The greatest President - Page 2

Fifthfiend · 06-12-2009, 04:47 PM

Lincoln or FDR. Maybe Johnson if you don't blame him too much for Vietnam.

Professor Smarmiarty · 06-12-2009, 04:48 PM

Best: Prewar FDR. He dropped a ball a bit during the war though. Probably still the top on balance.
Doesn't have a lot of competition though.
Lincoln is usually ranked right up the top but I honestly don't know enough about Lincoln to really rank him properly.
Also good: Nixon- though not really on purpose (not that anyone would ever agree with me on that one) and mostly at the start, Polk, and Jackson.

Mesden · 06-12-2009, 05:08 PM

Curious as to why you say Nixon.

Osterbaum · 06-12-2009, 05:16 PM

I am also curious as to why Fifth said Johnson.

Bob The Mercenary · 06-12-2009, 05:20 PM

I'm going to say George H. W. Bush for jumping out of an airplane today for his 85th birthday.

Kidding of course, but it's still awesome.

Fifthfiend · 06-12-2009, 05:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Osterbaum

I am also curious as to why Fifth said Johnson.

Great Society programs; Medicare Medicaid and whatever else. War on Poverty. Civil Rights Act. Thurgood Marshall.

Professor Smarmiarty · 06-12-2009, 06:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mesden

Curious as to why you say Nixon.

Vast increase in government benefits, wage and price controls, was crucial in deradicalising China and bringing it into partnership with the rest of the world, detente with the USSR, got rid of the gold standard.
Most critically he was very active in intergrating the US economy with the rest of the world and was really an end to US isolationism.

He fucked up the middle east but then so has basically everybody.
As for Vietnam, it was nowhere near the disaster it has often been made out to be from a US standpoint. He gets major marks against him for the tremendous atrocities commited in Vietnam but if one can overlook those he was quite good.

Fifthfiend · 06-12-2009, 06:30 PM

He's really not that bad if you overlook the abuses of power and utter moral bankrupcy.

...That honestly wasn't a sarcastic statement.

Professor Smarmiarty · 06-12-2009, 06:40 PM

The real problem with Nixon is that he makes such a great villain.
With his voice and his mannerisms and his look and how his presidency ended its very easy to just see him as some kind of over-the-top caraciture and forget allt he good work he actually did.

Fifthfiend · 06-12-2009, 06:46 PM

He is seriously like the Snidely Whiplash of presidents.

Just look at that nose. Those jowls. Those beady fucking eyes.

That is a face that can't possibly not be up to no good.

06-12-2009, 04:47 PM	#11
Fifthfiend for all seasons Join Date: Feb 2004 Posts: 19,409	Lincoln or FDR. Maybe Johnson if you don't blame him too much for Vietnam. __________________ check out my buttspresso

06-12-2009, 04:48 PM	#12
Professor Smarmiarty Sent to the cornfield Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: K-space Posts: 9,758	Best: Prewar FDR. He dropped a ball a bit during the war though. Probably still the top on balance. Doesn't have a lot of competition though. Lincoln is usually ranked right up the top but I honestly don't know enough about Lincoln to really rank him properly. Also good: Nixon- though not really on purpose (not that anyone would ever agree with me on that one) and mostly at the start, Polk, and Jackson. Last edited by Professor Smarmiarty; 06-12-2009 at 04:57 PM.

06-12-2009, 05:08 PM	#13
Mesden There is no Toph, only Melon Lord! Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Inside of a box inside of a smaller box Posts: 4,310	Curious as to why you say Nixon. __________________ I can tell you're lying.

06-12-2009, 05:16 PM	#14
Osterbaum The revolution will be memed! Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: FIN Posts: 5,967	I am also curious as to why Fifth said Johnson. __________________ D is for Dirty Commie!

06-12-2009, 05:20 PM	#15
Bob The Mercenary Bob Dole Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Bob Dole Posts: 5,606	I'm going to say George H. W. Bush for jumping out of an airplane today for his 85th birthday. Kidding of course, but it's still awesome. __________________ Bob Dole

06-12-2009, 06:30 PM	#18
Fifthfiend for all seasons Join Date: Feb 2004 Posts: 19,409	He's really not that bad if you overlook the abuses of power and utter moral bankrupcy. ...That honestly wasn't a sarcastic statement. __________________ check out my buttspresso

06-12-2009, 06:40 PM	#19
Professor Smarmiarty Sent to the cornfield Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: K-space Posts: 9,758	The real problem with Nixon is that he makes such a great villain. With his voice and his mannerisms and his look and how his presidency ended its very easy to just see him as some kind of over-the-top caraciture and forget allt he good work he actually did.

06-12-2009, 06:46 PM	#20
Fifthfiend for all seasons Join Date: Feb 2004 Posts: 19,409	He is seriously like the Snidely Whiplash of presidents. Just look at that nose. Those jowls. Those beady fucking eyes. That is a face that can't possibly not be up to no good. __________________ check out my buttspresso