[| I, CWAS |]

Everyone knows the worst president was James Buchanan. there is no debate about it

James Buchanan, fifteenth president of the United States, was born near Mercersburg, Pennsylvania on April 23, 1791 to parents of Scotch-Irish descent. Buchanan attended the Mercersburg Academy until the fall of 1807, when he entered the junior class of Dickinson College.
He found the school to be in "wretched condition" with "no efficient discipline." However, his own behavior while at Dickinson was far from exemplary; he was expelled during the fall vacation of 1808 for bad behavior. After making a pledge of good behavior to his minister, Dr. John King (a college trustee), Buchanan was readmitted to Dickinson. In his senior year, he felt slighted by the faculty because he did not win the top award of the College for which his literary society had nominated him. Buchanan commented, "I left college, . . . feeling little attachment to the Alma Mater."

Upon graduation, Buchanan began to study under the prominent Lancaster lawyer James Hopkins. After being admitted to the Pennsylvania Bar in 1812, he quickly gained prominence, and was elected to the Pennsylvania House of Representatives in 1814 and 1815 as a Federalist. Thus began Buchanan’s long career as a public servant. In 1820, he was elected to the U. S. House of Representatives. With the extinction of the Federalist party in 1824, he joined the Democrats. In Congress, Buchanan was an active opponent of John Quincy Adams and the Panama Mission. He supported Andrew Jackson in the election of 1828, and this support ultimately led to his appointment as the chairman of the Committee on Judiciary. In 1831, Jackson appointed him minister to Russia. On his return to the United States, Buchanan was elected to the Senate; he was reelected in 1837 and again in 1843. By this time, he had gained national prominence in the Democratic party; being passed over for a presidential nomination in both 1844 and 1848, he nonetheless served as Secretary of State under Polk and as minister to Great Britain under Pierce.

In 1856, Buchanan was finally nominated for the presidency, with John C. Breckinridge of Kentucky as his running mate. The campaign platform was based on the finality of the Compromise of 1850 and the non-intervention of Congress concerning slavery in the territories. Buchanan defeated Fremont in the electoral college, although he failed to get a majority of the popular vote . Buchanan's presidency was a stormy one, filled with controversy and numerous domestic difficulties. By the end of his term, the slavery issue and states' rights problems had caused serious divisions in government circles. The election of Abraham Lincoln added fuel to the fire, and between December 1860 and January 1861, numerous members of Buchanan's cabinet resigned. The attack on Fort Sumter on April 12, 1861 not only brought the start of the Civil War, but also seemed to cement the public’s opinion that Buchanan was one of the worst presidents in United States’ history.

James Buchanan retired to his estate, Wheatland, in Lancaster and died there on June 1, 1868.

[Bruno]

Todd D. wrote:
"Europeans make fun of Americans, it's something that we should be worried about and feel bad about?"


My dear Todd. I said that Europeans make fun of George W. Bush Jr. (jokes at work or in the subway,press, bars, etc). So you shouldn' t feel offended in any way (unless you are Geroge W. Bush).

[Comrade Ogilvy]

He's offended cause that is our leader. He feels a connection because the leader is suppose to represent the faction. He has pride for his birth country and feels that by insulting Bush, you are vicarously insulting him. Because as the present leader he's like the mascot for the home team.

[Comrade Ogilvy]

Andrew Jackson.

In Worcester v. Georgia, 31 U.S. 515 (1832), the Supreme Court held that the State of Georgia could not assert jurisdiction over Cherokee lands which were protected by a treaty between the U.S. and the Cherokee. Jackson refused to enforce that order. (He is reported to have said, "John Marshall has made his decision; now let him enforce it.")

We call the result the "Trail of Tears". Thousands of Cherokee died in the course of being removed from Georgia (and other nearby areas) to Oklahoma. (A similar fate befell all of the so-called "Five Civilized Tribes" -- Cherokee, Chicasaw, Choctaw, Muskogee (Creek), and Seminole.)

