President-esque Part II - Things I have in common with past Presidents

Part II in this series examines the many shared characteristics, experiences and hobbies I have in common with presidents 11 - 21 (1845 – 1885).

James K Polk, as president, expanded the borders of the United States to the Pacific Ocean. The Pacific Ocean is one of my favorite oceans.
Zachary Taylor was the first president not previously elected to any other public office. I too have not previously been elected to any other public office. Taylor’s nickname was “Old Rough and Ready” or as his close friends called him “Double R.” My nickname in junior high school was “Double G.”
Millard Fillmore was one of six Presidents born in a log cabin. I grew up playing with Lincoln Logs.
Franklin Pierce was the first president to memorize his inaugural address and recite it from memory. I am working on memorizing my inaugural address.
James Buchanan was a Pisces. I am a Pisces.
Abraham Lincoln was over six feet tall. I too am over six feet tall.
Andrew Johnson was Vice President before becoming President. I was Vice President of my junior high school.
Ulysses S. Grant is pictured on the $50 bill and can be found in Grant's Tomb. I like $50 bills and have visited Grant’s Tomb on several occasions.
Rutherford B. Hayes was the first president to have a telephone in the White House and had a Greyhound dog named Grim. I support the use of telephones in the White House and have ridden on Greyhound buses.
James A. Garfield was the first left-handed president. I am left-handed.
Chester A. Arthur was nicknamed "Elegant Arthur" for his fashion sense. I have been told that I have an elegant fashion sense.

Newsweek, Truman and the 2008 Field...

Wanted: A New Truman. Does Anybody in the 2008 Field Have What it Takes?

News flash - what presidential candidate doesn't want to be likened to Truman, Lincoln or Washington? Does anyone really expect a candidate to say they want to be like William Henry Harrison, Millard Filmore or Jimmy Carter?

Evan Thomas of Newsweek points out that 1953, the year Truman left the White House; his administration was accused of corruption and blamed for the Korean War. I ask, if the present field of candidates were campaigning for President in 1953, do you think any of them would associate themselves with Truman or be singing his praises? Every candidate wants to be associated with the giants of our great history; that's a no brainier (See my posting on how I share many characteristics, experiences and hobbies with the past 42 Presidents who have led this great country).

Leadership is not about listening to high-priced consultants or taking a poll to figure out what you believe or your stance on an issue. Leadership is doing the right thing because it is what you believe. Leadership is about having convictions that don't change with the breeze and yet being principled enough that they are not necessarily intractable when faced with new developments.

I say let the other candidates spend tens of millions of dollars on their consultants and polls. I use my ears to listen to what the American people are saying, my eyes to see how they are doing and my heart to understand how they are feeling.

Time Magazine - List of the Most Influential People in the World...

I would like to state for the record that even though I was never approached by anyone at Time magazine, I was never interested in being profiled or even having my name appear on their list of most influential people in the world. I don't believe in labels whether they are leader & revolutionary, builder & titan, hero & pioneer, artist & entertainer, scientist & thinker. I like to think of myself as all of these things and thus I call myself an American!

Yes, I am running for president and was named Time's Person of the Year in 2006 but who is to say that makes someone influential. I say this to you, America, had they asked me to be on this list I would have said no thank you. As far as I'm concerned this list carries as much weight as People Magazine's World's Most Beautiful People (which I was also not asked to be on) or Forbes Magazine's The World's Billionaires List (I'm waiting for them to come out with a Thousandaires list.)

To the 100 people the made this list, congratulations. I consider myself a man of the people and happily count myself among the 300,000,000+ Americans and the 6,200,000,000+ non-Americans who are not on the list.

President-esque....Things I have in common with past Presidents - Part I

For those of you I have not already met you might be wondering why you should vote Gregg Rosenberg for President. I share many characteristics, experiences and hobbies with the 42 Presidents who have led this great country. See for yourself in the first of a four part series. Part I looks at the first ten presidents (1789 – 1845).

George Washington refused to wear a powdered wig. I too refuse to wear a powdered wig.
John Adams got lost on his way to the White House. I too have gotten lost on the way to the White House.
Thomas Jefferson had Jewish ancestors, I have Jewish ancestors.
James Madison was the first President to regularly wear trousers instead of knee breeches. I too prefer trousers to knee breeches.
James Monroe under took a goodwill tour after being elected that resulted in his presidency being known as "The Era of Good Feelings." Upon my being elected I would undertake a "really goodwill tour" that will result in my presidency being known as "The Era of Really Good Feelings."
John Quincy Adams was the first President to wear trousers at his inauguration. I will wear trousers at my inauguration. (Adams customarily took a nude early morning swim in the Potomac River. I can neither confirm nor deny my swimming habits.)
Andrew Jackson was the first President to ride on a railroad train and as President sought to act as the direct representative of the common man. I too have taken a ride on a railroad train and consider myself a direct representative of the common man.
Martin Van Buren had large mutton-chop sideburns. I once grew mutton-chop sideburns.
William Harrison did not wear overcoat, hat, or gloves during his swearing-in ceremony. I too will not wear an overcoat, hat, or gloves; but I will wear long johns under my suit.
John Tyler was playing marbles when informed that he had become president upon the death of President Harrison. I have been known to enjoy a game of marbles every now and then.