Life Who is the greatest American villain? - Page 16

**Rain Man** · 05:36 PM

A Charles Manson reference in another thread got me thinking about this. Who is the greatest villain in American history, the one that will draw the most ire from any right-thinking American?

Give me some options and I'll put up a poll. Nominees can come from any category: war, politics, crime, business, finance, celebrity, sports, child care, Benetton models, comic strip artists (Bil Keane, anyone?), or others. Give me your best shot.

The rules:

1. We're talking true villainy here. Villainy where you can't really defend anything the person did at a dinner party without getting winces.

2. We're talking national scale. Remember, the kicker that shall go unnamed is a hero in Indianapolis.

3. Real life only. While many may villainize Elmer Fudd for his relentless and brazen murderous stalking of Bugs Bunny, Mr. Fudd does not actually exist, and therefore any villainous acts committed by Mr. Fudd do not exist, either.

4. The villain must be an American citizen, or if their villainy took place before 1783, a resident of the area that would eventually become the United State AND acting against the United States for villainous reasons rather than sincere loyalty to another country in conflict with nascent American liberty movements or peoples and in the absence of a history of loyalty to American causes.

Once I get 20 reasonable candidates, I'll post the poll.

ClevelandBronco · 09-01-2009, 12:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mojo Jojo

I may have missed it, but I'm surprised no one has listed Sirhan Sirhan...

Was Sirhan an American? I thought he was Jordanian.

I haven't looked it up though.

EDIT: My bad. He was Palestinian.

Frazod · 09-01-2009, 12:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MOhillbilly

wes hardin

He was an amazing guy - probably the most skilled gunman of the era.

**gblowfish** · 09-01-2009, 12:38 PM

Greatest AMERICAN villans?
Depends on your point of view, but you can make a case for these "villans" affecting the greatest number of Americans with their actions:
Andrew Jackson (ask the Native Americans)
Gen. WT Sherman (ask the South)
Capt. W Quantrill (ask Kansas)
Gen. T Ewing (Ask Missouri)
John Rockefeller (reason for anti-trust legislation)
FDR (ask Japanese Americans)
Joseph McCarthy (red scare in the 50's)
LBJ (ask a Vietnam Vet)
Nixon (ask a Vietnam War Protester)
Dubya (Where's the WMD's?)

ClevelandBronco · 09-01-2009, 12:42 PM

"I sincerely believe that if Robert Kennedy were alive today, I believe he would not countenance singling me out for this kind of treatment. I think he would be among the first to say that, however horrible the deed I committed 14 years ago was, that it should not be the cause for denying me equal treatment under the laws of this country."

— Sirhan Bishara Sirhan

------

Sure.

Nightfyre · 09-01-2009, 12:42 PM

I still think the civil war divided 2 ways resulted in the most loss of life that can be contributed to one person in american history.
Posted via Mobile Device

ClevelandBronco · 09-01-2009, 12:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nightfyre

I still think the civil war divided 2 ways resulted in the most loss of life that can be contributed to one person in american history.
Posted via Mobile Device

Which one person? The idiot that decided that it would be a good idea to fire on Fort Sumter?
Posted via Stationary Device

Quiet Storm · 09-01-2009, 12:48 PM

LBJ and J Edgar Hoover are people who immediately pop in my head.

Nightfyre · 09-01-2009, 12:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ClevelandBronco

Which one person? The idiot that decided that it would be a good idea to fire on Fort Sumter?
Posted via Stationary Device

No, I put the blame on jefferson davis and abraham lincoln both, thus dividing the total civil war casualties both ways making them co-villains.

Another person you could make a case for is truman.
Posted via Mobile Device

Chief Faithful · 09-01-2009, 12:58 PM

Chan Gailey

Frazod · 09-01-2009, 01:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ClevelandBronco

Which one person? The idiot that decided that it would be a good idea to fire on Fort Sumter?
Posted via Stationary Device

So you're saying that Beauregard should have just allowed a foreign power to maintain a military base right in the middle of a key harbor?

JOhn · 09-01-2009, 01:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nightfyre

Another person you could make a case for is truman.
Posted via Mobile Device

Please, I just have to hear this.

MOhillbilly · 09-01-2009, 01:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by frazod

He was an amazing guy - probably the most skilled gunman of the era.

hmmmm i always considered wes hardin more of a cold blooded murderer & wild bill more the iconic shootist.

