By the Maui Curmudgeon (30th in a 43-part series)

How do the U.S. Presidents stack up? I thought I’d find out by reading biographies of all 43 presidents, in the order of their administrations. Here are briefly the pros and cons of my discoveries, the interesting bits, and how I’d rank him. For comparison, I give you the 1982 Murrary-Blessing ranking, a survey of hundreds of leading historians who ranked each president by number. This survey is the gold standard of presidential rankings and is most cited when this kind of thing needs bringing up in media.

CALVIN COOLIDGE: 1923-1929 ~ 30th U.S. President

If Warren G. Harding did nothing, Calvin Coolidge was inert. When Dorothy Parker was told of Coolidge’s death in 1933, she asked, “How can they tell?” Steeped in politics, Coolidge climbed the political pole as city councilman, state representative, mayor, state senator, lieutenant governor, governor, and vice-president (most of those in Massachusetts). The litany of his administration’s crimes against humanity reads like Harding’s, amplified.

THE BAD (It would take books – don’t read them. Here’s some highlights):
The Ku Klux Klan claimed 5 million members in 1925, and marched to Washington, where it was received favorably. With abandon, it was murdering blacks, jews, catholics, and women who refused to be subordinate. Coolidge shared many of those views, particularly those on women.

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By the Maui Curmudgeon (29th in a 43-part series)

How do the U.S. Presidents stack up? I thought I’d find out by reading biographies of all 43 presidents, in the order of their administrations. Here are briefly the pros and cons of my discoveries, the interesting bits, and how I’d rank him. For comparison, I give you the 1982 Murrary-Blessing ranking, a survey of hundreds of leading historians who ranked each president by number. This survey is the gold standard of presidential rankings and is most cited when this kind of thing needs bringing up in media.

WARREN G. HARDING: 1921-1923 ~ 29th U.S. President

Genial and easygoing, the Republican poker player from Ohio had just four years experience in the Senate during which he did nothing. He won election with 404 electoral votes, an unprecedented landslide, and more than 60% of the popular vote. Wilson oversaw a Democratic majority in Congress, but Harding brought in outrageous majorities of Republicans in 1920 (a 24-person majority in the Senate).

He was a pig.

As historian Paula Fass has written, “The presidency of Warren G. Harding began in mediocrity and ended in corruption.” Whereas Ulysses S. Grant chose men for his administration because he thought them able, and they turned out corrupt, Harding chose men because they were corrupt, and they could enrich him.

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The Maui Almanac has asked Maui County candidates running for office to complete a questionnaire of issues pertinent to voters. See a complete listing of  Election Offices & Candiates – Click here.

SUMMER STARR
Hawaii State Representative: 12th District

Age: 25
Occupation: Non-profit
Party Affiliation: Democrat
Sun Sign: Gemini
Website: www.electsummer.org

What is your position on TVRs? We must assure that they are not disturbing the peace, or disrupting the neighbors. But if legalized, the County is able to regulate and enforce those regulations. I think that this could provide income for many of our islands’ local families, who are in great need right now.

What is your plan to improve Maui’s water supply? We must repair our intake systems, build more storage facilities, and encourage the use of grey water, and water catchment.

Do you think development should be linked to infrastructure? I think that one of the first steps in creating any sort of development is to take into account the existing infrastructure, or that which will be created in lieu of existing facilities.

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Senator Barack Obama, the great candidate of change, the actual, real-to-life “Washington Outsider” that has energized a nation with the call of duty and the promise of hope, who has run a campaign based on the power of differences, who has seen the tremendous political rise of women in his party and in this country, who has given his word to bring fresh ideas to our nation’s capitol has reached a momentous day in his campaign.

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