Who was the Best President Ever? Why?

[DrZeeLit]

Doesn't have to be in your lifetime.
I'm leaning to Thomas Jefferson. Statesman, writer, intellectual, planner, and dreamer.

Sure, slavery and all that accompanied it. Still, he got the ball rolling for the nation.

Who do you consider The Best Ever?

[proud2BlibKansan]

1. FDR

no contest

[politicaholic]

5. ditto...

[Vincardog]

15. FDR saved us from the FASCIST we need him again

[Ready4Change]

31. 100% FDR.

.

[NoSheep]

75. FDR. Then Clinton.

[arwalden]

2. Lincoln... Saved The Union.

And NOW look at the mess it's in.

[ET Awful]

3. FDR or Clinton

Both because of the efforts and inroads towards helping the poor and middle class.

Both took disastrous economic situations and helped the company recover and prosper.

[sir_captain]

33. Are you serious?

I don't see too many little kids running around named after Clinton. I mean, sure, he was ok, but to put him in the same class as FDR is totally nuts! The wealth gap increased more under Clinton than any other president!

[ET Awful]

38. FDR didn't have a bullshit impeachment effort and a full scale

campaign to destroy him in progress throughout his presidency.

During Clintons terms, more money was made available for education, the economy prospered, more people had jobs, more people went back to work and off welfare.

Yup, I stand by what I said.

[sir_captain]

41. No doubt the Repubs were all pieces of shit

but none of that stuff happened during the first two years of Clinton's presidency--he had a democratic congress and didn't achieve squat.

And honestly now, if you really think that education in this country has improved under *anyone* recently (and I certainly do not blame Clinton for this) then I have a bridge to sell you.

As far as I'm concerned, Clinton torpedoed a large portion of the welfare system that FDR so brilliantly began, and did very little to address the wealth gap. A lot of people made a lot of money under Clinton, and that's great, but it didn't do squat to improve the lives of kids living in the slums of the South Bronx of DC.

[ET Awful]

56. There was more funding made available for higher education

under Clinton than any other president in recent memory.

To keep focusing on an income gap is to ignore the fact that times improved for EVERYONE, so the gap was not quite as important since everybody who wanted work was able to find it.

The South Bronx of DC? Where exactly is that?

Actually quite a bit happened to improve the lives of kids in slums. More law enforcement was put on the streets which resulted in reductions in crime, which resulted in more kids staying in school and off the streets which resulted in more students graduating from high school and more students going to college (using the aforementioned funding).

I personally know of at least 4 people that came from the projects in Boston and LA that used programs and funding made available under Clintons administration to attend college and are now (well 3 of them are, one has had his job outsourced) working and making near 6 figure incomes. They went from being welfare recipients in '92 to making nearly 6 figures in 2000.

[sir_captain]

62. It was a typo, obviously

I meant "or"

And the idea that *everyone* had an improved life under Clinton is incredibly naive and completely false.

Just out of curiosity, do you live in the suburbs? I live in New York, and let me explain to you how things worked here in the 1990s. Crime was reduced, sure. But it was reduced mainly in Manhattan, in relatively wealthy areas. Jobs were created too, but they were a combination of high-paying jobs in the Wall Street sector that had no impact on the poor, and minimum-wage jobs that have no real positive impact on pretty much anyone.

Now lets get to education where you seem to be the most misguided. It's true that education spending has increased a lot. For the love of god, even Bush has spent more money! But that's very misleading... for one thing, costs have increased as well, making the funding increases seem rather paltry. Second, if you look at pretty much *any metric* showing school successes in a place like the NY school system, or the Philadelphia school system, or the DC school system, schools are doing *worse and worse.* Lower test scores, lower graduation rates, the works...

It's really terrific that your friends managed to do well, but I hope you realize that 4 people is hardly statistically significant, and that anecdotal evidence is scientifically worthless. Don't let their good fortune mislead you from seeing the big picture.

[JohnOneillsMemory]

82. Oh? Heard of the DuPont Coup of 1934? He was almost taken out by

a plot to overthrow him by the families who owned America's largest corporations. Only General Smedley Butler of 'War is a Racket' fame stopped it at the last minute.

FDR couldn't get armament contracts filled because the corporations were busy war-profiteering in Germany and building Hitler's war machine, Prescott Bush being one of them.

