Best quote of all from the story
"Government is not reason, it is not eloquence—it is force! Like fire, it is a dangerous servant and a fearsome master." This is an understanding that too many American citizens and politicians have lost.

One of those quickie polls that popped up in my email yesterday asked which President I preferred, Washington or Lincoln. I'm deeply disturbed that the results favored Lincoln by about 3 to 2.

The painting opposite the president's desk in the Oval Office makes it feel like George Washington is watching the president from the grave. I like that whoever is president has to look at that painting while making big decisions.

I had a discussion with an attorney about the Constitution being a 'living, fluid' document. I told him the only thing fluid about the Constitution was the ink with which it was written. He didn't have any come back.

John Hanson was chosen unanimously by Congress (which included George Washington). In fact, all the other potential candidates refused to run against him, as he was a major player in the revolution and an extremely influential member of Congress. Some little known history of our government!
For more info:
http://www.standingstones.com/8pres.h... But think back to your history books - The United States Declared its independence in 1776, yet Washington did not take office until April 30, 1789. So who was running the country during these initial years of this young country? It was the first eight U. S. Presidents.
Seven other presidents were elected after him -
1. Elias Boudinot (1782-83),
2. Thomas Mifflin (1783-84),
3. Richard Henry Lee (1784-85),
4. John Hancock (1785-86),
5. Nathan Gorman (1786-87),
6. Arthur St. Clair (1787-88), and
7. Cyrus Griffin (1788-89) -
....all prior to Washington taking office.

I saw one recent article opining that Presidents' Day should revert back to its original designation: Washington's Birthday. There are but few Presidents I would lionize, but Washington stands in a place all his own.

You can say that again...Always appreciated GW and was amazed at just how self controlled he was.

And on religious tolerance, let's remember Washington's 1790 letter to the Touro Synagogue! http://www.tourosynagogue.org/history...

I can't post photos here but here's a link to the statues of the Roman Senator Cincinnatus, who was made dictator so he could defeat barbarian invaders, which he did in a few weeks and then gave up power and returned to his plow, and Washington, who saw Cincinnatus as a model. [URL=http://s125.photobucket.com/user/edwh...][IMG]http://i125.photobucket.com/albums/p4...[/IMG][/URL] http://i125.photobucket.com/albums/p4...

FYI: for your information there is a George Washington Society in Delaware which is toasting at at dinner this Thursday GW. It meets annually for GW’s birthday (Feb 22) and on other occasions.

Thanks for reminding us!