Our View: An enthusiastic thumbs up for Presidents Day

For as much grief as they took before, during and after their presidencies, some might wonder why they wanted to be president in the first place, or why we celebrate them this weekend. There's good reason.

- Abe Lincoln saved the union, ended slavery, won the Civil War, created land-grant colleges and defined the modern presidency.

- George Washington won the Revolution, turned down the chance to be crowned king of America and set precedents, from two terms in office to promoting dental hygiene. Just kidding on that last one.

- Franklin Roosevelt brought us out of the Great Depression, led us to the brink of victory in World War II and helped create a middle class.

- Thomas Jefferson wrote the Declaration of Independence, fought for states' rights and talked the French into the Louisiana Purchase, doubling the size of the United States for $15 million.

- Andrew Jackson, hero of the War of 1812, brought the common man into the White House, started the national bank and took guff from nobody.

- Teddy Roosevelt broke up railroads and huge corporate monopolies, fathered conservation, founded state parks, walked softly and carried a big stick in foreign affairs.

- James K. Polk, Mr. Manifest Destiny and the most unheralded president, outlined his goals, then accomplished them (established independent treasury; acquired California, New Mexico and the Oregon Territory; led the country through the Mexican-American War), and all in one term.

There are many more, of course, whose accomplishments we celebrate still: Harry Truman, Woodrow Wilson, John F. Kennedy, Dwight Eisenhower, Lyndon Johnson, to name a few.

So, come Monday, go ahead and celebrate our American presidents by taking a moment to remember a few of the great things they achieved -- in the toughest job in the world.


Influence wanes: The party line from Republicans is that Erie benefits now that we have two members of Congress representing our region -- currently, U.S. Rep. Mike Kelly, of Butler, R-3rd Dist., and U.S. Rep. Glenn Thompson, of Centre County, R-5th Dist.

Three Democrats are running for Kelly's seat, and two are vying for Thompson's. But no Erie candidate has leapt into the race; they say it would be difficult to build support in a county split in half during redistricting. Erie had strong voices in Congress on both sides of the aisle in years past -- Republicans Tom Ridge and Phil English and Democrat Kathy Dahlkemper. Because of our geography, we're often overlooked in Harrisburg political circles. It's disheartening to see that a political drawing exercise created the same effect in Beltway politics.