Crippling hatred of Yankeedom

[Ed Anger]

<Reads OP>

[Viking]

Not just the culture war, it seems loony confederates seem to want to refight the civil war

http://www.cnn.com/2010/POLITICS/03/03/reagan.fifty.dollar.bill/index.html?hpt=C2

The $50 question: Grant or Reagan?
By Alexander Mooney, CNN Political Unit
March 3, 2010 3:05 p.m. EST

(CNN) -- Should Ulysses S. Grant, the legendary Union general and 18th president of the United States, be bumped from his 96-year stint on the $50 bill?

Yes, according to one North Carolina Republican.

Rep. Patrick McHenry announced that he will introduce a measure that would replace Grant's face with Ronald Reagan's, just in time for the 40th president's 100th birthday next February.

"President Reagan was a modern day statesman, whose presidency transformed our nation's political and economic thinking," McHenry said in a statement. "Through both his domestic and international policies he renewed America's self confidence, defeated the Soviets and taught us that each generation must provide opportunity for the next."

McHenry says it's only logical for Reagan to replace Grant on the $50 bill because several historians have ranked Reagan as a much better president than Grant. McHenry specifically cites a 2005 Wall Street Journal survey of scholars who placed Reagan at No. 6 and Grant at No. 29.

"Every generation needs its own heroes," McHenry also said. "One decade into the 21st century, it's time to honor the last great president of the 20th and give President Reagan a place beside Presidents Roosevelt and Kennedy."

Franklin Roosevelt's face currently appears on the dime while John F. Kennedy's image is on the half-dollar.

But not so fast, says Dr. John Marszalek, the executive director and managing editor of the Ulysses S. Grant Association.

Calling him a "beacon" of the 19th century, Marszalek said Grant deserves to keep his prominent spot on America's currency.

"His work in battling against inflation and getting the currency on stable footing opened the way for the economy boom of the late 19th century, Marszalek told CNN. "I don't know why he wouldn't be included, except people forget. It's been a long time."

Marszalek also named a host of other Grant accomplishments, including efforts to promote the rights of freed slaves and native Americans, as well as his post-presidency, two-year tour of the world during which he negotiated the settlement of a dispute between Japan and China.

But the Grant administration was also beset by major scandals -- close to a dozen in all -- which is a primary reason that Grant had difficulty working with Congress and why many modern historians continue to rank the 18th president relatively low.

Still, Marszalek says Grant's death in 1885 was a "national phenomenon" and is "still the biggest funeral any American has had to this day."

Grant supporters can rest easy for now, though -- the future of the legislation is highly in doubt. It would first have to clear the House Financial Services Committee where at least one Democrat is already expressing his opposition to the move.

"History has made its verdict," Rep. Brad Sherman of California told CNN. "Reagan's policies are controversial. Grant was in favor of winning the Civil War and keeping the Union together. The currency is not a place to score cheap political points."

It's not the first time Republican lawmakers have sought to immortalize Reagan's image on American currency. In 2004, Rep. Mark Souder introduced legislation to put Reagan on the dime in place of Roosevelt. Souder dropped the move after Nancy Reagan publicly opposed the measure.

In the years since Reagan's death, GOP lawmakers have also considered, though abandoned, legislation placing Reagan on the $10 bill, in place of Alexander Hamilton, and on the $20 bill, in place of Andrew Jackson.

[Neil]

To be fair, Grant's policies were also controversial.

Still, the currency should probably be inviolate.  In this era of style-over-substance politics, where actual, useful legislative accomplishments are all but impossible, if you open that door, you'll never be able to close it.  You'll end up with Obama on the hundred, Clinton on the twenty, and Dennis Kucinich on the single.

[Viking]

To be fair, Grant's policies were also controversial.

Still, the currency should probably be inviolate.  In this era of style-over-substance politics, where actual, useful legislative accomplishments are all but impossible, if you open that door, you'll never be able to close it.  You'll end up with Obama on the hundred, Clinton on the twenty, and Dennis Kucinich on the single.

