Who, once and for all, do you think American leader should be?

[Stefu]

This subject always raises a debate which, then, eventually becomes one about whether Reagan won the cold war or not and whether Reagan caused a deficit or not, so I thought a poll would be a nice way to solve this all. I included the ones most suggested as a leader.

My personal opinion: Abraham Lincoln or George Washington. Those are the ones us poor Europeans will most likely recognize (apart from Reagan, and lot of us have pretty negative image about him, and choosing him would cause so much eye-rolling this side of the pond that we'd go permanently blind and would become unable to play any more.) I voted for Abe, just for the sake of him being leader in Civ1 and Civ2.

[YefeiPi]

ME!

Actually, I would vote for the American guy who flew a kite and almost got zapped by lightning, Franklin something

[d_dudy]

what have you got against reagen? don't like that he helped keep your continent safe?

i picked abe, widely considered the greatest president because of what he had to deal with. gw (hehe) is a close 2nd, being the precedent for all presidents, but he'll be an easy great leader.

[Ribannah]

Why, Elvis of course

[Case]

George W. Bush!

That way any typos can be attributed to representing how the American leader speaks

[Gangerolf]

Johnny Cash.

[red_jon]

BILL GATES

[joseph1944]

1. A. Lincoln, Save the Union
2. G. Washington, Could have been a King or Emperor but said no I will be a President only and only for 4 years.
3. FDR 3. JFK FDR new the war was coming had to do something to get us ready.
4. JFK 4. FDR, JFK Made the Communist brink first.
5. T. Roosevelt, World affairs, Walk softly but carry a big stick.
Dead last W.J. Clinton, Don't really know where to start. To many ladies.

[jdd2007]

i think fdr did a great job, linclon kept the country together but washington won the american revolution singlehandedly ( ) and became our first president

[Dimorier Maximus]

Jessica Simpson

[TCO]

Stefu Kantaloopi!

[Boris Godunov]

Lincoln, Hands Down. He saved our nation at our most critical juncture. People snipe and revise history and try to smear him, but he was savior of America. I don't think Stephen Douglas could have done the job half as well. I would venture a statement that Lincoln's impact on the world is greater than any other American.

After that, I think FDR would come next, as his domestic policies shape the America I live in today. He certainly had more influence than any other president of the 20th Century.

Washington is not even in my top 5 of American presidents. He was really a mediocre statesman (and general), but I guess he was in the right place at the right time and had the charisma to get the job done.

Jefferson would be high on the list, maybe after FDR, but would also have to include Monroe (who still influences American foreign policy) and Wilson.

Reagan? Too soon to tell, but given my personal revulsion at his far-right ideology and his lasting negative economic impact, I can't put him in the top ten. His strong foreign policy guidance is his saving grace, I suppose.

I think they should allow Vice Presidents to come and do minor negotiations or state visits. That way we can all watch Al Gore sigh and roll his eyes (Love ya, Al!)

BG

[Vlad Antlerkov]

Teddy Roosevelt, for putting America on the track to becoming a superpower. That, and the whole progressivism thing, which laid the foundations for the New Deal (25 years later). If not TR, then Lincoln. I shouldn't have to say why.

Reagan? Ditto for Clinton. Now, Nader or McCain on the other hand...

[joseph1944]

Originally posted by Vlad Antlerkov
Now, McCain on the other hand...

McCain had my vote. Bush is doing OK on this issue, The Bombing. I live in Calif., so his engry poilcy not so good.

[Guynemer]

I think Lincoln is probably the best choice, but does it have to be a President? Why not Martin Luther King, Jr., for example?