Braincase · 09-01-2009, 01:12 PM

Disney

Quiet Storm · 09-01-2009, 01:13 PM

oh yea, I forgot, Leo Strauss.

Frazod · 09-01-2009, 01:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MOhillbilly

hmmmm i always considered wes hardin more of a cold blooded murderer & wild bill more the iconic shootist.

Hardin was pretty much unequalled in his prowess with a pistol. Even in later life he was still capable of pulling off amazing trick shots. Hickok himself was reluctant to challenge him.

But yes, he was definitely a cold blooded killer.

08-31-2009, 05:15 PM
Rain Man Seize life. Be an ermine. Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: My house Casino cash: $-722449 VARSITY	Who is the greatest American villain? A Charles Manson reference in another thread got me thinking about this. Who is the greatest villain in American history, the one that will draw the most ire from any right-thinking American? Give me some options and I'll put up a poll. Nominees can come from any category: war, politics, crime, business, finance, celebrity, sports, child care, Benetton models, comic strip artists (Bil Keane, anyone?), or others. Give me your best shot. The rules: 1. We're talking true villainy here. Villainy where you can't really defend anything the person did at a dinner party without getting winces. 2. We're talking national scale. Remember, the kicker that shall go unnamed is a hero in Indianapolis. 3. Real life only. While many may villainize Elmer Fudd for his relentless and brazen murderous stalking of Bugs Bunny, Mr. Fudd does not actually exist, and therefore any villainous acts committed by Mr. Fudd do not exist, either. 4. The villain must be an American citizen, or if their villainy took place before 1783, a resident of the area that would eventually become the United State AND acting against the United States for villainous reasons rather than sincere loyalty to another country in conflict with nascent American liberty movements or peoples and in the absence of a history of loyalty to American causes. Once I get 20 reasonable candidates, I'll post the poll. Last edited by Rain Man; 08-31-2009 at 05:36 PM..
Posts: 145,551

09-01-2009, 12:38 PM	#228
gblowfish Be Kind To Your Pets Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Glorious Independence, MO Casino cash: $16856178 VARSITY	Greatest AMERICAN villans? Depends on your point of view, but you can make a case for these "villans" affecting the greatest number of Americans with their actions: Andrew Jackson (ask the Native Americans) Gen. WT Sherman (ask the South) Capt. W Quantrill (ask Kansas) Gen. T Ewing (Ask Missouri) John Rockefeller (reason for anti-trust legislation) FDR (ask Japanese Americans) Joseph McCarthy (red scare in the 50's) LBJ (ask a Vietnam Vet) Nixon (ask a Vietnam War Protester) Dubya (Where's the WMD's?)
Posts: 41,023

09-01-2009, 12:42 PM	#229
ClevelandBronco I'm with the banned. Join Date: Sep 2006 Casino cash: $5658955	"I sincerely believe that if Robert Kennedy were alive today, I believe he would not countenance singling me out for this kind of treatment. I think he would be among the first to say that, however horrible the deed I committed 14 years ago was, that it should not be the cause for denying me equal treatment under the laws of this country." — Sirhan Bishara Sirhan ------ Sure.
Posts: 28,113

09-01-2009, 12:42 PM	#230
Nightfyre MVP Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Helena, MT Casino cash: $1298849	I still think the civil war divided 2 ways resulted in the most loss of life that can be contributed to one person in american history. Posted via Mobile Device
Posts: 18,647

09-01-2009, 12:48 PM	#232
Quiet Storm Banned Join Date: Oct 2007 Casino cash: $10004900	LBJ and J Edgar Hoover are people who immediately pop in my head.
Posts: 301

09-01-2009, 12:58 PM	#234
Chief Faithful Predicting Chiefs Victory Join Date: Sep 2001 Casino cash: $9966500	Chan Gailey
Posts: 4,315

09-01-2009, 01:12 PM	#238
Braincase Banned Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: Pond> Me <Barn Casino cash: $11298284	Disney __________________ BrainCase
Posts: 15,429

09-01-2009, 01:13 PM	#239
Quiet Storm Banned Join Date: Oct 2007 Casino cash: $10004900	oh yea, I forgot, Leo Strauss.
Posts: 301