Presidents: Best To Worst

Andy Rooney Takes A Look At A New List Of The Best And Worst Presidents

(CBS)  The following is a weekly 60 Minutes commentary by CBS News correspondent Andy Rooney.

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The cable network C-Span put out a list of all our presidents in the order that they think was best to worst.

This is their list.

The ten best, according to them were: Abe Lincoln, first. I wonder if anyone ever called him just "Abe" when he was president? George Washington was second.

Franklin Delano Roosevelt is listed as our third best president but I'm old enough to remember how many people hated really FDR when he was alive.

Teddy Roosevelt was fourth, Harry Truman fifth. Now that's another surprise to me. A lot of people didn't like Harry Truman, and didn't think he was much good. Of course he got elected so someone must have liked him.

I certainly couldn't name our worst presidents. I don't know enough about some of them to have an opinion.

The editors who did this survey talked to about 65 historians who ranked the presidents.

George W. Bush, our last president, was listed as 36th out of 42. Not too good. His father George was number 18. I wonder how they both feel about that? You wouldn't want to be ahead of your son but you wouldn't want to be behind him either. They both probably said it doesn't mean anything. It does mean something though.

James Buchanan was listed as our worst president - 42nd. He was our only bachelor president too. I guess no woman wanted to be first lady bad enough to marry him.

People are generally unfair to any president during his time in office or anywhere near it. They either like the president or they hate him and nothing he does or doesn't do, makes much difference to what they think.

I was a growing up when Herbert Hoover, number 34 on the list, was in office and my father hated Hoover because of the Depression. I don't know whether the Depression was Hoover's fault or not. It probably wasn't but it occurred while he was in office so he took the rap. That happens to presidents.

I watched everything both Bushes did when they were president and a lot of my friends thought they were the worst we ever had. I never really liked the George Bushes but I never hated them either.

I've always been a little critical of our democracy because of some of the presidents we've had. Democracy is a great idea but I've always thought we have a great president hidden somewhere in the United States and we've just never found him or her.

[conservativedemocrat65]

Also. He went to Yale and Harvard. There is no proof that there weren't WMD in Iraq before we searched for them (there is proof that Sadaam Used them though) and congress kept backing him up. The president has to go to congress every three months to keep soldiers in a foreign country. So starting in 2003. 5 years = 60 months. Which means that he went to congress 20 times to keep soldiers in the Middle East.

[conservativedemocrat65]

Honestly... Bush did the best he could. Less than a year as president, the worst attack on American Soil occured. If anyone wants to deal with that. Be my guest.

[annaamed]

Bush is not only the worst President ever, but is also a war criminal. He got a Trillion $$ surplus and trapped us in an unneeded war and killed more people than Saddam Hussein. He has made that he world more unsafe. Mark my words, the news will tell us that he has made IRAN a super power in region and may create bigger problems, and maybe a dreaded third world war.
His personal war (Iraq War) has a price tag of over three Trillion $$$$. Did anybody pay attention when he was asking that money from Congress for WAR and WAR? He was more worried about breaking and building IRAQ, and look what happening here at home. His buddy Dicki (Dick Cheney) was busy giving a contract to Halliburton and making Millions.
The war master mind Rumsy Field (Defense Secretary Rumsfeld) made tons from defense contracts. Remember, the billions of hard earned $$$ was paid in cash and is not trackable. But we didn't pay attention at that time to him, only to our great paychecks.
He is still sucking taxpayer money when Americans are losing their houses and jobs. He should pay back every penny he has taken from Great American people. Let him have a job in restaurant or Gas station. Why doesn't he give all of his eight years salary plus benefits, which will be in Millions or Billions of $$$ back to American people??
He is a clone of his lost brother of Herbert Clark Hoover or Richard Nixon. I wish the Republicans (the hypocrites) never rule this Great country again.
He is a loser; his mission to break America is almost accomplished, unless Obama acts like the Great President Franklin Delano Roosevelt to save this country again.
What a shame!!!!!!
And now we have these new Jokers known as Bobby Jindal (the governor of poorest begging state) & Rush Limbaugh (radio show host, a felon of drug user). Enough with this Jindal hypocrite, Where was he when his buddies BUSH, Dick and Rumsy were planning wars? Looting money from hard working Americans and lying for all the WMD crap.
Mc Cain another joker, voted for first stimulus $ 700 Billion and now he is calling it generational theft. Has BUSH and republican has not done enough damage to America? And now Obama is following same policies and keeping the same losers in his administration, what a joke!!
These jokers (specially so called conservative republican) have fun time in congress and Senate, have not done anything good and now dragging this great country into HELL !!
We the honest hard working Americans need real answer, no more these Jokers ripping us off. If they have some shame and honest values, they need to resign or not run again. Shame on you!
Nobody has ever won Afghanistan (read history) and will never be able to win. But we will have more $$ Billions pump in like Bush and have more soldiers dead or broken legs and arms.
Mark my words, that weather we will have a revolution in this country or we will definitely see Third World WAR very soon.
Answer me, because I have a right, and I am honest TAX Payer, whose money you guys are giving to your buddies in CITI Bank, AIG and others.
GOD save us from these hypocrite jokers, GOD Bless America

