When I say, “the Queen” most people know that I am talking about Queen Elizabeth of England (the United Kingdom). America’s ties to England have really existed ever since the colonization of America. The exception being that period from the Revolution until The War of 1812 was settled. THE BRITISH EMPIRE AND THE UNITED STATES. By William Archibald Dunning, a Columbia University professor, was a book published in 1914 that marveled at the fact that despite many “bickerings, Americans and Britons had remained continuously at peace for 100 years.” Today we are nearing 200 years. This was brought to my attention by a New York Times on-line archive piece.
It is interesting to find that English fascination with America is as strong as America’s fascination with England. AOL’s list of the ten best and worst presidents is a replication of The Times of London’s listing on their web site from October 31, 2008. It came as no surprise to me that President George W. Bush made the list of the worst ten. That President Jimmy Carter did not make the list of the ten worst did surprise me. President Andrew Johnson succeeded Abraham Lincoln, was a southerner who did not further the civil rights of the newly freed slaves, and was worthy of being on the list of the ten worst presidents. The C-SPAN survey did put Andrew Johnson in his well earned 42nd place.
I certainly hope Barack Obama is one of the 10 best. His goals are so high and the world so troubled that I am guessing he will only serve one term. My family says it’s too early to predict his performance. I hope I am wrong.
Coast Contact 