The fact that Hoover is a few places above Bush is a bright spot for both. It is a little known fact that Hoover was reading to Florida schoolchildren when the attack on New York's financial district which he inherited from Calvin Coolidge took place. It happened only a few months into his administration.
Within a century they will both be closing in on Grant. Just wait and see.
really? i would say operation TPAJAX, the overthrow of arbenz, the overthrow of Lumumba, the alliance with despot franco, etc should land him in the bottom quadrant, not the top.
and then there is reagan, oy... he was one of the worst presidents...
this cspan list is a joke, politics posing as academia
...tried to build, neutering the most noble meaning of the Civil War and necessitating MLK, and the Civil Rights Movement. But he was actually elected. The horrific misery that was Bush still beats Hayes and every other shitty President out.
To be President, Hayes sold out every black person in the south by ending Reconstruction, allowing the angry, bitter southerners, (who blamed black people for their devastation during and after the Civil War) to do whatever they wanted to the newly freed slaves. In some cases the south after Reconstruction was just as miserable as slavery. The south has never recovered from Hayes' political manipulations.
George W. Bush was the worst president ever simply because none of the others that rank at the bottom took over the world's largest military and economic super power then drove it off a cliff.
My opinion -- this poll is ridiculous. What did Ronald Reagan do to merit such a high rating? He precipitated a Constitutional crisis because of his determination to have his own way with the Nicaraguan Contras and his willingness to trade arms for hostages. He belongs in the bottom tier. Richard Nixon committed actual crimes that would have landed Richard M. Smith in jail. His shame and disgrace ought to consign him to the bottom of the heap, too.
How does Dwight Eisenhower make the top 10? How does Truman finish ahead of Jefferson? How is Grant not rated near the bottom of the pack? How does Carter barely edge out Nixon? How does William Henry Harrison even merit a ranking? (The same might also be said of Garfield.)
On the other hand, I'm glad to see that Lyndon Johnson is finally starting to receive some of the credit he deserves.
Clearly this "poll" is skewed towards the presidents who served most recently, and whose names the "professional observers" are familiar.
Here's how I think this poll should look. I included my reasons why for the top and bottom choices:
1. Abraham Lincoln (Led the US through the greatest crisis in its history, the Civil War.)
2. George Washington (Established many of the precedents for the conduct of the office and the relationships between the branches of the federal government, many of which are still in use.)
3. Franklin D. Roosevelt (Led the country through two serious crises, the Great Depression and World War II.)
4. Thomas Jefferson (The Louisiana Purchase, the Lewis and Clark Expedition, the lapsing of the Alien and Sedition Acts, successful conclusion of the war with Tripoli. Enactment of the Embargo Act detracts somewhat from from his achievements.)
5. Theodore Roosevelt (Dissolved the railroad monopoly in the Northwest and broke up other trusts through use of the Sherman Act. Construction of the Panama Canal. The Roosevelt Corollary to the Monroe Doctrine. Nobel Peace Prize for mediating the Russo-Japanese War. Conservation, including adding to national forests, reserving government lands for public use, and fostering irrigation projects.)
6. Woodrow Wilson (Enactment of a progressive domestic agenda, including tariff reform, banking reforms including the Federal Reserve Act, enhancement of antitrust regulations. Led the US through World War I, and attempted establishment of the Fourteen Points and the League of Nations. His re-segregation of the federal government and the Palmer Raids detract from what would otherwise have been a great presidency.)
7. Andrew Jackson (Maintained the Union during the Nullification Crisis, enacted a compromise tariff that played a part in the start of the Industrial Revolution, ended the Bank of the United States, and presided over continued expansion of US territory, gave rise to the modern two-party system including conventions. His administration was marred by the removal of American Indians from their homes to lands west of the Mississippi.)
8. Harry S Truman (Successfully concluded World War II, planned for the rebuilding of Europe and Japan, began the policy of containment of the USSR that led to its eventual defeat through the Cold War, converted the US economy from its wartime footing back to a peacetime one, expanded Social Security, desegregated the military, commissioned a report on civil rights that helped lead to the civil rights movement of the 1950s and 1960s, and successfully carried out a limited action against North Korea that enforced the UN mandate without expanding into a full scale war against China or the USSR.)