[jennifer-marie]

just a comment about economics and political policy:

it takes 6 - 8 years for the economy to fully catch up to the policies put into place in Washington by the President and Congress ... that being said, the President alone has absolutely NO authority over economic policy - and whatever the President does try to enact, Congress can shut down in a heartbeat.

The President's signature is not the end-all and be-all in Washington - that's why there are three branches of government. (It's called separation of power, we learned about it in elementary school.)

So for people to be blaming George W. Bush for our current economic state obviously are not as informed as they believe they are.

There are at least two Presidential eras to point the finger to, as well as the rules and regulations put into place by Congress over the last 8 years that all share the blame for our current predicament.

And the worst thing that could happen to our economy is currently happening now - the government stepping and taking over and saying, "I know how to fix it, step aside."

This country has ALWAYS pulled through when the people were left to live their lives, make their money, spend their money, and sleep well knowing that they had enough to pay the bills the next day.

And those who don't fit that description need to learn a little something about personal responsibility and living within their means.

[ozus]

johndevinejr,

Have you even bothered to look at the list? Do you have more than a cursory knowledge of US history?

From your contribution, I must assume you are ignorant or bigoted. I think those rated below GWB deserve to be there.

[johndevinejr]

George W Bush was the worst President we ever had.

Stupid, arrogant, dishonest, reckless and incompetent.

[ozus]

Nice rant, sjc_1,

Unfortunately most of what you had to say was based on prejudice, rather than fact. Clinton didn't do much about Al Qaeda except for the occasional bombing. World-wide intelligence at the time pointed to WMD - even Saddam's generals believed they existed. There are a number of reasons why the national debt increased, including the pork placed in money bills by the Democrats.

[sjc_1]

G.W. Bush helped cause this mess ,because he ignored Al Qaeda, lied about WMD and helped his rich friends get richer at the expense of the American people.

Doubling the national debt by giving tax breaks to the rich and committing an illegal war based on lies is why he is the worst president in the history of the U.S. It is like he said "I don't have to explain myself for ANYONE!"...I guess that includes the American people that he worked for.

[ausus-2009]

beentheir1,

I wasn't attacking what you said, I was just pointing out that you had a valid message, despite the spelling.

I was just getting in before the lefties tried to package your argument, implying you were dumb. You obviously have a good knowledge of history.

I, too, am a proud American who has traveled, worked and lived extensively overseas.

[ausus-2009]

It would be better if beentheir1 could spell, but some important points were made.

If you do not think the British Empire has a pretty disgusting record, look at the Boxer Rebellion.

[rsa063]

I think Andy use to be fun to watch, but anymore he is so bent on BASHING the BUSH presidents I have totally lost any enjoyment in watching him. Neither Bush caused what has happened in our economy and history will tell that the people who are trying to fix it right now are the very same ones that caused the economy crash in the first place.

[ausus-2009]

While I don't agree with vranger on a lot of issues, I would agree that people who cite statistics to say people overseas are supposedly better off show their ignorance. You have to travel to see first-hand what exists elsewhere.

The US has a better educated workforce than most countries of the world. It has less political and industrial unrest.

