This is a pretty good opportunity to get away from name-calling and just discuss the guys in politics who you admire.

For me, there is one who I will always hold in nearly unquestioning esteem: Barry Goldwater. He is one of the smartest men in the history of the US Congress, and he was one of the most honorable, passionate, and well-respected public servants in US history. He stuck by his beliefs fiercely, even if it meant unpopularity with voters and peers. He is perhaps the only libertarian in the history of the body, even if he identified himself as a conservative. (Technically, though, he was somewhat right, at least in terms of what conservatives used to be; he's actually more of a classical liberal, which is basically synonymous today with being a libertarian) He's a man that dealt with real torment in his life and overcame it. He had years of admirable service in the Air Force in WWII, and he led the push to create the US Air Force academy. He was a strong supporter of the civil rights movement, even if he did vote against the 64 Act that he opposed on solid constitutional grounds (he did vote for the 57 and 60 Acts).

I am also a big fan of Daniel Patrick Moynihan, George H.W. Bush, Ronald Reagan, John McCain, Bill Clinton, Bob Kerrey, Phil Gramm, Warren Rudman, and Sam Ervin.

I admire Lieberman for standing up for our troops...Sen Byrd has done wonderful things for WV.  He may be a cranky old man but he did his job well as far as getting things for certain areas of WV....I also admire Gov. Joe Manchin (WV) for the way he stood by the cole miners families this year.  He didn't send a cronie there to keep him posted on the Sago mine tragedy, he went there himself and waited with those families and prayed with them and did what he could to provide comfort.  He also started immediate crack downs on safety regulations for mines.

I always admired Senator Howard Baker of Tennessee, and never really understood why he wasn't able to garner more support in his presidential runs.  The biggest reason I admired him was for the way he treated his colleagues (all of them - Democrat and Republican) in debate.  In today's world of politics, it just seems to be all about slinging mud.  Senator Baker always let his arguments stand (or fail) on their merits concerning the issue at hand, and always did so while treating those who disagreed with dignity and respect.

I'll also give a nod to former Virginia Governor Mark Warner.  When he ran for the post, I did not vote for him.  I didn't even give it a great deal of consideration, as he struck me as a carpet bagger.  But, he used those four years in office to convince me, as well as throngs of others here in the Old Dominon, that he was a most capable chief executive for this state.  He flat out broke one of his campaign promises regarding raising taxes.  But, he had the gonads to tell you that he was going to break that promise, and provided sound rationale for why he was doing it.  Without question, he left the Commonwealth in much better shape than he found.  I'd love to see him have a shot at the presidency in 2008.  However, I fear that - even if he does - the Democrats will screw it up by forcing him (or whoever their nominee is, for that matter) to try and cater to that entire bucket of rainbow stew that they call a party.  And, I just don't see this nation electing a president that is going to do that.

By the way, great call on Goldwater, Lazarus.

blonde_stranger:

I always admired Senator Howard Baker of Tennessee, and never really understood why he wasn't able to garner more support in his presidential runs.  The biggest reason I admired him was for the way he treated his colleagues (all of them - Democrat and Republican) in debate.  In today's world of politics, it just seems to be all about slinging mud.  Senator Baker always let his arguments stand (or fail) on their merits concerning the issue at hand, and always did so while treating those who disagreed with dignity and respect.

I'll also give a nod to former Virginia Governor Mark Warner.  When he ran for the post, I did not vote for him.  I didn't even give it a great deal of consideration, as he struck me as a carpet bagger.  But, he used those four years in office to convince me, as well as throngs of others here in the Old Dominon, that he was a most capable chief executive for this state.  He flat out broke one of his campaign promises regarding raising taxes.  But, he had the gonads to tell you that he was going to break that promise, and provided sound rationale for why he was doing it.  Without question, he left the Commonwealth in much better shape than he found.  I'd love to see him have a shot at the presidency in 2008.  However, I fear that - even if he does - the Democrats will screw it up by forcing him (or whoever their nominee is, for that matter) to try and cater to that entire bucket of rainbow stew that they call a party.  And, I just don't see this nation electing a president that is going to do that.

By the way, great call on Goldwater, Lazarus.

I admire Warner also, BS...good call with him.  The Commonweath was in a pitiful state when he was elected and he did what he had to to fix it.  You might also be surprised that he also cut some salaries as part of his efforts to get VA out of the red.  My brother is a supervisor here in the county where we live and they had to do a lot of adjusting to their budget because Warner did a lot of adjusting to the State budget and funding and so forth.  And you are right, he didn't just raise taxes, he was very upfront about why he had to.

My political hero...former NC Senator, whom I voted for his very first election, Jesse Helms.  Jesse was probably the last politican to vote his convictions and not what was popular at the time.  A GREAT MAN in my book.

My political Hero was Ronald Reagan..........

He was THE politician that shaped my political thinking and ideas. I turned 18 and of voting

age right at the end of 1978. My very first vote that I was able to cast in my life was for him.

I still believe in those things that he taught about conservatism to this day. And I truely

believe that he was the greatest President this country has ever known. He made me proud to be

an American.

Bryan88:

My political Hero was Ronald Reagan..........

He was THE politician that shaped my political thinking and ideas. I turned 18 and of voting

age right at the end of 1978. My very first vote that I was able to cast in my life was for him.

I still believe in those things that he taught about conservatism to this day. And I truely

believe that he was the greatest President this country has ever known. He made me proud to be

an American.

Amen brother!!!

My political Hero was Ronald Reagan..........

He was THE politician that shaped my political thinking and ideas. I turned 18 and of voting

age right at the end of 1978. My very first vote that I was able to cast in my life was for him.

I still believe in those things that he taught about conservatism to this day. And I truely

believe that he was the greatest President this country has ever known.

 

 He made me proud to be an American.

Yep Bryan, begining with his first day in office, when he took the helm from a whimp.

William Jefferson, Democrat, of Louisiana...

..for standing up to the jack-booted thugs at Bushco about seizing the cold, hard, ill gotten gains he had rightfully accumulated.  What is this world coming to when a fine, upstanding crook can't claim congressional priviledges and use his office for safe house for his stash of booty?


Honorable mention to Cynthia McKinney, Democrat, of Georgia, for laying the smack down on a Congressional Police Officer  for enforcing the will of "The Man"....

Senator Robert Dole and President Dwight D. Eisenhower.      

Ronald Reagan

No comparison.  He represented the core of America and not only instilled in us what we could be but projected that to the rest of the World.

He is the ONLY President I've ever for FOR.  The rest were "lesser of two evils."

 

Harry Truman

A no frills, no BS sort of man who was handed a huge load at a grave time.  He made the ultimate decision and I admire him for it.

 

 

Barry Goldwater

A straight shooter who held solid conservative beliefs in his prime.  In later years he married a much younger woman who also happened to be a liberal and who influenced him greatly near the end of his life.  In his prime is was the man.

At this point in my life this is a hard question....................................

If I have to pick, I'd have to say Govenor Jeb Bush.

With the exception of the Terry Schivo debachle He has really done a good job in Florida.