Da Techguy's (no longer backup) Blog

With all the hysterical and un-serious nonsense as to where president Bush ranks.  Here is a more sober ranking of my own.  Two things concerning i:

This is a ranking as president not as an American otherwise both Adams, Hoover and Jefferson would rank much higher.

I reserve the right to change my mind upon reflection as we are farther away and judgement can be made in a more sober manor.

I rank him easily better than

Carter, Nixon, Hoover, Harding, Wilson,  B. Harrison, Garfield, Grant, Buchanan, WH. Harrison, Van Buren, JQ Adams.

The first Harrison and Garfield can’t get a fair shake but you can’t beat something with nothing.  I think Wilson is the most overrated president in history with Jefferson close behind.  As time goes by the disaster that was Jimmy Carter becomes more and more apparent.

I rank him slightly better than

Clinton,GHW Bush, Ford, Johnson, Taft, Andrew Johnson, Pierce, Fillmore, Taylor.

Ford and Johnson might rank better Ford due to being the right man at the right time rather than as a great president, If it wasn’t for the civil rights Johnson would sink here.  Clinton was my toughest call; his failures helped setup the challenges of the W Bush presidency but he often doesn’t get credit for actual successes.  He is the only person on this list that has the potential to both rise and fall.

I rank him comperable to

Kennedy, Ike, Coolidge, Hays, Jackson, Tyler, Jefferson, John Adams

I give Adams and Taylor points here for dealing with unique situations both could and maybe should go lower.  Other than the Louisiana Purchase and the Barbary wars I didn’t care much for the Jefferson presidency but Louisiana was so huge in the history of the country that it raises him.  Kennedy might be too high but the space goal and preventing Nuclear War over Cuba are both huge.  This is an odd place since as president Bush’s place in history changes these men will move up or down based on it.

I rank him inferior to

Reagan, Truman, FDR, McKinley, Monroe, Madison

Madison might be too high here, and Reagan and Truman might both be too low, The new deal was functionally poor but psychologically important but even if it wasn’t so WW II nearly bumps him to the top section.

I rank him not in the same league as

TR, Cleveland, Lincoln, Polk, Washington

Polk and Cleveland were great presidents who have been forgotten.  I suggest studying them both since they both deserve to be known better.  People who object to them being so high don’t know them.

President Elect Obama has the potential to end up anywhere on his list.  The trick is not to under rate him due to unreal expectations or overrate him due to his unique place in history.  Lets hope he earns high ratings due to high performance.  As of today it will come down to the economy and the war on terror but who knows what tomorrow will bring?  If he is really bad then he has the potential to help propel GWB much higher on the list.

It will be fun to find out.

If you need a solid number as of today for President Bush we’ll say 14th or 15th but any spot from 12-20 wouldn’t phase me.  This number will remain fluid for at least a decade.

Today is the last full day of the presidency of George W. Bush. Personally it has been a good 8 years with a few stumps in the road such as my current employment situation but it has been quite a time. I want to say thank you to a good and decent man who did despite the nonsense of people who don’t know better was a fine president.

I want to say that I am grateful for your actions. During the recount mess at the start of your presidency you showed class and restraint. In the most trying of times you have remained steady and have not wavered due to political pressure nor forgotten your primary duty to your country. Even when you have failed such as with the attempts to rein in Fanny and Freddie and reform Social Security your attempts to do what others have failed showed the political courage that you have.

As I would with any other man they’re have been things I have disagreed with. I object to the following

The Steel Tariffs
McCain Feingold
The Bailouts
The Amnesty Bill

These positions that I disagree with. The early steel tariffs was political payback, it can be expected but was not wise. As for the others although i disagree with them all strongly I accept that your support was on principle though I disagree with them strongly.

I thank you strongly for your decisions on Stem Cells, Judges Alito and Roberts, Abortion and Life, Kyoto and drilling. These things particularly on Alito and Roberts will mold the country for years to come.

And most of all for the willingness to stand up and lead, first in the days after September 11th, next the 14th on a pile of rubble

On the speech on the 20th:

Finally in the lead-up to Afghanistan and the long slow advance into Iraq. I remember those days. Not withstanding the lack of memory by many of your foes I recall the long debate, the slow build up and the deliberation. The going to the UN and to the congress. The quick victories and most importantly the long slow slog leading to the surge and final victory. When many even who supported you were willing to lose for political reasons you were not. You promised to remember, you promised to remember your duty even if the country forgot; and you did.

You were steady in the hardest of time. It was a tough time for you and the stress of it shows on your face, but so does your resolve and your faith. You humbly acknowledged the prayers said for you and partook of their strength. Most of all you have kept our country in general and my children in particular safe. For some that is a debt they refuse to acknowledge for myself it is a debt I can never repay.

Thank you so much. May God bless you in your retirement as he has blessed us by your work.

Update: Apparently the Dali Lama likes him too, another Kryten head exploding moment, but for the left this time.

Update 2: Sissy Willis looks at the other side’s thoughts.