Presidential Rankings - cougarguard.com — unofficial BYU Cougars / LDS sports, football, basketball forum and message board

Jeff Lebowski · 02-17-2009, 05:42 AM

I recall that whenever I would comment that Bush was likely one of the worst US presidents ever, my old buddy Tex would scoff at my myopia; my woefully naive and short-sighted view of US history.

C-Span recently commissioned a poll of 65 historians where they ranked the presidents. Bush came in 36th out of 42. Lincoln was #1.

http://deseretnews.com/article/1,5143,705285410,00.html

Quote:

Rated worst overall were James Buchanan, Andrew Johnson, Franklin Pierce, William Henry Harrison and Warren G. Harding.

Here are the top ten:

ute4ever · 02-17-2009, 01:17 PM

Actually, Rasmussen polled several key GOP historians and found that Bush placed much higher on the list, narrowly missing the top ten.

Tex · 02-17-2009, 01:22 PM

I wonder where Abraham Lincoln, Harry Truman, and Woodrow Wilson placed 30 days after their presidencies ended.

Archaea · 02-17-2009, 03:00 PM

I keep trying to place Bush, and I agree that Bush was an unsuccessful president, the causes are many, not all of them within his control. And we complainers are wont to ascribe malevolence or a deficiency in intelligence with those we deem as failures. But this thought came to me, Bush may not be an evil person or extremely unintelligent, but he may have not been up to the job. Now this is not a complete condemnation of his character, as it is perhaps the most difficult job on the planet, not many of us, would be up to the job. And Bush is one, who couldn't do the job well. Perhaps it's as simple as that. Carter couldn't do the job. And maybe for example none of us could do it. Just a thought. Nothing earth-shattering I know.

Archaea · 02-17-2009, 03:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jeff Lebowski

I recall that whenever I would comment that Bush was likely one of the worst US presidents ever, my old buddy Tex would scoff at my myopia; my woefully naive and short-sighted view of US history.

C-Span recently commissioned a poll of 65 historians where they ranked the presidents. Bush came in 36th out of 42. Lincoln was #1.

http://deseretnews.com/article/1,5143,705285410,00.html

Here are the top ten:

Harry S. Truman, fifth?

Kennedy sixth?

Not buying those rankings.

Levin · 02-17-2009, 03:20 PM

Truman I'm absolutely buying, but I agree with you on Kennedy.

Truman set the stage not only for the miraculous post-WWII peace and prosperity, but he also planted the seeds that ultimately resulted in our victory in the Cold War. Plus, he was one heck of a man. Grit, pluck, commen sense, honesty, and humility. Read McCullough's biography: it's a great read.

MikeWaters · 02-17-2009, 03:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Levin

Truman I'm absolutely buying, but I agree with you on Kennedy.

Truman set the stage not only for the miraculous post-WWII peace and prosperity, but he also planted the seeds that ultimately resulted in our victory in the Cold War. Plus, he was one heck of a man. Grit, pluck, commen sense, honesty, and humility. Read McCullough's biography: it's a great read.

No thanks, I'm waiting for the Brodie biography. That will savage him to the point that she will have to floss out scrotum gristle.

Tex · 02-17-2009, 04:59 PM

Putting Kennedy in there is a joke, and I'm not sure Eisenhower deserves top ten either. Reagan should easily be top 5.

All-American · 02-17-2009, 06:02 PM

Senator hatch is on the Utah senate floor right now. He just said that he is the longest serving member of the intelligence committee, and that 30 years from now, when the documents are declassified, Bush will go down as one of the top presidents in history.

Jeff Lebowski · 02-17-2009, 06:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by All-American

Senator hatch is on the Utah senate floor right now. He just said that he is the longest serving member of the intelligence committee, and that 30 years from now, when the documents are declassified, Bush will go down as one of the top presidents in history.

Good old Orrin. That's funny. I'll bet they ate it up.

02-17-2009, 01:22 PM	#3
Tex Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Posts: 8,596	I wonder where Abraham Lincoln, Harry Truman, and Woodrow Wilson placed 30 days after their presidencies ended. __________________ "Have we been commanded not to call a prophet an insular racist? Link?" "And yes, [2010] is a very good year to be a Democrat. Perhaps the best year in decades ..." - Cali Coug "Oh dear, granny, what a long tail our puss has got." - Brigham Young

02-17-2009, 03:00 PM	#4
Archaea Assistant to the Regional Manager Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: The Orgasmatron Posts: 24,338	I keep trying to place Bush, and I agree that Bush was an unsuccessful president, the causes are many, not all of them within his control. And we complainers are wont to ascribe malevolence or a deficiency in intelligence with those we deem as failures. But this thought came to me, Bush may not be an evil person or extremely unintelligent, but he may have not been up to the job. Now this is not a complete condemnation of his character, as it is perhaps the most difficult job on the planet, not many of us, would be up to the job. And Bush is one, who couldn't do the job well. Perhaps it's as simple as that. Carter couldn't do the job. And maybe for example none of us could do it. Just a thought. Nothing earth-shattering I know. __________________ Ἓν οἶδα ὅτι οὐδὲν οἶδα Last edited by Archaea; 02-17-2009 at 03:14 PM.

02-17-2009, 03:20 PM	#6
Levin Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Posts: 1,484	Truman I'm absolutely buying, but I agree with you on Kennedy. Truman set the stage not only for the miraculous post-WWII peace and prosperity, but he also planted the seeds that ultimately resulted in our victory in the Cold War. Plus, he was one heck of a man. Grit, pluck, commen sense, honesty, and humility. Read McCullough's biography: it's a great read. __________________ "Now I say that I know the meaning of my life: 'To live for God, for my soul.' And this meaning, in spite of its clearness, is mysterious and marvelous. Such is the meaning of all existence." Levin, Anna Karenina, Part 8, Chapter 12

02-17-2009, 04:59 PM	#8
Tex Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Posts: 8,596	Putting Kennedy in there is a joke, and I'm not sure Eisenhower deserves top ten either. Reagan should easily be top 5. __________________ "Have we been commanded not to call a prophet an insular racist? Link?" "And yes, [2010] is a very good year to be a Democrat. Perhaps the best year in decades ..." - Cali Coug "Oh dear, granny, what a long tail our puss has got." - Brigham Young

02-17-2009, 06:02 PM	#9
All-American Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Posts: 3,420	Senator hatch is on the Utah senate floor right now. He just said that he is the longest serving member of the intelligence committee, and that 30 years from now, when the documents are declassified, Bush will go down as one of the top presidents in history. __________________ εν αρχη ην ο λογος

02-17-2009, 01:17 PM	#2
ute4ever I must not tell lies Join Date: Aug 2005 Posts: 5,103	Actually, Rasmussen polled several key GOP historians and found that Bush placed much higher on the list, narrowly missing the top ten.