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Who has been our greatest President?[W:196]

Who has been our greatest President?

  • Total voters
    89
Re: Who has been our greatest President?

In this order:

1. Abraham Lincoln

2. Franklin Delano Roosevelt

3. Thomas Jefferson

4. Theodore Roosevelt

5. Woodrow Wilson

Washington's contribution to the founding of the United States should not be overlooked, but I'm not sure what he did as President (other than not become a military dictator) that would make him be considered one of our greatest.
 
Re: Who has been our greatest President?

MadLib said:
Considering that Arthur's predecessor was shot by someone who opposed civil service reform, it would have made Arthur look really, really bad to pursue his Stalwart agenda, so I'm not sure how much of his integrity stemmed from anything other than political necessity.
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Though that may have been part of it, Arthur was solidly in the corner of civil service reform from all indications.
 
Re: Who has been our greatest President?

MrVicchio said:
You mean, having some societal norms? Both sides do. Don't ****ing try to say they don't, you'd be lying through your teeth. Look at those two brothers on HGTV, lost their show because they dared to hold a position not left of center. Just a simple example.

We can argue the merits of each approach, but don't try to pass that tolerance **** off as not being it's own kinda group think forced societal norms.
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Of course both sides try to force their own societal norms. But don't try to pass off the conservative agenda as "personal excellence". Both sides have their own viewpoints on what that means, in essence making the concept pretty meaningless in debate.
 
Re: Who has been our greatest President?

Most of these people listed were simply in the right place at the right time. they were all good leaders, but what about those who actually made positive change by their leadership?

I'm going to move outside the box and say John Adams. Our country was still in it's infantry, and he was very instrumental in many ways.

It's hard to separate a historical role as being the cause of the president, or luck. I do dismiss so many of them as simply being president at the right time.
 
Re: Who has been our greatest President?

Lord of Planar said:
I'm going to move outside the box and say John Adams. Our country was still in it's infantry,
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So, I guess Lincoln was president while your country was in civil war cavalry?
 
radcen said:
Who has been our greatest President?

As President, not other times and aspects of their life.
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Abraham Lincoln. No other President suffered through trials to the extent to which he was made to master, those challenges being the very demise of our nation as a unified body. Besides, his speeches are the best of any president to date.
 
Re: Who has been our greatest President?

CaptainCourtesy said:
I would agree with you. Problem is that whenever a discussion about the "greatest President" comes up, as soon as FDR is mentioned, our cadre of militant libertarians come out spewing as much hyperbolic ridiculousness as possible, demonstrating an inability to understand the big picture, and a war between FDR-haters and FDR-supporters ensues. I could go through DP history and probably pull up at least a dozen threads just like that.

Look. We all get it. Libertarians don't like FDR because he was more active and hands on. Progressives like him for those reasons. Guess what? Both are OPINIONS. Those who think they are factually correct about their position tend to be hacks who can't see anything past their own little world. FDR did some very good things. He also did some very questionable things. THAT'S an accurate statement.

But, moving on, though I don't think he was one of our greatest Presidents, John Adams is an intriguing figure. Yes, the Alien and Sedition Acts was one of the worst laws ever to be put forth in the US, but he handled the XYZ Affair and the Quasi-War, masterfully.
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I'm a Libertarian, and my reason for not liking FDR was because of what he did to the Japanese-Americans.

I agree that people focus too hard on taxes when discussing FDR. It started out as a tax discussion pertaining to his term, then somehow it morphed into a tax discussion, and what taxes are for, and if you don't like it you should leave the country, etc. Back and forth, round and round, somehow even ending up with a woman being raped twice....ugh.

FDR's Presidency is all across the board, exactly as you said. Some good, some bad, but I guess we could say that about any President.

John Adams was a very intriguing figure indeed.
 
Re: Who has been our greatest President?

Andalublue said:
Lord of Planar said:
I'm going to move outside the box and say John Adams. Our country was still in it's infantry infancy,
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So, I guess Lincoln was president while your country was in civil war cavalry?
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LOL...

I meant infancy...

The likes of Washington, Lincoln, etc. were president at pivotal points in our history. They were indeed great men, but are they in the best of presidents catagory because of circumstance, or their uniqueness? Would someone else have done any less of a job? Maybe better?

