Worst President in History?

[Fischkoepfin 1]

This article in the Rolling Stone is a little long, but really interesting. A short excerpt:

Calamitous presidents, faced with enormous difficulties -- Buchanan, Andrew Johnson, Hoover and now Bush -- have divided the nation, governed erratically and left the nation worse off. In each case, different factors contributed to the failure: disastrous domestic policies, foreign-policy blunders and military setbacks, executive misconduct, crises of credibility and public trust. Bush, however, is one of the rarities in presidential history: He has not only stumbled badly in every one of these key areas, he has also displayed a weakness common among the greatest presidential failures -- an unswerving adherence to a simplistic ideology that abjures deviation from dogma as heresy, thus preventing any pragmatic adjustment to changing realities. Repeatedly, Bush has undone himself, a failing revealed in each major area of presidential performance.

[kc456 0]

Well said. But why he got elected and then *re-elected*? Is the voting majority *blind* and *deaf*?

[Fischkoepfin 1]

Well said. But why he got elected and then *re-elected*? Is the voting majority *blind* and *deaf*?

No, they were just blinded by his marvelous propaganda machine. From the same article:

Even worse for the president, the general public, having once given Bush the highest approval ratings ever recorded, now appears to be coming around to the dismal view held by most historians. To be sure, the president retains a considerable base of supporters who believe in and adore him, and who reject all criticism with a mixture of disbelief and fierce contempt -- about one-third of the electorate. Yet the ranks of the true believers have thinned dramatically. A majority of voters in forty-three states now disapprove of Bush's handling of his job. Since the commencement of reliable polling in the 1940s, only one twice-elected president has seen his ratings fall as low as Bush's in his second term: Richard Nixon, during the months preceding his resignation in 1974. No two-term president since polling began has fallen from such a height of popularity as Bush's (in the neighborhood of ninety percent, during the patriotic upswell following the 2001 attacks) to such a low (now in the midthirties).

[stanmoonie 0]

Well said. But why he got elected and then *re-elected*? Is the voting majority *blind* and *deaf*?

No, they were just blinded by his marvelous propaganda machine. From the same article:

Even worse for the president, the general public, having once given Bush the highest approval ratings ever recorded, now appears to be coming around to the dismal view held by most historians. To be sure, the president retains a considerable base of supporters who believe in and adore him, and who reject all criticism with a mixture of disbelief and fierce contempt -- about one-third of the electorate. Yet the ranks of the true believers have thinned dramatically. A majority of voters in forty-three states now disapprove of Bush's handling of his job. Since the commencement of reliable polling in the 1940s, only one twice-elected president has seen his ratings fall as low as Bush's in his second term: Richard Nixon, during the months preceding his resignation in 1974. No two-term president since polling began has fallen from such a height of popularity as Bush's (in the neighborhood of ninety percent, during the patriotic upswell following the 2001 attacks) to such a low (now in the midthirties).

Well Bush got elected using a combination of things. He had everyone conviced they were in danger unless we looked at him. His election machine made everyone thing Kerry was a fraud when it was actually him who was the fraud. If it was not for 9/11 Bush would never had been elected again.

One last thing on our prez he also pandered to the christian groups in the south and midwest. When you have your minister telling everyone that a vote for Bush is a vote everything he stands for then guess what Bush wins the states he needed.

Sign of a good leader? Once in a while admit your are wrong you are not perfect nor am I. But Bush is never wrong examples Brown from FEMA " Brownie you are doing a heck of a job" Our Sec of defense should be shown the door as he is from the same mold. Put some one in there that will give us what our troops need, if we need more troops to get the job done now instead of 3 years from now then do something.

[ace13 0]

Oh, my. Those Christians just brainwashed again Are we still crying because Kerry lost? I find it humorous that the left spends all this energy crying, complaining, bitching and moaning instead of working on their own defunked party, building some core priciples that could win votes and producing a candidate that stood for something (AND ACTUALLY VOTES THAT WAY).

What I would like to see-for Senate and House elections are voting histories. That is where the candidate stands and that is where the American can make their decision. Not their glamour shots photo or million dollar commercial bashing the other candidate. What did they vote yes for and what did they vote no for. Plain and simple. And this information should be available down to township positions.

Enjoy your thread

Edited April 20, 2006 by ace13

[Fischkoepfin 1]

Oh, my. Those Christians just brainwashed again Are we still crying because Kerry lost? I find it humorous that the left spends all this energy crying, complaining, bitching and moaning instead of working on their own defunked party, building some core priciples that could win votes and producing a candidate that stood for something (AND ACTUALLY VOTES THAT WAY).

What I would like to see-for Senate and House elections are voting histories. That is where the candidate stands and that is where the American can make their decision. Not their glamour shots photo or million dollar commercial bashing the other candidate. What did they vote yes for and what did they vote no for. Plain and simple. And this information should be available down to township positions.

Enjoy your thread

Have you actually read the linked article?? It doesn't say anything about Kerry nor is it written by or for the Democratic party. It also has nothing to do with voting histories because it is about presidential success or lack thereof from a historical perspective.

Edited April 20, 2006 by Fischkoepfin

[Sister Fracas 5]

Oh, my. Those Christians just brainwashed again Are we still crying because Kerry lost? I find it humorous that the left spends all this energy crying, complaining, bitching and moaning instead of working on their own defunked party, building some core priciples that could win votes and producing a candidate that stood for something (AND ACTUALLY VOTES THAT WAY).

I find it humorous that you take it so personally...but nevermind...

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

Bush is certainly the worst in my lifetime, that said the candidates since 1980 have been variously less than stellar. Clinton was probably the best IMO (in my lifetime), coming off the back of Reagan and Bush Sr.

Worst of all time though? I think there were some real stinkers back in the 1800's who put GWB to shame.

[Hilarious Clinton 452]

James K. Polk. Now there was a president. He sought no second term.

[ace13 0]

Fischkoepfin,

I was responding to stanmoonie

Edited April 20, 2006 by ace13

[Fischkoepfin 1]

James K. Polk. Now there was a president. He sought no second term.

But he managed to win a war (Mexican-American War). Never planned a second term either, something people did appreciate about him (says Wilentz).

[ace13 0]

Oh, my. Those Christians just brainwashed again Are we still crying because Kerry lost? I find it humorous that the left spends all this energy crying, complaining, bitching and moaning instead of working on their own defunked party, building some core priciples that could win votes and producing a candidate that stood for something (AND ACTUALLY VOTES THAT WAY).

I find it humorous that you take it so personally...but nevermind...

Politics is personal because political leaders claim to represent the people...but nevermind...

[Fischkoepfin 1]

James K. Polk. Now there was a president. He sought no second term.

I was responding to stanmoonie

Oh I see. Sorry! Should have directed my criticism at stanmoonie then, I guess.

Edited April 20, 2006 by Fischkoepfin

[ace13 0]

Be careful where you get your news from...

http://www.newsmeat.com/media_political_do...Jann_Wenner.php

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

James K. Polk. Now there was a president. He sought no second term.

I was responding to stanmoonie

Oh I see. Sorry! Should have directed my criticism at stanmoonie then, I guess.

Ulysses S Grant - controversial general, pretty much sucked as President...