9. James K. Polk (expanded economy by lowering high tariffs, established the independent treasury system that restored order to fiscal policy after the Bank of the United States lost its charter, Founded the Naval Academy, completed the annexation of Texas, successfully fought war with Mexico, added California, Oregon, and territories in the Southwest.)
10. Lyndon B. Johnson (Creation of the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, endowments for the arts and humanities, environmental and consumer protections, the War on Poverty, {reduced poverty from 22.2 percent to 13 percent}, Medicare, loan, grant and work-study programs for college students, Head Start, food stamps, an increase in the minimum Social Security benefit, the fight against racial discrimination. of course, his record is marred by the Vietnam war, but his domestic achievements are so significant that he stands out from most other US presidents.)
11. Bill Clinton (Balanced budgets, paying down of the national debt, explosion of Internet, reduced crime, reduced the size of the federal government, effectively used military and diplomacy to resolve Balkans crisis, response to Y2K computer problem.)
12. James Monroe
13. John Adams
14. Dwight D. Eisenhower
15. James Madison
16. John F. Kennedy
17. Chester A. Arthur
18. John Tyler
19. Jimmy Carter
20. John Quincy Adams
21. Martin Van Buren
22. Grover Cleveland (1st term)
23. Gerald R. Ford
24. William McKinley
25. George H.W. Bush
26. Grover Cleveland (2nd term)
27. William Howard Taft
28. Benjamin Harrison
29. Zachary Taylor
30. Calvin Coolidge
31. Herbert Hoover
32. Millard Fillmore
33. Rutherford B. Hayes
34. Andrew Johnson (Asserted executive power during fight over unconstitutional Tenure of Office Act. Pressured Napoleon III to remove French forces from Mexico, purchased Alaska from Russia, acquired Midway Island and the US Virgin Islands. Unwillingness to carry out Lincoln's Reconstruction policy and inability to work with Republicans in Congress hampered his effectiveness.)
35. Ulysses S. Grant (Failure to punish corrupt personal associates and inability to work with Congress caused the failure of his presidency, detracting from the outstanding reputation he built up during the Civil War.)
36. Franklin Pierce (Southern sympathizer whose support of slavery did nothing to prevent the oncoming Civil War. Repeal of the Missouri Compromise and support of pro-slavery forces in Kansas made him among the least effective presidents.)
37. James Buchanan (Weak-willed figurehead who did nothing to avert the Civil War and enabled Southern Democrats to appropriate federal resources for their own post-secession use.)
38. Warren G. Harding (Poor leader who set a bad example by enforcing Prohibition but not practicing it himself. Trusting figurehead who allowed corrupt associates to enrich themselves at the government's expense.)
39. Ronald Reagan (Stole his opponent's briefing book and used it to prepare for debates. Used media members to prepare for debate and then had them opine on the air about his "superior" performance. Undermined government by negotiating with Iranian hostage takers to keep hostages until after US election. Traded arms for hostages, which only led to more hostages. Funded Nicaraguan Contras after Congress prohibited continued support, thus ignoring both laws and the Constitution. Mismanaged relationships with Mujahadeen in Afghanistan and Saddam regime during Iraq-Iran war, leaving long term problems for successive administrations to solve. Exploded budget deficits and national debt. Prolonged Cold War with "tear down this wall" speech in Berlin.)
40. George W. Bush (Stole the presidency after he lost the election {possibly twice}. Ignored warnings of impending 9-11 attacks. Ignored the Constitution, laws and Congress to engage in warrantless wiretaps, illegal searches, torture, rendition and other measures that prevented success in so-called "War on Terror." Lied US into invasion of Iraq, which he then mismanaged, leading to uncounted deaths, as well as financial and materiel waste, fraud and abuse. Exploded budget deficits and national debt that had been paid down by his predecessor. Enabled corporate corruption through deregulation and lack of oversight.}
41. Richard M. Nixon (Watergate. Actual honest to God crimes that would have landed anyone else in jail. An absolute disgrace, any of whose alleged achievements are minimized by his massive fraud, corruption and malfeasance in office.)
