NationStates Jolt Archive

I used to be hard-core authoritarian right-wing, and admired people that I now (thankfully) find utterly despicable: Pinochet, Stroessner, Chiang Kai-shek. It's not something I'm proud of.

On the other end of the spectrum, people I used to despise (or at least dislike) that I now respect would have to include Patrice Lumumba, who was not only not a Communist, but wasn't even pro-Soviet, as so many people have (mis)claimed.

I used to admire Jason Lee, and then I found out he was a Scientologist.

depends what you mean by admire....

in a hero sense: no not really always been a bit to independent for someone else’s shoes

In a secret admirer sense: always ;)

I used to admire Jason Lee, and then I found out he was a Scientologist.

Jason Lee? :confused:

I used to admire Jason Lee, and then I found out he was a Scientologist.

:eek: :(

I liked him too..........although that does explain the fate of his poor kid.

Roosevelt and Eisenhower. Used to think they were heroes of freedom and justice, now know that they were just as bad as Hitler and Stalin.

Are there any people you used to admire, but no longer do? Or vice versa?

Colin Powell. I thought he had a great deal of character. I was wrong.

Are there any people you used to admire, but no longer do?

John McCain. I found out he's a RINOINO.

John McCain. I found out he's a RINOINO.
Seconded. I'd have voted for him in 2000. Not a chance now.

As for someone I didn't really respect until I saw his civil rights record, Ulysses S. Grant. Doesn't deserve the shitty reputation he has.

Roosevelt and Eisenhower. Used to think they were heroes of freedom and justice, now know that they were just as bad as Hitler and Stalin.

:confused: Whats wrong with Roosevelt?

I don't admire anyone. Everyone has faults and i can never get passed them.

As for someone I didn't really respect until I saw his civil rights record, Ulysses S. Grant. Doesn't deserve the shitty reputation he has.

Yeah, Grant was pretty kickass regardless his politics. He deserves a biopic of some kind.

Michael Jackson when I still listened to his music. Now it's just meh.

Colin Powell. I thought he had a great deal of character. I was wrong.

im still in denial about powell. he has shown a great lack of character but i still hold out hope that he will eventually tell us the truth about the inside of the bush administration.

Seconded. I'd have voted for him in 2000. Not a chance now.

As for someone I didn't really respect until I saw his civil rights record, Ulysses S. Grant. Doesn't deserve the shitty reputation he has.

grant did something right? i had no idea

grant did something right? i had no idea

I'd just focus on his being a general, pretend his presidency never happened. That is what I do. :)

grant did something right? i had no idea

He's a classic case of his political enemies getting to his reputation after his death. If he'd succeeded, the battles that blacks fought in the fifties and sixties would have been won in the 1870's. On race, he was a man way ahead of his time.

I'd just focus on his being a general, pretend his presidency never happened. That is what I do. :)

Seriously--look at his presidency. He's said to have had a crooked cabinet, but it was no more crooked than any other in history, certainly cleaner than the current one, and certainly he was never accused of any personal impropriety. And then look at his barely-publicized policies. It takes some digging, to be very honest, because he's been worked over quite well. If there's anyone deserving of some rehab, it's Grant--anyone got a history thesis they need a subject for? ;)

Seriously--look at his presidency. He's said to have had a crooked cabinet, but it was no more crooked than any other in history, certainly cleaner than the current one, and certainly he was never accused of any personal impropriety. And then look at his barely-publicized policies. It takes some digging, to be very honest, because he's been worked over quite well. If there's anyone deserving of some rehab, it's Grant--anyone got a history thesis they need a subject for? ;)

I admit that the only thing I learned about Grant's presidency was a corrupt cabinet and that he was supposively in the pocket of many. That and his being a drunkard, which I always ignored given the success that he acheived on the battlefield, figured that was slander by his enemies.

I'll have to look into his political career closer.

:confused: Whats wrong with Roosevelt?

Morgenthau Plan.

Roosevelt and Eisenhower. Used to think they were heroes of freedom and justice, now know that they were just as bad as Hitler and Stalin.
wtf Eisenhower?

He was one of the most honest presidents we ever had.