I could only rule out two in the OP list that I place in the best of presidents category..

Anyone watch the John Adams mini-series?

John Adams (TV Mini-Series 2008) - IMDb

I don't know how accurate it was, but he was one of our great founding fathers.
 
Re: Who has been our greatest President?

MadLib said:
In this order:

1. Abraham Lincoln

2. Franklin Delano Roosevelt

3. Thomas Jefferson

4. Theodore Roosevelt

5. Woodrow Wilson

Washington's contribution to the founding of the United States should not be overlooked, but I'm not sure what he did as President (other than not become a military dictator) that would make him be considered one of our greatest.
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This is actually a very good point, and worth pondering. Though I would also add that good governing is sometimes what you don't do, just as much as it is what you do do.
 
Re: Who has been our greatest President?

haymarket said:
I have no idea what you are talking about as you are making no sense.
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I made plenty of sense. You just chose to ignore it, and instead responded (feigning ignorance) on an inane comment that originated with you. Another masterful deflection. Bravo!
 
Re: Who has been our greatest President?

Μολὼν λαβέ;1063464112 said:
I made plenty of sense. You just chose to ignore it, and instead responded (feigning ignorance) on an inane comment that originated with you. Another masterful deflection. Bravo!
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No you did not make any sense. And you are still not.
 
Re: Who has been our greatest President?

Joe Steel said:
Truman and Eisenhower supported the French in Vietnam to gain their support in Europe against the USSR. After the French defeat in 1954, the US had no reason to stay. Nevertheless, Eisenhower did. Everything else is the result of Eisenhower's war mongering.
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the fall of China caused Truman to support the French in viet nam rather than positively responding to Ho Chi Minh's request that the USA help Viet Nam become independent
 
radcen said:
Who has been our greatest President?

As President, not other times and aspects of their life.
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Lincoln without a doubt in my mind. He saved the Republic, the Constitution, and laid down the framework for the future of the United States.
 
Re: Who has been our greatest President?

tres borrachos said:
I'm a Libertarian, and my reason for not liking FDR was because of what he did to the Japanese-Americans.
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Neither did I, but we are Monday-Morning Quarterbacking the issue. It would be like criticizing Jackson's treatment of Native Americans. Was it wrong? Certainly. It was genocidal, but in the context of the time, it made sense.

I agree that people focus too hard on taxes when discussing FDR. It started out as a tax discussion pertaining to his term, then somehow it morphed into a tax discussion, and what taxes are for, and if you don't like it you should leave the country, etc. Back and forth, round and round, somehow even ending up with a woman being raped twice....ugh.

FDR's Presidency is all across the board, exactly as you said. Some good, some bad, but I guess we could say that about any President.
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Agreed.

John Adams was a very intriguing figure indeed.
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He was very independent in a lot of ways.
 
Re: Who has been our greatest President?

Lord of Planar said:
LOL...

I meant infancy...

The likes of Washington, Lincoln, etc. were president at pivotal points in our history. They were indeed great men, but are they in the best of presidents catagory because of circumstance, or their uniqueness? Would someone else have done any less of a job? Maybe better?

I could only rule out two in the OP list that I place in the best of presidents category..

Anyone watch the John Adams mini-series?

John Adams (TV Mini-Series 2008) - IMDb

I don't know how accurate it was,
but he was one of our great founding fathers.
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None of whom fought hard enough against slavery.

Which makes them not so great, they were all flawed men who could have done a better job.

But then we wouldn't have a Civil War to write and talk about.
 
Re: Who has been our greatest President?

TheNextEra said:
Yeah I like how many Republicans say FDR should be scorned, but have no problem enjoying Social Security. When I see a Republican scorn FDR and NOT accept social security, then I will be impressed with that person.
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Of course people take it once they can. They've paid into the system all those years whether they wanted to or not, so only a fool would not take the payments once they finally come. Accepting social security payments despite one's opposition to the program as a whole isn't hypocrisy, its just common sense.
 
Re: Who has been our greatest President?