Not rated: 42. William Henry Harrison, 43. James A. Garfield
Honestly, there were a few teeny tiny things about Nixon that were good. His problem was that he was more or less a loony, eventually. Bush has no excuse, he is a prime example of a sociopath, and a non-leader that takes no responsibility for his failures. Nixon at least did to an extent by resigning. You have to be pretty bad to have someone defend Nixon over you, though.
I don't think he'll gain any brownie points when history looks back at what happened to the United States during his two terms in office and the mess he left our country in as he walked out the door. The fecal matter may not smell as bad years from now, but it will still be fecal matter.
agree there, perris. There were many others that I would have placed differently also: Number six. The signing of the Federal Reserve Act (on December 22, 1913) alone should knock him down 15 to 20 notches.
On just who all those historians are who did the rating. First guy on the list, Kenneth Ackerman, seemed okay. Here's what he said about the polling:
“Finally, there is George W. Bush. The C-SPAN group places him in the bottom ten at #36. I rated him even lower, as third worst at #41. This rating obviously is the most speculative of the bunch. We still don't know the outcome of the wars Bush started and the economic cataclysms begun under his watch. But, to my mind, the potential long-term damage Bush has done to this country far out-paces the likes of a Warren Harding, Millard Fillmore, or Frankling Pierce. Unlike these other disappointments, George W. Bush was both bad AND consequential.”
As to the question, 'What did Ronald Reagan do to merit such a high rating...?' It probably helped that a few of them either specialized in Reagan history (Lou Cannon) or had political ties to him (Annelise Anderson). I didn't manage to finish researching the entire list, but a good many of those presidents who inexplicably rose up the chart seems more a direct result of those on the jury who have written biographies on their chosen subject and have a personal interest in their own professional and academic success.
Historians, it seems, are no more 'objective' at judging presidents than any of the rest of us without personal political alliances or professional investment as academic biographers.
Me? Bush is the all time worst president in the country's entire history. Bar none. And my opinion is as subjective and OBjective and equal in value as any of the historians on that list.
This segment was priceless and I'm certain that when it is done in the future (when Bush is indicted for crimes) he will definitely eclipse the 6 under him.
Ronnie "DeRegulation" Reagan is definitely dropping like the Titanic right now as his policies continue to fail and as continued by Bush have tanked this economy. Perhaps the next polling will reflect this?
Let's face it - for a while free market capitalism appeared to work until it failed to trickle down when greed and graft entered the picture. However, as I recall there were a few cartoons back then which painted Ronnie in the appropriate light - an Alzheimer patient pathetically with his finger on the button of this country. I know that I spent many sleepless nights worrying that he might think he was answering the phone and press the red button instead. Americans have gone easy on him but, frankly, the final years of his presidency he was totally propped up so the world couldn't view just how debilitated his brain had become.
..... GHWBush was the defacto POTUS for 12 years. After the attempt on Raygun's life he was reduced to a puppet. That's when the former head of the CIA took over.
as you write, it was merely an appearance. it never worked, we have been on a downward path since the late 70s.
we never had a "free" market capitalist system (mostly b/c it is impossible). it was pure unadulterated crony capitalism that reagan spewed across the land.
also, it is impossible to separate "greed and graft" from capitalism. they are inherent to the system, see immanuel wallerstein.... capitalism requires greed, and has developed for centuries through graft.
None of these other Presidents had the unique ability to be as spectacular a failure as Bush did. All of them did some governance while President, and none of them allowed their Vice Presidents to be in charge for two full terms. The White House is the sole responsibility for international relations, it is the nerve center of this country's direction in this area, whereas the economy is run at both state and federal levels. GWB rated one spot ahead of the worst, William Henry Harrison, which is in no way fair to Harrison, as he had only 4 weeks in office, most of them confined to bedrest. Bush had 8 years as well as a trail of wreckage to show for it.
None of those men, as reprehensible their attitudes on race may have been, were as inept and unable to execute the responsibility of President like GWB, he was, as mentioned, in a league of his own
this author was on charlie rose a couple weeks ago. his name is will bunch. the title of his book is:
Tear Down This Myth: How the Reagan Legacy Has Distorted Our Politics and Haunts Our Future.
i haven't read the book yet but the interview was enlightening. Reagan has become a mythical figure for some americans especially the (R).