No other President, before or since, has managed to combine such total contempt for the constitutional order with so great a loss of life. And before anyone starts arguing that the Framers did not intend the Supreme Court to have the ultimate say over the constitutionality of government actions, consider what Alexander Hamilton wrote in Federalist No. 78:

The complete independence of the courts of justice is peculiarly essential in a limited Constitution. By a limited Constitution, I understand one which contains certain specified exceptions to the legislative authority; such, for instance, as that it shall pass no bills of attainder, no ex-post-facto laws, and the like. Limitations of this kind can be preserved in practice in no other way than through the medium of the courts of justice, whose duty it must be to declare all acts contrary to the manifest tenor of the Constitution void. Without this, all the reservations of particular rights or privileges would amount to nothing.

* * *

There is no position which depends on clearer principles, than that every act of a delegated authority, contrary to the tenor of the commission under which it is exercised, is void. No legislative act, therefore, contrary to the Constitution, can be valid. To deny this, would be to affirm, that the deputy is greater than his principal; that the servant is above his master; that the representatives of the people are superior to the people themselves; that men acting by virtue of powers, may do not only what their powers do not authorize, but what they forbid.

* * *

The interpretation of the laws is the proper and peculiar province of the courts. A constitution is, in fact, and must be regarded by the judges, as a fundamental law. It therefore belongs to them to ascertain its meaning, as well as the meaning of any particular act proceeding from the legislative body. If there should happen to be an irreconcilable difference between the two, that which has the superior obligation and validity ought, of course, to be preferred; or, in other words, the Constitution ought to be preferred to the statute, the intention of the people to the intention of their agents.

* * *

But in regard to the interfering acts of a superior and a subordinate authority, of an ordinal and derivative power, the nature and reason of the thing indicate ... that the prior act of a superior ought to be preferred over the subsequent act of an inferior and subordinate authority; and that accordingly, whenever a particular statute contravenes the Constitution, it will be the duty of the judicial tribunals to adhere to the latter and disregard the former.

(The Federalist (Modern Library College Edition) at pp. 505-507.)

Jackson defied the Supreme Court on a constitutional question which the Supreme Court plainly had the authority to decide. There is no reason to suppose that he would have had any less hesitation in defying Congress. He made himself, in short, a dictator, and he sacrificed thousands of innocent lives on the altar of his own power. As against that, the various crimes of other Presidents are rather small.

[clownboy]

Actually, though I agree the the Trail of Tears was a dark episode in our history, the President does NOT serve at the pleasure or under the orders of the SCOTUS. The President is under NO constitutional obligation to commit troops on the order of the SCOTUS. In fact the SCOTUS has NO power to make such an order.

The Court may make a ruling that determines the constitutionality of an issue, but they were created with no enforcement arm for good reason. That is, in part, the Executive Branch's check on the Judicial Branch.

I'll have to find the link again, but Jefferson clearly states in correspondance with Madison (I believe) in response to the threat of judicial legislation, that it will never happen because the President can just refuse to take any action.

That's precisely what Jackson did.

And the Marshall court? Weren't they the ones who threw away the Constitution to begin with? I seem to recall a fair amount of State's rights being ceded to an unconstitutionally large Federal government by that court.

[Comrade Ogilvy]

I'll have to find the link again, but Jefferson clearly states in correspondance with Madison (I believe) in response to the threat of judicial legislation, that it will never happen because the President can just refuse to take any action.

That's precisely what Jackson did.

Are you suggesting that by interpreting a treaty -- a treaty which the Constitution makes part of "the supreme Law of the Land" (U.S. Const., Art. VI) -- the Supreme Court was engaged in "judicial legislation"?

The President is under NO constitutional obligation to commit troops on the order of the SCOTUS. In fact the SCOTUS has NO power to make such an order.

True, but irrelevant: The Supreme Court did not purport to order Jackson to commit any troops anywhere.

