Who is the best president of United States ?

[tmthforu94]

Theodore Roosevelt
Kennedy had the potential at being a great president, but his time in office was cut short. Franklin Roosevelt is also high on my list, as is Ronald Reagan and Bill Clinton.

[○∙◄☻¥tπ[╪AV┼cVê└]

1. FDR
2. Lincoln

[Mint]

That's a tough question. I'd say that Washington, Polk, Cleveland, and TR all come to mind but I find it hard to narrow it down to just one of them. And I do have obvious issues with a lot of TR's overall philosophy...

[Mint]

1) Ronald Reagan
2) Teddy Roosevelt
3) Franklin Roosevelt
4) Lyndon Johnson
5) Bill Clinton

What on Earth did Reagan do to warrant being the "best President", especially considering your populist leanings that have very little to do with Reagan's ideology?

I just like everything (or most everything) Reagan stood for.  I like his character, his dismantling of the Soviet Union, his conservatism and reviving the Republican party (of which I still share some issues) and his overall likeability.  He was the right person to bring us out of the Vietnam era, which ended just 6 years before he took office, and into the modern era.

BTW, Bush 41 would probably rank in my top 15 of good presidents thanks to his continuation of Reagan-era policies and served as a nice place holder between two great eras, the Reagan era and the Clinton era.

I don't think it's fair to give Reagan that much credit for "dismantling" the Soviet Union....although his spending certainly played a role.

It's understandable you like his character....but I still find it interesting that you liked "what he stood for", considering that his extremely liberal economic policies are exactly what you oppose these days.

But who am I to judge....

The funny thing about Reagan is that his character and his politics have almost nothing in common. The truth is Reagan rarely attended church, barely knew a lot of his family, didn't serve, was divorced and was friends with a lot of.. colorful actors (even ignoring Hudson). Honestly I think a lot of his social conservatism after the '70s was mostly just an act.

[Franzl]

1) Ronald Reagan
2) Teddy Roosevelt
3) Franklin Roosevelt
4) Lyndon Johnson
5) Bill Clinton

What on Earth did Reagan do to warrant being the "best President", especially considering your populist leanings that have very little to do with Reagan's ideology?

I just like everything (or most everything) Reagan stood for.  I like his character, his dismantling of the Soviet Union, his conservatism and reviving the Republican party (of which I still share some issues) and his overall likeability.  He was the right person to bring us out of the Vietnam era, which ended just 6 years before he took office, and into the modern era.

BTW, Bush 41 would probably rank in my top 15 of good presidents thanks to his continuation of Reagan-era policies and served as a nice place holder between two great eras, the Reagan era and the Clinton era.

I don't think it's fair to give Reagan that much credit for "dismantling" the Soviet Union....although his spending certainly played a role.

It's understandable you like his character....but I still find it interesting that you liked "what he stood for", considering that his extremely liberal economic policies are exactly what you oppose these days.

But who am I to judge....

Um... have you checked my economic score, lately?  I'm hardly a fiscal conservative or even a fiscal moderate.

well I meant economically liberal in the "correct" sense, meaning pro free market.

[Associate Justice PiT]

Other: Coolidge

[Magic 8-Ball]

Lincoln, with Washington close behind.

[exopolitician]

Washington. Jackson and FDR are close seconds.

[Queen Mum Inks.LWC]

Reagan

[Antonio the Sixth]

1) Ronald Reagan
2) Teddy Roosevelt
3) Franklin Roosevelt
4) Lyndon Johnson
5) Bill Clinton

What on Earth did Reagan do to warrant being the "best President", especially considering your populist leanings that have very little to do with Reagan's ideology?

I just like everything (or most everything) Reagan stood for.  I like his character, his dismantling of the Soviet Union, his conservatism and reviving the Republican party (of which I still share some issues) and his overall likeability.  He was the right person to bring us out of the Vietnam era, which ended just 6 years before he took office, and into the modern era.

BTW, Bush 41 would probably rank in my top 15 of good presidents thanks to his continuation of Reagan-era policies and served as a nice place holder between two great eras, the Reagan era and the Clinton era.

I don't think it's fair to give Reagan that much credit for "dismantling" the Soviet Union....although his spending certainly played a role.

It's understandable you like his character....but I still find it interesting that you liked "what he stood for", considering that his extremely liberal economic policies are exactly what you oppose these days.

But who am I to judge....

Um... have you checked my economic score, lately?  I'm hardly a fiscal conservative or even a fiscal moderate.

well I meant economically liberal in the "correct" sense, meaning pro free market.

In the french sense, so.

[dead0man]

well I meant economically liberal in the "correct" sense, meaning pro free market.

I've been wanting to start a thread on this.  I agree with you, an "economic liberal" would be a person who wanted liberty (FREEDOM) in the market place.  I'm pretty sure many (most?) people look at it the other way.

[Franzl]

well I meant economically liberal in the "correct" sense, meaning pro free market.

I've been wanting to start a thread on this.  I agree with you, an "economic liberal" would be a person who wanted liberty (FREEDOM) in the market place.  I'm pretty sure many (most?) people look at it the other way.

yes, indeed, and that's what "liberal" means pretty much everywhere else in the world except in the U.S.. Liberal and conservative do not contradict each other in economics, as far as I'm concerned.

[k-onmmunist]

1st: Lincoln
2nd: Coolidge

[Antonio the Sixth]

well I meant economically liberal in the "correct" sense, meaning pro free market.

