Worst President Ever Less than scientific sampling of opinion
#1
Posted 15 October 2005 - 04:28 AM
Worst American President ever?
It seems many threads have commented at times on varous versions of this question. Let's get it out in the open - balls to the wind so to speak.
Worst President Ever.
I'll kick it off with Johnson. Rose to power on the back of assasination, did not even tempt fate with a fun for a full second term, increased 'Police Action' in Nam to full blown war, used power as President to draw attention away from personal scandals, cowtowed to Hoover, drew the country to a pall so overpowering that Nixon seemed a reasonable alternative, carried on an affair with his secretary throughout his Presidency, slowed civil rights legislation to a crawl ...
It seems many threads have commented at times on varous versions of this question. Let's get it out in the open - balls to the wind so to speak.
Worst President Ever.
I'll kick it off with Johnson. Rose to power on the back of assasination, did not even tempt fate with a fun for a full second term, increased 'Police Action' in Nam to full blown war, used power as President to draw attention away from personal scandals, cowtowed to Hoover, drew the country to a pall so overpowering that Nixon seemed a reasonable alternative, carried on an affair with his secretary throughout his Presidency, slowed civil rights legislation to a crawl ...
#2
Posted 15 October 2005 - 12:57 PM
Well, Reagan created the political mockery that is "compassionate conservatism" and the laughably idealistic trickle-down economy system.
Hoover deepened the depression and did that whole "I'll balance the budget by decreasing taxes and increasing spending! It works, trust me!" bullshit. But I think part of it was him coming into power at a bad time too.
Andrew Jackson made the spolier system rampant, giving positions to his friends and inventing new ones to fit them all in, and had a habit of killing his own men on the battle field when they disobeyed orders, if I recall. But it might have been that obeying common sense and getting cover when being shot at thing that was frowned upon at the time...
Truman killed a few hundred thousand civilians in Japan when he dropped atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki too.
There's lots to bitch about lots of presidents!
Hoover deepened the depression and did that whole "I'll balance the budget by decreasing taxes and increasing spending! It works, trust me!" bullshit. But I think part of it was him coming into power at a bad time too.
Andrew Jackson made the spolier system rampant, giving positions to his friends and inventing new ones to fit them all in, and had a habit of killing his own men on the battle field when they disobeyed orders, if I recall. But it might have been that obeying common sense and getting cover when being shot at thing that was frowned upon at the time...
Truman killed a few hundred thousand civilians in Japan when he dropped atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki too.
There's lots to bitch about lots of presidents!
This space for rent. Inquire within.
#4
Posted 15 October 2005 - 01:31 PM
But at least he didn't screw anything up.
Apparently writing about JM here is his secret weakness. Muwahaha!!!! Now I have leverage over him and am another step closer towards my goal of world domination.
"And the Evil that was vanquished shall rise anew. Wrapped in the guise of man shall he walk amongst the innocent and Terror shall consume they that dwell upon the Earth. The skies will rain fire. The seas shall become as blood. The righteous shall fall before the wicked! And all creation shall tremble before the burning standards of Hell!" - Mephisto
Kurgan X showed me this web comic done with Legos. It pokes fun at all six Star Wars films and I found it to be extremely entertaining.
<a href="http://www.irregularwebcomic.net/cast/starwars.html" target="_blank">http://www.irregularwebcomic.net/cast/starwars.html</a>
"And the Evil that was vanquished shall rise anew. Wrapped in the guise of man shall he walk amongst the innocent and Terror shall consume they that dwell upon the Earth. The skies will rain fire. The seas shall become as blood. The righteous shall fall before the wicked! And all creation shall tremble before the burning standards of Hell!" - Mephisto
Kurgan X showed me this web comic done with Legos. It pokes fun at all six Star Wars films and I found it to be extremely entertaining.
<a href="http://www.irregularwebcomic.net/cast/starwars.html" target="_blank">http://www.irregularwebcomic.net/cast/starwars.html</a>
#8
Posted 15 October 2005 - 10:04 PM
QUOTE
Truman killed a few hundred thousand civilians in Japan when he dropped atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki too.
