the most:

Laura Bush
Tom Cruise
Hillary Clinton
Ellen DeGeneres
John Edwards
Brett Favre
Mel Gibson
Billy Graham
Tom Hanks
Rush Limbaugh
George Lucas (LOL)
Madonna
Dr. Phil Mcgraw (double LOL)
Michael Moore
Barack Obama
Condoleeza Rice
Martha Stewart

Note that there's no (particular) hate for these people from me, I just don't see what they've done to deserve such a nomination. If there's some vast lacunae in my knowledge of US history, please, enlighten me.

Wulfran · Post by **Wulfran** » June 14, 2005, 7:50 pm

These things have been done in a number of countries and although I won't claim to know a whole lot about what went on in most, I can't see it being a popularity contest amoongst those who hear about it and bother to vote. I mean you look at the Canadian top 10 list and some deserve to be there, some don't.

1) Tommy Douglas - the "Father of Medicare", former leader of the NDP (the socialist party in Canadian politics) and not a hell of a lot else. Arguably deserves to be on the list but not #1 by a long shot.
2) Terry Fox - Cancer victim who after losing his leg to cancer, started the Marathon of Hope, whose goal was to raise $1 for cancer research for every Canadian by running from the east to the west coast. He never completed the trip (he made it about half way before a relapse put him back in hospital, which he never recovered from) but he did inspire a nation and his financial goal was realized before he died. Canadians still hold Terry Fox runs in his honor, for cancer research every September. Most definately belongs there.
3) Pierre Elliott Trudeau - former prime minister and the best votes Quebec ever cast for their province. He was also the worst prime minister ever elected for anyone west of Ontario, and the inventor of our national debt. Shouldn't be there but the votes were taken by one of his pet projects, the CBC.
4) Sir Fredick Banting - doctor and inventor who was one of the team that discovered insulin and used it to treat diabetes. Definately should be there.
5) David Suzuki - scientist and environmental advocate. Not known for much aside from this. Arguably could be on top 100, but not top 10.
6) Lester Pearson - former prime minister and Nobel peace prize winner. He loses marks from me for getting Trudeau involved in politics but a case can be made for him.
7) Don Cherry - Hockey analyst and former NHL coach. I love Grapes but WTF???

Sir John A. MacDonald - first prime minister of Canada and the man who had the vision for the Canadian Pacific Railway: the first transcontinental railway in North America, which he saw as a way to cement a connection between East and West. Should be there.
9) Alexander Graham Bell - we both claim him

He was actually born in Scotland, raised in Ontario, did a lot of work in Boston and resided in both countries. Deserves a place on anyone's list.
10) Wayne Gretzky - another WTF

These lists are a jokes. As mentioned many votes are made by people who have no concept of history beyond the last 6 days, let alone their own lifetimes.

Jice Virago · Post by **Jice Virago** » June 14, 2005, 8:54 pm

My top 5, for what its worth:
1) Teddy Rooseveldt
2) Thomas Edison
3) Harry Truman
4) Malcom X
5) Walter Cronkiet

Anyone who is a modern era politician or entertainer has no business being on that list.

Sueven · Post by **Sueven** » June 14, 2005, 9:16 pm

Muhammad Ali: Good
Tiger Woods: Bad

Mark Twain: Good
John Wayne: Bad

My top 3, in no particular order:
Thomas Jefferson
Jesse Owens
Albert Einstein (even though he's, uh, German)

I admit to not knowing about all the people on that list, so I could be leaving deserving people off.

Martha Stewart? Billy Graham? Doctor Phil? Michael Moore? Pat Tillman? Richard Nixon? Christopher Reeve? Donald Trump? Ellen DeGeneres? Walt Disney? Rush Limbaugh?

This is crap. I need to close this website.

Keverian FireCry · Post by **Keverian FireCry** » June 14, 2005, 10:10 pm

After seeing some of the crazy names on that list I wonder why Dustin Diamond is not on that list? I mean what the fuck would America be without Screech?

