Sorry, I know this may be slightly inflamitory, I don't mean it to be I assure you, but who do you personally think were good presidents of the USA. Its mainly because I have been reading up on FDR and wanted to see how he is thought of in the US

FDR is up there, but I'm going to have to lean towards Washington. The guy had no model to follow, and he was really the first guy to attempt something of that nature, he's the greatest president because he didn't fuck it up. The fact hat he did all the other things, setting up the national bank, keeping congress in line, establishing a cabinet system, just makes him all the better.

He was also a slave owner, a vicious general (he ordered attacks on christmas day, at night).

But I suppose when someone sets up a system they are bound to be remembered well by it

Yes, he was a slave owner, but so was every politician and their grandmother at the time. They had the power.

Ben franklin wasn't

Ben Franklin was from the north.

.......... I think you are confusing "North" with progressive . Besides there was no "south" of America at that time. Washington himself came from Virginia

Virginia is the south, it was the most vital piece of the confederate secession.

Backside mine, really? I always thought it was northern, it certainly seems it on all the maps I have seen, oh well

Anyway, what are peoples opinion of Licoln? Not that there is going to be THAT much debate

He was a good guy in a time of crisis, however, I feel he had a fortuitous assassination, as any president who went through Reconstruction was going to be seen as a terrible president.

I don't think he would have agreed , Besides he may have proven as adept with reconstruction as he did at simply being pres

He may well have, but seeing as he never put any ranks in duck(crazed actor's bullet) we don't know.

I don't know. Washington set up a bunch of stuff but like you said, he had no real predecessor.

It's like training for the Olympics. When your hundred metre dash takes you five minutes, it's easy to shave time off. It just takes a lot more effort for a lot less gain when it's only taking you ten seconds.

And modern leaders have a big problem with the private sector these days. Back in the olds, all the power rested in a handful of hands. Now, more and more power spreads out in more directions meaning it's a lot harder to get a favourable system set up.

Washington's great because he didn't have a predecessor, he didn't know what he was doing and he managed to keep the nation from killing itself.

FDR did ok though, despite the private idustry stuff.

I don't know why, but I just like the guy

Not so great. He had the advantage of a unifying enemy in the shape of Merry Old and most people pretty much wanted to settle down after a nice war anyway.

He didn't do anything that was hugely impressive on its own, and his inexperience aside, even together it's not the most shining resume.

Jimmy Carter!

Who?

Seriously you like Jimmy Carter? Other than Nixon and some of the early guys I can't think of a worse president

no, that's just a fun name to randomly shout. not funny, just fun.

if you want a funny name, i found one browsing wikipedia the other day... Major Archibald Williamham Butt.

You win!

there was once a new york financier called preserved fish.

wikipedia comes up with nothing. 1 useful result on google, page 145 in the book 'Jacksonian America', but he only gets a mention.

This may sound obvious but I'm more of a Nixon and Reagan fan. First off: Nixon knew how to lie. Granted, he got caught up in them-- but for the longest time he was blowing smoke up people's backends and no one really knew. He even weaseled his way out of an impeachment. They didn't even come close to a trial on it. All they did was slap him on the wrist and he did the smart thing and just stepped down.

As for Reagan? The man had charisma and scared the living shit out of every other country. I mean, when America votes in an actor... and gives him the little red button... and he looked tempted to push it... That's why I'm vieing for someone similar to him. Charismatic and crazy. He even was honest enough to tell the country he had no idea what he was doing.

my mother thought he was hideous.

and they say he was voted for his looks
i also heard that the 'Ronald Ray-gun' was named after him, but i need to check my sources

Oh you check your sources on someones Nickname but not on stats, HOY.

I just want vetinari really , Nixon I think was bright in terms of foreign policy, but otherwise was a couple imbecile.

i always check my sources. am i supposed to announce it every time?

It's why I've always had a soft spot for Clinton the first.

But he wasn't that great of a liar. Personally, I'm all for Clinton deuce because she is a heartless harpy with dragon talons. I figure she can simply bleed everyone else until they submit to her will.

Obviously she can't. The Democrats have had an interesting running strategy this time around.

Whichever candidate is in, they've lost a big portion of the Democrat votes who supported the other candidate, they've scared off a lot of the swing votes by showing their fractured front and anybody else is already voting Republican.

Besides, Clinton the lesser wouldn't win because she's a woman. Just like Obama won't win because he's black.

Maybe in four to eight years, but not just yet.

I believe we are more prepared for a woman than we are for a black man. Not to say that he wouldn't do a decent job, but even our country is still subjected to racism. We scream equal rights and then turn around and secretively take away benefits from the minorities. (Which is humorous because in reality, caucasians are the minority now at 49%)

I still say that if Gore would run, it would be easier for the Democrats.

Caucasoids might be slightly less than half of the total population but they're still the largest group.

And so long as the women is white and Christian, you're a lot closer than with a black non-Christian. Competence has never been a big factor in American politics.

I win!

(did that one myself )

Actually, if Clinton deuce doesn't shape up, I'll have to assume the positon and vote for Colbert & Stewart.

Just look at taft and Grant for incompetant presidents

Also the first Roosevelt to a certain extent

Johnson and Taylor as well

Kennedy and Lincoln.

Ok. FDR is considered a great president in the US, but he shouldn't be. well, he had good points, but mainly, he is the reason why the Depression lasted so long

I think you're using a different definition of "incompetent" darling.

No, I'm fairly certain that they were idiots. After all, Kennedy pissed off Cuba which was why he was assassinated. Haven't you ever read the conspiracy theories behind it?

The only reason they were incompetent was they didn't put metal plates in the backs of their skulls.

there are 20,000 theories, hard to listen to them all

Exactly. That's what makes reading them fun. They're all based off the exact same ideals-- just different fancy wording.

super, are you talking about the same roosevelt? The one that stopped the depression, are you SURE your not thinking of hoover

I'm talking about FDR, Franklin Roosevelt. I assure you I am not mistaken

You mean that the setting up of all those central committees and all the publics works programs and closing those banks and seeing the productivity of the nation improve and the unemployment going down EXTENDED the depression?

ok. How long did other countries have depressions? 10 years at most? How long did we have the depression?

...

4?

The years that the depression happened were most severe in America because there was no one willing to buy their products and no confidence. FDR couldn't do much for the later but he helped the former a huge amount.

You had the depression from 1929 (repubs in power) till about 1932, then the New deal comes in, helps it to recover so it is never that bad again. Then there was the problem of 1938, then the Americans get involved in the war after the various conservative bodies united to stop the new deal programs.

He could not create new consummers and he did help the country out of a depression.

You can judge him all you like, history has absolved him ;D

Actually, the way out economy works: WW2 pulled us out of the Depression because we could manufacture things to support the war.

EDIT: We joined the war because Pearl Harbor was bombed. Apparently, the Japanese were too stupid to find San Diego.

Technically we joined the war then. but before Pearl Harbor was bombed we sent undercover troops to England to help fight the war