Truman owned, no way he can be considered one of the worst. Killing hundreds of people is minor details that we can just assume didn't happen. He's like top 5-8 president of all time.
#10
Posted 16 October 2005 - 12:20 AM
Truman can be argued yes, but I'd say we have had way worse presidents.
Your're basing it on the dropping of the atomic bombs. That's silly. First of all, it was a wartime action. Both World War I + II were wars in which civilians were a large part of the casualties. As I recall, at first, the Japanesse were willing to fight to the death. They had also still controlled most of the islands in the Pacific. Eventually they might have lost, but the casualties on both sides (combined) would have been much greater than the loss of the two cities combined (and those affected by radiation). Therefore it was not only a strategic, but a moral (probably a poor word choice) victory.
Your're basing it on the dropping of the atomic bombs. That's silly. First of all, it was a wartime action. Both World War I + II were wars in which civilians were a large part of the casualties. As I recall, at first, the Japanesse were willing to fight to the death. They had also still controlled most of the islands in the Pacific. Eventually they might have lost, but the casualties on both sides (combined) would have been much greater than the loss of the two cities combined (and those affected by radiation). Therefore it was not only a strategic, but a moral (probably a poor word choice) victory.
Apparently writing about JM here is his secret weakness. Muwahaha!!!! Now I have leverage over him and am another step closer towards my goal of world domination.
"And the Evil that was vanquished shall rise anew. Wrapped in the guise of man shall he walk amongst the innocent and Terror shall consume they that dwell upon the Earth. The skies will rain fire. The seas shall become as blood. The righteous shall fall before the wicked! And all creation shall tremble before the burning standards of Hell!" - Mephisto
Kurgan X showed me this web comic done with Legos. It pokes fun at all six Star Wars films and I found it to be extremely entertaining.
<a href="http://www.irregularwebcomic.net/cast/starwars.html" target="_blank">http://www.irregularwebcomic.net/cast/starwars.html</a>
"And the Evil that was vanquished shall rise anew. Wrapped in the guise of man shall he walk amongst the innocent and Terror shall consume they that dwell upon the Earth. The skies will rain fire. The seas shall become as blood. The righteous shall fall before the wicked! And all creation shall tremble before the burning standards of Hell!" - Mephisto
Kurgan X showed me this web comic done with Legos. It pokes fun at all six Star Wars films and I found it to be extremely entertaining.
<a href="http://www.irregularwebcomic.net/cast/starwars.html" target="_blank">http://www.irregularwebcomic.net/cast/starwars.html</a>
#11
Posted 16 October 2005 - 02:47 AM
Nope. Not good enough. You don't deliberately attack civilian targets like that no matter what's going on. They aren't involved with the war so you're killing innocent people. Soldiers sign up knowing they could be killed. There is no excuse for what occured.
Renegade: LOLZ!
Oooh! Teddy Roosevelt had no respect for the checks and balances system or the sovereignty of other nations too. He was a jerk.
Renegade: LOLZ!
Oooh! Teddy Roosevelt had no respect for the checks and balances system or the sovereignty of other nations too. He was a jerk.
This space for rent. Inquire within.
#12
Posted 16 October 2005 - 02:51 AM
I've changed my mind. I'm hanging my vote on Nixon. Perhaps he simply lacked the looks of Kennedy or the meet and greet touch of Clinton, but he truly displayed the dirt that attaches itself to unmitigated greed for power.
HST had it right when he wrote that the only suitable funeral for Nixon would be a dawn ceremony concluding with a coffin draped in the US flag being tipped into the sewer.
HST had it right when he wrote that the only suitable funeral for Nixon would be a dawn ceremony concluding with a coffin draped in the US flag being tipped into the sewer.
#13
Posted 16 October 2005 - 10:10 AM
QUOTE (Renegade @ Oct 15 2005, 10:04 PM)
Killing hundreds of people is minor details that we can just assume didn't happen.
That is now going to be my signature.
Want a Tarot reading?
PM me, we'll talk.
PM me, we'll talk.