15Jan/100
Burr: The Rambo of the Founding Fathers
Inspired by Sarah Palin's inability or unwillingness to pick a favorite founding father, I initially decided that Hamilton was my favorite. But I've reconsidered, and now Aaron Burr is my favorite. Consider:
- Burr beat Hamilton in a duel. Maybe this isn't Rambo-esque in itself, but it certainly puts him a notch above Hamilton, if only in a Highlander way. (And if it's true that Hamilton didn't plan to fire, well, Han shot first too. Also, see next point.)
- Dude breaks his agreements with Jefferson and the others when the Presidency seems within his grasp. Not just out for himself, but in a way that cuts his own cronies out.
- When that fails, and he's stuck as VP, he (maybe) goes off and tries to start his own country, so he can be President-for-Life there.
Maybe Rambo isn't quite right; perhaps Burr was more like Cobra. Whatever. He's the epitome of the power-mad rules-breaking American badass, so I'm sticking with him. (Also, the Gore Vidal novel is incredibly entertaining. Has there been an equally good book about Hamilton? I don't think so!)