The Most Consequential Elections in History: George Washington and the Election of 1789

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At least at this juncture,with the next four years up in the air, all we can see is that the Bush misrule doesn't deserve to be mentioned in the same context as the others in the article. Those men brought positive change when needed by our nation. The fraudulent occupant of the White House has done nothing to benefit the nation and the people. On the contrary every act has been negative and served to weaken our status in the eyes of the world as well as here at home. It will take volumes by future historians to assess his destructiveness. Aided and abetted by a gutless congress and a gullible public, we are embroiled in a war without end in Iraq. Neglecting an economy on the brink, he poured billions into this fiasco, not having learned any lessons from the effects of the Vietnam War on our society, which we are still feeling..He has consistently ignored any and all viable information that does not mesh with his beliefs. Warned by economists like Lyndon Larouche years ago that a financial crisis was looming, nothing was done to avoid it.You don't have to be an economist to realize that cutting revenue through tax breaks and stimulus refunds and then recklessly spending Federal funds is courting disaster. Surrounding himself with sycophants and corrupt advisors like Rove he was led to believe that he was "the decider" and proceeded to ignore the Constitution and the Bill of Rights under the guise of "national security" as have dictators in modern history. Using fear-mongering and propaganda after 9/11 he was been able to consolidate his power. He has played into the hands of Bin Laden and other foreign enemies. Will he go down as the worst President? He has no competition. The next man holding office, whoever it may be, is not to be envied considering the mess he has been handed by his predecessor.

Willard F. Wheelock II of WV 10:21AM October 10, 2008

You asked for comments on Bush’s war.
Well, it was a loosely defined war.
He invented the Iraq war.
1st, he wanted to get rid of Saddam.
2nd, he claimed to get rid of WMD.
3rd, he invoked an Al Qaida connection which never was in Iraq in the first place.
Then, his “Generals” including Cheney, Wolfowitz, Perle, Firth and Libby, and the arrogant Rumsfeld, were determined to make Bush a war hero.
All of them have had a grudge against Saddam from the time of the 1st Gulf war.
There are books written about the false propaganda that the White House promulgated in the news media,and to stir the congress which was numb. Also the public emotions were at a low ebb to question who they supposed to be the honest white horse who was not able to prevent the 9/11 and now is coming for the rescue. This Horse who started to spew the poisonous diatribes of preemptive doctrine, and “those who are not with us are against us”.
Amazingly, the wise and the prudent were silent in this great land of Washington, Lincoln and Reagan.
Now after an end of a second term we have war failures and no ending in sight, and the most horrible financial failure of 3/4 of a century.
Thank God that only 3 Month of the royal rule are left, so we can breathe fresh air hopefully

kameel of CA 9:33PM October 09, 2008

I belive history will say: President Bush's personal belief in God, his stand after 9-11, he started the war against Terrorism and countries that support it, and sence then no more acts of terorism hit on US home land, tax relief, and a high percentage of all his bills passing in congress both terms. The financial mess our country is now, realy began with the goverment easing of credit requirements before Bush took office. It remains to be seen what the effect of Bush's quick action in getting the bail out passed, will have.

James Young of AR 12:56PM October 09, 2008

History is often told by unintended consequentences of the actions taken by those with power and a disconnect from the social conditions under which their fellow citizens live. They are often so deep in the forest that they no longer see the trees.Bush W. will forever be known as the only President who belived that the size of the national debt has no effect on the economy.Having taken office with a budget surplus to doubling of the national debet without raising taxes while starting a war.The consequences of which were world changing.

Gerald A. Cerveny Sr. of 10:17PM October 08, 2008

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MARTEZ SORE of 3:17PM September 09, 2008

Mr. Walsh-
Richard Henry Lee did not deliver those words as the eulogy for President Washington. Richard Henry Lee is who offered the bill at the Continental Congress declaring the Rights of the Colonies, and he died in June of 1794.
It was Henry Lee, III, better known as “Light Horse Harry” who delivered that eulogy by request of Congress. Light Horse Harry Lee was, of course, Robert Edward Lee’s father.

dennis of TN 12:59PM August 08, 2008

The election was held in 1789. Electors were elected on January 7, 1789 and the electors officially chose the president on February 4 (these dates were set by ordinance of the Congress under the articles of confederation). The timing was different than every election since (where the election is held late in the leap years with inauguration early the following year) because the timing was keyed off the ratification of the constitution (i.e., upon ratification by 9 states).

Erik Chalut of IL 2:47PM August 07, 2008

To clarify, as it was the first presidential election under the Constitution and the country was adopting a new government, the election took place in early 1789. All subsequent presidential elections have taken place quadrenially beginning with the year 1792.
http://www.archives.gov/federal-register/electoral-college/scores.html#1789

Educate yourself of VA 2:41PM August 07, 2008

Before you get up on your high horse you should double-check your history. It took a while to ratify the constitution and they held an election as soon as possible after the required number of states had ratified it.

TJ of NC 2:34PM August 07, 2008

The Constitution wasn't ratified until 1789, which means that the first election of the country happened in an odd-numbered year. Next time, you might want to simply google a fact before you insult the scholarly credentials of the author.

of IL 2:34PM August 07, 2008