Ten Worst Americans
Bob Farley has his list here. I'll take my shot:
1. Jefferson Davis - Calling this a no-brainer would be an insult to the brainless. He committed treason of the highest order, in order to advance the most reprehensible cause. As his own vice president put it, "Our new [Confederate] government is founded ... upon the great truth that the negro is not equal to the white man; that slavery—subordination to the superior race—is his natural and normal condition." I can't think of a position more reprehensible.
2. Andrew Jackson - I know putting an American president, especially one as well respected as Jackson, on this list is controversial. But Jackson is a special case. He organized one of the first, and one of the largest, genocides in human history - that against American Indians. It didn't end during his tenure, but he laid the foundations for it to continue for decades.
3. Nathan Bedford Forrest - Founded the KKK. Enough said.
4. Minor Keith - Founder of United Fruit. Bane of Central America's existence, for very good reason.
5. Richard Nixon - not as bad as Jackson, but not far off. Showed a complete disregard for civil liberties, expanded American involvement in Indochina, continuing the killing that began under Johnson, planned a hit on a critical journalist. And the list goes on.
6. J. Edgar Hoover - no one should have been surprised when Joe McCarthy began his hearings. Hoover had been doing the exact same thing for decades, and continued for a couple more. Additionally, the FBI, under his leadership, did more to cripple the civil rights movement than any other force.
7. Robert Byrd - that said, Byrd was the most influential segregationist politician. George Wallace is the obvious choice, but he wasn't in the federal government, and thus couldn't have as much of an effect as Byrd. Byrd, on the other hand, used his power to lead the filibuster against the Civil Right Act. Scum of the highest order, the continuing support of whom is disgusting.
8. Phyllis Schlafly - when the feminist movement presented a chance, finally, for the equality of half of America, Schlafly did all she could to destroy that opportunity. There's been undeniable progress since the '70s, but Schlafly sure retarded it.
9. Father Coughlin - the worst demagogue in American history, both in terms of his tactics and his message. In his later years, he turned to violence.
10. Timothy McVeigh - um…yeah. I don't think I need to explain this one.
1. Jefferson Davis - Calling this a no-brainer would be an insult to the brainless. He committed treason of the highest order, in order to advance the most reprehensible cause. As his own vice president put it, "Our new [Confederate] government is founded ... upon the great truth that the negro is not equal to the white man; that slavery—subordination to the superior race—is his natural and normal condition." I can't think of a position more reprehensible.
2. Andrew Jackson - I know putting an American president, especially one as well respected as Jackson, on this list is controversial. But Jackson is a special case. He organized one of the first, and one of the largest, genocides in human history - that against American Indians. It didn't end during his tenure, but he laid the foundations for it to continue for decades.
3. Nathan Bedford Forrest - Founded the KKK. Enough said.
4. Minor Keith - Founder of United Fruit. Bane of Central America's existence, for very good reason.
5. Richard Nixon - not as bad as Jackson, but not far off. Showed a complete disregard for civil liberties, expanded American involvement in Indochina, continuing the killing that began under Johnson, planned a hit on a critical journalist. And the list goes on.
6. J. Edgar Hoover - no one should have been surprised when Joe McCarthy began his hearings. Hoover had been doing the exact same thing for decades, and continued for a couple more. Additionally, the FBI, under his leadership, did more to cripple the civil rights movement than any other force.
7. Robert Byrd - that said, Byrd was the most influential segregationist politician. George Wallace is the obvious choice, but he wasn't in the federal government, and thus couldn't have as much of an effect as Byrd. Byrd, on the other hand, used his power to lead the filibuster against the Civil Right Act. Scum of the highest order, the continuing support of whom is disgusting.
8. Phyllis Schlafly - when the feminist movement presented a chance, finally, for the equality of half of America, Schlafly did all she could to destroy that opportunity. There's been undeniable progress since the '70s, but Schlafly sure retarded it.
9. Father Coughlin - the worst demagogue in American history, both in terms of his tactics and his message. In his later years, he turned to violence.
10. Timothy McVeigh - um…yeah. I don't think I need to explain this one.
While I think Byrd gets something of a bad rap--I mean he's not Rankin, Bilbo, or Sparkman for God's sake, the choice of Minor Keith is inspired.
Posted by: Erik Loomis | December 28, 2005 at 11:43 PM
Thanks - I figured messing up the politics of an entire region for decades ought to merit someone a mention.
Posted by: Minipundit | December 29, 2005 at 12:23 PM
I would have to include Joseph McCarthy on that list.
Posted by: mike3k | December 29, 2005 at 03:06 PM
It was hard for me not to, but Hoover did all that McCarthy did, more privately, and over a longer period of time.
Posted by: Minipundit | December 29, 2005 at 04:17 PM