The Supreme Court does, however, have the power to declare the rights and obligations of parties to treaties, and unless we are willing to elevate the President above the law, those declarations are binding.

And the Marshall court? Weren't they the ones who threw away the Constitution to begin with? I seem to recall a fair amount of State's rights being ceded to an unconstitutionally large Federal government by that court.

Perhaps. But unless you think that the Court's decision in Worcester v. Georgia is an example of such behavior -- and if you do think so, please explain why -- that is also irrelevant.

The bottom line remains that Jackson defied a lawful order of the Supreme Court, and his doing so cost thousands of lives. For most impeachable offense ever committed by a President, that is the hands-down, slam-dunk, no-contest winner.

[clownboy]

Are you suggesting that by interpreting a treaty -- a treaty which the Constitution makes part of "the supreme Law of the Land" (U.S. Const., Art. VI) -- the Supreme Court was engaged in "judicial legislation"?

Actually, yes. Article 4 Section 3:

Section 3. New states may be admitted by the Congress into this union; but no new states shall be formed or erected within the jurisdiction of any other state; nor any state be formed by the junction of two or more states, or parts of states, without the consent of the legislatures of the states concerned as well as of the Congress.

Those treaties effectively create foreign states within defined State borders. In the "old" Constitution rights to land are a STATE determination, not Federal. The feds had NO standing to cede state land without the consent of the state legislatures.

[HibbettHeadCoach]

I think that George Bush Jr. is a serious contender.

Wow, I'm sorry, but just who is George Bush Jr?

I've heard of George Bush the president from a few years ago, and George HW Bush the president now, but when did one of them become a junior?


Sorry, couldn't resist.

[Todd D.]

You got it backwards. George W. Bush is president now, George H.W. Bush was president from 1988-1992.

The current president is not a junior. He has a different middle name. People call him a junior because they are lazy and do not understand the way naming works.

Hope this clears things up.

[STA]

I think you are seeing a caricature of him, something more often portrayed on SNL or the Daily Show. In reality he is quite an intelligent man.

I'm going to have to disagree, on the grounds that he can't speak english, his first language.

"I know how hard it is for you to put food on your family." -George W. Bush

"Families is where our nation finds hope, where our wings take dream"
-George W. Bush

"Rarely is the question asked: Is our children learning?" -George W. Bush

and lemme guess where your going with the daily show and SNL thing, liberal bias in comedy shows right? yeah, its never like they made fun of Clintion during the Lewinski scandal.... waaaait a minute.

[briansmith]

You got it backwards. George W. Bush is president now, George H.W. Bush was president from 1988-1992.

The current president is not a junior. He has a different middle name. People call him a junior because they are lazy and do not understand the way naming works.

Hope this clears things up.

Bush was actually president from '89 to '93, but who's counting?

It's fun agreeing with you, Todd D., cos it doesn't happen that often. You're right on with the last part.

[Todd D.]

I'm going to have to disagree, on the grounds that he can't speak english, his first language.

"I know how hard it is for you to put food on your family." -George W. Bush

"Families is where our nation finds hope, where our wings take dream"
-George W. Bush

"Rarely is the question asked: Is our children learning?" -George W. Bush

It must be amazing to be a person that has never in there life mispoken. I truly applaud you for that.

and lemme guess where your going with the daily show and SNL thing, liberal bias in comedy shows right? yeah, its never like they made fun of Clintion during the Lewinski scandal.... waaaait a minute.

Um, nope, that's not where I was going at all. I was saying that as comedy, their job is to exagerate things so that they are funny. Like you said, it happened with the Lewinski scandal, and it happens to Bush. It's comedy though, not the place where you should be getting your information on politics.

[clownboy]

I'm going to have to disagree, on the grounds that he can't speak english, his first language.

