Saturday, September 06, 2008
32. Andrew Johnson. The man who succeeded Lincoln had none of his ability or character. He circumvented Congress, sold out free African-Americans to raise his poor white friends, essentially ensured the failure of Reconstruction and the subjection of blacks in the South for the next 100 years. There is a reason he was the first president to be impeached.
31. Jimmy Carter. The worst living ex-President, he presided over such stunning failures of foreign and domestic policy it's a wonder he dares believe he has any kind of credibility today.
30. Herbert Hoover. Not a bad man and certainly should have been qualified, but failed to translate lofty words into action when the nation needed him most.
29. Andrew Jackson. This one surprises people. From the point of view of a man who elevated the Presidency, Jackson is generally ranked Near-Great. But his economi policies caused the second-worst depression in the nation's history, he made no effort to eradicate slavery and while he was willing to enforce the government's will in the nullification crisis, would not lift a finger to enforce the government's support for native peoples against the encroaching state of Georgia and thus did not do anything to spread freedom to others.
28. Chester A. Arthur. Generally ranked higher for his reforming spirit, Arthur and others of his ilk fall short because the so-called "reformers" tended to be highly racist and only interested in reforming government for their white counterparts. Against this failure, saying no once in awhile to political bosses really isn't that impressive.
To be continued.....
31. Jimmy Carter. The worst living ex-President, he presided over such stunning failures of foreign and domestic policy it's a wonder he dares believe he has any kind of credibility today.
30. Herbert Hoover. Not a bad man and certainly should have been qualified, but failed to translate lofty words into action when the nation needed him most.
29. Andrew Jackson. This one surprises people. From the point of view of a man who elevated the Presidency, Jackson is generally ranked Near-Great. But his economi policies caused the second-worst depression in the nation's history, he made no effort to eradicate slavery and while he was willing to enforce the government's will in the nullification crisis, would not lift a finger to enforce the government's support for native peoples against the encroaching state of Georgia and thus did not do anything to spread freedom to others.
28. Chester A. Arthur. Generally ranked higher for his reforming spirit, Arthur and others of his ilk fall short because the so-called "reformers" tended to be highly racist and only interested in reforming government for their white counterparts. Against this failure, saying no once in awhile to political bosses really isn't that impressive.
To be continued.....
// posted by The Pendragon @ 12:35 AM 