England has a much more regulated life, with per capita community spy cameras of one for every 14 people.

Switzerland has police calling on houses over trivial matters such as flushing a toilet after 10pm.

Singapore has so many regulations that they make a joke out of it, with T-shirts sold, covered with the various regulations.

The US has a free press unmatched anywhere in the world.

As to medicine, my personal experience is that socialized medicine is slow and lacks modern equipment. You don't get to see the same doctor twice and you are likely to be treated by a poorly-educated doctor from a third world country.

What does this have to do with the ranking of presidents? Probably very little, but I was not the person to move off topic first.

[drputt45]

I've made a list of the best to worst TV broadcasters.
Andy Rooney is the Worst and all the rest are better.

[vranger]

Being able to drive gas-guzzling cars everywhere?

*** At least you can afford to drive a car here. In most parts of the world the average citizen can't even afford a car. In England, they paid $4 a gallon for gas when it was still around a dollar here.

Partying with 45 million people without health care?
*** Let's try England again. Their great global health care system has had people in recent years pulling their own teeth with pliers (no novacane either), because they couldn't get an appointment with a 'free' dentist, and couldn't afford private ones. Yeah, I really want that system here.

[vranger]

Employing millions of young adults without a high school diploma?
*** That's a personal choice. The education system is there. I graduated from it and have done very well. If you or your friends would rather party than study ... your problem ... not ours.

Going through draconin security mesasures and secret surveillance everywhere?
*** Europe had security measure like the ones you see here now almost 30 years before we did. Again, you guys don't travel much, do you. LOL

Giving money to failed banks and Wall Street swindlers and cheats?
*** That's happening all over the world. Read a little. And none of the money is being 'given', its secured and will be recouped unless the institution involved completely failed. Some American banks have already made substantial repayments from last fall's bailout money ... Wells Fargo is one example.

Enjoying a sense of fear, uncertainity and doom with respect to the future?
*** I don't have that, and I'm not responsible for your paranoia.

[vranger]

And finally, your major cities hogwash.

Why didn't that prove anything? Because, maybe, most Americans don't actually live in major cities?

Oh, you didn't think of that, and I'm not surprised you weren't bright enough to.

There are hundreds, if not thousands of American suburbs, small cities, and towns that are much more pleasant to live in than Zurich, at the top of that list.

The four German cities in the supposed top 10 on that list. I won't stay in one of them for more than an overnight business visit, much less live there.

I tell you what, if you think its so great to live in those places, YOU go live there. I'm REALLY comfortable right here, and neither I nor many others will miss you. ;-)

[d33pthroat1]

Things you take for granted every day are luxuries in places like England, France, and Germany. And those are some of the top drawer.
-- vranger

What things in the US are luxuries in those countries?

Being able to drive gas-guzzling cars everywhere?

Partying with 45 million people without health care?

Employing millions of young adults without a high school diploma?

Going through draconin security mesasures and secret surveillance everywhere?

Giving money to failed banks and Wall Street swindlers and cheats?

Enjoying a sense of fear, uncertainity and doom with respect to the future?

There is more to the standard of living than being able to buy *** from Walmart and putting it on a credit card and watching some Housewives reality show on TV. That may be good enough for immigrants from Mexico and other third-world countries but there is a higher level of happiness that the US lacks.

[vranger]

And here's your Quality of Life index. Virtually every country ahead of the USA on the last is a low population country that faces nowhere near the same situation you find in larger countries with many dense populations areas and widely varying social strata.

No other large population countries are anywhere CLOSE to the USA on that list.

Certainly you can distort the facts anyway you want to. That just makes you either an idiot or an outright liar. Take your pick, you don't get any respect for it ....

[vranger]

Here's your HDI - ROFL:

"It is claimed that ideas of Indian Nobel prize winner Amartya Sen were influential in the development of the HDI. But Sen described it as a "vulgar measure", because of its limitations"

Try again.

[mandalay-bay]

Does everyone have to hammer these ignorant right wingers before they wise up? Or is there truly no hope for conservatives to live together with humans with brains?


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Posted by noloyalisti at 03:47 PM : Feb 23, 2009

There's no hope. I've given up.