I heard on tv today that cheney bugged bush to give Libby a pardon right up until just before Obama took office. Bush just kept telling cheney no. The one time he tells cheney no and it's in the last days of his presidency. Jeez!
I am glad to see W. down there with Franklin Pierce, it's good to keep it in the family. Something to remember when Jeb makes a run for it.
Barbara Pierce Bush for those of you who didn't get the connection.
The gentlemen ranked "below" him at least were literate. They could read and write and put together actual sentences. They were aware of history and civics and geography.
Chucklefuck will never be topped. He's got last place sewed up forever.
Guy got assassinated. Can't blame him for a poor job. Bush had 8 years to perfect something and could only F it up every time. And Grant was a drunk--Bush is a dry drunk that should have stayed on the barstool in Midland, TX. The world would have been better off. Bush is, was and always will be the worst.
I particularly liked Bush's very low rating as being a good adminstrator President.
Olberman notes that Bush is the first MBA president, but one of the worst adminstrators. Bush had a Harvard MBA, but was complete disaster and incompetent manager. He might have gotten all the policy decisions wrong, but at least manage the government properly. He could not even do that. That really says it all. Rides on Daddy's coatails to get into all these fancy schools, but they did absolutely nothing for him.
Watched the "W" movie this weekend. What came across to me was how much of a normal idiot Bush was, certainly not presidential material. The guy was in way over his head and not only was he in way over his head, but so were all the people around him. They for the most part had no idea what they were doing on just about everything.
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The fact that Hoover is a few places above Bush is a bright spot for both. It is a little known fact that Hoover was reading to Florida schoolchildren when the attack on New York's financial district which he inherited from Calvin Coolidge took place. It happened only a few months into his administration.
Within a century they will both be closing in on Grant. Just wait and see.
I think it's pretty obvious that he's the worst president ever.
Check out Bush's Oval Office letter to Obama. Hilarious.
eisenhower at numero ocho?
really? i would say operation TPAJAX, the overthrow of arbenz, the overthrow of Lumumba, the alliance with despot franco, etc should land him in the bottom quadrant, not the top.
and then there is reagan, oy... he was one of the worst presidents...
this cspan list is a joke, politics posing as academia
n/t
Flabbergasted. Thrown for a loop. Flummoxed.
Couldn't this site use some centerfolds?
and his best buddy Cheney are convicted of crimes against humanity, I think his rating will drop a tad....!
...tried to build, neutering the most noble meaning of the Civil War and necessitating MLK, and the Civil Rights Movement. But he was actually elected. The horrific misery that was Bush still beats Hayes and every other shitty President out.
Growing up in Texas I always wondered why there were lots of kids named Jesus but none named Rutherford B.
To be President, Hayes sold out every black person in the south by ending Reconstruction, allowing the angry, bitter southerners, (who blamed black people for their devastation during and after the Civil War) to do whatever they wanted to the newly freed slaves. In some cases the south after Reconstruction was just as miserable as slavery. The south has never recovered from Hayes' political manipulations.
>>and wait until you see the "horrific misery" comin' up. You ain't seen nothin' yet.
George W. Bush was the worst president ever simply because none of the others that rank at the bottom took over the world's largest military and economic super power then drove it off a cliff.
of 100. I can't imagine anyone being worse in the next 200 years, give or take.
and 3rd from the bottom on the economy.
My opinion -- this poll is ridiculous. What did Ronald Reagan do to merit such a high rating? He precipitated a Constitutional crisis because of his determination to have his own way with the Nicaraguan Contras and his willingness to trade arms for hostages. He belongs in the bottom tier. Richard Nixon committed actual crimes that would have landed Richard M. Smith in jail. His shame and disgrace ought to consign him to the bottom of the heap, too.
How does Dwight Eisenhower make the top 10? How does Truman finish ahead of Jefferson? How is Grant not rated near the bottom of the pack? How does Carter barely edge out Nixon? How does William Henry Harrison even merit a ranking? (The same might also be said of Garfield.)
On the other hand, I'm glad to see that Lyndon Johnson is finally starting to receive some of the credit he deserves.
Clearly this "poll" is skewed towards the presidents who served most recently, and whose names the "professional observers" are familiar.
