15. JAMES BUCHANAN – Motto: ” A president every bit as lousy as Barack Obama and George W Bush!” *** Nickname: The Man Who Lost Half The Country *** Pro: Gave his name to the fictional high school on Welcome Back, Kotter. Con: More states seceded from the Union under him than under any other president.
16. ABRAHAM LINCOLN – Motto: “The guy who put the ’man’ in Great Emancipator!” *** Nickname: Continue reading
Filed under LIBERALS AND CONSERVATIVES, Presidential Rap Sheets
9. WILLIAM HENRY HARRISON – Motto: ” Never overstay your welcome.” *** Nickname: Bushitler *** Pro: Tried to establish a tradition of presidents dying barely a month into their term. Con: Delivered a two hour long inaugural address during an actual blizzard.
10. JOHN TYLER – Motto: “Because Tippecanoe and Tyler, Too made for one kick- ass campaign slogan!” *** Nickname: Continue reading
Filed under LIBERALS AND CONSERVATIVES, Presidential Rap Sheets
5. JAMES MONROE – Motto: “I’m sick of hearing about how John Quincy Adams was the real author of The Monroe Doctrine” *** Nickname: The Furnituregate Mastermind *** Pro: Bought Florida from Spain, ensuring America would have a long, phallic peninsula dangling off our mainland. Con: Got elected president despite being a slave-owner from Virginia … hey, wait a minute!
6. JOHN QUINCY ADAMS – Motto: “No slaves, no tact, no problem!” *** Nickname: Mr Television *** Pro: Was Continue reading
Filed under LIBERALS AND CONSERVATIVES, Presidential Rap Sheets
In honor of the upcoming President’s Day Holiday weekend seven days from now Balladeer’s Blog now presents some of my quick takes on each of the 44 men who have stayed one step ahead of the law while occupying the office.
1. GEORGE WASHINGTON – Motto – “Screw taking a salary, just bill ’em outrageously for your expenses!” *** Nickname: The First Lady of Broadway *** Pro: Established the precedent of stepping down after 2 terms max. Con: Owned other human beings.
2. JOHN ADAMS – Motto – Continue reading
Filed under LIBERALS AND CONSERVATIVES, Neglected History, opinion
Happy Veterans Day!
Well, it’s been nearly 100 years since November 11th, 1918 saw the end of World War One, or the Great War as it was called before anyone knew a second global conflict would occur. As we all know the date eventually became designated as the day for honoring the people who make it possible for the rest of us to lead our lives in relative safety. The following is what I posted in 2010 on Veteran’s Day and I don’t think I can say it any better.
Irrational political partisans like the Barack Obamas and Rush Limbaughs of the country often forget that the only reason any of them have the luxury of sitting back and making pompous, self-righteous pronouncements is because of the men and women who go out and actually DO something.
And those
men and women do it even though they know that Continue reading
Filed under LIBERALS AND CONSERVATIVES
As part of this Memorial Day weekend Balladeer’s Blog continues its examination of neglected areas of United States military history.
Oneida Nation’s First Allies Unit
4. THE ONEIDA NATION’S FIRST ALLIES UNIT
Conflict: Revolutionary War
Comment: The Oneida Nation of Native Americans were America’s first allies. During the Revolutionary War most Native American tribes sided with the British but the Oneida Nation, under Chief Shenendoah, led his people to ally themselves with the emerging United States. The Oneida alliance with the U.S. therefore PREDATED France’s recognition of an independent America.
The Oneida warriors fought alongside American forces throughout upstate New York, most notably at the Battles of Oriskany and Saratoga. They also provided desperately needed food and medical supplies for the Continental Army during the terrible winter at Valley Forge. Two treaties were signed and honored to this very day regarding Oneida sovereignty, retention of their land and a yearly ceremonial delivery of bolts of cloth to the Oneida leaders. That ceremony continues once a Continue reading
Filed under Neglected History, Revolutionary War
Balladeer’s Blog takes a look at the four most thoroughly incompetent presidents in American history. The list features two Republicans and two Democrats but naturally Liberal fanatics will accuse me of being a Conservative and Conservative fanatics will accuse me of being a Liberal. It’s all part of living in this land of partisan zealots.
Benjamin Harrison
4. BENJAMIN HARRISON
Party Affiliation: Republican
Background: Benjamin was the grandson of President William Henry Harrison, who was famous for dying barely a month into his term.
Presidency: Harrison lost the popular vote to incumbent Democratic President Grover Cleveland but won the Electoral College so Cleveland was out and Benjy was in. Harrison’s campaign virtually sold every possible presidential appointment in its desperate bid for the presidency, so Benjamin had almost no leeway on who he could nominate for positions from Cabinet level on down. The confirmation hearings provided ample fodder for political humor as some of the most unqualified nominees in U.S. history paraded before the Senate.
Harrison proved to be in over his head on the Continue reading
Well, it’s been nearly 100 years since November 11th, 1918 saw the end of World War One, or the Great War as it was called before anyone knew a second global conflict would occur. As we all know the date eventually became designated as the day for honoring the people who make it possible for the rest of us to lead our lives in relative safety. The following is what I posted in 2010 on Veteran’s Day and I don’t think I can say it any better.
The irrational partisans called Liberals and Conservatives often forget that the only reason any of them have the luxury of sitting back and making pompous, self-righteous pronouncements is because of the men and women who go out and actually DO something.
And those Continue reading
Filed under LIBERALS AND CONSERVATIVES
In my fictional role as an archaeologist who retrieves documents from the future (after all, anybody can find documents and relics from the PAST) I’ve discovered quite a few items pertaining to our near future. This is one of those fragmented cyber-documents that I’ve been able to translate into English from the dominant Earthly language of the future. There are a great many lacunae in the documents owing to the strain of temporal travel back here to the year 2012 so the translations will be slow- going.
This first item is from a book that appears to be from roughly 2109 – 2120. I’m changing the author’s name to prevent potentially interfering with the lives of their ancestors who are alive right now. First of Continue reading
Filed under Future History
The only country in the world that welcomes people who practically spit on it turns 235 years old today. What happened in early July of 1776 certainly needs no rehashing (the Green Bay Packers won the very first Superbowl) so in keeping with my blog’s theme of addressing more out of the way subjects this post will examine various events that took place on other July 4th’s throughout American history.
JULY 4TH, 1778 – George Rogers Clark led his rebel forces in seizing the British stronghold of Kaskaskia, near the Continue reading
Filed under FRONTIERADO
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