John the OFM | 03 Nov 2020 9:13 a.m. PST |
Interesting discussion here. link Or, really, the opinions of some American History scholars. I never really gave it any thought. I thought Washington was a god (small "g", like a deified Greek or Roman hero), and was predestined for the role. Thinking about it, I would have liked Franklin, in the sense of nominating an old guy who had done good service and it was time to reward him. Both of our current parties have been known to do that in the past. Just keep Gates out if it. Remember one of the most important criteria listed. "Regardless of whether they were eligible based on the rules of time." This allows a vote for Hamilton. |
Sundance | 03 Nov 2020 10:15 a.m. PST |
Most legit scholars don't deal in alternate history for the simple reason it didn't happen. |
John the OFM | 03 Nov 2020 10:35 a.m. PST |
They never kick back with their shoes off and have a few beers? |
Grelber | 03 Nov 2020 10:43 a.m. PST |
To the degree that they do, John, they seem to concentrate on the American Civil War. Grelber |
advocate | 03 Nov 2020 11:48 a.m. PST |
Burr, with Hamilton for Vice. |
Waco Joe | 03 Nov 2020 11:59 a.m. PST |
Not a lot of love for poor ol' Sam Adams. :-) |
StoneMtnMinis | 03 Nov 2020 12:07 p.m. PST |
Silly discussion on a fantasyj subject. In the same league as, if hitler had won, is the South had won, if Japan had won, if napoleon had won, etc. ad nauseum. Idle speculation for idle minds. |
John the OFM | 03 Nov 2020 12:31 p.m. PST |
Silly? It's asking who the next most qualified person would have been. That's hardly silly. |
Bill N | 03 Nov 2020 1:45 p.m. PST |
I don't agree SMM. Wargaming is at its heart simply a way of playing out "What ifs". Remove the what if element from wargames and we are just a bunch of grown men playing with toy soldiers. Outside the realm of wargaming the question of whether it was the Constitution of 1787 and the institutions it created or whether it was the men who ran the country under the Constitution remains a valid question, whether you are contemplating the role of the U.S. Constitution in the development of this country, whether you are engaged in current Constitutional debates or whether you are contemplating using the U.S. Constitution as a model for nation building. I believe where we are today is more a function of the men behind the Constitution in its early days than the document itself. Of these men I believe George Washington is indispensable. Without Washington the Constitution might never have been created or been ratified. Without Washington's status, determination and good sense the national government created by the Constitution might have failed just as badly as the Articles of Confederation. |
StoneMtnMinis | 03 Nov 2020 2:02 p.m. PST |
Still silly. A collection of opinions on something that never happened and you know what they say about opinions and anatomy. |
Bill N | 03 Nov 2020 2:25 p.m. PST |
I know what I would say about yours. I don't think anyone else could have done it. |
John the OFM | 03 Nov 2020 2:27 p.m. PST |
What are trying to do, SMM? Shut down Napoleonic Discussion? Would an AWI thread along the lines of "What if Howe had pursued Washington more aggressively?" be silly too? How about "What if the American aircraft carriers had been at anchor in Pearl Harbor December 7, 1941?" Or "How would Reconstruction have progressed differently if Lincoln had not been assassinated?" Or "How would Spain have fared had the Jews and Muslims not been expelled?" Or "Would JFK have expanded the war In Vietnam if he had not been assassinated?" Or "What if there were no Market Garden?" All silly? "Legit scholars" have speculated on a lot of them. |
epturner | 03 Nov 2020 2:44 p.m. PST |
More importantly, what about a Market Garden where Allied intelligence was not faulty and staff planning was better focused? Or what if M. Crapaud had actually showed up on time and on target to support the '98 Rebellion. Or the '45 for that matter… Eric |
StoneMtnMinis | 03 Nov 2020 3:16 p.m. PST |
Or it could be I am having fun being the thread curmudgeon. |
John the OFM | 03 Nov 2020 3:21 p.m. PST |
Hell, it's the TMP National Pastime. |
epturner | 03 Nov 2020 5:13 p.m. PST |
We already have The OFM for that… Eric |
robert piepenbrink | 04 Nov 2020 12:10 p.m. PST |
"It's asking who the next most qualified person would have been." No, John, it's not. It's asking "who would you like to have had as a candidate?" Very different question. Also there's room for a lot of tap-dancing about qualifications. |
rmaker | 04 Nov 2020 3:02 p.m. PST |
Washington DIDN'T run for president. The first time out, the states selected electors and they voted for whoever they liked. |
Brechtel198 | 05 Nov 2020 6:13 a.m. PST |
For what it is worth, the naming of Washington as the first president for his first term was not a contest. Article II of the Constitution was written based on Washington, his character, and his willingness to serve. In short, it was a done deal-thankfully for the good of the country. |