Politics Who was the best President in your lifetime?

[Stevenson]

Limited with the number of choices by the system or I would have started with the president when I was born, Eisenhower (oy vey I'm old!)

I went with an unpopular choice these days, Bill Clinton. For me, the stupid sex scandal doesn't overshadow his smarts, charisma, peace and prosperity.

 

[Chris Craig]

You might want to put an other option for older folks

 

[ehizzy3]

Well I guess Bill would count for me but I don’t remember any of his presidency so I went with Obama

 

[andalusian]

Economy wise it is clinton followed by obama and reagan, impact wise f moving the country forward socially it is obama - so overall, probably Obama

 

[KSF-ERIC]

I was going to vote for Clinton but then changed to Obama but they were both great. To me.

 

[THE HCP]

Lanny would obviously say Lincoln. #BAM

 

[stampedehero]

As a voter, I lived through the Nixon, Johnson eras so I have a basis to compare best to worst. Ford was an ordinary guy but Carter was an actual representation of American decency and promoter of alternative energy solutions.
When he was replaced, Reagans' people removed the early design solar panels on the White House roof and Reagans policy supported the rise of big oil and nefarious boiler room traders who became fabulously wealthy. The trickle down theory was bullshit for common Joes like me. Reagan's people had influenced central American politics and wasted our money on his drug battle programs including Columbian payoffs. Afghanistan was another fiasco.
I really respect Barrack Obama because he was real, had appeal to common sense people and had the gift of a great orator. However, He should have created an escape policy out of Arab politics and US soldier occupation but the Bushes before him, fucked up our country to newest lows. As a likable politician, Obama reminded me of JFK.

 

[tlongII]

Reagan or Clinton.

 

[Road Ratt]

Out of this list, I will have to go with Jimmy Carter. Every president beyond Jimmy Carter is a traitor to America.

 

[Hoopguru]

Carter for me.

 

[andalusian]

Carter is a very decent human being, but his economic policies were out of step and he could not figure out how to handle the 2nd oil crisis and it's impact on the economy. Say what you want about Reagan, he at least understood that 70% top tax level is crushing and some trickle down economics makes sense - people should have "disposable" capital to experiment with for better, newer products and services - otherwise the economy stagnates.

The problem is not so much with the concept, it is with the blind trust the modern republicans have given it not understanding that it is not a black and white situation - it is some place in between.

Just a reminder - it was not until the last year of his presidency that Reagan has started to really go down the rabbit hole with too small a top-margin tax level, for most of his presidency, the top tax margin during his presidency was 50% which is higher than anything since he left office (today's Trumpian believers in enabling the rich class would call him a radical left for such a top-margin tax level).

 

[Lanny]

Easily, Kennedy, by head and shoulders.

 

[illmatic99]

Barack and not even close. Been alive thru Bush sr onwards.

1. Recovered beautifully after the recession in 2008
2. Affordable healthcare
3. Gay Marriage, getting rid of don't ask don't tell
4. Iran nuclear deal
5. Got ObL
6. Dreamers
7. EPA protections

 

[Stevenson]

I am so surprised to see all the Carter love.

I have always liked and admired Jimmy a lot, and he has had the best post-presidency by far, but I must admit he was no the most effective president. Yes, his energy policy was prescient, the Camp David Accords were historic, and no one being killed during the Iranian hostage crisis is impressive. All great. But he was a very poor communicator and thats part of the job.

 

[HailBlazers]

Definitely Barack, he brought the most hope and change.

 

[UncleCliffy'sDaddy]

I’m gonna get crucified (just call me ABM) but I have to say LBJ. He was at least as big of a low life as Trump, but he was the consummate politician. No one (possibly in American history) knew the rules and angles better than Johnson. He knew where the bodies were buried, when to twist arms and when to back off. And he got real shit done (From rural electrification to the Civil Rights Act) despite the Vietnam War. If anything, he bit off more than he could chew. Mitch McConnell has a reputation for “politics” but if LBJ was in office, he’d have McConnell traipsing down Pennsylvania Ave buck naked so he could give Johnson a knobber on the portico steps. The closest president we’ve had in terms of Johnson’s skills and his ability to get things done since was Bill Clinton. And Congress (and his own foolish behavior) cut Clinton (and his wife) off at the knees. If nothing else, Johnson was far and away the most fascinating President of my lifetime.......

 

[RickyJoe]

JFK!!
I know,I'm old

 

[Propagandist]

I’m gonna get crucified (just call me ABM) but I have to say LBJ. He was at least as big of a low life as Trump, but he was the consummate politician. No one (possibly in American history) knew the rules and angles better than Johnson. He knew where the bodies were buried, when to twist arms and when to back off. And he got real shit done (From rural electrification to the Civil Rights Act) despite the Vietnam War. If anything, he bit off more than he could chew. Mitch McConnell has a reputation for “politics” but if LBJ was in office, he’d have McConnell traipsing down Pennsylvania Ave buck naked so he could give Johnson a knobber on the portico steps. The closest president we’ve had in terms of Johnson’s skills and his ability to get things done since was Bill Clinton. And Congress (and his own foolish behavior) cut Clinton (and his wife) off at the knees. If nothing else, Johnson was far and away the most fascinating President of my lifetime.......

AND Johnson apparently had a huge johnson!

 

[HailBlazers]

Without a doubt a huge dick.

 

[speeds]

All this Carter talk is going to bring Denny Crane back from the grave.

 

[riverman]

Harry Glickman, duh!

 

[crandc]

Had it not been for his giant blind spot on Vietnam LBJ would have been a great president. Shakespeare would call it his tragic flaw.

Hard to separate president from moment. Would Johnson have done what he did without civil rights movement? Obama shifted position on marriage equality due to efforts of LGBTQ community and allies. Carter was forward thinking on environment but population not really with him.

 

[wizenheimer]

it was mentioned in another thread, but Pete Souza's 'The Way I See It' documentary is a really good video. It gives and inside perspective on Obama that is very complimentary and a completely other world contrast with trump

 

[OSUBlazerfan]

DJT

 

[theprunetang]

Gross

 

[julius]

DJT

Pretty impressive for a 4 year old to be able to post on a message board.

 

[SlyPokerDog]

Pretty impressive for a 4 year old to be able to post on a message board.

Personal insult.

 

[Natebishop3]

They all sucked. All of them.

 

[OSUBlazerfan]

Look, its pretty simple to me. He's a petulant little child that is an egomaniac. But he's also a pretty good leader (sans covid - which in my opinion is a little overblown)

According toe the majority of the people in this country (through polling) we are better economically and safer externally than we have ever been in my lifetime. That's what I care about.

 

[OSUBlazerfan]

Look, its pretty simple to me. He's a petulant little child that is an egomaniac. But he's also a pretty good leader (sans covid - which in my opinion is a little overblown)

According toe the majority of the people in this country (through polling) we are better economically and safer externally than we have ever been in my lifetime. That's what I care about.

Oh and +Kavanaugh/Gorsuch/Barrett.....thats quite the roster. He kept his promises on that.