FDR was up to his ass in alligators and had to let Pearl Harbor happen to get the fascist-backed Congress to fight Hitler, a temporary stop to the fascist movement which continued to circle the seat of American power like wolves in suits and ties.

Clinton was in a similar predicament despite major appeasement and the fascists have finally totally occupied the White House.

[sir_captain]

83. An excellent point

that had slipped my mind

[intheflow]

4. Washington.

He set the precident by stepping down after one term. He knew when it was time to go, unlike the current chimp.

[NEOBuckeye]

6. Actually, Washington served Two Terms

And said that two was enough for any president, hoping all others would follow his lead.

They did, until FDR...

[catbert836]

10. TR wanted a 3rd term after he saw what evil

Taft was perpetrating.

[ProfessorGAC]

79. TR Only Had One Term

He served out McKinley's and then one of his own. He admitted that he stepped after 2 because he thought the precedent was valid, but forgot that HE only had one. That's why he retought his position to go up against Taft.

It's in Theodore Rex.
The Professor

[yardwork]

26. Washington gets my vote, same reason.

Washington set the standard. Created the prototype. He could have been a sort of king, but he was intelligent, humble, and imaginative enough to understand that this fragile new country had a chance to take a giant leap forward for mankind, and he did it.

[GodlessBiker]

64. Yes, GW, because he knew when not to be president.

[sir_captain]

72. LBJ did that too

[DODI]

7. The more I learn about Washington, the more I am in awe of him.

I have a hard time with "best ever" stuff. I think the times have much to do with who handled the job best. TR did so much good with the executive order, he and FDR really made modern America. Harry has always been a fave for who he was. But if push comes to shove I go with good ol' Washington!

[Placebo]

8. Ronald Wilson Reagan

He defeated the Soviet Union, ended the Cold War, and made people feel good about being Americans again. He also presided over the best economic times in our nation's history. :crazy:

[BeatleBoot]

14. You're kidding right?

[Left Is Write]

18. I'm guessing, based on the googly-eyed icon,

that he is kidding.

[BeatleBoot]

22. Yep, those googly eyes gave it away...

[catbert836]

20. I'm not the poster, but notice the crazy eyes n/t

[sportndandy]

21. Hahahahahahahahahahahaha

damn keyboard is stuck

[msgadget]

25. ROFL!

I almost fell for it! :silly:

[maveric]

37. High unemployment, deficits through the roof...

Best economic times ever??
This must be sarcasm.

[NamVetsWeeLass]

57. But I do have to give Ronny Credit for one thing....

"Mr. Gorbachev, TEAR DOWN THIS WALL!!!!" He wasn't requesting, He was Commanding. That still sends shivers up my spine. Ronny as a President sucked. Ronny as a patriot was kinda impressive. I have to really give a huge hats off to Nancy. She kept him at home, She didn't put him in a Nursing home. Kinda progressive of the ole Repuke gal if you ask me.

[ProfessorGAC]

80. Not Me

It was a grandstanding play for the base of the cowardly anti-communists who supported his nonsense.

Gorbachev didn't listen anyway. Reagan wasn't the reason they tore down the wall. Economics was.
The Professor

[NEOBuckeye]

9. Jefferson is the father of the Democratic Party n/t

[catbert836]

11. Wrong. You mistook him for Andrew Jackson.

[NEOBuckeye]

43. No. He really was the father of the Dems.

In ideology rather than the founder of the actual Democratic Party (where Jackson came in). He founded the Federalist Party, the forerunners of the modern Democrats.

[St. Jarvitude]

51. Wrong again.

Jefferson founded the Democratic-Republican party, or was at least associated with them.

The Federalists weren't really founded by anyone in particular, but were mostly guys like Adams, Madison, and Monroe.

[Califooyah Operative]

58. Adams, madison, monroe, also...

John Marshall who was a close friend of George Washington, all their original leader, whom you could maybe go out on a limb and stretch out and call the first federalist, maybe dem? haha, im gonna go to sleep,

[rockydem]

50. POLK!!!

Polk, goddamn it!

[St. Jarvitude]

52. James Polk - inventor of the mullet

My history class loved it when I said that the mid 19th century was the golden age of the hairdresser industry:

Polk invented the mullet.
Burnsides invented the sideburns.
and Dred Scott invented dreadlocks.

