Bestest Presidents

mrmitchell · October 13, 2004, 18:15

Your favorites. You can include them on importance instead of favorite if you want to, but you don't have to.

1. Franklin Delano Roosevelt
Do I really even have to explain why? He battled the Depression, introduced government to its roles for the 20th century, fought the Nazis and Japs, and did it all while he was crippled. The only President ever that was cool enough to get elected four times.

2. George Washington
Although he had his problems, he led the US through its birth, and at many times made the key decisions that helped us survive. Disliked political parties (

), and only President ever cool enough to be unanimously elected.

3. Woodrow Wilson
3. Theodore Roosevelt
3. Andrew Jackson
All tied, for lack of anything specific to say other than that they were all great and don't get enough respect as it is.

Lawrence of Arabia · October 13, 2004, 18:16

Thomas Jefferson

DRoseDARs · October 13, 2004, 18:18

Zombie Reagan

Odin · October 13, 2004, 18:19

1. FDR: New Deal, WW2
2. Jefferson: Philosopher, Louisiana Purchase
3. Lincoln: Sent those rednecks to kingdom come
4. JFK: Civil rights, seeds of the Great Society
5. Teddy Roosevelt: Trust-buster, conservationist, internationalist

Sava · October 13, 2004, 18:19

1. Theodore Roosevelt - Progressive... conservationist... wanted America to be a superpower.

2. Franklin Roosevelt - what mrmitchell said

3. Thomas Jefferson - last philosopher president... LA purchase

4. George Washington - 'nuff said

5. Abraham Lincoln - kicked some cracker ass!

Odin · October 13, 2004, 18:20

Originally posted by DRoseDARs
Zombie Reagan

laurentius · October 13, 2004, 18:20

Bestest?

1.Tarja Halonen

2. Risto Ryti

3. Paasikivi

PLATO · October 13, 2004, 18:33

Washington-Leader, Founder, Mason
Polk-Largest expansion of territory
Monroe-Doctrine
Lincoln-exposed Yanks for the criminals they are.

Jackson-How can you argue with the nick "Old Hickory"?

Moral Hazard · October 13, 2004, 18:47

Favorite

Theodore Roosevelt -
+ Overcame challenges he could have ignored. Was an extreme moderate, qualified almost everything he said, until final year, when he was tired of being President. He spelt like that and helped to drop u from words like color etc. Founded alot of national monuments, sneakily enlarged parks and woodlands. Helped expand the Federal govt. Anti-trust, pure food ...
- Played alot of tennis.

Toughest President.
Don't really know for sure. George Washington was reputed to be very strong, I'll go with him.
Lincoln was strong but lost the only fight he entered on record.
Jackson was probably a brawler but no real evidence.
Teddy could probably kick some ass, but he was often hurt during his presidency.

Worst President.
That guy who caught pnuemonia and died right away. Harrison?? Other than that Buchanan for avoiding whatever he could.

Brent · October 13, 2004, 20:37

Overall best: Lincoln

Best of my lifetime: Reagan

Dis · October 13, 2004, 20:42

I've went over this several times, but I never fail to lose the desire to discuss it.

My list is fluid. Sometimes I feel better about some presidents than others.

Lately, I've cooled off on Ronald Reagan. He used to be one of my favourites. But the more I think of it, the more I dislike his inaction of the bombing of Beirut.

I have to rate Washington as one of the best. Because he set up many of the traditions of the presidency including the 2 term custom limit (though it took an ammendment because of people like FDR

).

Lincoln I also rate as one of the best. If nothing else, than for his bravery.

that's about it. I usd to list presidents such as FDR, Kennedy, LBJ, and Reagan. But these presidents are overrated (except for LBJ who is underrated- Vietnam really marred his record). Truman wasn't bad either. And you can't forget Jeffereson. Probably the leading contender for the #3 spot.

Berzerker · October 13, 2004, 20:49

George Washington
Although he had his problems, he led the US through its birth, and at many times made the key decisions that helped us survive. Disliked political parties ( ), and only President ever cool enough to be unanimously elected.

Yup, those dead white guys were the best, even the worst among them is better than what came later.

Best - Washington, he could have turned us back into a monarchy. Jefferson was also very good...

Worst - Lincoln, destroyed by arms the very principle this country was founded upon - the right to secede.

Defiant · October 13, 2004, 20:49

IMO,
Ronald Reagan
GW Bush
Abraham Lincoln

Defiant · October 13, 2004, 20:54

Originally posted by Berzerker

Yup, those dead white guys were the best, even the worst among them is better than what came later.

Best - Washington, he could have turned us back into a monarchy. Jefferson was also very good...

