[ActionJackson]

I'm very grateful for our Founding Fathers and the legacy they left for their posterity (and ours). Where would we be if they hadn't left us the Constitution and all of their speeches, letters, essays, and thoughts? Not all of them agreed on all things and there were serious debates in the early days of the founding of the USA but all of them agreed that King George was a tyrannical despot. And they all agreed that natural born men were endowed with unalienable rights and liberties. Thank God for the dedication, faith, courage, perseverance, intelligence, wisdom, and forethought of these legendary men.

Although there were a good many great men who contributed to our nation's founding there are certain names that stand out. I'll post 11 names in the poll and add "other" to the list. The poll will allow two votes.

 

[ActionJackson]

It's a hard choice but I went with Thomas Jefferson and Patrick Henry. I chose Henry because of this phrase: "Give me liberty or give me death." That resonates with me. He was a gritty, hard hitting, outspoken opponent of King George and he wasn't a bit afraid to voice his opinion. I relate to that fighting spirit.

 

[Mr. Sockpuppet]

Certainly the "Father of the Constitution" still has a great influence today, along with Franklin's ability to sooth tensions and find common ground among those who disagree, both who largely accomplished the common goal of the founding of an American country and it's government.

 

[film495]

Just to play Devil's advocate, I'm going to look at this from a perspective on the other side of the isle than I think a majority of the members of this thread sit and say Obama. Many people in the US think Obama was a founding father of sorts. A founding of a new hopier dreamier America ... that's not really what he did IMHO, but he sold it to a lot of people and they ate it up for sure.

 

[ajole]

I wish I could say Washington, with his refusal to be king, and his attempt to step down after one term, and then his farewell address in which he spoke out against “factions”. The other one would be Jefferson, he wrote the Declaration of Independence, plus he mentored Madison, and thus was instrumental in how the Constitution was written.

But sadly, the most influential founding father seems to be Marx, or maybe Stalin. Because people are stupid and lazy.

 

[bilmac]

Washington could have been KING. I doubt one in a million would torn down that because he had a more principaled outlook.

 

[Mr. Sockpuppet]

Washington could have been KING. I doubt one in a million would torn down that because he had a more principaled outlook.

After 8 1/2 years as commanding general of the Continental Army, he desired a long deserved tranquility. So much so, he didn't wish to become president, and was dismayed to even learn that the people desired such.

 

[Forrest Mosby]

Jefferson…They all pledged their Lives, Fortunes and Sacred Honor but a lot of them were self serving opportunists…or Professional S… Disturbers…jmo

 

[ajole]

After 8 1/2 years as commanding general of the Continental Army, he desired a long deserved tranquility. So much so, he didn't wish to become president, and was dismayed to even learn that the people desired such.

He was dismayed the people desired a president?
Is that a typo?

 

[Ozone Crusade]

I voted for General Washington and Thomas Jefferson. I think I would add John Hancock for bringing his wallet to the fray.

 

[hoplite59]

After 8 1/2 years as commanding general of the Continental Army, he desired a long deserved tranquility. So much so, he didn't wish to become president, and was dismayed to even learn that the people desired such.

Plus he fought for decades before that against indians, Frech and at times British. He was a genuine badass who did lots of fighting right here in my area in W PA when it was part of the old Ohio Valley.

 

[Theflyingsmurf]

He was dismayed the people desired a president?
Is that a typo?

No he was dismayed the people wanted him as president.

I voted Washington. He did the impossible and made everything that came later possible.

 

[ActionJackson]

Surprising that John Adams hasn't gotten a vote yet. I battled over whether I should have voted for him and/or Washington. Deep respect for both. I mainly picked Patrick Henry for his fiery nature. Someone mentioned John Hancock which was a name I had forgotten. Also, Paul Revere is deeply tied to that time period.

 

[blacklab]

I would go with Washington or Franklin and picked Franklin for the poll.

Though I am glad his influence did not get the turkey picked as the national bird as he wanted. The eagle is just so much more bad ass.

 

[Rain23]

All of them had good qualities, but I'm going with Ben Franklin because when I read his biography -- and particularly his autobiography -- he wasn't afraid to keep examining himself as well as others. He made a plan he felt would make him the best person possible, then tried (and failed at times) to live up to it. Highly recommend his autobiography to anyone who's not afraid of old language simply for the challenge of examining yourself this way and being able to not only admit your faults, but try diligently to correct them. His plan is one of the most effective "self help" programs I've ever seen. And he had a sense of humor, which Heaven knows we need right now.

 

[Ozone Crusade]

It’s really difficult to narrow it down to only two in that they all collectively did their part to put this experiment in democracy into play. The World will probably never see such an unlikely event again.

 

[Flashpoint271]

Thomas Jeffeson for me.

 

[Jack Swilling]

There were but two or three Founders the Crown insisted on prosecuting no matter what
Samuel Adams, Franklin, and ???? Paine....not into searching at present
Point...,those are the individuals who were the most hard-core revolutionaries and most influential at the time.

So there is an answer that gets closer to objective truth and historical fact in my opinion.

No one was held in higher esteem than Washington by all concerned at the time, but more so after the war ended favorably

 

[SeabeeOnce]

Went with Washington, the rest were REMF. Can't win a war pushing papers around.

 

[Jameswoods]

I absolutely love Thomas Jefferson, I believe he was a great writer, an absolutely brilliant man. I read his autobiography, but I didn't choose him, I choose Franklin and Washington. The one thing I learned while reading Thomas Jeffersons autobiography is that one man was instrumental in everything, he pushed Jefferson to write the Declaration of Independence, he riled everyone up to fight for Independence. If it was not for Benjamin Franklin, I don't think things would have turned out the same. Then I voted for General Washington because, well, he was doing the dirty work and without him, the Declaration of Independence is just a strongly worded letter.