We all know about Donald Trump. He is scum. He hasn't been the only one, though. Barack Obama drones. George Bush God told me to do it. Bill Clinton don't ask, don't tell. Ronald Reagan AIDS. Harry Truman two nuclear bombs. Richard Nixon too many to mention.
Vladimir Putin should be in The Hague, but how much better have American presidents been?
I'm very sympathetic to your point of view. A few thoughts:
The "least evil," at least since the mid-20th century, might be Gerald Ford, who just didn't have the opportunity to do much at all.
Lyndon Johnson did some great things in his first (partial) term, and would easily be my favorite if he hadn't trashed his legacy with Vietnam in the next term.
Jimmy Carter was not a great president but will certainly be judged generously by future historians because of his post-presidency achievements.
Jimmy Carter definitely seems to be one who did it for the right reasons - to be an actual public servant. Not just for ego and status. Ronald Reagan had a nice smile - for some people, this alone made him "decent" and worth electing. The harm he did is almost completely forgotten, or at least the fact that he caused it. We don't know how long Trump's damage will last, but we do know that the world is still feeling the devastation caused by George W. Bush. Joe Biden gets all the blame for Afghanistan now, and W. is held up as a friendly painter statesman. Even admired. It was so irksome to see him lay flowers at a Ukrainian church.
I know I'm not saying anything new here, and that others have said it a lot better.
Jay Lerner-Z said: "We all know about Donald Trump. He is scum. He hasn't been the only one, though. Barack Obama drones. George Bush God told me to do it. Bill Clinton don't ask, don't tell. Ronald Reagan AIDS. Harry Truman two nuclear bombs. Richard Nixon too many to mention.
Vladimir Putin should be in The Hague, but how much better have American presidents been?
Who has been the least evil?"
Other than the drones,Obama is one of the least evil. He was a great POTUS.
Murder is enough to qualify as evil. Over five hundred air strikes, thousands dead. Why do we just compartmentalize this? He still seems like the same good man, but I wonder how he lives with himself or sleeps at night. I'm not even judging him, just seriously actually wondering if his conscience troubles him at all. Joking around with Bruce Springsteen probably helps.
Um...go watch him telling Flint, Michigan that it's okay to drink their water while drinking bottled and explain to me how that's not pure evil.
"Impossible is just a big word thrown around by small men who find it easier to live in the world they've been given than to explore the power they have to change it. Impossible is not a fact. It's an opinion. Impossible is not a declaration. It's a dare. Impossible is potential. Impossible is temporary. Impossible is nothing.”
~ Muhammad Ali
FDR rounded up and caged over a one hundred thousand people because of what they looked like. Abraham Lincoln committed genocide against native Americans in Minnesota. Pretty sure something like half of the presidents in the 19th century were slave owners.
Jay Lerner-Z said: "How is George Washington still on the dollar bill? Why is Washington still called Washington?
The man "owned" slaves."
Without George Washington, there would be no Dollar bill. Without George Washington, there will be no seat of government in Washington, D.C. Without George Washington, there would be no United States.
I owe that man nothing. Being a slaveholder should be enough all on its own to disqualify somebody from being honored in this way. Yes, he was the first President... but so what? He was not President to everybody, only a select few. Please tell me why people of color, or women, who could not even vote, along with others, should honor him in this way. He did nothing for us.
Jay Lerner-Z said: "Oh, great... unthinking nationalism. How wonderful. USA! USA! USA!"
That you would say that to me, a veteran who served in the United States Military for more than two decades, dating back to the Vietnam War Era, shows what a truly dispicable piece of nothing you really are. You dishonor every veteran who posts to this website.
Your perception is warped, Highland Guy. I do not dishonor anybody. Surely the reason people like you served is so people like me can express our thoughts and feelings freely.
I say to you that continued worship of this man, long dead, is dishonoring his victims. It is dishonoring the citizens of today, a slap in the face to those fighting racism in the 21st century, to those that have experienced it. To suggest that unforgiveable sin like this should go overlooked is just wrong.
Highland Guy said: "Jay Lerner-Z said: "Oh, great... unthinking nationalism. How wonderful. USA! USA! USA!"
That you would say that to me, a veteran who served in the United States Military for more than two decades, dating back to the Vietnam War Era, shows what a truly dispicable piece of nothing you really are. You dishonor every veteran who posts to this website."
I thank you for your service. I had 2 great-uncles who served in WW2.
fosterfan2 said: "I thank you for your service. I had 2 great-uncles who served in WW2."
I appreciate your comment and thank your great-uncles, as well. There have been a number of U.S. Presidents who fought for our country, including George Washington.
Here is a BLACK American singer performing the National Anthem at the Inauguration for America's first BLACK President. We owe our thanks to those who gave us our country, as we continue to evolve.
It is a huge leap to credit George Washington for Beyoncé and Barack Obama. Frankly, I don't understand your point. Also, I do not care how many decades of service you have given, you are not entitled to bully me. I am not a despicable piece of nothing. I am waiting for my apology.
Now my turn. Attacking people for daring to question Uncle Sam. Expecting us to live like it's 1776. What political party does that sound like? Please tell me.