Opinion of Thomas Jefferson

[Thunderbird is the word]

If ever it was possible to be both...

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Horrible Freedom Fighterperson

[politicus]

Deeply flawed FF.

[True Federalist (진정한 연방 주의자)]

HP who knew what he needed to do to be an FF, tried to be an FF, but after roughly 1780 utterly failed to be an FF. His mixture of idealism and incompetence in the White House is exceeded only by Wilson and Dubya.

[TNF]

Obvious FF

[ScottieF]

Lean FF.

[SWE]

Obviously terrible

[/]

There should be a third option; 'BP' (Both Person) or 'MM' (Meh Moderate)

[TDAS04]

Deeply flawed FF.

[Classic Conservative]

Obvious FF

[Stranger in a strange land]

An example of how a Horrible Person can be a Freedom Fighter.

[Chunk Yogurt for President!]

HP who knew what he needed to do to be an FF, tried to be an FF, but after roughly 1780 utterly failed to be an FF. His mixture of idealism and incompetence in the White House is exceeded only by Wilson and Dubya.

How was he incompetent?

[True Federalist (진정한 연방 주의자)]

As president, the prime example of his incompetence was the embargo, which totally failed in its foreign policy objectives, ruined our own economy because implementing it required halting our coastal domestic transport, and required a more intrusive government than anything the British tried in colonial times to enforce the Navigation Acts.

But even more incompetent was his total failure in his personal finances. He was utterly unable to manage a personal budget, and only his political connections and friends kept him out of debtors' prison. He was lucky the British burned Washington, as it gave him a chance to sell his personal library to form the core of a restored Library of Congress at an inflated price.

[MASHED POTATOES. VOTE!]

As president, the prime example of his incompetence was the embargo, which totally failed in its foreign policy objectives, ruined our own economy because implementing it required halting our coastal domestic transport, and required a more intrusive government than anything the British tried in colonial times to enforce the Navigation Acts.

The irony is, of course, that Jefferson (the planter) suffered greatly from Jefferson's (the President) decision to impose the embargo.

[True Federalist (진정한 연방 주의자)]

As president, the prime example of his incompetence was the embargo, which totally failed in its foreign policy objectives, ruined our own economy because implementing it required halting our coastal domestic transport, and required a more intrusive government than anything the British tried in colonial times to enforce the Navigation Acts.

The irony is, of course, that Jefferson (the planter) suffered greatly from Jefferson's (the President) decision to impose the embargo.

Probably only because he had to pay higher prices for his French wine.

[Oswald Acted Alone, You Kook]

Make both an option.

[sparkey]

One of the greatest minds ever in political philosophy, a very good and surprisingly practical President, left perhaps the most important enduring legacy of any Founding Father, he was a fascinating polymath, and an all-around great guy (except for slave rape).

Hmm. That last bit in parentheses kind of took the wind out of my sails, guys.

[Rockefeller GOP]

HP, most overrated Founding Father.

[🦀🎂🦀🎂]

Sans the hypocrisy on the slave issue (pretty big issue though) a fine man, with an admirable ability to bend and ignore the constitution. Still, the Embargo has to be one of the worst decisions ever made by a POTUS.

[°Leprechaun]

Obviously HP. Sure he may have had some good ideas and he created his own Bible,
but a slave owner can't be a  freedom fighter.

[OSR stands with Israel]

FF

[Unconditional Surrender Truman]

As others have said, a deeply conflicted man. In retrospect, his more laudable accomplishments (drafting the Declaration of Independence, creating a more open democracy) have a greater impact on today's world than his more despicable side (owning human beings)*, so FF on the balance.

*Yes, the impact of slavery continues to be felt in modern society, but the fact that Jefferson personally owned slaves is less relevant from a modern perspective.

[Murica!]

No Thomas Paine, but an FF none the less.

[RINO Tom]

HP (Federalist-then-Whig-then-Republican elitist)

[Oswald Acted Alone, You Kook]

As others have said, a deeply conflicted man. In retrospect, his more laudable accomplishments (drafting the Declaration of Independence, creating a more open democracy) have a greater impact on today's world than his more despicable side (owning human beings)*, so FF on the balance.

*Yes, the impact of slavery continues to be felt in modern society, but the fact that Jefferson personally owned slaves is less relevant from a modern perspective.

What do you mean by that?