Gerald Ford dies
Gerald Ford dies
seriy6tw343
Last edited by Nick on December 27, 2006, 3:12 am, edited 1 time in total.
- Pherr the Dorf
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Gerald Ford tops the list of the Presidential Athletic Power Rankings.
Dan Shanoff wrote:If nothing else, the late Gerald Ford holds the title of the most athletic U.S. president. In an exclusive analysis, Ford leads the first-ever (and possibly last-ever)...
All-Time U.S. President Athleticism Power Rankings!
Ford was, by far, our most athletic (and athletically accomplished) President: He was a three-year center for Michigan's football team on two undefeated national championship teams ('32, '33), and the team's MVP in '34. He had offers to go to the NFL, but turned them down to go to law school.
Now, say what you will that Ford might have taken one too many shots to the helmet, but he reigns supreme among Presidential athleticism. (You'll find the final Presidential Power Rankings at the end of the rundown.)
Here's a chronological rundown of the athletic bonafides of the U.S. Presidents of the 20th Century, with an emphasis on actual lifetime athletic accomplishment (and, in the absence of that, significant off-field links to sports as a proxy for participation).
George W. Bush: Well, he OWNED a sports team (Texas Rangers), but the closest he got to participating in sports was as a cheerleader.
Bill Clinton: Huge sports FAN (particularly Arkansas basketball) and an avid jogger and golfer, but essentially a non-athlete and classic "wannabe" jock. (And, uh, there's nothing wrong with that...)
George H. W. Bush: Played first base for Yale baseball, which puts him near the top of a thin field. Certainly qualifies him for Top 5.
Ronald Reagan: Sports claim to fame is that he was a Cubs play-by-play broadcaster, but more concerned with acting than athletics. Famously played George "The Gipper" Gipp in the movie, "Knute Rockne, All American."
Jimmy Carter: Star local basketball and football player in high school, but his most notorious sports claim to fame is that he was in office when the US boycotted the 1980 Summer Olympics.
Gerald Ford: See above. The best athlete of any President in our nation's history. And, when we inevitably do the "20th Century World Leader Battle Royale of Athleticism," I'm quite sure Ford would finish in the Final Four, if not win outright.
"It's like these guys take pride in being ignorant." - Barack Obama
Go Blue!
Go Blue!
http://www.nasa.gov/vision/space/featur ... _ford.html
NASA.gov's obit for President Ford. Not too noteworthy until you get to the quote from President Bush and he (correctly) uses the word "rectitude". I am positive he did not write that speech himself.
NASA.gov's obit for President Ford. Not too noteworthy until you get to the quote from President Bush and he (correctly) uses the word "rectitude". I am positive he did not write that speech himself.
President George W. Bush reflected on Ford's legacy, saying "Americans will always admire Gerald Ford's unflinching performance of duty and the honorable conduct of his administration, and the great rectitude of the man himself."
- Midnyte_Ragebringer
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Welcome to the real world, where hardly any public speaker writes there own speeches. Especially one who has a horrible time with public speking. He's been president for 6 years. We all know he has a hard time with public speaking. Jesus already, give it up.Al wrote:I am positive he did not write that speech himself.
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Were I asking someone to write a speech for me, I would appreciate it if they made it sound like I wrote it. I have never asked anyone to write a speech for me, nor will I ever. I do not appreciate the fact that the "Leader of the Free World" requires a speech-writer for a President's encomium. It should be obvious and easy for a man of his stature to write a speech dedicated to a man of his stature.Midnyte_Ragebringer wrote:Welcome to the real world, where hardly any public speaker writes there own speeches. Especially one who has a horrible time with public speking. He's been president for 6 years. We all know he has a hard time with public speaking. Jesus already, give it up.Al wrote:I am positive he did not write that speech himself.
edit:alcohol
Last edited by Al on December 30, 2006, 4:19 am, edited 1 time in total.
- Midnyte_Ragebringer
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Like I said, they all have speech writers. So you don't, HIC....like any Presidents, etc. HUPAl wrote:Were I asking someone to write a speech for me, I would appreciate it if they made it sound like I wrote it. I have never asked anyone to write a speech for me, nor will I ever. I do not appreciate the fact that the "Leader of the Free World" requires a speech-writer for a President's encomium. It should be obvious and easy for a man of his stature to write a speech dedicated to a man of his stature.Midnyte_Ragebringer wrote:Welcome to the real world, where hardly any public speaker writes there own speeches. Especially one who has a horrible time with public speking. He's been president for 6 years. We all know he has a hard time with public speaking. Jesus already, give it up.Al wrote:I am positive he did not write that speech himself.
edit:alcohol
Doesn't a president have more important things to do than to sit down for hours at a time writing speeches? It's a pretty basic precedure, giving out ideas, tone and key points that should be mentioned, someone else turns it into a speech.Al wrote: Were I asking someone to write a speech for me, I would appreciate it if they made it sound like I wrote it. I have never asked anyone to write a speech for me, nor will I ever. I do not appreciate the fact that the "Leader of the Free World" requires a speech-writer for a President's encomium. It should be obvious and easy for a man of his stature to write a speech dedicated to a man of his stature.
edit:alcohol
- masteen
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This thread embiggens my nervis.
