Unluckiest U.S. politicians
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Author Topic: Unluckiest U.S. politicians  (Read 6500 times)
MASHED POTATOES. VOTE!
Kalwejt
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« on: May 23, 2013, 09:35:45 PM »

Now let's have fun and threw more examples!


Jim Folsom, Jr. (D-AL), AKA "Three Strikes, Motherf**ker!"

This is easily my favorite example. Lil' Jim unseated an incumbent Senator in primary. Since it was Alabama, he could now confidently lay back and plan his inevitable inauguration... except the year turned out to be 1980 and he got narrowly beaten by Jeremiah Denton, riding on Reagan's Coattails. ONE.

So, he decided to start over smaller, being elected Lieutenant Governor in 1986 and reelected in 1990. Then, in 1993, Guy Hunt was convicted of some nasty financial stuff, which automatically installed Folsom as Governor.

Despite short tenure, he was a helluva good Governor, bringing, among other things, Mercedes plant to Alabama (thing states were literally killing each other for). With high approvals, he again laid back. After all, his opponent was no Vietnam hero, but a joke called "Fob" James, who just happened to be Governor like 100 years ago... except it was a year of the "Republican Revolution". James upset Folsom by a tiny margin. TWO.

So Jim got busy with other things, missing his best chance to be elected Governor in 1998. In 2006, he became bored and ran for Lieutenant Governor again, winning the office. He ran for an unprecedented fourth term in 2010... oh, nother Republican wave, another close defeat. YOU'RE OUT!

Endicott Peabody (D-MA)

A descendant of the freaking New England aristocracy, had he been born in earlier times, he'd be extremely successfull politician.

But after losing several bids, he finally got elected Governor in 1962 by a ridiculous margin. A quite effective one, after just two years he got primaried by his own Lieutenant.

After that, he waged even more campaigns for various offices (Senator, Veep) in various states. Lulz.
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Mechaman
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« Reply #1 on: May 24, 2013, 11:25:56 AM »

A few more come to mind.
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LastVoter
seatown
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« Reply #2 on: May 30, 2013, 04:05:02 AM »

Jimmy Hoffa.
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Peter the Lefty
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« Reply #3 on: May 31, 2013, 06:36:49 PM »

The Kennedys.
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Dr. Cynic
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« Reply #4 on: May 31, 2013, 08:14:38 PM »

First names that spring to mind are Henry Clay and William H. Crawford. Clay was rejected by the Whigs when they were assured of victory and Crawford graciously stepped aside for James Monroe and then when his turn seemed at hand, he had a stroke that wrecked his chances.
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Cathcon
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« Reply #5 on: May 31, 2013, 10:00:01 PM »


Gotta go with this.
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windjammer
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« Reply #6 on: June 05, 2013, 10:50:31 AM »

Dino Rossi Tongue
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Lincoln Republican
Winfield
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« Reply #7 on: June 08, 2013, 09:44:10 AM »

Lincoln's first Vice President Hannibal Hamlin.

Generally, an incumbent President will keep his Vice President on the ticket when he seeks reelection.

However, Lincoln was somewhat dissatisfied with Hamlin, and due to the prevailing circumstances, Lincoln felt it more beneficial for the nation to pick the southern Democrat Andrew Johnson instead, so he dropped his Vice President, Hamlin, who but for Lincoln's decision would have become the 17th President of the United States. 
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MASHED POTATOES. VOTE!
Kalwejt
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« Reply #8 on: June 08, 2013, 01:33:08 PM »
« Edited: June 08, 2013, 01:34:43 PM by Proud Lieberal from Northeast »

Lincoln's first Vice President Hannibal Hamlin.

Generally, an incumbent President will keep his Vice President on the ticket when he seeks reelection.

Actually from Calhoun to Marshall no Vice President won the second term.

Richard M. Johnson, Hamlin, Schuyler Colfax and Levi Morton were all dropped from the ticket by an incumbent.
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Lincoln Republican
Winfield
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« Reply #9 on: June 08, 2013, 09:45:57 PM »

Lincoln's first Vice President Hannibal Hamlin.

Generally, an incumbent President will keep his Vice President on the ticket when he seeks reelection.

Actually from Calhoun to Marshall no Vice President won the second term.

Richard M. Johnson, Hamlin, Schuyler Colfax and Levi Morton were all dropped from the ticket by an incumbent.

Well, I did say generally.  Smiley
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kashifsakhan
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« Reply #10 on: September 09, 2013, 02:57:24 PM »

Al Gore was pretty unlucky. If Clinton hadn't made a couple of major blunders during his time in office (Lewinsky scandal, handling of the Ellian Gonzalez situation), Gore would have won comfortably.
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NewYorkExpress
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« Reply #11 on: September 09, 2013, 06:25:29 PM »

John McCain- Granted, his loss against Bush was his own doing, but when he does win the nomination, it's not only a Dem wave but he's running against a movement candidate (Obama). McCain probably wouldn't have won if Clinton was the nominee. McCain also had a horrid campaign structure- everything just seemed snake-bit (Just look at the selection of Palin as VP, not only did take him months to convince him not to pick Joe Lieberman, but because of that they only had forty-eight hours to vetting on Palin).
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Cathcon
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« Reply #12 on: September 09, 2013, 06:27:06 PM »

John Adams. As I recall, peace with France was achieved after the electors had met to vote.
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barfbag
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« Reply #13 on: September 15, 2013, 07:52:20 PM »

1. The Kennedy family- plagued with mysterious and scandalous deaths
2. Al Gore- the popular vote
3. Hillary Clinton- talk about a train wreck

This is one I'm going to rethink and add to later.
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NewYorkExpress
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« Reply #14 on: September 17, 2013, 04:04:39 PM »

3. Hillary Clinton- talk about a train wreck 

A lot of Hillary's train wreck was her own doing... underestimating Obama, not competing enough in caucus states (including Iowa) her staff infighting.

