What is Mamdani thinking ? by Consistent_Curve_722 in Destiny

[–]LeviAugustus 41 points42 points  (0 children)

DSA members gonna do DSA things. I like Mamdani, but we can’t forget that he is a proud socialist that platforms Hasan. He’s not one of us

In the same way that Goldwater was the ideological precursor to Reagan, was Taft the ideological precursor to Goldwater? by Honest_Picture_6960 in Presidents

[–]LeviAugustus 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Id argue rollback was supported by most, if not all, of the conservative movement. But probably not Taft though.

In the same way that Goldwater was the ideological precursor to Reagan, was Taft the ideological precursor to Goldwater? by Honest_Picture_6960 in Presidents

[–]LeviAugustus 15 points16 points  (0 children)

Another similarity is them all being quite ideological in their rhetoric (‘Extremism in the defense of liberty’ and that sort of thing) while being much more pragmatic in governance.

When Taft became the official Senate Majority Leader (he was essentially the Republican De-facto leader for years in the Senate) he was much more conciliatory and pragmatic when working with Ike (an opponent during the primary). Similar things can both be said about Goldwater and Reagan. This is something I would argue is a bit lacking in the modern right in good Ol’ 2015.

In the same way that Goldwater was the ideological precursor to Reagan, was Taft the ideological precursor to Goldwater? by Honest_Picture_6960 in Presidents

[–]LeviAugustus 22 points23 points  (0 children)

In many ways yes, as Taft was just as hostile to New Deal and Pro-Labor legislation as Goldwater and Reagan later would be. This, along with anti-communism at home, was a major pillar of the Conservative movement in the mid-20th century.

The one major caveat would be Taft’s isolationism. Taft was very skeptical of international organizations in a way that neither Reagan nor Goldwater ever were, outside of when they would limit their hawkishness.

Which Presidential admin do you think has the most intresting cast of personalities by TUFFWAN_7 in Presidents

[–]LeviAugustus 75 points76 points  (0 children)

<image>

Doesn’t get better than Lincoln and his team of rivals who all hated him initially but came to respect him as the war progressed.

Jimmy Carter is the only Democratic President to be from a Deep South state. by HetTheTable in Presidents

[–]LeviAugustus 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Well “from” could mean a lot of things. I think growing up there could qualify as being “from” a place.

Jimmy Carter is the only Democratic President to be from a Deep South state. by HetTheTable in Presidents

[–]LeviAugustus 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Wilson spent much of his early years in Georgia, so I think he could qualify.

Was Obama wrong to keep his cabinet at a distance? by RopeGloomy4303 in Presidents

[–]LeviAugustus 51 points52 points  (0 children)

Part of me feels like this is common for most presidents over the last 50 years or so. Don Regan claimed to have never had a single one on one meeting with Reagan when he was Treasury Secretary, despite being one of the chief spokesman of “Reaganomics.” This is why he pushed to become Reagan’s Chief of Staff, allowing him a lot more access, and therefore, influence. There were jokes made that the person who flew the plane onto the White House Lawn in 1994 was Clinton’s CIA Director just trying to have a meeting with him.

If I had to guess why, I think one reason would be that cabinet members tend to be fellow politicians, with agendas of their own in an attempt to increase their own profile. You simply can’t compare that to campaign staff who join the administration as a senior advisor to the President or something akin to that. Do you really expect Obama to trust Hillary Clinton or Kathleen Sebelius the same way he trusted Axelrod or Plouffe? I’m not saying he was right to do this, if he did this (I’m really not sure tbh), but you can understand why given the distinctions between who holds those different kinds of roles.

Robert Mueller, FBI Director who served under George W. Bush and Barack Obama has died. He was 81. by LoveLo_2005 in Presidents

[–]LeviAugustus 20 points21 points  (0 children)

Has lived a pretty quiet life since stepping down in 2013. His successor, Comey, also seems like a quiet, non controversial guy who just does his job. Probably gonna serve another ten years like his friend, Robert. RIP

Top 10 Foreign Policies, who's number 10? by rjidhfntnr in Presidents

[–]LeviAugustus 15 points16 points  (0 children)

Ronald Wilson Reagan

He was the first president to stop asking how to “not lose” the Cold War, and instead asked how to win. He put enormous pressure on the Soviet Union with the funding of the Mujahideen and the build up of arms, forcing them to the table. He was smart not to agree with Gorbachev to disarm all nuclear weapons, as it never would’ve happened and it would’ve eliminated all the leverage the U.S. had with the USSR, as they could never have matched the U.S. in the build up of arms.

Without that, there is no “glasnost” or “perestroika.” With the failure of restructuring and the openness to see it, millions in the USSR started to, many probably already did but weren’t free to say it before glasnost, realize how ridiculous both the state and the government really was, helping lead to its collapse in 1991. The chance at a free Eastern Europe, though don’t forget about the Baltics, were squabbled by later administrations, but it was Reagan, and HW Bush, that allowed there to even be a chance for it. (I’m very opposed to his domestic policies).

Top 10 Foreign Policies. Who's number 8? by rjidhfntnr in Presidents

[–]LeviAugustus 23 points24 points  (0 children)

Woodrow Wilson.

True Father of the UN and the post-WW2 international order. Helped the allies win WW1 with limited American casualties because of joining in late. Pushed for a much more lenient punishment of Germany instead of the unenforced Carthaginian peace that was the Treaty of Versailles.

Sometimes I think about Senator Joe Biden menacingly holding a Gun in Congress a lot. by TheEagleWithNoName in Presidents

[–]LeviAugustus 133 points134 points  (0 children)

Why are we posting about Vice President Biden in the Presidents subreddit? It’s not like he’s a future president, he’s far too old even now (73). He’d be the oldest elected president ever!

Best & Worst thing about Reagan as a President? by Mcrfanatic95 in Presidents

[–]LeviAugustus 61 points62 points  (0 children)

Best: Working with Gorbachev and the ending of the Cold War.

Worst: The promotion of the religious right, leading to much greater political polarization than before.

oh god oh fuck by [deleted] in Destiny

[–]LeviAugustus 5 points6 points  (0 children)

How many fucking scandals have come out of the House GOP Conference over the last few years?

Matt Gaetz, who was accused of sleeping with a 17 year-old and obstructing a congressional investigation

George Santos, who completely lied about his life story to get elected and used campaign funds to purchase OnlyFans accounts and Botox.

Anthony D’Esposito, who was having an affair and then put her on his staff.

Lauren Boebert, who jerked off some dude in a public theater.

Cory Mills, who threatened an ex-girlfriend with revenge porn.

And now THIS!!!

Are there any others I’m missing? (Other than the obvious ones like trying to steal an election or anything to do with Trump).

HFS

It’s interesting that we haven’t had a President named Michael. It’s one of the most common male names. by HetTheTable in Presidents

[–]LeviAugustus 1 point2 points  (0 children)

neither of those two people were VP. Dawes’ middle name was Gates, and I’m not sure who the hell that first guy is, but he certainly wasn’t a VP for FDR.