"There is at least as much need to curb the cruel greed and arrogance of part of the world of capital, to curb the cruel greed and violence of part of the world of labor, as to check a cruel and unhealthy militarism in international relationships." -Theodore Roosevelt
There was a day when it was required of public speakers to be fluent in the nuances of public speaking. President Lincoln never had anyone write a speech for him, and he has given some that are still taught to school kids.Four score and seven years ago our fathers brought forth on this continent, a new nation, conceived in Liberty, and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal.
Now we are engaged in a great civil war, testing whether that nation, or any nation so conceived and so dedicated, can long endure. We are met on a great battle-field of that war. We have come to dedicate a portion of that field, as a final resting place for those who here gave their lives that that nation might live. It is altogether fitting and proper that we should do this.
But, in a larger sense, we can not dedicate -- we can not consecrate -- we can not hallow -- this ground. The brave men, living and dead, who struggled here, have consecrated it, far above our poor power to add or detract. The world will little note, nor long remember what we say here, but it can never forget what they did here. It is for us the living, rather, to be dedicated here to the unfinished work which they who fought here have thus far so nobly advanced. It is rather for us to be here dedicated to the great task remaining before us -- that from these honored dead we take increased devotion to that cause for which they gave the last full measure of devotion -- that we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain -- that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom -- and that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth.
President F. D. Roosevelt needed no assistance in asking the Nation to go to war against an aggressive and Imperialistic global power.Yesterday, Dec. 7, 1941 - a date which will live in infamy - the United States of America was suddenly and deliberately attacked by naval and air forces of the Empire of Japan.
The United States was at peace with that nation and, at the solicitation of Japan, was still in conversation with the government and its emperor looking toward the maintenance of peace in the Pacific.
Indeed, one hour after Japanese air squadrons had commenced bombing in Oahu, the Japanese ambassador to the United States and his colleagues delivered to the Secretary of State a formal reply to a recent American message. While this reply stated that it seemed useless to continue the existing diplomatic negotiations, it contained no threat or hint of war or armed attack.
It will be recorded that the distance of Hawaii from Japan makes it obvious that the attack was deliberately planned many days or even weeks ago. During the intervening time, the Japanese government has deliberately sought to deceive the United States by false statements and expressions of hope for continued peace.
The attack yesterday on the Hawaiian islands has caused severe damage to American naval and military forces. Very many American lives have been lost. In addition, American ships have been reported torpedoed on the high seas between San Francisco and Honolulu.
Yesterday, the Japanese government also launched an attack against Malaya.
Last night, Japanese forces attacked Hong Kong.
Last night, Japanese forces attacked Guam.
Last night, Japanese forces attacked the Philippine Islands.
Last night, the Japanese attacked Wake Island.
This morning, the Japanese attacked Midway Island.
Japan has, therefore, undertaken a surprise offensive extending throughout the Pacific area. The facts of yesterday speak for themselves. The people of the United States have already formed their opinions and well understand the implications to the very life and safety of our nation.
As commander in chief of the Army and Navy, I have directed that all measures be taken for our defense.
Always will we remember the character of the onslaught against us.
No matter how long it may take us to overcome this premeditated invasion, the American people in their righteous might will win through to absolute victory.
I believe I interpret the will of the Congress and of the people when I assert that we will not only defend ourselves to the uttermost, but will make very certain that this form of treachery shall never endanger us again.
Hostilities exist. There is no blinking at the fact that our people, our territory and our interests are in grave danger.
With confidence in our armed forces - with the unbounding determination of our people - we will gain the inevitable triumph - so help us God.
I ask that the Congress declare that since the unprovoked and dastardly attack by Japan on Sunday, Dec. 7, a state of war has existed between the United States and the Japanese empire.
While I could probably post various speeches from various sources, the bottom line is that I do not feel that someone in the Presidents position has any reason to hire a speech-writer to assist in eulogizing a former President. Gerald Ford was a man of uncommon character in a world where that is undeniably scarce. He was a giant among mere mortals, and his wisdom brought long standing benefits to our society. This should be more evident to the President than anyone in the world outside of President Ford's family. He need not be a scholar to give a heartfelt farewell to our nations former leader. The fact that his speech is filled with words he needed to look up in a dictionary takes any "heart" out of it. It is disgraceful that our nation is being led by a man who asks someone to write something for him that I myself could write in mere minutes. He had days, and a college education to back it up.
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Aww, not only is he too busy vacationing to write a speech, he is too busy to pay his respects at the memorial service. What a great guy that he takes all that vacationing onto his shoulders while literally hundreds of other Washington politicians get to go say goodbye to the deceased President. Hell, Cheney even made it, and he was in New Mexico in the snow!President Bush did not attend the Capitol service, choosing to remain at his Texas ranch until Monday, when he will return to Washington to pay his respects.