Canelek · Post by **Canelek** » June 15, 2005, 3:47 pm

Jenna Jameson

Seconded.

Tom Cruise, Michael Moore, wtf?

Oh, Whoopi goldberg. THAT MAKES PERFECT SENSE!

Cartalas · Post by **Cartalas** » June 15, 2005, 4:34 pm

Top 3.

Franklin,Parks and Reagen

Niffoni · Post by **Niffoni** » June 15, 2005, 5:02 pm

God damn....

Michael Moore? Dr. Phil? Edwards? Reagan?

Maybe this is one of those lists you guys should just keep to yourselves.

Canada did a pretty embarassing list recently too, as was previously mentioned in this thread. But we cleverly hid it on CBC where absolutely no one would ever see it.

Drolgin Steingrinder · Post by **Drolgin Steingrinder** » June 28, 2005, 2:39 pm

And the tally is in...

*groan*

The top ten:

1. Ronald Reagan
2. Abraham Lincoln
3. Martin Luther King
4. George Washington
5. Ben Franklin
6. George W. Bush
7. Bill Clinton
8. Elvis Presley
9. Oprah Winfrey
10. FDR

I'm at a loss for words.

Homercles · Post by **Homercles** » June 28, 2005, 2:43 pm

BAHAHAH

Boy us americans have a short ass attention span.

That top 10 is a joke!

Kelgar · Post by **Kelgar** » June 28, 2005, 4:04 pm

Fucking Ronald Reagan as #1. What a damn joke. Of course it didn't help that people at Free Republic and Sean Hannity's MB were all encouraging each other to vote as often as possible.

No one who was alive during anyone of our lifetimes other than MLK and FDR have any business being in the top 10.

Winnow · Post by **Winnow** » June 28, 2005, 4:23 pm

Go Reagan!

lol

Nikola Tesla needs to be on that list...Oprah? Elvis? Tesla was a fucking genius of the highest order. Good god man. Everytime you plug something into a wall socket you've got Tesla to thank.

noel · Post by **noel** » June 28, 2005, 4:29 pm

Drolgin Steingrinder wrote:And the tally is in...

*groan*

The top ten:

1. Ronald Reagan
2. Abraham Lincoln
3. Martin Luther King
4. George Washington
5. Ben Franklin
6. George W. Bush
7. Bill Clinton
8. Elvis Presley
9. Oprah Winfrey
10. FDR

I'm at a loss for words.

The only rational explanation I can come up with for that farce is that Reagan was president during the fall of communism/the dismantling of the Berlin wall. If you take Reagan, GW, Clinton, Elvis and Oprah off that list, it's actually pretty decent:

1. Abraham Lincoln
2. Martin Luther King
3. George Washington
4. Ben Franklin
5. FDR

In summation: People are still stupid.

Kelgar · Post by **Kelgar** » June 28, 2005, 4:35 pm

Winnow wrote:Go Reagan! lol

Nikola Tesla needs to be on that list...Oprah? Elvis? Tesla was a fucking genius of the highest order. Good god man. Everytime you plug something into a wall socket you've got Tesla to thank.

He put Edison to shame. He was once summed up Edison's trial and error style of science as bumbling around looking for a needle in a haystack.

Kelgar · Post by **Kelgar** » June 28, 2005, 4:40 pm

Kelgar wrote:
Winnow wrote:Go Reagan! lol

Nikola Tesla needs to be on that list...Oprah? Elvis? Tesla was a fucking genius of the highest order. Good god man. Everytime you plug something into a wall socket you've got Tesla to thank.
He put Edison to shame. He was once summed up Edison's trial and error style of science as bumbling around looking for a needle in a haystack.

Found that quote!

Tesla wrote:Tesla once said of Edison:

If Edison had a needle to find in a haystack, he would proceed at once with the diligence of the bee to examine straw after straw until he found the object of his search.. I was a sorry witness of such doings, knowing that a little theory and calculation would have saved him ninety per cent of his labor.