Here's how I think this poll should look. I included my reasons why for the top and bottom choices:
1. Abraham Lincoln (Led the US through the greatest crisis in its history, the Civil War.)
2. George Washington (Established many of the precedents for the conduct of the office and the relationships between the branches of the federal government, many of which are still in use.)
3. Franklin D. Roosevelt (Led the country through two serious crises, the Great Depression and World War II.)
4. Thomas Jefferson (The Louisiana Purchase, the Lewis and Clark Expedition, the lapsing of the Alien and Sedition Acts, successful conclusion of the war with Tripoli. Enactment of the Embargo Act detracts somewhat from from his achievements.)
5. Theodore Roosevelt (Dissolved the railroad monopoly in the Northwest and broke up other trusts through use of the Sherman Act. Construction of the Panama Canal. The Roosevelt Corollary to the Monroe Doctrine. Nobel Peace Prize for mediating the Russo-Japanese War. Conservation, including adding to national forests, reserving government lands for public use, and fostering irrigation projects.)
6. Woodrow Wilson (Enactment of a progressive domestic agenda, including tariff reform, banking reforms including the Federal Reserve Act, enhancement of antitrust regulations. Led the US through World War I, and attempted establishment of the Fourteen Points and the League of Nations. His re-segregation of the federal government and the Palmer Raids detract from what would otherwise have been a great presidency.)
7. Andrew Jackson (Maintained the Union during the Nullification Crisis, enacted a compromise tariff that played a part in the start of the Industrial Revolution, ended the Bank of the United States, and presided over continued expansion of US territory, gave rise to the modern two-party system including conventions. His administration was marred by the removal of American Indians from their homes to lands west of the Mississippi.)
8. Harry S Truman (Successfully concluded World War II, planned for the rebuilding of Europe and Japan, began the policy of containment of the USSR that led to its eventual defeat through the Cold War, converted the US economy from its wartime footing back to a peacetime one, expanded Social Security, desegregated the military, commissioned a report on civil rights that helped lead to the civil rights movement of the 1950s and 1960s, and successfully carried out a limited action against North Korea that enforced the UN mandate without expanding into a full scale war against China or the USSR.)
9. James K. Polk (expanded economy by lowering high tariffs, established the independent treasury system that restored order to fiscal policy after the Bank of the United States lost its charter, Founded the Naval Academy, completed the annexation of Texas, successfully fought war with Mexico, added California, Oregon, and territories in the Southwest.)
10. Lyndon B. Johnson (Creation of the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, endowments for the arts and humanities, environmental and consumer protections, the War on Poverty, {reduced poverty from 22.2 percent to 13 percent}, Medicare, loan, grant and work-study programs for college students, Head Start, food stamps, an increase in the minimum Social Security benefit, the fight against racial discrimination. of course, his record is marred by the Vietnam war, but his domestic achievements are so significant that he stands out from most other US presidents.)
11. Bill Clinton (Balanced budgets, paying down of the national debt, explosion of Internet, reduced crime, reduced the size of the federal government, effectively used military and diplomacy to resolve Balkans crisis, response to Y2K computer problem.)
12. James Monroe
13. John Adams
14. Dwight D. Eisenhower
15. James Madison
16. John F. Kennedy
17. Chester A. Arthur
18. John Tyler
19. Jimmy Carter
20. John Quincy Adams
21. Martin Van Buren
22. Grover Cleveland (1st term)
23. Gerald R. Ford
24. William McKinley
25. George H.W. Bush
26. Grover Cleveland (2nd term)
27. William Howard Taft
28. Benjamin Harrison
29. Zachary Taylor
30. Calvin Coolidge
31. Herbert Hoover
32. Millard Fillmore
33. Rutherford B. Hayes
34. Andrew Johnson (Asserted executive power during fight over unconstitutional Tenure of Office Act. Pressured Napoleon III to remove French forces from Mexico, purchased Alaska from Russia, acquired Midway Island and the US Virgin Islands. Unwillingness to carry out Lincoln's Reconstruction policy and inability to work with Republicans in Congress hampered his effectiveness.)
35. Ulysses S. Grant (Failure to punish corrupt personal associates and inability to work with Congress caused the failure of his presidency, detracting from the outstanding reputation he built up during the Civil War.)