[shesemsmom]

12. I have to say, it was Clinton.

Only because I lived it and it was wonderful. Oh to have those days back........:cry:

[BeatleBoot]

13. My Top 4

1) FDR

2) Clinton

3) Truman

4) JFK

[catbert836]

16. Lincoln

Last honest Republican, abolished slavery, saved the Union. Would be a Democrat today.

[sir_captain]

45. I think Ike was pretty honest, actually

he'd probably be a Democrat today too, though

[SemiCharmedQuark]

47. Ike screwed over his good friend Marshall to win the presidency

at the advice of McCarthy and Nixon.

[Historic NY]

17. I'd vote for Teddy Roosevelt

He broke up monopolies, started the environmental conservation movement, greatly expanded Federal parkland's, rebuilt American pride abroad with the "white fleet". He was progressive in every sense of the word. A progressive liberal Republican. His cousin FDR picked up on some of Teddy's themes and lead us for four terms. Best of all both of them came from NY State. The effects of his leadership still can be felt on the American scene. Teddy, a man's, man and his own man.

[bearfan454]

19. JFK

He was going to abolish the CIA and get us out of Vietnam. Of course that meant that the military industrial complex would not be what it is today.

[Doc_Technical]

23. William Henry Harrison

He did less harm to this country than any other President.

[Historic NY]

27. Barely made it through the inauguration........should have worn a coat.

[yardwork]

29. LOL! He died immediately after taking office

[Placebo]

30. He's #2!

After God Ronald Wilson Reagan http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=105&topic_id=2174611&mesg_id=2174665&page=

[sportndandy]

24. Give 'em Hell, Harry! Truman

Because the buck stopped on his desk. He did the job right, not to be popular but to do it right. He left office with the lowest approval rating in history, probably because he was so busy doing the right thing that he made virtually no one happy.

[melnjones]

28. John Adams

A founding father, also supported separation of church and state more than Jefferson.

[Selatius]

32. Toss up between Jefferson and Washington

They got the ball rolling. Although I lament that they didn't address the issue of slavery outright, they got the ball rolling as DrZeelit said. They were our warrior poets.

FDR and Lincoln deserve mention as well. They broke new ground.

[sir_captain]

34. Has to be FDR or Lincoln, LBJ next

They faced the three biggest crises in American history and defeated them with utter genius and aplomb. Without Vietnam, LBJ would have been almost in their class, though obviously, he isn't.

[Frogtutor]

81. Yeah, I've always empathized with LBJ

Last summer we visited his ranch (a national park) and I learned a lot about him. He seemed genuinely concerned for the common man, and torn up by Vietnam. He was kind of rough around the edges, but I think that made him more "real". He seemed approachable, like you could sit down with him and have a beer and a chat.

Man, he did some great things for education, civil rights, etc.

[mtnsnake]

35. JFK or FDR, then Clinton. I'd rank Reagan just above Nixon and Bush.

JFK was great in his first 1000 days and imagine what he could've done if he hadn't been assassinated. He was on the road to doing so many great things, one can only imagine how great that man would've been. He had it all. My father always told me FDR was the best.

Worst presidents in my lifetime: Bush, Nixon, then Reagan.

[NEOBuckeye]

36. I don't know that I would say there is a "best ever"

Though there are periodic times in history when men who have true potential for greatness have risen to the challenge.

George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Abraham Lincoln and Franklin Roosevelt in particular come to mind. I have some admiration for Teddy Roosevelt as well, a true conservative on the environment who would be considered a liberal Democrat by today's standards.

I think John and particularly Bobby Kennedy both had tremendous potential, and would have started us down a very different path, one far apart and far better from where we are today. Sadly, they were murdered by those individuals who greatly feared the death of their own vile ambitions in the light of a better, more liberal democracy. Perhaps for their assassinations, our most recent years have been absent of the great leadership we have known at times in the past.

Reagan was the beginning of the "image president" who was actually ideal for the ceremonial "Chief of State" role of the presidency. But we all know how bad he sucked as "Chief of Government". :eyes: Unfortunately, most Americans today don't realize the difference, so they continue to idolize him, despite how badly his policies fucked them over.

George Herbert Walker Bush. Please, don't even get me started. That two-faced, pretentious, aristocratic, bastard nazi-sympathizer should have been castrated before he ever left his mother's womb. I call him the worst American president of all time, because he's got to be the worst American father of all time. Case in point: George W. Bush.

