Well the results are in ... and it turns out our LoT poll may have been pretty scientific after all - - with results mirroring the likely outcome of a much larger American sampling.

In lived history, Bill Clinton was the most popular president, followed closely by Ronald Regan. Something for liberals and conservatives alike to be happy about.

JFK came in a distant third. It's likely that post-presidential circumstances contributed to his lasting popularity (i.e., martyrdom death). Jimmy Carter was next, and I believe similar post-presidential honorableness contributes to his acclaim.

Warmongers Richard Nixon, Lyndon Johnson and George W. Bush scored zero points. World, take note.


Papa Bush also scored zero. Gerald Ford, perhaps due to sentimentality surrounding his recent passing, garnered a single vote. Or perhaps it was the comedic fun of his presidency.

:snap: I hope everyone enjoyed Presidents Day Weekend. Have one last fling on Washington's Birthday tomorrow!!

The two Presidents with the overwhelming majority had something in common.....a congress, for the most part, opposite in party to their own.

Over the ~45 years represented by the above list of Presidents, the executive branch was under opposite party control from the legislative about twice as often as they were under the same party control. So simple odds dictate that people's favorite would likely have a congress under oppposition control, hardly a causal relationship.

I have to confess to being surprised about the outcome of this vote (on LoT).

Although I have to disagree with those who voted for Carter. While his humanitarian efforts since he has left office have been exemplary (even if I don't agree with everything, I admire his apssion and commitment), he was, IMHO, a very ineffictive Commander in Chief.

Well, truth be told, JFK was probably better after his presidency, too. But, as with Carter, it's not always possible to pin a man down to the actual term of office.

Just you wait ... Bill Clinton's popularity will probably increase for all the good works he'll do as First Lady.

JFK escalated our involvement in Vietnam, did he not? Or am I remembering my history incorrectly? Nixon was the one who de-escalated our involvement. JFK today would be regarded as a war monger, particularly due to the Bay of Pigs and the Cuban Missile Crisis. If either of those happened today, he'd be crucified.

Yeah, and if Bush had been assassinated in 2003 he'd still be remembered as a powerful leader and Cheney would be blamed for screwing up his war.

It's always best to die before you have a chance to really screw up. Assuming that all you care about is how people think about you.

This morning on NPR, I heard a piece on Nixon in China, I guess it's the Anniversary today. I confess I still think it's a cool legacy for the Nixon Administration.

yeah, if only every single solitary scandal since hadn't been popularly appended "gate," that China thing might have been the legacy actually remembered.



Bummer.

.. and the sweaty upper lip