I used to have a large amount of self respect. Then I realized that I am sitting in my grandmas house trying to get drunk by drinking cheap wine with a spoon.


Havbing moderate success.

wtf Eisenhower?

He was one of the most honest presidents we ever had.

I'll always love him for his "military industrial complex" speech. Here's part of it (http://youtube.com/watch?v=8y06NSBBRtY).

I used to have a large amount of self respect. Then I realized that I am sitting in my grandmas house trying to get drunk by drinking cheap wine with a spoon.


Havbing moderate success.


With a spoon? Anyway... I always respect myself. I don't always think I deserve it, but I'm so fucking awesome that I do anyway.

wtf Eisenhower?

He was one of the most honest presidents we ever had.

Probably sees Eisenhower in the light of his foreign policy and communism. Like the other Cold War presidents they fought communism by implacing brutal regimes that could do anything they wanted as long as they kept communists out. Hardly something the leader of the free world should brag about. But hey, he is keeping communism out of the U.S. so anything goes yes?

*avoids going into the possible paralells with current war on terror*

I'll always love him for his "military industrial complex" speech. Here's part of it (http://youtube.com/watch?v=8y06NSBBRtY).
I as well.
Probably sees Eisenhower in the light of his foreign policy and communism. Like the other Cold War presidents they fought communism by implacing brutal regimes that could do anything they wanted as long as they kept communists out. Hardly something the leader of the free world should brag about. But hey, he is keeping communism out of the U.S. so anything goes yes?

*avoids going into the possible paralells with current war on terror*

Eisenhower was the only president we’ve had who wanted to work with the communists.
Ever heard his “Atoms for Peace Speech” before the UN? Stalin was dead. He wanted reconciliation.

"My country wants to be constructive, not destructive. It wants agreement, not wars, among nations. It wants itself to live in freedom, and in the confidence that the people of every other nation enjoy equally the right of choosing their own way of life"

It just so happened that every member of his administration was opposed to this.

Eisenhower was the only president we’ve had who wanted to work with the communists.
Ever heard his “Atoms for Peace Speech” before the UN? Stalin was dead. He wanted reconciliation.

"My country wants to be constructive, not destructive. It wants agreement, not wars, among nations. It wants itself to live in freedom, and in the confidence that the people of every other nation enjoy equally the right of choosing their own way of life"

He'd seen the worst of war and knew humans faced the potential to destroy themselves completely and utterly.

I as well.


Eisenhower was the only president we’ve had who wanted to work with the communists.
Ever heard his “Atoms for Peace Speech” before the UN? Stalin was dead. He wanted reconciliation.

"My country wants to be constructive, not destructive. It wants agreement, not wars, among nations. It wants itself to live in freedom, and in the confidence that the people of every other nation enjoy equally the right of choosing their own way of life"

It just so happened that every member of his administration was opposed to this.

And I remember that South Vietnam was going to hold elections in 1955 I think and Eisenhower was afraid that the communists would be elected to power. So he canceled those democratic elections and emplace the U.S. puppet Ngo Dinh Diem, an undeniable murderous dictator. Hardly the example for us to follow.

With a spoon? Anyway... I always respect myself. I don't always think I deserve it, but I'm so fucking awesome that I do anyway.

When I was a little shit, my piano teacher told me the best way to get messed up in a hurry was to sip wine with a spoon. I keep inhaling it, but I think thats how its supposed to work.

When I was a little shit, my piano teacher told me the best way to get messed up in a hurry was to sip wine with a spoon. I keep inhaling it, but I think thats how its supposed to work.

Ever thought that maybe your teacher was just messing with you?

Ever thought that maybe your teacher was just messing with you?

Thought so at the time. Had some spare time and insomnia. Don't feel drunk, just a little tipsy, but judging byt the way the keyboard is moving, methinks it works.

wtf Eisenhower?

He was one of the most honest presidents we ever had.Well, there is that whole opposing democracy in Iran thing...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation_Ajax

Perhaps the biggest reason why I, too, dislike Eisenhower.

Edit: Oh, and in Guatemala, too:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation_PBSUCCESS

I used to think well of Mel Gibson. Not any more.

And while I have no particular use for Hillary Clinton politically, I very much admire the way she handled her husband's sexual adventures.