Almost Perfect

A few weeks ago, The Discovery Channel initiated their search for "The Greatest American." The public was asked to vote among 100 nominees, including such "Great Americans" as Oprah, Mel Gibson, Ellen DeGeneres, and MICHAEL JACKSON!!! Wow.

Thankfully, the voting public got it right . . . almost. The Top Five include such outstanding Americans as Benjamin Franklin, Martin Luther King, Jr., Abraham Lincoln, Ronald Reagan, and George Washington. Not a bad list. I hate to argue with such fine nominations, especially since there's no sign of Arnold Schwarzenegger or Tom Cruise (although Cruise did serve his country in Top Gun), but I was hoping to see whom I believe was the greatest President of the 20th Century: Theodore Roosevelt.

Teddy was no Oprah, but take a gander at his accomplishments, and see if he deserves a Top Five position:

• Climbed the Matterhorn at the age of 19. (Damn!)
• Civil Service Commissioner.
• NYC Police Commissioner.
• Assistant Secretary of the Navy.
• Colonel, Rough Riders, Spanish-American War (TR volunteered for duty.)
• Congressional Medal of Honor recipient (Battle of San Juan Hill).
• Governor of New York State.
• Vice-President of the United States (running mate with William McKinley).
• Two-term President of the United States (1901-1908) after the assassination of McKinley.
• "Sticks it to The Man" with Trust-Busting of major conglomerate corporations.
• Rabid conservationist (for the hippies).
• Responsible for the creation of the Panama Canal.
• Father of American Naval Power, helped create the dreadnought battleships of "The Great White Fleet."

Of course, I am biased, but if Theodore Roosevelt doesn't belong in the Top Five, he should at least be #5-A. I'll probably watch the finale tomorrow night (9pm, EDT), and I'll be pulling for GW . . . but my heart will be with TR.