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Most Overrated Historic Figure(s)

Posted on 04/20/2013 7:55:55 PM PDT by MNDude

There are probably many people in history who have received more credit than they deserved. Excluding any US Presidents in the past century (that would be too easy), what three historic figures do you think are the most overrated?


TOPICS: History
KEYWORDS: chat; history; overrated; vanity
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To: House Atreides

Dan “What is the frequency Kenneth?” Ra(th)er.


81 posted on 04/20/2013 8:52:42 PM PDT by treetopsandroofs (Had FDR been GOP, there would have been no World Wars, just "The Great War" and "Roosevelt's Wars".)
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To: MNDude
Bill O'Blivious

Leni

82 posted on 04/20/2013 8:54:11 PM PDT by MinuteGal
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To: yarddog

I agree. See my post right below yours, I was writing that before I saw yours.

Some people think he was a military God. I think he was a decent general who had some really good shining spots, and some really bad aspects.

Again, just my opinion...:)


83 posted on 04/20/2013 8:54:30 PM PDT by rlmorel ("We'll drink to good health for them that have it coming." Boss Spearman in Open Range)
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To: MNDude
Robert Strange McNamara
Tom Hanks
Juan and Evita Peron
Colin Powell
Red China
84 posted on 04/20/2013 8:54:49 PM PDT by 2ndDivisionVet (I'll raise $2million for Sarah Palin's presidential run. What'll you do?)
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To: rlmorel

The American Navy fought with dogged determination through the worst days of the war and kept that determination through the war while learning and finally outsmarting the Japanese even tho they did eventually have overwhelming superiority.


85 posted on 04/20/2013 8:56:07 PM PDT by yarddog (Truth, Justice, and what was once the American Way.)
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To: yarddog

I wouldn’t agree his leadership was the highest order. He got a lot of adoring press, and he made as sure as he could that was the case.

For quiet leadership and effectiveness, I think Nimitz was perhaps the best.


86 posted on 04/20/2013 8:57:23 PM PDT by rlmorel ("We'll drink to good health for them that have it coming." Boss Spearman in Open Range)
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To: yarddog

If you are interested, a really amazing book about that time is “Neptune’s Inferno” about the naval campaign around the Solomon Islands.


87 posted on 04/20/2013 8:58:46 PM PDT by rlmorel ("We'll drink to good health for them that have it coming." Boss Spearman in Open Range)
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To: fieldmarshaldj

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZUHkz75_6ck


88 posted on 04/20/2013 8:59:21 PM PDT by ReformationFan
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To: yarddog

I think for MOST overrated, I think Field Marshal Montgomery takes that prize for me.


89 posted on 04/20/2013 9:00:13 PM PDT by rlmorel ("We'll drink to good health for them that have it coming." Boss Spearman in Open Range)
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To: MNDude

Albert Einstein


90 posted on 04/20/2013 9:02:05 PM PDT by joseph20 (...to ourselves and our Posterity...)
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To: mrreaganaut; Colofornian; Elsie; FastCoyote; svcw; Zakeet; SkyPilot; rightazrain; ...

Don’t forget Joseph Smith!


91 posted on 04/20/2013 9:02:14 PM PDT by reaganaut (Kyrie eleison...Christe eleison...Kyrie eleison)
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To: rlmorel

Nimitz and McArthur both submitted plans for the defeat of Japan.

Truman chose McArthur’s and it worked very very well, especially the great idea of not capturing every island.

I am sure Nimitz’s plan would have also worked but that doesn’t take away from McArthur’s actual success.


92 posted on 04/20/2013 9:03:06 PM PDT by yarddog (Truth, Justice, and what was once the American Way.)
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To: MNDude

George Armstrong Custer


93 posted on 04/20/2013 9:04:18 PM PDT by madison10
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To: rlmorel

I think Montgomery was one of the most under rated, especially by Americans. The Germans thought he was very good.


94 posted on 04/20/2013 9:05:22 PM PDT by yarddog (Truth, Justice, and what was once the American Way.)
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To: yarddog

Also McClellan has been treated unfairly by history. The Confederate Generals just about all thought he was the toughest to go up against.


95 posted on 04/20/2013 9:07:50 PM PDT by yarddog (Truth, Justice, and what was once the American Way.)
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To: yarddog

Also McClellan has been treated unfairly by history. The Confederate Generals just about all thought he was the toughest to go up against.


96 posted on 04/20/2013 9:07:50 PM PDT by yarddog (Truth, Justice, and what was once the American Way.)
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To: yarddog

I certainly wouldn’t say Nimitz didn’t make mistakes, that is certain.

Between the two, I am biased towards Nimitz due to his personal qualities and the way that he led men.

You look at leaders like Patton, Lemay and Halsey, and they were men who knew how to fight both with their brains and with their leadership. Of the three, I think Halsey was the least accomplished at using his intellect towards an end, he seemed to depend more on his aggressiveness and instincts.


97 posted on 04/20/2013 9:09:07 PM PDT by rlmorel ("We'll drink to good health for them that have it coming." Boss Spearman in Open Range)
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To: Paradox

Steven Hawking for that matter


98 posted on 04/20/2013 9:11:48 PM PDT by Eddie01 (Liberals lie about everything all the time.)
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To: yarddog

The Germans also knew that when they were battling Montgomery, time was on their side.

Once he got moving, he was okay. It was getting him moving that was the problem.

He wouldn’t make the move until he had every single piece in place, and his ability to exploit an opening suffered. It isn’t surprising that he and Patton detested each other, they were polar opposites in that respect.


99 posted on 04/20/2013 9:12:14 PM PDT by rlmorel ("We'll drink to good health for them that have it coming." Boss Spearman in Open Range)
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To: rlmorel

Yes the Japanese totally snookered Halsey during the Philippines battles and it almost led to disaster leaving our landing forces unprotected.

He was saved by a few Destroyer Escorts and jeep carriers who fought so hard the Japanes were fooled into thinking they were up against a main force and withdrew before what would have been a major victory for them.


100 posted on 04/20/2013 9:13:05 PM PDT by yarddog (Truth, Justice, and what was once the American Way.)
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