"I know how hard it is for you to put food on your family." -George W. Bush

"Families is where our nation finds hope, where our wings take dream"
-George W. Bush

"Rarely is the question asked: Is our children learning?" -George W. Bush

You may be either too young or too Canadian to remember VP Dan Quayle. He holds the record for these kinds of gaffs. In real life he is anything BUT unintelligent. I've met the man (Quayle) and he's definitely ahead of the curve intelligence-wise.

If slick speech is what we wanted in a president, we'd be trolling the auto sales lots for candidates.

[STA]

It must be amazing to be a person that has never in there life mispoken. I truly applaud you for that.

I have misspoken, just not that often, and almost never that badly, sure i accidently say much instead of many some times, but thats about it, and that was when i was a child, someone who is as old as George W. Bush really shouldn't have that happen so much.

Um, nope, that's not where I was going at all. I was saying that as comedy, their job is to exagerate things so that they are funny. Like you said, it happened with the Lewinski scandal, and it happens to Bush. It's comedy though, not the place where you should be getting your information on politics.

Yes, it is their job to make people loke funnier, and most of the time dumber than they really are. And I don't get my political info from comedy shows, incase that is what you were going for, which u will of course deny.

[liberalist]

Worst President: Herbert Hoover. He seemed to have the same reaction to the depression that Buchannan had towards the approaching civil war. "oh, there's a problem but I cant do anything about it and I wont even try"

[clownboy]

I have misspoken, just not that often, and almost never that badly, sure i accidently say much instead of many some times, but thats about it, and that was when i was a child, someone who is as old as George W. Bush really shouldn't have that happen so much.

And I'd be willing to bet you have never been in front of an audience, being heckled from the rear of the auditorium, knowing about a billion people are watching every move of your lips for a slip that will bring you down. On almost a daily basis, for years on end.

YOUR slips are relatively private and not discussed on a daily basis all over the world. You'd break down into puddles within a week.

[STA]

And I'd be willing to bet you have never been in front of an audience, being heckled from the rear of the auditorium, knowing about a billion people are watching every move of your lips for a slip that will bring you down. On almost a daily basis, for years on end.

YOUR slips are relatively private and not discussed on a daily basis all over the world. You'd break down into puddles within a week.

If it's so common why didn't Al Gore? Why didn't Bill Clinton? Why didn't JFK?

Because most politicians learn how to control their tounges, because they know 1 wrong word with an unstable rival leader sould start a war.

you can probably find some misspeachs from each but not near the level GWB does it.

and that last sentance was speculative, you really have no way of knowing right now.

[clownboy]

If it's so common why didn't Al Gore? Why didn't Bill Clinton? Why didn't JFK?

Because most politicians learn how to control their tounges, because they know 1 wrong word with an unstable rival leader sould start a war.

you can probably find some misspeachs from each but not near the level GWB does it.

and that last sentance was speculative, you really have no way of knowing right now.

Where did I say this is a common talent? It's NOT, even among presidents. Before Carter does not really count as the days of the intense media microscope are fairly recent. And every term the scrutiny becomes more intense and virulent. By 08 they'll be public access camera in the president's crapper fer christsake.

Clinton WAS a slick car salesman and very at home in front of the camera. But even HE had his days. Al Gore? You gotta be kidding me - he came off as a boring automaton with a stick up his butt.

JFK doesn't count because, as I said, the media scrutiny just wasn't there. If he fucked up (and he did - a lot!), we just were never allowed to hear of it. Live TV wasn't born yet. ALL interviews were highly scripted and arranged beforehand - even the "spontaneous" ones.

[Todd D.]

Al Gore? You gotta be kidding me - he came off as a boring automaton with a stick up his butt.

Does the term "I invented the internet" sound familiar? What about "Bill I'd like to interupt here and respond to the question as if it was directed at me". Gore certainly had his moments.

[HibbettHeadCoach]

If it's so common why didn't Al Gore? Why didn't Bill Clinton? Why didn't JFK?

Wow! you mean "I invented the internet" Al Gore and "I did not have sex with that woman, Miss Lewinski" Bill Clinton?