Worst - Lincoln, destroyed by arms the very principle this country was founded upon - the right to secede.

Man, I like Lincoln for the very reason you dislike him, amazing.

St Leo · October 13, 2004, 21:08

Pierre Trudeau
Lester Pearson
John Diefenbaker

Imran Siddiqui · October 13, 2004, 21:09

Teddy Roosevelt
Thomas Jefferson
Ronald Reagan
George Washington
Franklin Delano Roosevelt

Sava · October 13, 2004, 21:22

omg no reagan no bill cliinton... both suck!

mrmitchell · October 13, 2004, 21:31

Sava

Bill Clinton

MrFun · October 13, 2004, 22:45

It was not THAT long ago we already had this before, you guys.

Zkribbler · October 13, 2004, 23:03

Originally posted by Imran Siddiqui
Teddy Roosevelt
Thomas Jefferson
Ronald Reagan
George Washington
Franklin Delano Roosevelt

Imran and I are agreeing on a lot more things lately.

Teddy Roosevelt
Franklin Delano Roosevelt
George Washington
Harry S Truman
Thomas Jefferson

General Ludd · October 13, 2004, 23:07

Fidel Castro.

Viva el presidente!

mrmitchell · October 13, 2004, 23:08

It was not THAT long ago we already had this before, you guys.

MrFun n'est pas amusant.

Whoha · October 13, 2004, 23:09

everyone who isn't Nixon,Ford,Carter,Bush1,Clinton,Bush2.

Barinthus · October 13, 2004, 23:11

William Jefferson Clinton
LBJ
Lincoln

David Floyd · October 13, 2004, 23:37

Look, guys, the oath of office of the President of the United States specifically states that the President is obligated to protect and defend the US Constitution.

FDR and "Honest Abe" were guilty of violating the Constitution far more than is average for US Presidents, so I don't see how you can say that our best Presidents were the ones who consistently violated their oaths of office.

Harry Tuttle · October 13, 2004, 23:37

Washington through Jackson were pretty damn good, but Madison should have been more prepared for 1812.

Next-

Best Ones (in no special order):

Lincoln (civil war, nuff said)

Polk (manifest destiny)

Teddy Roosevelt (war hero, strong external policy, strong conservationist)

FDR (WW2 - stood like mountain, even in his wheelchair)

Truman (tough decision on the Bomb, fought spread of Commies)

Eisenhower (pretty much laid the foundation for winning the Cold War)

Reagan (great communicator, brought back the word "the presidency", thawed ties and led to end of Soviet Union)

Clinton (a right leaning democrat, worked with congress a lot)

GWB (... your living it)

Worst (in no order):

Jimmy Carter (weak, weak, but a nice man)

Nixon (f'd it all up at the end)

JFK (Bay of Pigs, disdain for women, mob ties, started all out war in Vietnam - only good things were the space program and his near miss with Cuba)

Wilson (wishy washy diplomat politico)

Coolidge (do-nothing, a real sour puss too)

Buchanan (uh hello, civil war looming! moron)

and all those other guys who died way to early or just sat on their asses (about 12 or so)

David Floyd · October 13, 2004, 23:39

I don't know about best Presidents, but other than the two I listed above (FDR and Lincoln), I'd submit Woodrow Wilson for worst President.

Moral Hazard · October 13, 2004, 23:42

The Constitution was made for the people. The people were not made for the constitution

In a civil war it's expedient to violate the constitution, let the judges condemn you afterward. Some things have more value than the constitution. I've made a point to avoid most WW2 history so Im not sure about FDR.

Boris Godunov · October 13, 2004, 23:44

Lincoln
FDR
Jefferson
Teddy Roosevelt
Clinton

Washington, Madison and Monroe follow those closely.

bottom:

GW Bush
Harding
Grant
LBJ
Wilson

David Floyd · October 13, 2004, 23:50

In a civil war it's expedient to violate the constitution, let the judges condemn you afterward.

The judges condemned Lincoln DURING the war. The Chief Justice of the Supreme Court issued a decision against Lincoln's suspension of habeas corpus, and Lincoln ignored him.

It's always expedient for the government to violate the Constitution - that's why the Constitution exists in the first place.

Some things have more value than the constitution.

Like what? If it's national unity, well, then you'll have a hard time defending the FIRST American war of secession, also known as the American Revolution.

I've made a point to avoid most WW2 history so Im not sure about FDR.

I'm more referring to the New Deal, although the internment of Japanese citizens certainly was unconstitutional - the Court simply refused to strike it down during war time (yes, Imran, I realize there were other "justifications", but that was the long and the short of it - the decision had little to do with the actual text of the Constitution, same as the WW1 draft case).