I've been wanting to start a thread on this.  I agree with you, an "economic liberal" would be a person who wanted liberty (FREEDOM) in the market place.  I'm pretty sure many (most?) people look at it the other way.

yes, indeed, and that's what "liberal" means pretty much everywhere else in the world except in the U.S.. Liberal and conservative do not contradict each other in economics, as far as I'm concerned.

I don't agree with that. In France, Madelin and his crazy friends usurp the monopoly of this adjective to defend the most radically conservative economic views.
Originally, liberalism is an european political movement in the XIXth century who were in favor of the guarantee of civil liberties ( I mean basic liberties, as freedom of expression ) and a more democratic system. Sure, they were mostly free-marketists, but the reason was that before Marx there was no strong socialist movement and economics were mostly non-issues.
Now, the difference between Europe and USA is that, whereas in Europe the emergency of a strong socialist movement pushed liberals ( and their french equivalent, radicals ) more and more toward the right-wing, in the USA absolute free market remained an unquestioned dogma until 1929. So, in Europe, since democratic liberties began to be definitely vested, "liberal" began more and more to qualify a man who opposed socialism. In the USA, however, it kept his original sense of "progressive", "leftist".
So, what is the better sense ? Neither American's nor European's.
It's not european's because, during the 30's years, a new movement emerged in Europe who rapidly took the name of "Social-democracy". Social democracy, that became a strong ideology after WW2, had very few in common with real socialism, because it clearly accepted market economy, just saying that the State could help making him work better and being fairer. Rapidly, social democracy began the ideology of main european left parties, replacing socialism. Many government experiences proved that those parties definitely renounced to socialism ( even the more hypocritical as the french PS did ). And, whatever we can say about it, social democracy is a liberal ideology in every sense of the world. So, when some PS idiots criticize "liberalism", they just prove they know nothing about the sense of a word.
Thogh the american sense appears more correct to me, it sounds paradoxal when we speak about economic issues. If it's true that the most anti-liberal law in the last 40 years was the Patriot act, when we speek about economy, every american party from the Green until the Constitution are liberal.

[Franzl]

well I meant economically liberal in the "correct" sense, meaning pro free market.

I've been wanting to start a thread on this.  I agree with you, an "economic liberal" would be a person who wanted liberty (FREEDOM) in the market place.  I'm pretty sure many (most?) people look at it the other way.

yes, indeed, and that's what "liberal" means pretty much everywhere else in the world except in the U.S.. Liberal and conservative do not contradict each other in economics, as far as I'm concerned.

I don't agree with that. In France, Madelin and his crazy friends usurpate this adjective to defend the most radically conservative economic views.
Originally, liberalism is an european political movement in the XIXth century who were in favor of the guarantee of civil liberties ( I mean basic liberties, as freedom of expression ) and a more democratic system. Sure, they were mostly free-marketists, but the reason was that before Marx there was no strong socialist movement and economics were mostly non-issues.
Now, the difference between Europe and USA is that, whereas in Europe the emergency of a strong socialist movement pushed liberals ( and their french equivalent, radicals ) more and more toward the right-wing, in the USA absolute free market remained an unquestioned dogma until 1929. So, in Europe, since democratic liberties began to be definitely vested, "liberal" began more and more to qualify a man who opposed socialism. In the USA, however, it kept his original sense of "progressive", "leftist".
So, what is the better sense ? Neither American's nor European's.
It's not european's because, during the 30's years, a new movement emerged in Europe who rapidly took the name of "Social-democracy". Social democracy, that began a strong ideology after WW2, had very few in common with real socialism, because it clearly accepted market economy, just saying that the State could help making him work better and being fairer. Rapidly, social democracy began the ideology of main european left parties, replacing socialism. Many government experiences proved that those parties definitely renounced to socialism ( even the more hypocritical as the french PS did ). And, whatever we can say about it, social democracy is a liberal ideology in every sense of the world. So, when some PS idiots criticize "liberalism", they just prove they know nothing about the sense of a word.
Thogh the american sense appears more correct to me, it sounds paradoxal when we speak about economic issues. If it's true that the most anti-liberal law in the last 40 years was the Patriot act, when we speek about economy, every american party for the Green until the Constitution are liberal.

That's good analysis, and I agree with you, but I was talking primarily about economic liberalism, as opposed to a total ideology.

[opebo]

1. FDR
2. Lincoln
3. Washington
4. LBJ
5. hmm.. I don't really like the others.  I guess Truman.

[??????????]

Jefferson and Jackson.

[Eraserhead]

William Henry Harrison

[Grumpier Than Uncle Joe]

Ronald Wilson Reagan.

[minionofmidas]

I know who the best current president of the United States of America is...

[Antonio the Sixth]

I know who the best current president of the United States of America is...

I think even a racist republican ultraconservative who hates young people will agree with you.

[JSojourner]

Franklin Roosevelt.

[aaaa2222]

Bill Clinton. I despise him as a man, but his conservative budget (One none have been able to match. Sadly, this came after YEARS of defecit and before many more.) and success in leading, even with a Republican Congress, give him this distinction.
Honorable Mentions:
Lincon, FDR, TR, Ike, Truman, Coolidge

[Scam of God]

1. Chester A. Arthur
2. Calvin Coolidge
3. Thomas Jefferson
4. John F. Kennedy
5. Grover Cleveland
6. Dwight D. Eisenhower
7. Bill Clinton
8. James Monroe
9. Abraham Lincoln
10. Harry S. Truman

[Antonio the Sixth]

Glad to see Roosevelt winning.