36. Franklin Pierce (Southern sympathizer whose support of slavery did nothing to prevent the oncoming Civil War. Repeal of the Missouri Compromise and support of pro-slavery forces in Kansas made him among the least effective presidents.)
37. James Buchanan (Weak-willed figurehead who did nothing to avert the Civil War and enabled Southern Democrats to appropriate federal resources for their own post-secession use.)
38. Warren G. Harding (Poor leader who set a bad example by enforcing Prohibition but not practicing it himself. Trusting figurehead who allowed corrupt associates to enrich themselves at the government's expense.)
39. Ronald Reagan (Stole his opponent's briefing book and used it to prepare for debates. Used media members to prepare for debate and then had them opine on the air about his "superior" performance. Undermined government by negotiating with Iranian hostage takers to keep hostages until after US election. Traded arms for hostages, which only led to more hostages. Funded Nicaraguan Contras after Congress prohibited continued support, thus ignoring both laws and the Constitution. Mismanaged relationships with Mujahadeen in Afghanistan and Saddam regime during Iraq-Iran war, leaving long term problems for successive administrations to solve. Exploded budget deficits and national debt. Prolonged Cold War with "tear down this wall" speech in Berlin.)
40. George W. Bush (Stole the presidency after he lost the election {possibly twice}. Ignored warnings of impending 9-11 attacks. Ignored the Constitution, laws and Congress to engage in warrantless wiretaps, illegal searches, torture, rendition and other measures that prevented success in so-called "War on Terror." Lied US into invasion of Iraq, which he then mismanaged, leading to uncounted deaths, as well as financial and materiel waste, fraud and abuse. Exploded budget deficits and national debt that had been paid down by his predecessor. Enabled corporate corruption through deregulation and lack of oversight.}
41. Richard M. Nixon (Watergate. Actual honest to God crimes that would have landed anyone else in jail. An absolute disgrace, any of whose alleged achievements are minimized by his massive fraud, corruption and malfeasance in office.)
Not rated: 42. William Henry Harrison, 43. James A. Garfield
Honestly, there were a few teeny tiny things about Nixon that were good. His problem was that he was more or less a loony, eventually. Bush has no excuse, he is a prime example of a sociopath, and a non-leader that takes no responsibility for his failures. Nixon at least did to an extent by resigning. You have to be pretty bad to have someone defend Nixon over you, though.
Sorry I took your course pass/fail. Should not have skipped the lectures.
I don't think he'll gain any brownie points when history looks back at what happened to the United States during his two terms in office and the mess he left our country in as he walked out the door. The fecal matter may not smell as bad years from now, but it will still be fecal matter.
This wicked, blood drinking, mass murdering, Constitution/Nation destroying, career fuck up is in a class by himself.
or weapons of mass destruction. But he liked dogs.
It was in the barrels the WMD's were leaning against.
Ya gotta love his style!
Bush wasn't that bad. There was only 42 Presidents better than him. That's not a whole lot.
His approval rating was 21%. That's a heck of a lot of people.
Right?
sorry, any survey that shows reagan as in the top ten is discredited
agree there, perris. There were many others that I would have placed differently also: Number six. The signing of the Federal Reserve Act (on December 22, 1913) alone should knock him down 15 to 20 notches.
On just who all those historians are who did the rating. First guy on the list, Kenneth Ackerman, seemed okay. Here's what he said about the polling:
“Finally, there is George W. Bush. The C-SPAN group places him in the bottom ten at #36. I rated him even lower, as third worst at #41. This rating obviously is the most speculative of the bunch. We still don't know the outcome of the wars Bush started and the economic cataclysms begun under his watch. But, to my mind, the potential long-term damage Bush has done to this country far out-paces the likes of a Warren Harding, Millard Fillmore, or Frankling Pierce. Unlike these other disappointments, George W. Bush was both bad AND consequential.”
As to the question, 'What did Ronald Reagan do to merit such a high rating...?' It probably helped that a few of them either specialized in Reagan history (Lou Cannon) or had political ties to him (Annelise Anderson). I didn't manage to finish researching the entire list, but a good many of those presidents who inexplicably rose up the chart seems more a direct result of those on the jury who have written biographies on their chosen subject and have a personal interest in their own professional and academic success.