[sakabatou]

39. TR

first one to kill the Guilded Age and start the progressive movement.

[DaveinMD]

40. FDR

he guided us through the great depression and then won the war that saved my life. He created so many great programs and created the notion that the federal government should be used to help people.

[Democrat Dragon]

42. Either TR or Clinton

I would say FDR but then there's that LIHOP thing about him and Pearl Harbor.

[JohnnyFianna1]

44. Nixon/FDR

FDR is obvious, but heres why Nixon should get an award. Nixon extablished the most successful foreign policy to date. He didn't attempt to stop wealth from re-distributing from top to bottom. His success in Vietnam established a majority that should be on our side today. He had a full health-care plan in the works that, if established, would have knocked the current fascists right out of the party.

[Senator Lamb]

46. TR...

just anaylizing the President as an individual. He made the PResidency a symbol and bully pulpit. He was progressive on domestic issues and his personality is amazing. though its hard to analyze Presidents because the events that take place during his time, define him. what if there was no civil war during Lincolns term? what if Taft was in office during WW1? would we think differntly of them.

[St. Jarvitude]

53. "His success in Vietnam"

What the fuck kind of methamphetamine-laced pot coke acid angel dust cocktail are you drinking, and WHERE CAN I FIND IT SO I CAN DESTROY IT!!!!!

[lenidog]

48. FDR

I know I am following the crowd but they are right.

[lenidog]

49. How about Polk

The only president EVER to fulfill all his campaign promises. ;-)

[FeelinGarfunkelly]

66. 54 40 or fight

hm.. i'll take 54'40"

[brentspeak]

54. One thing is for certain

Bush Jr. is without a doubt the very worst president this nation has ever had. He's taken a giant wrecking ball to this great nation of ours in a way that would make Osama jealous.

[RagingInMiami]

55. FDR

without a doubt

[Runcible Spoon]

59. Zaphod Beeblebrox.

well, you know, just because he was soooooo cool. :evilgrin:

[DelawareValleyDem]

67. Two heads, too

as opposed to just two faces like the current Pres.

[terrya]

60. Franklin Delano Roosevelt.

Of all the Presidents we've had, I seriously believe that FDR cared the most for the common man. As well as Truman.

[T Town Jake]

61. I've always been partial to...

...the King of Cool "Silent Cal," myself. :silly: :spank:

[Frogtutor]

63. Definitely FDR...definitely (for all the reasons already given) n/t

[FeelinGarfunkelly]

65. none of these clowns hold a candle to...

David Rice Atchison. Good ol' Missourian. Really, my kind of president.

[DrZeeLit]

68. and... he was President of? Help us out here...?....? n/t

[sir_captain]

69. Check out Snopes

it appears he was never actually the Pres

[FeelinGarfunkelly]

70. he was prez for a day

when zach taylor wouldn't take the oath of office on a sunday. He was the senate pro temp at the time. from what i have read he spent most of his day as president sleeping. maybe shrub could learn from him or something. couldn't be worse off..

oh and now he's in the Hall of Famous Missourians. That was a jeopardy category once. i totally rocked it.

[sir_captain]

71. According to Snopes

he wasn't actually ever quite the president...it's sad

[FeelinGarfunkelly]

73. let a girl have some state pride, will ya?

jeez.. MO's been red now for 4 years.. on track for 8.. let me have my Atchison!

[sir_captain]

76. heh...ok

fair enough. you win.

[barb162]

74. Washington, he held it together the first few years and if he hadn't

done that (and probably no one else at the time had the prestige, gravitas and respect) there would be no USA today

[dr.strangelove]

77. John Hanson. The REAL First POTUS

He, and his family, played an incredible role in shaping this country. He was the first POTUS under the Articles of Confederation in 1781. He was POTUS when the Revolutionary War ended and held office for one year. He set up the first Treasury, State and War departments. He managed to pay the troops for the War, repay loans to France and keep the country together during the first difficult year following the war. He has been forgotten, but he was truly the first President of the United States. There were six more before Washington as well, one each year under the Articles of Confederation.

[nytemare]

78. Grover Cleveland!

I have no idea why. I was just a Sesame Street fan as a kid.

(Really I think it was FDR)