Richard Nixon (1960-1967) losing the Presidential to Kennedy in an election that was likely rigged, and then losing election as Governor of California in 1964
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barfbag
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« Reply #15 on: September 17, 2013, 04:40:43 PM »

3. Hillary Clinton- talk about a train wreck 

A lot of Hillary's train wreck was her own doing... underestimating Obama, not competing enough in caucus states (including Iowa) her staff infighting.

Richard Nixon (1960-1967) losing the Presidential to Kennedy in an election that was likely rigged, and then losing election as Governor of California in 1964

Nixon ran for governor of New York in 1962 I thought?
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NewYorkExpress
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« Reply #16 on: September 17, 2013, 05:38:52 PM »

3. Hillary Clinton- talk about a train wreck 

A lot of Hillary's train wreck was her own doing... underestimating Obama, not competing enough in caucus states (including Iowa) her staff infighting.

Richard Nixon (1960-1967) losing the Presidential to Kennedy in an election that was likely rigged, and then losing election as Governor of California in 1964

Nixon ran for governor of New York in 1962 I thought?
Sorry he did run for Governor of California, but in 1962...
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Oldiesfreak1854
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« Reply #17 on: September 17, 2013, 07:16:03 PM »

Herbert Hoover.

3. Hillary Clinton- talk about a train wreck 

A lot of Hillary's train wreck was her own doing... underestimating Obama, not competing enough in caucus states (including Iowa) her staff infighting.

Richard Nixon (1960-1967) losing the Presidential to Kennedy in an election that was likely rigged, and then losing election as Governor of California in 1964

Nixon ran for governor of New York in 1962 I thought?
He ran for Governor of California in 1962.  You're both wrong.
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Cathcon
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« Reply #18 on: September 17, 2013, 07:26:22 PM »

3. Hillary Clinton- talk about a train wreck 

A lot of Hillary's train wreck was her own doing... underestimating Obama, not competing enough in caucus states (including Iowa) her staff infighting.

Richard Nixon (1960-1967) losing the Presidential to Kennedy in an election that was likely rigged, and then losing election as Governor of California in 1964

Nixon ran for governor of New York in 1962 I thought?

This is ridiculous. Governor in '64? Of New York? Take a breather folks.
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Cryptic
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« Reply #19 on: September 28, 2013, 05:41:17 PM »

A couple others that haven't been mentioned yet.

Thomas Dewey - nominated twice and lost both times.  Almost certainly went into election night thinking he was going to win the second time too, only to be denied again.

Adlai Stevenson - also nominated twice and lost both times.  The 1950's were a bad time to be a Democratic nominee considering who you were running against.
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Amenhotep Bakari-Sellers
olawakandi
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« Reply #20 on: October 02, 2013, 01:03:26 PM »
« Edited: October 02, 2013, 01:05:43 PM by OC »

John Edwards. Darling of the media in 2004 when Kerry picked him as VP and was suppose to carry Ohio for him. But Obama got ahead of him on his repeat prez campaign and from the affair, everything went downhill. Elizabeth even died.

Jesse Jackson Jr similar situation. Wanted to be senate. But political misfortune took effect before it happened.
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Oakvale
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« Reply #21 on: October 02, 2013, 02:23:24 PM »

Bob Dole.
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MASHED POTATOES. VOTE!
Kalwejt
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« Reply #22 on: October 02, 2013, 03:51:43 PM »

A couple others that haven't been mentioned yet.

Thomas Dewey - nominated twice and lost both times.  Almost certainly went into election night thinking he was going to win the second time too, only to be denied again.

There's a hillarious story about that. On election day, Dewey asked his wife if wouldn't it be nice to be "sleeping with the President". The next day she said: "are we doing to the White House or Harry come over here?"
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nolesfan2011
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« Reply #23 on: October 07, 2013, 06:13:00 PM »

Henry Wallace-barely missed being President after being pushed out of the way at the 44 DNC convention.

Thomas Dewey-decent record and such, just couldn't seem to win the Presidency

Hubert Humphrey-outspent by JFK in 62, saddled by LBJ/Vietnam mess in 68, declining health later on

George McGovern-If only Nixon's corruption and full Vietnam policies had been discovered by the public before the election...

Al Gore-popular vote and FL recount.. should have been POTUS if not for corruption

Adlai Stevenson-Ran into the Eisenhower juggernaut and had no chance in the 50s, though he had a good record and was by all accounts a decent guy.

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barfbag
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« Reply #24 on: October 21, 2013, 01:45:42 PM »

John F. Kennedy
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