Airport, Aircraft Carrier and Currency, pick any two. Ronald Regan doesn't need any more.

[Neil]

To be fair, Grant's policies were also controversial.

Still, the currency should probably be inviolate.  In this era of style-over-substance politics, where actual, useful legislative accomplishments are all but impossible, if you open that door, you'll never be able to close it.  You'll end up with Obama on the hundred, Clinton on the twenty, and Dennis Kucinich on the single.

Airport, Aircraft Carrier and Currency, pick any two. Ronald Regan doesn't need any more.

JFK got all three.

[jimmy olsen]

If you don't want your professor to think your crazy, don't write crazy things, not that hard.

[jimmy olsen]

But not so fast, says Dr. John Marszalek, the executive director and managing editor of the Ulysses S. Grant Association.

Calling him a "beacon" of the 19th century, Marszalek said Grant deserves to keep his prominent spot on America's currency.

"His work in battling against inflation and getting the currency on stable footing opened the way for the economy boom of the late 19th century, Marszalek told CNN. "I don't know why he wouldn't be included, except people forget. It's been a long time."

Marszalek also named a host of other Grant accomplishments, including efforts to promote the rights of freed slaves and native Americans, as well as his post-presidency, two-year tour of the world during which he negotiated the settlement of a dispute between Japan and China.

But the Grant administration was also beset by major scandals -- close to a dozen in all -- which is a primary reason that Grant had difficulty working with Congress and why many modern historians continue to rank the 18th president relatively low.

Still, Marszalek says Grant's death in 1885 was a "national phenomenon" and is "still the biggest funeral any American has had to this day."

Grant supporters can rest easy for now, though -- the future of the legislation is highly in doubt. It would first have to clear the House Financial Services Committee where at least one Democrat is already expressing his opposition to the move.

How the hell can this guy not mention Grant's service in the Civil War?

[Viking]

To be fair, Grant's policies were also controversial.

Still, the currency should probably be inviolate.  In this era of style-over-substance politics, where actual, useful legislative accomplishments are all but impossible, if you open that door, you'll never be able to close it.  You'll end up with Obama on the hundred, Clinton on the twenty, and Dennis Kucinich on the single.

Airport, Aircraft Carrier and Currency, pick any two. Ronald Regan doesn't need any more.

JFK got all three.

Good point, so.. let me rephrase

Airport, Aircraft Carrier, Currency and Failed assassination attempt, pick any three.

[Berkut]

If you say "Yankee" in Germany, that is pejorative. However, no one will associate New Yorkers or Harvard graduates with that term, but rather biblethumping pro-military rednecks from the South.

Now that is some just irony right there.

[Eddie Teach]

A lot of people would be idiots if judged fairly by the standards they use for others. Not surprised to find that some of them are German.

[Alcibiades]

You're retarded lettuce.  ( Imagine it in a Bostonian accent. )

I really can't see where you're coming from on this issue, it's just too archaic of an ideal.

[Berkut]

You're retarded lettuce.  ( Imagine it in a Bostonian accent. )

I really can't see where you're coming from on this issue, it's just too archaic of an ideal.

There isn't anything "real" about this - he needs something to feel all angtsy about, he is a southerner, so this is what he is all torn up about. If he was from somewhere else, he would be all torn up about some other contrived injustice.

It makes him feel special, he is a unique flower.

[Valmy]

It is a bit confusing and annoying that all Americans are 'Yanks' to a lot of foreigners

I think it is awesome.  Screw the people still fighting the Civil War.

[Neil]

Good point, so.. let me rephrase

Airport, Aircraft Carrier, Currency and Failed assassination attempt, pick any three.

FDR.

[jimmy olsen]

It is a bit confusing and annoying that all Americans are 'Yanks' to a lot of foreigners

I think it is awesome.  Screw the people still fighting the Civil War.

As a Boston Red Sox fan I loathe being called a Yankee.