[Tupelo]

In my opinion, the GOP is as dead as “New Coke”. As i was reading this column, I started thinking about Republican Presidents. I am in my 70s and when I think back there is only two that I can say I still admire.
Two in 70+ years?
Then think back over the past 112 years. Three. Three?
How many Democrat Presidents from the same period do you think are still admired and respected by the Democrat rank & file?
My guess is every one of them. Seven, I think.

[C. Edmund Wright]

You make an interesting point about admired Presidents, but I am not sure it is relevant.

Conservatives are far less likely to admire any politician for any reason, because basically we want to be left alone by them. Libs and Democrats will admire politicians they vote for because they are consumed by government to their very core. Thus, I don’t think in the end it is a meaningful comparison that you have made, though it is interesting.

[Bringbackthedraft]

I think back there is only two that I can say I still admire.
Two in 70+ years?............................ There can only be 2 in 70+ years, Ike and Reagan come to mind.

[buffaloguy]

I think that you are wrong. The real need that we didn’t fulfill for the electorate was that we did not provide a charismatic individual as a candidate. Facts no longer suffice and we will have to work a bit harder to bring those individuals to the fore who have the ability to inspire people to greatness. Romney did not do that.

Some insight might be gained by reading “The Fourth Great Awakening”. It is one of the best American history books ever written and the last chapter deals with this very issue.

[New Jersey Realist]

Then think back over the past 112 years. Three. Three?

Would you be referring to Ron, Ike and Abe? On the rat side the only one I had any respect for is Truman. He left the white house hardly a rich man, packed his own things and lived off an Army pension. But perhaps I like him more because most rats hated him.

[Fiji Hill]

I started thinking about Republican Presidents. I am in my 70s and when I think back there are only two that I can say I still admire.
Two in 70+ years?
Then think back over the past 112 years. Three.

I admire several over the past 112 years--McKinley, a strong president who respected the constitutional limits on the office, Roosevelt for his foreign and defense policy, Harding and Coolidge for cutting taxes and the size and scope of government, Hoover mainly for his accomplishments outside of government, Eisenhower for building a strong defense, Nixon for saving Israel, and, of courrse, Ronaldus Maximus. I'm not too hot on Ford and the Bushes.