Psychoclown said:
Of course people take it once they can. They've paid into the system all those years whether they wanted to or not, so only a fool would not take the payments once they finally come. Accepting social security payments despite one's opposition to the program as a whole isn't hypocrisy, its just common sense.
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So you can condemn something but still get in line for it and benefit from it just the same? Social security, roads, highways, airports, schools, hospitals - the list goes on and on and on and on. What ever happened to standing by your principles and having nothing to do with something you feel is so morally objectionable?

I used to find it quite amazing all the creative ways right leaning libertarians could come up with to rationalize and excuse their own hypocrisy. Now, after see it for year after year, it is no longer quite so amazing and is now simply sad.
 
Re: Who has been our greatest President?

Psychoclown said:
Of course people take it once they can. They've paid into the system all those years whether they wanted to or not, so only a fool would not take the payments once they finally come. Accepting social security payments despite one's opposition to the program as a whole isn't hypocrisy, its just common sense.
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Of course its hypocrisy. If they have railed that it is such a horrible system that should be dismantled, the fact they are WILLINGLY taking part in it after they retire is SUPPORTING such a system. Yes, it's hypocrisy sorry because they feel that since they can now benefit from such a system its ok.
 
Re: Who has been our greatest President?

This is nothing new, it's been going on for a long time and it won't change anytime soon.

Few people will ever throw away a valid check that comes in the mail, why should they when they paid into it?
 
Re: Who has been our greatest President?

haymarket said:
and yes - it was government spending which got us out of the depression. Thank you for agreeing with that. You see, the Depression had already started and was firmly in hold of the nation before any FDR New Deal spending got really rolling. So it in no way shape or form can be said to be responsible for getting us into the depression in the first place.

A neo-libertarian are folks like you see here who are firmly right wing .
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your supposed to be in the area of education, however it appears you are either not telling the truth, or you speak for yourself here because you created your own lie.

ernst barkmann said:
[massive government spending went into the depression, it did not pull us out/B]......... massive spending on the war effort pulled us out...
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you lie.... and said i agreed with you...lie 1......that is false my statements does not support you..........stop if the leftest tactics, of twisting what people say!

AND made it sound as though in talking to me, that it was said FDR was to blame for the depression, which i never even went there that's...........being..... misleading!
 
Re: Who has been our greatest President?

ernst barkmann said:
your supposed to be in the area of education, however it appears you are either not telling the truth, or you speak for yourself here because you created your own lie.




you lie.... and said i agreed with you...lie 1......that is false my statements does not support you..........stop if the leftest tactics, of twisting what people say!

AND made it sound as though in talking to me, that it was said FDR was to blame for the depression, which i never even went there that's...........being..... misleading!
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Somebody would need a scorecard with additional columns and arrows and explanatory footnotes to figure out what the hell you are trying to say there. And I suspect that even then it would not be enough to give that post any real clarity. :roll::doh
 
Re: Who has been our greatest President?

haymarket said:
Somebody would need a scorecard with additional columns and arrows and explanatory footnotes to figure out what the hell you are trying to say there. And I suspect that even then it would not be enough to give that post any real clarity. :roll::doh
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Translation of ernst's post: You lied. I didn't say that, and you're twisting what I said to suit your side of the argument.

Huh. That was much simpler than you assumed it would be.
 
Re: Who has been our greatest President?

haymarket said:
Somebody would need a scorecard with additional columns and arrows and explanatory footnotes to figure out what the hell you are trying to say there. And I suspect that even then it would not be enough to give that post any real clarity. :roll::doh
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no ...its very CLEAR....you are into "SPIN".

remember the old line" a mind is a terrible thing to waste"

you need to adhere to this line ..." to spin the truth is a terrible thing to do"......

so please stop..... spinning .
 
Re: Who has been our greatest President?

Μολὼν λαβέ;1063461711 said:
I see you acknowledge WWII was a factor in the world overcoming the great depression. However, it was the main factor. No WWII and who knows when the great depression would have ended.
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And if you'll think about it, how did WWII get us out of the Depression? With the biggest "Big Government" we've ever had - by millions of men and thousands of women signing up to work for the government in the military, by millions more working in the factories producing the war materiel that the government was buying.

In other words, WWII was - in economic terms - the biggest economic stimulus we've ever had...and it worked wonderfully. It was a grand exercise in Keynesian economics...and it succeeded in every sense of the word.
 
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