Kelgar · Post by **Kelgar** » June 28, 2005, 4:41 pm

Despite both being genius inventors, Tesla and Edison had very different styles. Edison was largely self-taught, while Tesla had a formal European education. Edison discovered by trial and error, a method he expressed best in his famous saying, "Invention is five percent inspiration and 95 percent perspiration." Tesla preferred to think about an invention and would only build the actual model when he had it all worked out in his mind. Tesla's thinking was so precise that the first model would almost always work the way he expected with no alterations.

Seebs · Post by **Seebs** » June 28, 2005, 4:57 pm

My Top 10

Teddy Roosevelt (National Park system)
Larry Flynt (First Amendment porn and celebrity character assisination)
Thomas Crapper (I mean, shit)
Ben Franklin (Bi-focals)
Sam Walton ($80 tvs)
Susan B. Anthony (suffrage)
Bill Gates (yeah, I know, but I'm using his OS ...)
Pope John Paul II (wasn't a Nazi, wasn't too good to travel to shitty countries)
Harry Truman (saved 50,000 US lives by vaporizing 200,000 of the enemies lives. Not a great humanitarian, but a hell of an American)
Frederick Douglass (had a pair)

Winnow · Post by **Winnow** » June 28, 2005, 4:59 pm

Tesla's Major contributions:

The polyphase induction motor
The hydroelectric generator
Radio
X-Rays
Vacuum tubes
Fluorescent lights
Microwaves
Radar
AC power (both 2-phase and 3-phase)
Broadcast power
The rotary engine
The Tesla Coil

And here's a short list of some of the other stuff he fooled around with:

Radio wave propagation
Missile science
Robots
Remote control
Satellites
Beam weapons
Ball lightning

Chmee · Post by **Chmee** » June 28, 2005, 6:00 pm

Kelgar wrote:No one who was alive during anyone of our lifetimes other than MLK and FDR have any business being in the top 10.

I think FDR was right as far as the need to fight WW2. Domestically however, he was horrible.

Chmee · Post by **Chmee** » June 28, 2005, 6:06 pm

Interesting article on Tesla (he got a little strange toward the end).

http://www.24hourscholar.com/p/articles ... i_16139302

Sylvos · Post by **Sylvos** » June 28, 2005, 6:16 pm

I pooped a hammer.

Homercles · Post by **Homercles** » June 28, 2005, 6:24 pm

funny thing about this list though, in 500 years, that top 10 will be nothing but a sidenote. Whereas Neil Armstrong will still be one of the most recognizable names in history.

Winnow · Post by **Winnow** » June 28, 2005, 7:14 pm

Chmee wrote:Interesting article on Tesla (he got a little strange toward the end).

http://www.24hourscholar.com/p/articles ... i_16139302

All genius types are a little kooky!

Adelrune Argenti · Post by **Adelrune Argenti** » June 28, 2005, 7:19 pm

Seebs wrote:My Top 10
Pope John Paul II (wasn't a Nazi, wasn't too good to travel to shitty countries)

It's Greatest Americans list. John Paul was Polish.

Seebs · Post by **Seebs** » June 29, 2005, 12:43 am

Excellent Point .. change it to John Paul Getty.

Keverian FireCry · Post by **Keverian FireCry** » June 29, 2005, 2:41 am

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Bubba Grizz · Post by **Bubba Grizz** » June 29, 2005, 10:11 am

I think it is a shame that we had to struggle to find 100 great Americans.

Winnow · Post by **Winnow** » June 29, 2005, 1:26 pm

Bubba Grizz wrote:I think it is a shame that we had to struggle to find 100 great Americans.

We don't need to struggle to find 100 great Americans, this current list just wasn't even close to being accurate. The topic is subjective as well.

If you made a top 100 greatest Canadians list you'd probably see names like Alanis Morissette and William Shatner. Scratch Alanis, she's a yank now...um...someone have a top 100 for Canada?

Lynks · Post by **Lynks** » June 29, 2005, 1:29 pm

We barely had a top 10.

Its hard to define what makes a person great though. Is it fame? How much money he made? Contributions to society? How liked he is by others?