Historians, it seems, are no more 'objective' at judging presidents than any of the rest of us without personal political alliances or professional investment as academic biographers.
Me? Bush is the all time worst president in the country's entire history. Bar none. And my opinion is as subjective and OBjective and equal in value as any of the historians on that list.
This segment was priceless and I'm certain that when it is done in the future (when Bush is indicted for crimes) he will definitely eclipse the 6 under him.
The only way for Bush to go is down, down, down.
Let me put it this way: If this was NASCAR, Bushie would have to take a provisional.
Ronnie "DeRegulation" Reagan is definitely dropping like the Titanic right now as his policies continue to fail and as continued by Bush have tanked this economy. Perhaps the next polling will reflect this?
Let's face it - for a while free market capitalism appeared to work until it failed to trickle down when greed and graft entered the picture. However, as I recall there were a few cartoons back then which painted Ronnie in the appropriate light - an Alzheimer patient pathetically with his finger on the button of this country. I know that I spent many sleepless nights worrying that he might think he was answering the phone and press the red button instead. Americans have gone easy on him but, frankly, the final years of his presidency he was totally propped up so the world couldn't view just how debilitated his brain had become.
..... GHWBush was the defacto POTUS for 12 years. After the attempt on Raygun's life he was reduced to a puppet. That's when the former head of the CIA took over.
as you write, it was merely an appearance. it never worked, we have been on a downward path since the late 70s.
we never had a "free" market capitalist system (mostly b/c it is impossible). it was pure unadulterated crony capitalism that reagan spewed across the land.
also, it is impossible to separate "greed and graft" from capitalism. they are inherent to the system, see immanuel wallerstein.... capitalism requires greed, and has developed for centuries through graft.
None of these other Presidents had the unique ability to be as spectacular a failure as Bush did. All of them did some governance while President, and none of them allowed their Vice Presidents to be in charge for two full terms. The White House is the sole responsibility for international relations, it is the nerve center of this country's direction in this area, whereas the economy is run at both state and federal levels. GWB rated one spot ahead of the worst, William Henry Harrison, which is in no way fair to Harrison, as he had only 4 weeks in office, most of them confined to bedrest. Bush had 8 years as well as a trail of wreckage to show for it.
None of those men, as reprehensible their attitudes on race may have been, were as inept and unable to execute the responsibility of President like GWB, he was, as mentioned, in a league of his own
this author was on charlie rose a couple weeks ago. his name is will bunch. the title of his book is:
Tear Down This Myth: How the Reagan Legacy Has Distorted Our Politics and Haunts Our Future.
i haven't read the book yet but the interview was enlightening. Reagan has become a mythical figure for some americans especially the (R).
I heard on tv today that cheney bugged bush to give Libby a pardon right up until just before Obama took office. Bush just kept telling cheney no. The one time he tells cheney no and it's in the last days of his presidency. Jeez!
I am glad to see W. down there with Franklin Pierce, it's good to keep it in the family. Something to remember when Jeb makes a run for it.
Barbara Pierce Bush for those of you who didn't get the connection.
is easily the Worst. President. Ever.
The gentlemen ranked "below" him at least were literate. They could read and write and put together actual sentences. They were aware of history and civics and geography.
Chucklefuck will never be topped. He's got last place sewed up forever.
Guy got assassinated. Can't blame him for a poor job. Bush had 8 years to perfect something and could only F it up every time. And Grant was a drunk--Bush is a dry drunk that should have stayed on the barstool in Midland, TX. The world would have been better off. Bush is, was and always will be the worst.
I particularly liked Bush's very low rating as being a good adminstrator President.
Olberman notes that Bush is the first MBA president, but one of the worst adminstrators. Bush had a Harvard MBA, but was complete disaster and incompetent manager. He might have gotten all the policy decisions wrong, but at least manage the government properly. He could not even do that. That really says it all. Rides on Daddy's coatails to get into all these fancy schools, but they did absolutely nothing for him.
Watched the "W" movie this weekend. What came across to me was how much of a normal idiot Bush was, certainly not presidential material. The guy was in way over his head and not only was he in way over his head, but so were all the people around him. They for the most part had no idea what they were doing on just about everything.
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