Nobody trolls Republicans quite like Barack Obama. Yesterday, he changed the name of Mt. McKinley back to Mt. Denali. Natives Americans have always referred to it as Denali which means “the high one.” It’s the tallest mountain in the United States so that name makes sense.
Republicans, of course, are beside themselves. To hear them tell it, the dictator Obama has caved to Native Americans and dishonored a great president, William McKinley. In their world, Native Americans are just illegals who were sneaky enough to cross the border before the real Americans could get here. Besides, they speak a foreign language.
As for McKinley, his greatest accomplishment was naming Teddy Roosevelt as vice-president so TR could become president when McKinley got assassinated. McKinley had no tie to the mountain or Alaska. And for the record, most Alaskans wanted it renamed. Republican Senator Lisa Murkowski tried to get Congress to change it and applauded Obama’s decision.
Pander Bear-in-chief Donald Trump vowed to change it back. House Speaker John Boehner said he was disappointed. On twitter, conservatives showed their outrage, with one commenter saying we’re lucky he didn’t name it Mt. Trayvon.
Obama certainly did the right thing. The mountain should never have been renamed in the first place, especially not for a mediocre president. But watching conservative heads explode on twitter was as much fun as I’ve had in awhile. Thanks, Obama.
Thomas Mills is the founder and publisher of PoliticsNC.com. Before beginning PoliticsNC, Thomas spent twenty years as a political and public affairs consultant. Learn more >
That’s correct LTG, native Alaskans referred to the mountain simply as Denali. But given the average intelligence of your typical Fox loving republican, their like to mistake Denali with denial, something they are very good at doing when it comes to Obama’s accomplishments. So, to avoid confusion, I have no problem with Mount Denali.
The Repunants are doing just what they vowed to do on the night of President Obama’s Inauguration. anything President Obama is for we are against. Same old soup.
My daughter lived in Alaska for a number of years, and I visited her there: I’ve never heard any Alaskan call Denali anything but “Denali”. If it’s good enough for them, it’s good enough for me–or anybody in the lower 48.
It’s not and never was “Mount Denali”, it’s just “Denali”. That is what the Native Alaskans have called it as far back as anyone knows.
I suggest Ohio Republicans rename the highest mountain in Ohio Mt. McKinley—a fitting way to honor the “accomplishments” of president McKinley.
I agree, Morris.
But according to USGS, Ohio has no mountains. Its highest elevation is a hill —– Campbell Hill in Logan County, at 1550 feet. “McKinley Hill.” Hmmm….has a nice ring to it.
I agree that Alaskans have the high ground here. And Alaskans have called Mt. McKinley
” Denali -” the tall one” for years.
Agreed, McKinley had nothing to do with Alaska. Actually, it was Sec State William H. Seward who encouraged the USA to purchase Alaska from the Russians. In fact, his proposal to purchase Alaska was called “Seward’s Folly” in congress.
I also agree that John (Drunken) Boehner is a spineless idiot, who should be replaced as speaker.
So Obama is not doing anything Alaskans haven’t wanted for a long time. Boehner and Ohioans have no issue. Nothing to see here folks, move on!
Radagast, are you feeling OK?
( I am currently experiencing the effects of a fine white wine on my motor nerves, so I guess the answer is: YES)! Thank me very much!
You can bet that if Alaskans wanted to keep the name Mt. McKinley and had been over-ruled by the POTUS, GOP’ers would be all in support of those from our 49th state and would be roundly bashing Obama.
It been like that since just after Obama’s election in late 2008; anything this Democratic and black POTUS does or wants, Republicans/conservatives will oppose it.
If Obama were to proclaim the effectiveness of the Federal Clean Water Act, and urged Americans to appreciate that fact and to sample the quality of their local water supplies, millions of GOP’ers would die of thirst in the week that followed…….
Boehner’s not real happy. President Obama is about to designate the Speaker Count Von Drunkenberry.
I’m surprised Republicans aren’t pleased that the president renamed the mountain after one of their favorite gas-guzzling SUVs, given their limited grasp on history.
I agree with President Obama and Thomas. The name never made sense in the first place and President McKinley had little to no connection to Alaska. He was from Ohio and the Buckeye State is the logical place to honor President McKinley.