Which US President

I was wondering, which of these two catastrophic US presidents will be remembererd as the one having done most damage.

Bush by a nose.

Nixon destroyed any faith or trust in our public "leadership" that many post-WWII American youth may have had left after Vietnam.  Our government is not Uncle Sam any more - it's more like that creepy neighbor Sam who stares at your sister too long when she walks by his house, and who causes you to worry about  home and hearth when you're traveling and you know he's still back home lurking next door.

Bush may have actually succeeded in destroying our legacy as a nation by the time all is said and done; largely through his hubris; his lack of sophistication in recognizing the cause-and-effect of most everything going on around him; but mostly by surrounding himself with too many for whom social justice, objective governance, public trust or even basic honesty are considered 'quaint' and 'outdated' concepts.

Bush should be remembered as one of the worst, if not the worst leaders.

What's really ironic is that Nixon would be considered a liberal by today's "conservatives".

The T wrote: it seems American people's short-term memory is actually shorter than a spider's....

That's really an insult to spiders. 

By the way, we humans often underestimate the capability of animals and other life forms.  There was a really good article on animals in National Geographic recently.  I'll see if it's linkable later...


Edited by Slartibartfast - September 24 2008 at 14:44

Slartibartfast wrote: The T wrote: it seems American people's short-term memory is actually shorter than a spider's.... That's really an insult to spiders.  By the way, we humans often underestimate the capability of animals and other life forms.  There was a really good article on animals in National Geographic recently.  I'll see if it's linkable later...

Slartibartfast wrote: crimhead wrote: Mind you Carter did a good job of f-ing things up under his watch. I think it's time for America to get it's long needed enema. I don't know how old you are, but you can find out how old I am.  I was becoming an adult at the time. Personally I think the disregard with which Carter's presidency is held among the general public is more a product of Republican propaganda than actually has any basis in reality, just as Reagan is now held up as a god of sorts by so called conservatives

Well, he was at least disliked enough to not get elected again.

When one looks at how utterly futile it's been for third parties in recent times, it's downright shocking to recall Perot's performance in 1992.  We cared about balanced budgets then.  My how times have changed.

NaturalScience wrote: Slartibartfast wrote: crimhead wrote: Mind you Carter did a good job of f-ing things up under his watch. I think it's time for America to get it's long needed enema. I don't know how old you are, but you can find out how old I am.  I was becoming an adult at the time. Personally I think the disregard with which Carter's presidency is held among the general public is more a product of Republican propaganda than actually has any basis in reality, just as Reagan is now held up as a god of sorts by so called conservatives Well, he was at least disliked enough to not get elected again. When one looks at how utterly futile it's been for third parties in recent times, it's downright shocking to recall Perot's performance in 1992.  We cared about balanced budgets then.  My how times have changed.

Public dislike for Carter in that election is overrated. 

If you will allow me my conspiracy theory moment, Reagan's operatives colluded with the Iranian hostage holders to get their release delayed until after the election.  Is it really a coincidence that they were released as Reagan was being sworn in?  It was an Iranian nudge nudge wink wink.  We can embarrass you so you'd better follow through with your end of the deal.  Then they got arms in return and the proceeds from that transaction were used to fund the Contras against a Communist regime in Nicaragua.

By the way, I voted for Perot in '92 as it was looking like Clinton was going to win.  Otherwise, I would have voted for Clinton.  More in the conspiracy theory area.  I had registered in plenty of time for the Bush/Dukakis elections but my voter registration card did not come back in the mail until after the elections with a Texas postmark.  I was living in a low rent apartment complex in Cobb County Georgia.  Coincidence?  I think not.  Just because you're paranoid don't mean they're not out to get you...


Edited by Slartibartfast - September 24 2008 at 19:25

I don't believe Nixon was catasteophic before Watergate.

NaturalScience wrote: Bush should be remembered as one of the worst, if not the worst leaders.

I don't agree with him perhaps as the worst, many famous dictators come to mind as being worse, and I would easily say in the present day, Mugabe is worse.
Sheesh Pat, you haven't been gunned down for stating an opinion on Bush, he can't be worse than Mugabe who probably would have had you gunned down by now by one of his goons
One of the worst? That's more like it.

Hang on, we talking about in terms of the US only?

Oh, in that case, Bush is the worst


Edited by HughesJB4 - September 25 2008 at 03:59