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Ladies - and gents, too, if you want to give the male perspective - I'd be interested to know what it is about Thomas Jefferson that is so intriguing to us. Ladies, although I love him, too, leave Dillane out of it for now. Jefferson absolutely fascinates me, and I'm not sure why, because I find him hypocritical regarding slavery and he clearly was conniving during many points in his political life. Also, though he kept detailed records of expenditures, he was irresponsible in his disregard for his overspending. However, I still find him a brilliant, fascinating man of many talents. He also is endearing to me because, although he was an elegant writer, he was not comfortable with public speaking. So why are we still so fascinated with him?
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113
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(23 of 23)
May 25, 2008 4:42 PM
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Actually, I did read your quote about JFK.
> HEY!! Get off my back k? This isn`t about JFK!! I
Actually, I did read your quote about JFK. Your quote. If it's not about JFK, than why the quote???
> merely printed a quote he stated about Jefferson that
> if you bother to read it, was stating the many
> talents Jefferson had. And many people agree about
> that!! You have a problem with that!?
Actually, I'm wondering if you read your own post. Did you? How old are you? Have you considered therapy?
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642
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(22 of 23)
May 22, 2008 5:42 PM
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Redtiger, that was a great quote. Thanks!
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183
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(21 of 23)
May 11, 2008 10:27 PM
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>>>So why are we still so fascinated with him?
Because we haven't spent any time with him and don't know him as a human being but only as a legend.
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(20 of 23)
May 11, 2008 6:10 PM
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I don`t see why anyone should have to tolerate this kind of verbal abuse, I refuse to! I will not respond in the same negative way that you continue to do so. Ignore is a great option! Good luck with yourself!
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(19 of 23)
May 11, 2008 4:40 PM
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I agree with scothiker`s original post. Jefferson had his faults but then again all Presidents do! As one of the founding father, many are intrigued by him as well as Washington and Lincoln. I love history and have enjoyed reading about him.
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(18 of 23)
May 11, 2008 4:33 PM
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HEY!! Get off my back k? This isn`t about JFK!! I merely printed a quote he stated about Jefferson that if you bother to read it, was stating the many talents Jefferson had. And many people agree about that!! You have a problem with that!?
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113
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(17 of 23)
May 11, 2008 3:46 PM
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John F Kennedy? The man who authorized the Bay of Pigs Invasion and then refused to authorize promised U.S. Support as Cuban Freedom fighters were slaughtered on the Beach even as U.S. Generals and Presidential Advisors vomited in disgust (actual personal accounts). The man who nearly caused World War III out of personal incompetence? The descendent of the Boston Version of Al Capone Bootleggers? The man whose family regularly kill themselves and their unfortunate women followers/prostitutes/followers by mixing modes of transporation with alcohol?
The one time Naval officer supposedly involved in the only one of two open sea collisions of fighting ships between hostile nations that occured in the entirety of World War II. Surely the party hard Naval officer did not blow up his own PT boat and kill two of his own seaman in a drunken party designed to compensate for his own farcial leadership? Funny thing, how every single shipmate was rewarded with lucrative political posts and jobs for life.
That happens so often to entire ship crews of regular sailors, doesn't it? (Sarcasm).
Surely, you jest!
--
Edited by RonMay7000 at 05/11/2008 12:50 PM PDT
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(16 of 23)
May 11, 2008 3:15 PM
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The man was brilliant. He was so involved with so many things, law, inventing, winemaking, politics, horticulture, I could go on!!! My favorite quote I read from John F. Kennedy about Jefferson is this:
A polymath, Jefferson achieved distinction as, among other things, a horticulturist, statesman, architect, archaeologist, paleontologist, author, inventor and founder of the University of Virginia. When President John F. Kennedy welcomed forty-nine Nobel Prize winners to the White House in 1962 he said, "I think this is the most extraordinary collection of talent and of human knowledge that has ever been gathered together at the White House ? with the possible exception of when Thomas Jefferson dined alone."[3]
Now is that just not the greatest or what!!
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(15 of 23)
May 11, 2008 11:43 AM
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> It's currently stylish among certain factions (the
> trial lawyers association, liberal academia, etc) to
> worship Jefferson.
>
> The reasons include a yearning for bloody class
> warfare such as the French Revolution (which
> Jefferson instigated in part and reveled in),
> irresponsible hedonism and spending, and personal
> dishonesty masking itself in intellectual "confusion"
> and philosophical tendencies. Even early Americans
> wavered from good and evil as modern elections swing
> between one party or the other (I take no sides in
> this post).
>
> --
> Edited by RonMay7000 at 05/05/2008 10:53 AM PDT
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(14 of 23)
May 11, 2008 11:39 AM
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Everything EXCEPT how to avoid his own financial ruin, and EXCEPT how to avoid being a chief instigator in the French Bloodbath of madness recorded as a Revolution and EXCEPT how to free his own slaves and/or separate himself from what today would be called rather obvious sexual harassment by all sane intepretations of Federal Labor laws.
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334
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(13 of 23)
May 9, 2008 1:58 AM
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From what I've read of his writings, he seems to have been informed about (and had an opinion about) literally everything. Growing crops, romance, ancient Rome -- you name it. And it helps that he was such a superb writer. Adams' and Washington's letters, for example, are a bit of a chore to read.
--
Flavio's not coming.
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(12 of 23)
May 8, 2008 7:35 PM
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the fact that Thomas was so full of contradictions, conflicts and flaws is really what makes him so appealing to me. i love a guy who's all twisty and complicated.
why do i love Thomas? let me count the ways.
1. he was tall, red-headed and georgous.
2. he was brilliant, creative, charming, a great writer, a free thinker, a conniving politician, and a great visionary.
3. he carried on a taboo ...relationship? romance? dalliance? maybe began as a seduction but after 20 years and 8 children, i'm not sure what you call it.
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4/13/08
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(11 of 23)
May 8, 2008 8:23 AM
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I don't think any of the founding fathers could be elected today.
We have a set up in this country so that the people are limited to 2 choices, 2 sides of the same coin. Independent voices are quieted and quickly. Our system is rigged and our journalists and media help to keep it that way.
Even if this was not the case, these men would not stand up to the ceaseless scrutiny- even worse now in our culture
fed by reality television.
I think many of our greatest presidents would not be elected today. Its our fault.
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468
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(10 of 23)
May 6, 2008 10:13 PM
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In the Northeast, I don't think Jefferson has quite the cache he has in other parts of the country. Our founding fathers/heroes are John Adams, Paul Revere, Sam Adams, John Hancock and John Kennedy (ok I know he wasn't a founding father.  )
But back to the original question, could he be elected? I think the answer depends on whether Jefferson would be as he was in his prime or if he would have the chance to adapt to the US as it is today.
I think that if Jefferson, or Adams tried to run today with the ideas they had while founding the nation, none of them would be elected. However, I think Jefferson would be more successful adapting to the politics of today. Adams, I don't think could adapt. He wouldn't have it in him.
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